Friends chase dream together
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Updated: October 01, 2009 4:28 PM
Two friends have shared a lifelong dream to play professional hockey.
And now, both will chase that dream together, not only as friends, but as teammates as well.
Tyler Burton and Steve Vanoosten left this week to chase that dream as they begin training camp with the ECHL’s Stockton Thunder.
“It’s always fun playing hockey with your best friend,” Vanoosten said.
“Just the fact that it was both our dreams growing up and we have both worked so hard to get here and now to do it together and on the same team is a pretty good feeling,” Burton said.
The pair played the majority of their minor hockey together, first with the Burnaby Winter Club, and then in their teenage years re-united with the Langley Minor Hockey Association.
The pair were part of the Langley bantam AAA Eagles squad which won both the provincial and western Canadian championships.
They also spent part of the 2003-04 season in the BCHL with the junior A Chilliwack Chiefs.
Burton is in his second pro season while Vanoosten is new to the professional game.
And Vanoosten will look to his former teammate.
“It definitely helps knowing somebody,” he said.
“He has a year under his belt, he can help me along the way.”
The players left Langley yesterday (Thursday) and have their physicals today (Friday).
The team’s regular season begins Oct. 16.
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