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SAIT’s Bradshaw holds heros, hockey and hard work in high regard
December 1, 2010 CALGARY — Travis Bradshaw stood face to face with his hero, but could barely say a word nor spare a smile. It wasn’t nervousness or shyness. Blame it on the Trojan’s broken jaw.
Growing up, Bradshaw’s hero was the legendary NHLer Steve Yzerman.
On September 24, Bradshaw was ailing with a broken jaw and unable to travel with the Trojans for an exhibition weekend versus the UBC Thunderbirds. That day, the Tampa Bay Lightning, including Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman, visited the SAIT Arena as part of their training camp.
Call it bad luck with good timing, or simply a fortunate chance meeting for Bradshaw with his long-time hockey hero.
“I didn’t think I would get the chance to do it. It was exciting. I just wanted to shake his hand and I got the chance to do that,” says Bradshaw, a Calgary native.
“Watching him while I was growing up, I looked up to him,” says Bradshaw, a second year forward for the SAIT Trojans men’s hockey team.
“I liked how hard he worked, and even now he still works hard with Team Canada and as a GM.”
Bradshaw was injured during an intense, pre-season exhibition game versus SAIT’s crosstown rivals, the Mount Royal Cougars. He’s been back in action for six games and has one assist so far this season.
The SAIT Trojans (12-1-2) host the Mount Royal Cougars (10-3-2) this Friday night December 3 at 7p.m. at SAIT Arena. It will be the final battle before the Christmas break. The Cougars are trailing the ACAC defending champion Trojans by four points for the top of the ACAC league standings.
“I am very excited,” says Bradshaw on the upcoming game versus Mount Royal. “We look forward to finishing the first half of the season with a big win at home.”
Bradshaw knows a lot about being part of big games. During last year’s ACAC Championships final game, the then Trojan rookie scored the game winner in the 4-1 clash versus the Concordia Thunder to lead the Trojans to their fourth consecutive ACAC championship.
“It was great. Playoffs were going my way. The coaches were putting me in spots to succeed and the hard work was paying off.”
“Last year Travis scored key goals during the championships,” explains head coach Ken Babey.
“He brings speed, energy and enthusiasm. He is a great team player and would do anything for the team. He is one of the hardest working players.”
“He is a sparkplug. A real character player, “comments Trojans Assistant coach Jim McLean.
His hard work is noticeable both on and off the ice. Last season, the 22-year-old notched a 3.6 GPA in his Business Administration studies at SAIT Polytechnic. Bradshaw is also one of the first players to eagerly volunteer for community citizenship and outreach events.
Last week, he skated with several Calgary kids from the local H.E.R.O.S. program (Hockey Education Reaching Out Society), a non-profit organization committed to empowering children through ice hockey.
He relates it to an experience of when he went to a public skate with pro hockey players when he was a young boy.
“I still remember it. I wanted to be the guy to give back if I ever got the chance to.”
And his valiant advice to those kids: “I want them to know they can get an education and still follow their dreams and play hockey.”
