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So Desjardins knew what he was doing last Saturday when he honoured the Boesers — all of the Boesers.

“I think there’s lots of things that are bigger than hockey,” Desjardins said Tuesday. “And I just think that’s a bigger-than-hockey-moment.

“I thought it was special. I didn’t think it was just his parents. For me … it was a reflection to all parents. Every one of us in that room knew we don’t get there unless our parents sacrificed a lot.”

Photo by Larry Busacca / (Credit too long, see caption)

Asked about her sacrifices the last several years, Laurie Boeser said: “I’m not going to lie; it has been a challenge. But you know, you just do what you have to do for your family.

“Brock has had some life scenarios where he had to be older than I wanted him to be, like when he lost his friend in that car accident in high school, and another friend had permanent injuries. And he lost grandparents. And his dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

“He had a maturity about him, anyway, but then had to endure some of those things at a pretty young age. When you have experiences like that, you can’t help but grow as you deal with them.”

Now three games into his NHL career, there are a lot of things rushing towards Brock Boeser — intense scrutiny, a lot of money and probably fame, among other things. But having dealt with so much as a teenager, having to be older than his age, has probably given Boeser the perspective and maturity to handle these things. This is, after all, the good stuff.

Brock has had some life scenarios where he had to be older than I wanted him to be, like when he lost his friend in that car accident — Laurie Boeser

He badly wants to make the Canucks next fall because, well, which young hockey player doesn’t? But he wants to make it also because playing for the Canucks means an NHL salary, and an NHL salary means helping his folks a little.