Predators centre from Metro Vancouver facing off against team he once idolized
As a young hockey player growing up in North Vancouver, Colton Sissons was a die-hard Canucks fan. Twelve years after being drafted by Nashville, the Predators centre is facing off against the Canucks during the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in his career.
“Playing against the team I grew up idolizing is a pretty cool experience, so it’s awesome that we got matched up in the playoffs,” he said after Tuesday’s game day skate.
The Canucks-Predators round one match up is a dream come true for Colton’s parents Doug and Debbie.
“We were excited solely due to the fact we would see Colton here for dinner at our house on Friday night and be able to see him a couple of times during the week,” said Doug, who still lives in the North Vancouver home where Colton grew up.
Doug says his son is living his childhood dream playing playoff hockey at Rogers Arena – even if it is for the visiting team.
“There was a ton of nerves going out onto the ice the other night. But once the puck drops and you make contact with that first guy in a Canucks jersey, the jitters go away and you get down to business,” said Doug, who watched game one in the stands with Debbie. “It’s a tough situation, my wife and I were a little bit out of place the other night, to say the least, with all the fans.”
Doug says he and Debbie watched the game incognito, rather than wearing gold Nashville Predators jerseys. But there is no question where their allegiance lies.
“We are just devout Preds fans, that’s it,” said Doug.
Colton said the love for the Canucks in the Sissons' household died when he became a Nashville Predator. “It’s been gone for quite some time now. Yeah, probably since 2012 when I was drafted. Those days are over,” said Colton.
“It was so exciting when he got drafted by the Preds, and then he’s just taken off from there,” said Doug. “He’s been a very reliable two-way player, one of the best in the league on face-offs, and his leadership has grown there dramatically as well.”
Colton’s Nashville Predators got to the Stanley Cup final in 2017, only to lose to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Doug knows his son’s team is the underdog against the Canucks, and most other playoff teams this time around. But he’s confident they have a shot.
“Oh I believe it, 100 per cent.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Couple randomly attacked, 1 stabbed, by group of teens in Toronto, police say
A man has been transported to hospital after police say he was stabbed in a random attack carried out by a group of teens in Toronto on Friday night.
Ron Ellis, who played over 1,000 games with Maple Leafs, dead at 79
Ron Ellis, who played over 1,000 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs and was a member of Canada's team at the 1972 Summit Series, has died at age 79.
Fort Nelson, B.C., wildfire doubles in size as 3,000-plus ordered to evacuate
The wildfire that sparked Friday and caused evacuation orders for more than 3,000 people in Fort Nelson, B.C., and the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has grown to nearly 1,700 hectares in size, according to a Saturday morning update from the BC Wildfire Service.
Dutch contestant kicked out of Eurovision hours before tension-plagued song contest final
Hours before the final, Dutch contestant Joost Klein was dramatically booted out by organizers over a backstage incident. He had failed to perform at two dress rehearsals on Friday, and contest organizer the European Broadcasting Union said it was investigating an "incident."
IN PICTURES Northern lights dance across the night sky in southern Ont.
From London, to Grand Bend, Collingwood and Guelph, here are some highlights of Friday night and Saturday morning's northern lights display.
Haitians demand the resignation and arrest of the country's police chief after a new gang attack
A growing number of civilians and police officers are demanding the dismissal and arrest of Haiti's police chief as heavily armed gangs launched a new attack in the capital of Port-au-Prince, seizing control of yet another police station early Saturday.
opinion How to use your credit card as a powerful wealth-building tool
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
'I am angry': Alberta farmers will continue fight over world class motorsport resort
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.