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By Peter Mallett, Lookout – CFB Esquimalt

More than 350 Defence Team members attended the Vancouver Canucks military appreciation event featuring an aerobatic demonstration and a hockey game.

Necks were craned in Vancouver’s Rogers Arena on January 30 to watch as four search and rescue technicians rappelled from the rafters to centre ice.

The evening began with the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy performing the Canadian and American national anthems, with Leading Seaman Brandi Sidoryk, a reservist from HMCS Tecumseh, providing vocal accompaniment.

Brigadier-General Dave Cochrane of the Royal Canadian Air Force then took centre ice to perform the ceremonial puck drop between the Canucks and Colorado Avalanche team captains.

“The soldiers, sailors and aviators who attended were true hockey fans; you could tell by the smiles on their faces they really enjoyed the experience,” said Lieutenant (Navy) Tony Wright, a public affairs officer with Maritime Forces Pacific. “Throughout the game they did tributes to Canadian Armed Forces members on the big screen and many fans came up and thanked us for our service to our country.”

Following the Canucks’ 4-3 overtime win, Canucks players signed autographs and mingled with their Defence Team visitors before posing for a group photograph. Canucks right-winger Brock Boeser took such interest in the post-game exchange with the guests of honour that he had to be ushered off the ice and back to the dressing room by team staff.