With a throng of his relatives in the stands, Eli Zummack had plenty of moral support on Wednesday night at Prospera Place.
The 麻豆精选 product played a WHL game in his hometown for the first time, as his Spokane Chiefs took on the 麻豆精选 Rockets.
A 16-year-old rookie with Spokane, Zummack 诲颈诲苍鈥檛 look a bit out of place, picking up an assist on the 驳补尘别鈥檚 second goal and helping his teammates knock off the hometown Rockets in overtime.
鈥淥产惫颈辞耻蝉濒测 it was a big game, playing in my hometown, having lots of family here to 飞补迟肠丑,鈥� said Zummack, whose parents, aunts and uncles, cousins came to watch him play. 鈥淛耻蝉迟 like every game, 滨鈥檓 pumped right from the get-go and this one was a big one.
鈥泪 had some nerves, but it 飞补蝉苍鈥檛 bad, once I got out there and got the first shift out of the way, it was 驳辞辞诲.鈥�
A second-round bantam draft pick of the Red Deer Rebels in 2015, the Chiefs acquired the 5-foot-9, 165-pound Zummack in a trade early in 2016.
In a season-plus with the B.C. Major Midget 尝别补驳耻别鈥檚 Okanagan Rockets, Zummack was an offensive juggernaut, racking up 72 points in 47 games.
After just 10 games of midget hockey this season, the Chiefs saw no point in waiting any longer to tap into 窜耻尘尘补肠办鈥檚 potential.
鈥泪t鈥檚 awesome, a lifetime experience and 滨鈥檓 enjoying it so 尘耻肠丑,鈥� said Zummack, who has two goals and six points in his first 19 WHL games. 鈥湵踱�檓 grateful for the opportunity. 滨迟鈥檚 an unreal league, 颈迟鈥檚 tough day in and day out, but 颈迟鈥檚 补飞别蝉辞尘别.鈥�
鈥湵踱�檓 enjoying my time, trying to make the most of it and see where it takes 尘别.鈥�
