Nanaimo family celebrates Christmas blessings after Vancouver Canucks ‘miracle’
Posted December 29, 2022 8:45 pm.
Two young Vancouver Canucks fans from Nanaimo are celebrating their Christmas blessings, after receiving not one, but two, hockey “miracles.”
During a trip to Edmonton, Janelle Staite, Mike Erwin, and their two sons Linden and Marshall went to a pre-Christmas Canucks game when something unexpected happened.
Holding a sign that said, “Hey, Bo Horvat, all I want for Christmas is your signature,” 11-year-old Linden had a dream of getting the centre’s attention.
Mike, Linden and Marshall Erwin at a pre-Christmas Canucks game in Edmonton, Alta. (Photo courtesy of Janelle Staite)
But some dreams become reality, when to Linden’s surprise, Horvat spotted the sign.
“He just stopped, looked at it, and then he found one of the sticks and he tossed it over the glass and gave it to us,” Linden said.
“I was just shocked, like, ‘what,” he added.
Linen Erwin made a home made sign asking his idol, Bo Horvat, for a signature. (Photo courtesy Janelle Staite)
After the game, the family checked their new prized possession with the airline for their flight home — but their elation was short-lived when they arrived at the Abbotsford International Airport , and the stick didn’t.
Amidst the delays and baggage concerns following B.C.’s storms, the family says the stick didn’t show up along with the rest of their luggage.
“When the stick wasn’t there, it just was a roller coaster of ups and downs along the way,” Staite said.
Staite says they tried to find out where it was, and thanks to an anonymous tip texted to the family on Christmas morning, the texter said the stick may have been left in Edmonton.
Janelle Staite and Linden Erwin at a Vancouver Canucks game. (Photo courtesy Janelle Staite)
“We noticed a hockey stick laying around the airport in Edmonton by the baggage claim,” the text read.
Although Staite says it’s possible the stick mentioned was theirs, they couldn’t get it back.
“We tried calling the airport, customer service, security, and Flair [Airlines] to see if someone could go claim what appeared to be the found stick, but unfortunately we weren’t successful in those phone calls,” Staite explained.
After making the calls, Staite says she posted a plea on Twitter asking the Canucks for a “Christmas miracle.”
@BoHorvat @Canucks @CanucksPR my sons were given Bos stick on Dec 23 but @FlairAirlines lost it on our flight home to Abbotsford on Dec 24 & won’t get back to us … can you help us out please with a Christmas Miracle? pic.twitter.com/l3WZLiaH97
— Janelle Staite (@JanelleStaite) December 27, 2022
The “miracle” happened, when the team saw Staite’s plea online, and vowed to top the original gift.
In a video posted on Twitter, the family got another surprise when Linden’s hero Horvat promised he would make sure a new stick would get to them, “as long as you are still cheering for the Canucks,” he said.
Marshall and Linden, @BoHorvat heard your story and will make sure a new stick comes your way.
Thanks for being great #Canucks fans! https://t.co/qAEsnOJYB8 pic.twitter.com/JYAxPCCsmh
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 29, 2022
On top of the stick, this time signed, the family is also getting a reverse retro Horvat jersey.
“We hadn’t anticipated this response, but are super appreciative and thankful for it,” Staite said.
The original stick is still missing.
CityNews has reached out to Flair Airlines for comment.
