'We call it the barn': Homemade rink helps train Vancouver Island hockey star
On Vancouver Island, a young hockey star is turning heads and preparing for his future, all while practising at a backyard rink located in a barn.
Noah Kosick puts his skates on one foot at a time, just like anybody else. But there are a few things that separate him from your average 14-year-old.
He plays in a U-18 league with Pacific Hockey Academy, and was coached by his dad, Mark.
"He had a good year and I was proud of him," said his father.
Between making fancy passes, Kosick practises at a homemade hockey rink.
"We call it the barn," he says.
That's because it is a barn, on a Saanich farm, where Kosick comes every day.
"I basically grew up here," he says. "It's an unreal facility and place."
That practice has helped him become one of the top young players in the hockey universe.
Several websites have him pegged as a top prospect for the WHL Bantam draft.
While his future is uncertain, Kosick says playing in Victoria "would be special."
"If that's how it worked out it certainly would be something special for our family," he says.
But for now, Kosick spends most of his time far from the eyes of scouts in the barn.
When asked if he thought it was the coolest place in the world?
"Yeah, for sure," says Kosick. "Any kid that loves hockey dreamed of having a place like this."
Despite it having its own scoreboard and even the WHL logo on center ice, that's not the teen's favourite feature.
"The Zamboni when it gets going," he says.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.