His University of B.C. Thunderbirds’ info page notes he can juggle and ride a unicycle.
The updated page could now say New Westminster's Matt Hewitt was also a member of the Vancouver Canucks.
The UBC goalie found himself in the spotlight Tuesday, on the bench wearing Canuck colours and with a real possibility of making his NHL debut after Ryan Miller called in sick prior to the game against St. Louis – a game Vancouver won 2-1 in overtime.
“Obviously the build-up going into (Tuesday’s) game can’t be beat. I was just ecstatic to be part of the team and be there,” Hewitt told the NOW on Wednesday. “Ever since I got the call (from UBC head coach Sven Butenchon) my heart was racing a mile a minute.”
The call came late Tuesday morning when it was apparent Miller was unable to play or even dress. UBC, which serves as a back-up practice rink for the NHL team, is also their go-to place for emergency netminders.
“I’ve skated with them in practice (before) and had some experience with the team that way, and they were so awesome (Tuesday),” said Hewitt. “They made me feel part of the team... They had no trouble chirping me and I chirped back.”
Hewitt, a New West native and Burnaby North graduate who is the T-birds starter, was ready for anything – butterflies and all.
Most of his family were in attendance, along with numerous friends as he took the opening warmup. When the anthem singer’s microphone cut out and the crowd stepped up to finish Oh Canada, Hewitt said it seemed surreal.
“It just added to the whole experience, having the fans do that, then sitting in the best seat on the bench,” Hewitt noted.
As a university student, his one-day contract with the Canucks offered no financial windfall. But Hewitt said any honourarium would be a pittance to the experience itself.
“Being a university student you are not expected to be paid, and that’s fine,” he said.
He did come home with a Canucks jersey with his name on it, however.
The 23-year-old former Regina Pats netminder is in his fourth year at UBC, majoring in sociology.
As a sophomore in the Western Hockey League, Hewitt posted his best season with a 2.76 goals against average over 60 games.
After his final year, he was presented the Rick Rypien Memorial Award as the team’s unsung hero and the Bill Hicke Award as its most popular player.
All those accolades are special keepsakes for a career in the cage.
It’s hard to top being on an NHL team – even for just a day.
“It was just an amazing buildup to the whole thing,” he added. “I’ve gotten a lot of texts and messages... I’m still kind of flying high, and I think that will last for a while.”
