Bé - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, April 28, 2004 7

mm 4TERRACE STANDARD &

A Terrace goalie plays a part in the movie of U. S. ‘Olympic hockey. glory

.. ... By. SARAHLA. ZIMMERMAN |= ’ 5 a

oo | 0 IF, YOU look: really closely: in one of the =i” _ ;
. a i [| opening scenes’ of the latest hockey. movie -

Sr ee fe to hit-the: silver: screen: you just might see a ay

, ee familiar. faces. 00:
See Soo Deo Tetrace-born and raised’ fortier: injnor r hock-
' ROB BROWN fe ey. player. Rod Mclnnés js.an extra: in “several.

“oe BS. seenes” of. the: ‘Hollywood, movie Miracle, ~
whieh ‘chronictes - the road - to: 1980 Olympic.
: Pe gold for: the U.S: smén’s ‘hockey team. ° :

' “HEY’RE from the States = Michigan, ai ~Melhnes, 26; plays the ‘role, of a “young.
- think: They're: not doing very well!” © Américan hockey, goalie with ‘his: ‘sights. set on ~
“said. Olga,”“I" don’t think. they’ ve 7 playing between! the pipes: for the: team, we
a caught a: fish. ‘Can you help: them ut: 7 “Like ‘many. hockey: Olympic hopefuls’ Me:
- Rob? They’ re really. nice fellows. - ‘Tnnes* ‘character, gets cut!“

Normally [ll give: tourist anglers. the time: ‘of. “One. of. dozens of hockey- playing extras in:
day and wish them’ good, luck. an not: shuch She’ movie, shot’ in Vancouver, McInnes. Says
more. than that. « . : - filming alongside: the: likes ‘of. Hollywood *

If they ask ‘me how: fishing i is, TH ‘ell them it's: |. Superstar Kurt: Russell, was” “an. “experience he
fine, because it almost always’ is, no . matter. hopes to repeat sometime,” -- ont
what the catch ‘has-been. I answer like that be- ke’ 19. do. it’ “again,” "he :
cause I’m Canadian, and’: e. Canadians: are, :
generally, resetved

~ Michigan Men

3

Te “ Miracle's 5 ‘not “hig first time: being an extra iw | 2 7 ee! of

Yi ‘of. iitural stereotyping, |.’ 2 movie: “He's played. hockey. players: in-two - -
but ou may aceuse me of cult In wee the other made-for-television movies. but Miracle’ KURT. RUSSELL plays the coach of the U.S. Olympio team: whose run. to gold Fr in 1 1980" ’
citizens from the Great United” States are a stands: out éver others. because -of ‘the: ‘hockéy’. faa tegendary. Terrace’s. Rod: Mclnnes. has. a small Part in the movie's opening sequence.

friendly, ‘outgoing; hustling, bustling ‘in-your- pas required by’ the actors ‘and extras... ond —
face ree, ng ee | ue g y <| 2: Unlike other - hockey: ‘movies. ‘where: the me When: T was younger. we “used to have- wicked “team, a ae - me
For example if you find yourself sainped. next” . Xtras’ arid:many’ of the main “players” ‘are’ ac- = winters. So -we-could have: an outdoor rink for. ‘The’ movie. was shot: in. Vancouver in n the a
toa Canadian for. a_week, your communication: | ...tOTS, playing. hockey players, ‘the makers of this’ © two. of thres months." ~ . “winter of 20032 0-0" a

Coming from, a family with: ‘a. ‘hockey. play:
ng brether-and a- sister in’ ringette, ‘hitting: the:
cé: was. a natural : ae

will probably. be limited-to a polite “good mort: filin wanted authenticity: from:start to, finish,
ing” as you:pass. their,camp.on ‘the way. to.the. Phey.-didn't ‘want: actors. playing” hockey
water. tap or outhouse-and few smiles ‘and polite.-| - -players,: they ‘wanted hockey players, being
waves as ‘they pass. yours on a: similar: missions.. :ACLOTS -Meinnes’ explains...
--But camp. next to a.couple. from, ‘say, “Arizona” css The” casting directors were..on ‘the; lookout
or California - or Michigan —/and in short titne.J “nol any te ne Blavers He ee ‘the right
ill: find your: hand -being vigorously’: 8g¢ for the-roles but.who had: sharp enoug ae
vimped i ed liké..aDr.: ake y Skills’ th t game sequences, could: ‘be. shot. with. h He: went on°to ‘play in‘riet.in minor h key. director to. call the start: 0 scene
“retired septuagenarian pediatrician whois tras J» Out Tesorting to Shooting clise, ups to" cover-up os ate to the-bantam. and midget rep. level. 7 You'd be walking sound’ din your. es oye
veling to Alaska in: his -Satellite- -equipped land.” * tack of skill: en McInnes heard. about: the. casting all : gear, trying’to eat_ your: lunch,’ he: says..." You “.

