While a flotilla of 48 Island athletes compete in the 2012 London Summer Olympics, the lone potential Islander for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics was busy Wednesday helping young hockey players.
"I've been watching a lot of the Summer Olympics, and I would like to play in the Winter Games," said Saanich Peninsula-raised Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars, as he assisted in the Ryan O'Byrne Charity Hockey Camp at the UVic Ian Stewart Complex.
"It's special to be a part of playing for your country. That would be awesome. When the time comes, I hope I get picked."
Many are predicting just that as Benn, 23, is one of the elite young forwards in the NHL.
Despite his unresolved contract status, don't look for Benn to be going anywhere. He is considered the future of the Stars and is highly likely to remain in Big D.
"They are working on it, but I leave that up to my agent," Benn said.
"Something will get done sooner or later. It's tough to go somewhere else. Dallas is a good place to play. Hockey is definitely growing in the city, and that's good to see."
A big part of that is because of Benn's growing popularity in the crowded Dallas-Fort Worth sporting market.
He's pretty popular in his hometown, too, as attested by all the kids in camp who wanted to get their picture taken with him Wednesday.
"This has been great fun," he said.
"It made me remember back to when I was a kid and the Salsa [the B.C. Hockey League team now known as the Victoria Grizzlies] players would come out to our practices."
Meanwhile, it was announced Wednesday that the first annual Ryan O'Byrne Hockey Camp, headlined by the eponymous Victoria-born Colorado Avalanche defenceman, has raised $25,000 for KidSport, an organization that pays the sports registration and equipment fees for children whose parents can't afford them.
