It was a family affair Friday night at the WHL game at the Pacific Coliseum.
New Westminster goalie, Matt Hewitt, 19, who plays for the Regina Pats, was on the ice, warmed up and waiting for the anthem before the puck dropped.
To his surprise, his stepsister, Melanie Gibson, walked out onto the red carpet with a microphone.
Gibson, 23, is a campfire singer, and had never sung in public before, according to her mother Gayle Brawn, but wanted to surprise her brother at his first home game.
She auditioned, and when she got the gig, asked if she could be scheduled to sing at the Pats vs. Giants game.
The moment was priceless, said Brawn.
She went out there and he saw her and went, Oh, my God. He said, I couldnt look at her, but he had a big grin on his face. He wanted to give her a big hug afterwards but of course he couldnt.
Another surprise for Hewitt was the number of fans who turned out to watch him play and hear his stepsister sing.
More than 120 people, including family, friends, neighbours and acquaintances of both siblings filled a section of the stands, and extended family across Canada tuned in to watch the game on TV.
To add to the magic of the evening, friends of the family won more than $5,000 in the 50/50 draw.
It was a total community, family affair, Brawn said. Everything just lined up. It was amazing.
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