Before puck drop Sunday, a hockey player stood on the center ice at Rogers Arena, holding his stick aloft with a white towel draped over the end.
Ahead of Game 1 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Vancouver Canucks will pay tribute tonight to Timur Gabasov, the team's towel kid, and his father who showed unwavering support before his untimely death. I got the opportunity. Because of the sport his son played.
“Tonight's Towel Kid is 14-year-old Timur Gabasov of the New Westminster Royals U15A1 team,” the Canucks said on X.
“Timur, your courage and tenacity are an inspiration. I'm sure your father, who never missed a hockey game, would be very proud of who you are today.”
Speaking to City News after the match, Timur said he was nervous, scared and excited heading into the match, but the energy of the crowd encouraged him.
He says he had to rehearse a lot before the game.
“I came to the rink a few days ago and went through all the teams and anthems and then did some spins,” he said. “It looks very simple, but there's a lot more to it than people realize.”
He says being a towel boy gave him a better idea of what he would be like if he ever got the chance to turn pro.
What has become known as “Towel Power” is a playoff tradition that pays homage to former Vancouver Canucks coach Roger Neilson. During Game 2 of the 1982 conference finals against the Chicago Blackhawks, Neilson famously expressed his dissatisfaction with the game's officiating and waved a white towel in surrender. The coach was ejected from the game, but the Canucks bounced back and won Games 3 and 4 at home. That year, the team ended up making it to the finals.
In recent months, Timur has had to overcome the death of his father, Ravi. Died in a crash earlier this year. His father and son were on their way home from a hockey tournament in Kelowna when their pickup truck collided with a semi in the Coquihalla River. Timur suffered minor injuries.
“Timur scored the tying goal and New Westminster ended up winning the gold medal in the tournament,” a fundraiser for the Gabasov family explained.
“The match ended late and Rabil secured a hotel for the night and decided to drive during the day on Monday. Tragedy struck when Timur and Rabil faced a car accident on the Coquihalla Highway. ”
Despite the tragedy, Timur's team voted to play the next match.
“When we first contacted the league about this incident, they offered to postpone the game if the team wanted to do so. However, last night, the team unanimously voted to play the game,” the New Westminster Minor Hockey Association said. Chairman Justin Bourne explained on January 9th.
“Timur had an injury for most of the season, but even though he couldn't play, he and his father Rabil showed their support by showing up in almost every game, or maybe every game.'' In our understanding, the team said, 'Rabil is not supposed to miss the game, so why should we?'
More than $50,000 was raised for the family.
Rogers Arena was filled with excitement as the Canucks opened the season. first game in the series They will play at home against the Nashville Predators. This is the first time since 2015 that the team will host the playoffs at the arena.
The Canucks won 4-2.
Timur said the victory gave him hope for the team's chances for the playoffs and gave some advice to his fellow young athletes.
“Don't be lazy and try as hard as you can. It will pay off,” he said.
“Believe in yourself. When you play, always play with confidence.”
