Dalmeny Sabres practise with Jarome Iginla in once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

Growing up playing hockey, every kid’s dream is to play in the National Hockey League.

For members of the under-15 Dalmeny Sabres, it may not have been an NHL game they were participating in Saturday, but it was still a taste of what The Show is like.

The Sabres were selected as the team to practise with Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla, through Giuseppe Pizzeria’s Practice with a Pro event.

For everyone involved, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience and the players couldn’t believe it.

“It was fun,” said Cooper Bond. “I liked all the drills we did.”

Bond said he can’t wait to brag about this to his friends.

“It was pretty fun,” added Finley Johnson. “It’s nice to see someone with that much popularity come out.”

“It’s something you don’t get to do (and) not many people get to do it,” said Jocob Verishine.

But it wasn’t just a skate-around practice, as players got the opportunity to get some wisdom from the former NHL star. Iginla played 21 seasons in the NHL with the Calgary Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings.

“I did learn a little bit just about how he challenged himself,” said Verishine, “and what motivated him to do things.”

“I asked him a couple questions about his NHL career,” said Johnson.

But it wasn’t just the players who learned a thing or two. Iginla said he and the Sabres coaching staff worked on some new drills together.

“I am going to take one home to our academy where I’m still coaching,” said Iginla. “I learned some things too.”

Teams get nominated throughout the year to win the contest.

Iginla said the keys to winning the contest are being a good teammate, and having a team that comes together as part of its community and does good things in the community.

“I think it’s a great program just because they can see a positive difference in the community,” he said.

Iginla said the Sabres were a very deserving team to win the contest.

“(It was) some of the neat things they were able to do during the year,” said Iginla, “(like) the Christmas hamper (and) going around singing Christmas carols to families.”

Iginla said as someone who has grown up around hockey, it’s important to give back to the sport in any way you can.

“I’ve been fortunate to get to coach minor hockey the last seven years,” said Iginla. “Growing up with hockey, I think there are so many neat lessons you can learn from it )and) that I have learned from it in experiences.”