Drake Batherson becomes latest Nova Scotian picked for NHL All-Star Game
When you think about NHL All-Stars from Nova Scotia the names Crosby, MacKinnon and Marchand usually come to mind.
But this year, a new Nova Scotian has been selected to play in the National Hockey League’s mid-season classic.
"I just got off the phone with my family. They're super happy for me,” Drake Batherson, a player for the Ottawa Senators, told reporters after his team’s 4-1 win in Calgary Thursday night.
Legendary Cape Breton blues rocker Matt Minglewood, or Roy Batherson as it says on his birth certificate, is among the happiest for the 23-year-old all-star.
"I get 'your son' and I get 'my nephew', but he's actually my grand-nephew,” Minglewood told CTV Atlantic.
Thanks to his own public profile, the Glace Bay musician said he was able to encourage thousands to cast a ballot for Drake to be an all-star.
"We got all the Minglewood crowd, all the Facebook friends, to get out there and vote and you wouldn't believe how happy they are,” he explained.
Just up the highway in North Sydney, N.S., Batherson's grandparents are beaming with pride.
"We don't miss a shift. Doesn't matter what time the game is,” said Matt Batherson, Drake’s grandfather. "(I remember) he was about seven and he was rattling them off the crossbar. I couldn't believe it. You knew right then that he was special."
"They come up to me at Superstore or whatever and say, 'Oh, we just love your grandson,'” added Kay Batherson, Drake’s grandmother. “They say, 'We feel he's from here.'"
Drake Batherson was actually born in Indiana, where his father Norm was playing pro-hockey at the time. He grew up in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley and went on to play junior for the Cape Breton Eagles.
Drake also starred for Team Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship in 2018.
“Throughout pro, I just feel like I've taken a step every year and obviously I've been put in some good positions to succeed," he said of his rise to NHL stardom.
This year, Drake's leading the Senators in scoring - six points ahead of his closest teammate. Being an NHL all-star won’t be Drake’s only new experience, it will be his first time visiting Las Vegas, where the game will be played.
"Yeah it's funny, I've never been. So I've never even played there… never even visited. So, I don't know what to expect,” he added with a laugh.
Minglewood says he, and the rest of the family across Nova Scotia, will be watching when the puck drops on the NHL All-Star Game on Feb. 6.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Millions of Canadians have been exposed to potentially toxic chemicals, and they're not going anywhere
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
IN PHOTOS Northern lights dance across the night sky in southern Ont.
From London, to Mildmay, Collingwood and St. Thomas, here are some highlights of Friday night and Saturday morning's northern lights display.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
Dutch contestant kicked out of Eurovision hours before tension-plagued song contest final
The Netherlands' contestant in the Eurovision Song Contest was dramatically expelled from competition hours before Saturday's final of the pan-continental pop competition, which has been rattled by protests over the participation of Israel.
Tips to make a house or apartment safe and accessible for older adults living at home
Here's a summary of tips from the U.S. National Institute on Aging and AARP, which offers a free room-by-room guide with practical suggestions for older adults living independently.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
'I am angry': Alberta farmers will continue fight over world class motorsport resort
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.