The family-owned Valleycliffe General Store is widely known for its Canucks-themed d茅cor -it got the Carrat family so much attention last year the team owner, the Aquilini family, sent them a signed team jersey.
Now the business owners are turning their hockey mania into a fundraiser while giving locals a chance to test their slapshot skills on an old dryer.
As long as the Vancouver Canucks are in the playoffs, hockey fans dropping by the store on game day get to shoot pucks into the broken down machine while chowing down on barbecue hotdogs, all in an effort to help out long time local referee Ken Mehan, who was injured during a game and is now rehabilitating in a wheelchair.
"We just wanted to do a fun community event with the barbecue to help," said store co-owner, Canucks fan and recreational local hockey player Matthew Carrat.
"We wanted to do a fundraiser for Kenny because he's been a long time 麻豆社国产referee in both 麻豆社国产minor and the men's hockey."
Mehan has spent the last 25 years refereeing in local leagues.
"When it's 'I'm too old to play' or 'I don't want to play anymore,' the next best thing is giving something back to the kids," he said.
While refereeing a game in late March, two wingers accidentally injured Mehan after a face-off. The 57-year-old hospital maintenance worker suffered two breaks and a fracture in his right femur and ankle. Although he's recovering reasonably well from surgery, he's left with medical bills to pay and a health insurance policy that will only cover part of his costs.
"The proceeds would help cover what our extended benefits won't pay," he said. "I've talked to some people with a break very similar to this and it's taken them up to a year before they can walk properly again."
Mehan said he's upset he'll miss the summer fishing season, but he'll probably get back into refereeing next season.
Carrat said he wanted to help the longtime ref out since he's overseen practically every game Carrat has played in town over the last 20 years, and he's also a regular at the store.
"Obviously we want to help him out because he's been such a major part of men's hockey. He reffed every single game. If we didn't have him it wouldn't have worked," he said.
"Coincidentally our dryer broke last week. I had it by the dumpster we just figured it would be fun with the barbecue to have people come down."
Carrat's mother and business partner Sylvia said she just wants to give back.
"We wanted to do what we could do and we've been very very lucky in our lives."
Carrat said this year feels special for her and her family. Just a few weeks ago, Matthew and his older brother Ryan were in Los Angeles for game three and four against the L.A. Kings and they literally bumped into the Sedin twins.
The awestruck Carrat brothers grabbed a photo of the Swedish hockey sensations, which now hangs on display on a wall in the family store.
Sylvia said she just wants to keep the good karma going.
"Just to give back all of the good stuff, all the divine providence we get," said the Canuck enthusiast. "I feel like this is our year."
Mehan said he always tried to teach the hockey players in the league - including Sylvia's own four sons - not to roughhouse on the ice.
"My main concern on the ice, every night was the safety of the players," Mehan said. "I'd tell them, 'Listen you guys, quit fooling around. You've got girlfriends, wives, kids, a mortgage, a job, car payments and bills.'"
He said he doesn't blame anyone for the accident because no one is really to blame - it was just an unfortunate accident. However he did express disappointment over the lack of support from other league players since his injury.
"None of the players in the league stopped by the house, visited, and had a beer, other than Sylvia and her boys," he said.
A teary-eyed Mehan said he's grateful for everything the Carrat's have done for him since his accident.
Carrat his invitation to residents from across town to come down take a shot at the dryer in return for a donation has been well met.
"So far so good. We have some good shooters in Valleycliffe."
Some Valleycliffe residents are starting to drop of auction items to raise funds for Mehan as well. One resident dropped off a mini pontoon with a rod and reel set valued at $450, and a friend of Carrat's has donated a Canucks jersey for auction.
Anyone interested in taking a shot at the dryer, eating some barbecue hot dogs, placing a bid on the auction items can drop by the Canucks-adorned Valleycliffe General Store located at 38229 Westway Avenue.
