May 22: West, Long and Harrison Teach Kids How the Pros Play

The look of wonder in the eyes of 40 youngsters at Maples Community Centre on Saturday told most of the story. The looks in the eyes of about a dozen parents and community club coaches told the rest.

When Winnipeg Goldeyes’ stars Wes Long, Kevin West and Vince Harrison showed up at Maples on Saturday morning to put the kids – and their coaches – through their paces, it was baseball time in Northwest Winnipeg.

And did the kids ever respond. Starting at 10:30 on Saturday morning, three of the Goldeyes’ most high-profile players put on a clinic that introduced the youngsters to everything from base running to swinging the bat to turning a double play.

“You look at these Goldeyes players and you realize all that talent didn’t just happen,” said Dan Ricard, the president of Maples Community Centre. “Someone had to nurture that talent. Somebody had to inspire them to want to play the game and become the best they could be. That doesn’t happen without people coming into their lives and encouraging them to work hard and develop their skills.

“That’s what today was all about: Introducing the kids to the professional way to play and inspiring them to pursue their dreams, whatever those dreams might be.”

For Tom Barak, the organizer of the event, it was first in a series of programs designed to expose the kids in the Maples to pro sport and pro athletes.

“We’re now planning a trip with our basketball teams to take part in a camp with the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves,” Barak explained. “And we’ve had discussions with a number of local NHL players to put on a special hockey camp here at the rink.

“It was great having Kevin, Wes and Vince out today and it was just first clinic of this kind designed to expose our kids to professional athletes and professional sport. I just hope the Goldeyes had as much as fun as the kids did.”

“It was great,” said Long. “But I’m worn out. We just did a three-hour clinic. That’s like playing an entire game.”