Defenceman Matt Irwin of Brentwood Bay knows he is living a storyline dreamed by any kid who has ever walked into an arena dressing room to suit up.
His journey began in the Peninsula Recreation Centre. It has led to the 2017 Stanley Cup final as the Nashville Predators make their first appearance in franchise history.
“It’s crazy … so cool … but it’s perhaps not totally sunk in yet,” the former Nanaimo Clippers BCHL junior star said.
“This is what you play 82 games for in the regular season. All 30 NHL teams set out to do this. Only 16 get the chance and there will only be two left — and we are one of them, with a shot at the ultimate prize. As a group, we’re really excited by this chance. It’s an opportunity you dream of, but you don’t get here every year.”
Irwin and the Western Conference champion Preds await the winner of tonight’s Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final between the Ottawa Senators and defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins.
In the past decade, Rod Brind’Amour has brought the Stanley Cup to Campbell River and Willie Mitchell to Port McNeill. But don’t book that Cup parade down Wallace Drive just yet. Irwin is close, yet so far.
“We have not reached our goal yet. The hardest games are still ahead of us,” he said.
There will be an advantage because it will be a fresh Nashville squad, with a full week’s rest after its Game 6 victory Monday against Anaheim, for the puck drop in Game 1 of the final Monday in either Pittsburgh or Ottawa.
“We are using the time to regroup, relax and rest up after a lot of hockey played with speed and intensity,” Irwin said of the rare playoff break.
“That is as important mentally as it is physically.”
The 29-year-old former San Jose Shark said he has no preference between the Senators or Penguins.
“We beat a physical Anaheim team, a Chicago team with speed, and a St. Louis team that is a combination of both,” he said, noting Nashville’s victims on the road to the Stanley Cup final.
“We are confident we can adapt to any style.”
The six-foot-one, 210-pound Irwin has resurrected his career in Nashville by providing depth minutes for a vaunted Predators blue-line led by the standout top four of P.K. Subban, Ryan Ellis, Mattias Ekholm and Roman Josi.
“Our top four defencemen are so creative offensively and solid defensively. For me, it’s about giving consistent minutes,” said Irwin, a former Saanich Braves Junior B player whose No. 44 jersey is retired and hanging from the rafters of Pearkes Arena.
It’s been quite a fish-out-of-water ride for the first-year Pred from the Island as Music City USA had suddenly become Hockey Town USA.
“The fans have really pushed us … they are our seventh man,” Irwin said.
“It’s been a crazy experience to be part of this. The city and whole state of Tennessee are excited because this is a first for this organization.”
