First Taste
You never forget that first WHL game.
From pulling the jersey over your head, skating in the warmups, to your first shift – it’s all a surreal experience.
Hitmen prospect Luke Prokop got his first taste of Dub action against the Edmonton Oil Kings on Dec. 13.
“It was a really exciting moment,” said the 15-year-old. “The fact it was a home game made it more special. Playing in front of the fans and giving them a chance to get to know me and how I play.”
“It was unbelievable to be a part of.”
Prokop was called up as an affiliate player a few days prior to his debut, getting to watch The Brick Teddy Bear Toss Game from the sidelines.
Although he didn’t play during it, the experience of seeing the bears fly after Vladisav Yeryomenko scored in the first period left him in awe.
“Seeing the Teddy Bear Toss was unreal,” Prokop said. “The whole experience of it gave me the push to want to get out there for my first game.”
“It also gave me an extra push to be in the game for next year.”
The Edmonton native only had to wait a couple more days after the Sunday matinee to finally hit the ice.
“I was probably more nervous in warm-up than the game itself,” he laughed. “Jackson (van de Leest) helped me with the situations and talking to me on the ice to transition in. I was thankful he helped me get settled in.”
“I was actually surprised how well I got into the swing of things in my first shift. With each shift things started to go more smoothly and I just felt more comfortable.”
There was no doubting that his parents would be in attendance to watch their son play at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Both of them scrambled to get to Calgary, with his mother Nicole driving down from Edmonton, and his father Al flying out from Kelowna to share the moment.
“It was exciting for them to watch me play in front of a larger crowd,” Prokop said. “My mom was a little nervous of me playing against older guys but overall they were so proud.”
Prokop would go on to play both games against Kootenay this past weekend and has now skated in three out of the five maximum WHL games he’s eligible to take part in as a 15-year-old.
The experience will help him for next season when he’ll compete for a roster spot and he now knows what to expect from the WHL.
“It’s huge to get these games in and I’m excited for what’s to come.”
