Luke (left) and Alex (right) Schaal pose with Vancouver Canucks left winger Mason Raymond (centre) at the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena in Invermere. A native of Cochrane, Alberta and a full-time Invermere resident in his off-season, Raymond was on hand at the Windermere Valley Minor Hockey Association registration night held at the arena on June 26 to sign autographs and offer inspiration to the kids.

“I’ve been coming to the valley since I was ten,” Raymond said. “I started like every one of these boys and girls that are in here, this is where the grassroots starts. I know what it was like one day meeting Lanny McDonald and it was a pretty cool feeling and somebody I looked up to, so hopefully I can be the role model or idol to these guys and keep minor hockey rolling in the valley of Invermere.”

On meeting Raymond — “I think it was really cool,” said Alex.

“Exciting,” said Luke, who said he watches Raymond on TV and that he is one of his favourite players.

The Windermere Valley Minor Hockey association is seeking players for the 2012-13 season. Boys and girls from the ages five to 16 are encouraged to sign up. Contact registrar Nancy Wilfley at 250-342-6696 or new2006@shaw.ca.