Jack Wright, 6, plays centre for the Humber Valley Sharks Tyke Select A team. He laced up his first pair of skates at age three, and has had a smile on his face ever since. He is currently playing in his third year of Tyke with Humber Valley – with slightly bigger skates.
A leader on his team, he loves passing and really gets a kick out of setting up his teammates. Make no mistake though, this is a kid who loves to score.
Midway through the season, Jack is the team’s leading goal scorer with 35 goals. He has developed a bit of a reputation for his elaborate post-goal celebrations – which his parents believe is the direct result of watching far too much SportsCentre.
While Jack can often be found on his family’s backyard rink playing with his buddies, he really attributes his success to the quality of the post-game snacks he consumes following his Tyke hockey games. BearPaws and cheeseburgers are his favourites, with Goldfish crackers a close second.
And while he tapes his stick like Phil Kessel, his favourite player is Patrick Kane because according to Jack, “That guy can really dangle.”
“I just get this ear-to-ear smile when I watch Jack play,” said Joanne Noble, chair of the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame. “The enthusiasm he has for the game is so inspiring. This is what future stars are made of.”