The capacity of Rogers Arena in Vancouver is 18,910, and thousands more watch Vancouver Canucks games on TV.

All of those eyeballs will see the Sardis secondary school Drumline in action during the 2021-22 National Hockey League season. Members of the drumline will be travelling into Vancouver for each of the 41 Canucks home games, starting with a Tuesday night (Oct. 26) game against the Minnesota Wild.

The Chilliwack youths will be performing on the ice and on the concourse.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 an awesome press opportunity for us,91裸聊视频� said Grade 12 student Thomas Mordaunt, one of the 91裸聊视频榲eterans91裸聊视频� on the young team. 91裸聊视频淭he drumline played at the 2012 (Winter) Olympics (in Vancouver), and played some Canucks games around 10 years ago too, so it feels like we91裸聊视频檙e going to be bringing the drumline back up to that level after being in a lull for a few years.91裸聊视频�

Nervous members of the team gathered Friday after school for a rehearsal, and journeyed to Abbotsford that night for an appearance at the Abbotsford Canucks home opener. With so many new members, every moment of prep counts before hitting the big stage.

91裸聊视频淎bout half our the group is returning from last year,91裸聊视频� Mordaunt said. 91裸聊视频淭he entire bass drum line is new. About half the cymbals, almost all the tenors and two or three snares are all new.

91裸聊视频淏ut what I91裸聊视频檝e always told everyone is, 91裸聊视频楴obody cares how good you play. All that they care about is how well you entertain. If you have lots of energy and look like you91裸聊视频檙e playing it right, most people won91裸聊视频檛 be able to tell the difference. So, while playing perfect parts is helpful, the most crucial part is to be engaging.91裸聊视频�

Mordaunt played a Canucks game once before, back in Grade 9. He described it as a nerve-wracking experience, but also tons of fun.

91裸聊视频淗aving the Jumbotron zoom in on each person91裸聊视频檚 face, and seeing yours on that huge screen, it was like 91裸聊视频楾here91裸聊视频檚 18,000 people staring at me right now,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� he said with a laugh.

Emily Werner, a Grade 10 student who is leading the bass drummers in her first year with the senior team, said she worries about doing her part correctly.

91裸聊视频淏ut most of all I worry about slipping on the ice,91裸聊视频� she added. 91裸聊视频淚 was on the ice at a (Chilliwack) Chiefs game a few weeks ago, and fortunately it (the ice) was pretty cut up from the hockey, so it wasn91裸聊视频檛 a problem. You just have to avoid the goalie areas.91裸聊视频�

This is going to be a big time commitment for teenagers who have other things like jobs and homework to worry about, which is why the entire team or 25-30 students won91裸聊视频檛 be going into the city. Each game will feature six or seven drum liners, 91裸聊视频渃reating energy and fun for the fan experience.91裸聊视频�

They91裸聊视频檒l be on the concourse. They91裸聊视频檒l play during television advertising breaks and entertain the crowd between periods.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e not played a gig with a group that small. It sounds a lot different and you have to play a lot louder. It91裸聊视频檚 a challenge, but it91裸聊视频檚 also exciting,91裸聊视频� said Werner, who loves songs that include lots of movement and yelling. 91裸聊视频淚 haven91裸聊视频檛 had a chance to play in front of a crowd this big either, but it91裸聊视频檚 always cool to look up and see people enjoying what you91裸聊视频檙e playing. You91裸聊视频檙e the star of that one moment.91裸聊视频�

The ongoing gig will be a huge revenue generator. The drum line will be paid per game, with money going to equipment upgrades and repairs.

The drumline has been at Sardis secondary since the late 1990s since being developed by Bruno Gagnon.

eric.welsh@theprogress.com
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