Hockey runs deep through the communities in northern Manitoba and for those with a keen interest will have the opportunity to hear from and former NHL player and current goalie coach Kelly Guard.
Guard founded Guardian Goaltending in 2004 but prior to that played professional hockey for six years, including playing for the Ottawa Senators, Binghmaton Senators, and Charlotte Checkers. Guard also ventured over to Europe for a few seasons making stops in Italy, Austria and Belarus. He played his junior hockey for the Kelowna Rockets where he won a Memorial Cup Championship and was named the Memorial Cup MVP in 2004. He also set multiple goaltending records for the Canadian Hockey league while playing in Kelowna. Kelly just finished his 8th year as a Goaltender Coach for the WHL's Prince Albert Raiders. Guard was also the 2023 IIHF World Juhior Team Canada goalie coach and while visiting the community will be bringing with him the gold medal from that event.
For Guard hockey has been a part of his life more by default than anything, “I think by default you played because all of your friends played. It was also always on the tv when I was younger. My father being a habs fan and my mom a leaf’s fan.” Hitting the ice is not uncommon for Canadian kids however, wanting to play goalie isn’t for everyone but Guard new early its where he wanted to be. “By Atom I started playing more and more. I had to share equipment with another kid on our team then by second year atom I had my own gear. Got a set for Christmas, I remember it like it was yesterday,” he said.