. 1 d. the t re| Hotkey’ has. been a wa of: lite for" Meinnes. - for “Miracle he jumped. atthe? ‘Opportunity; have to: always ‘be’ ready.” :
yacht with his wife Be ler an er mini " a ., McInnes -had ‘thé skills. but, with hundreds of: ~~ McInnes Was. struck by the: attention to: 0 de- "

“ever sincé:-he’ was, old enou gh to m @ on:
see Hane ae: ‘three af. them, he’ aL tell” = - 1g Os ee “people. t’ying-out for.a limited number of rol tion the: ‘ee of the film.» ‘ai cas
. ale ‘theJeame at: fours ears. he's . V 2... From, authentic: ‘pop; and. ice cream. ina. :
ere peony se bhai an Yard’ “Tinks ier his: dad. i a ‘Two months after ‘the Anitial: try- ~outs: “Me- » chines: -from:1979 ‘to application. ‘forms: that ©
“he spitting. image of her, mom when he’ first met “8 -. *T gai remember: being in'bed at: 11-0! "clock Irines, got ‘the. call asking him to fill the role of ee ‘replicas of the: ‘originals, evetything me :
her, has two -kids and is married to. Brad,'a real: | * and’ hearing: him shoveling,” Melniies: recalls. A. young, goalie trying out for: the: “Olympic: : _ Continued Page’ B1i2- cae! (nana
estate. agent;~and: then there's. Frank,. who’ sin f ” en en
* the air force still. ‘single, (just Tefuses-to” settle:
down) — who-all made the:trip when: ‘they . ‘were -
_-smaller, - but: ‘they’ re ‘grown’ up, now ‘and-'got
“they're own: lives’ to lead. "Says." he? IL. “say, ‘then,
“how about’ comin”: over for drink?” :
“So, where are these. Michigan | Fisheiman?” | 7
~ “They're in. the ‘cabin. where the white ‘truck: is
; parked,” said ‘Olga, * ‘the one: “nearest ‘the’ road.”
““Sure,.- Olga.’ r I see if I ‘can. be. of some help.”
T said: :
: After all, Olga Walker; the foimer proprietor.
of the Kispiox Steelhead ‘Camp’ and school’ tea-
cher at.the now- -defunct primary school. at Two
_ Mile, ‘is a8 -kind and as gracious a: person ‘as.
“you're - likely to méet anywhere, the. kind of f per:
son you can’t turn: downs :
I ‘made- my. way to: the cabin, There was. en-..|
ough frost to make the grass - ¢runch® ‘under. iy |
feet. The -air-smelled of burnt wood and dried:
. feaves: ‘By. the- time. I reached: their’ cabin, the
Michigan ‘men ‘were. ‘loading.’ gear, ‘into their.

“’Melnies: worked on: the: fi Im! ‘for about: three ef
‘weeks - tWo. weeks of on-ide, ‘off-camera tr r ain- :
ing. and one week of steady. filming
When filming: a: ‘Hollywood: flick -even ‘the wit
t “extras have‘t be. ready to: walk on- the. set. at.a-
{ “moment's, notice —. that ‘means ‘being, in full
stopping: pucks. between’ the ‘pipes. - , goalie: ‘gear’ for: ‘hours | on end: waiting forth

they had, but the: ‘were. ‘small, ‘Like: ‘the’ Kind 4 ice.
‘fishermen use and they called* them bobbers, -
Then. Z| pve er directions to the: Upper: Pon.

‘truck, I could, see their .conversation.:
They told me their names; In the. awkwardness:
of the: 5 moment 1 forgot them almos immet
and reminded me ofa. couple of Physical: -Edu-:f-
cation teachers I'd_ known. His Partner jas. built -fac ‘ili ti
advertising. the Sage rod-company: They were]...
branded, ‘another “American: phenomenon -bors Jo" t tc
rowed from..cattle ‘ranching: practice by the “won s op
fish,” 1 ‘said. 2
We got sone: nice ortes, - TRACK AND field athletes a are.in’
steelhead,” I suggested. * ;
. ~ eventhough they’ reusing admitt-
I looked through: their" ‘equipiient;: ‘selecting: edly. lousy facilities ‘that: aren't up Y
| Terrase ‘Track: and Field Associa-:
tion’ hopes, to. send. sizable con:
so. “Last -year owe . ‘sent: “five: “ath:
 Ietes-io-thé B.C, Simmer. Games

“Rob ‘Brown,”. I said when I- was: “close, exe
tending. my hand and: feeling kind of ‘American:
“> Ly, . wed a
One | guy was ‘sinall arid fit, He wore 2 glasses. _ Bad track
like a-linebacker, - a a
Their hats. Were .brown ‘with atehing logos .-
. American -advertising - behemoths. and: ‘exported .
to every-part of the globalized globes am lc | t m
a “Sook hear. you haven't; been’ finding: any. _— oca ea
man He held Se foot apart. oy training to, leave: their mark at the .
° y . BC. Summer Games: “this” ‘year — |
out some. latex: cee clusters: “Goel Bob eds ‘Luht. “to suff fo olnpetition,. 7
Coach Dighton’ Haynes. said the.
“ingent to (he: games: this: year. de:
Spite: that. challenge...
Al tor irack, he said. “This Year, Tn m
Bat end: 10." ‘

1 malted, the raft: ashore ‘as: Sie linebacker.
hooked up. A steelhead shot: off. His rod bent”
double and shot afler that the Tine’ ‘snapped.

§ lost

eyes said they WortUb ., 4 halt f for events” ~ahonpul pads: were ripped. up ind travel to: other trick. and: “field -
. ing: any track: ots here-bee use.” The* organization: “continues” to haven't ‘been, “replaced,” Haynes: » meets ‘around the tegion in, order: J"
the: oval al. Skeetia -is' dinly. pa work on raising $250,000, for. the.” added. “The ‘onily thing. we can to gain, experience f for the Tetrace s
nd= docsn't ‘yel:: ha >eouted ‘surface, he-said, “1 a n
ubb sd: for. .Olher track’ ‘and field infrastruc?

the smaller man. He. spoke like: someohe “revo: -
vering from’ some. kind. of exquisite physical: nak

“SQ “for. 90 ‘per. cent™ of the

ertlon. excitin ture: was also. lost. when: Skeena Jes events | “tiobody. will con Sa
Canadian. es track meets." ae rte “fore: e_eading to; the Summe

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