Barkey told the kids to keep having fun, but also respect coaches. (Aug 2022)
Team Canada U18 centre Denver Barkey visited kids at a Newmarket summer camp fresh off a gold-medal win at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
“I feel like I’ve always tried to have a smile on my face,” he told Newmarket’s Hockey Camp Sr. at the Magna Centre. “Pay attention, be respectful, and work hard.”
The local hockey star taught and played ball hockey with Newmarket’s young players during a special visit to the municipality-run camp Aug. 15.
“Since I’ve been a kid, I’ve always seen Team Canada win gold,” he said. “To do that myself was really cool, and it was a super awesome experience getting a medal around my neck.”
Barkey said he always looked up to older players as a kid and was glad to do something similar to a new generation.
“I always want to inspire younger kids. This is a great opportunity this time to talk to them about how hard I’ve hard to work,” he said.
The young kids from ages nine to 12 asked the OHL player about getting into hockey, his favourite player and requested plenty of autographs. Barkey then played some ball hockey scrimmage with them.
It is a big year for Barkey, as he prepares for his second season as a centre with the London Knights. Besides playing for his team, he will be playing for his future as he enters NHL draft eligibility in 2023.
“There’s a little bit of nerves, a little bit of pressure there,” he said. “I’ve worked as hard as I can this summer. I’m just going to try to do the best I can this year. Just play my game and do my thing.”
“I was one of these kids when I was younger,” he said, adding he wanted to “be a role model. Teach them what I had to do just to get to where I am.”
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