One day after Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko scored his second shutout of the season, hundreds of fans lined up outside Langley鈥檚 Pastime Sports and Games on Sunday, Nov. 5, to get his autograph.
It was the grand opening and 30th anniversary celebration at the store鈥檚 new location, which had just relocated from Langley City to newer, larger premises at 6375 202 St.
Maple Ridge resident Mark Igglesden was first in line to get an autograph, and his picture taken with Demko.
鈥淎s far as I鈥檓 concerned, he鈥檚 the hottest goalie in the league right now, and I鈥檓 a Canucks fan,鈥� a delighted Igglesden told the Langley Advance Times.
Pastime owner Ken Richardson was cheerfully supervising the lineup of fans that stretched from the front of the building, to the rear of the parking lot, and back again.
鈥淭here鈥檚 lots of Canucks fans these days,鈥� Richardson remarked, 鈥渁nd the performance of Thatcher, it couldn鈥檛 be better timing.鈥�
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Demko stopped 27 shots to produce a 2-0 win over the Dallas Stars in front of a home crowd on Saturday at Rogers Arena.
鈥淭hat was a good game,鈥� Demko remarked.
The 27-year-old appeared to be enjoying his visit to Langley, saying 鈥渋t鈥檚 good to get out of the city every once in a while.鈥�
On Sunday, fan and after fan praised Demko鈥檚 performance on Saturday, one calling him 鈥淭hatcher the catcher.鈥�
One grandparent brought a photo of her goalie grandson, and after getting an encouraging message written on it from Demko, said 鈥済randma鈥檚 going to cry when she gets in the car.鈥�
A young fan shyly offered a portrait she made of Demko.
鈥淚 drew this for you,鈥� she said, 鈥渄o you want to keep it?鈥�
Demko picked it up gently for a look.
鈥淎bsolutely,鈥� he said.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 awesome. How long does that take you?鈥�
鈥淎 couple hours,鈥� she replied.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 pretty quick,鈥� he responded. 鈥淲ell, thank you, I appreciate that.鈥�
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Former Canucks goaltender Richard Brodeur, who has gone on to become a respected artist after he retired from the NHL, was also enjoying himself as fans presented photos and jerseys for autographs.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to see the people still appreciate and show me some love, and that鈥檚 that鈥檚 nice,鈥� Brodeur told the Langley Advance Times.
鈥淚t makes me feel good. I鈥檓 not a young chicken anymore, I鈥檓 an old guy,鈥� he smiled.
鈥淭o be able to do that and share some time with people, it鈥檚 always nice and it鈥檚 really good.鈥�
It marked a return to the social events the store was known for before the pandemic, Richardson said.
鈥淭here鈥檚 always been a sense of community and camaraderie at Pastime,鈥� he commented.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a generational appeal, especially with trading cards,鈥� he said. 鈥淧eople that used to come in as kids now bring their own children to trade, play and finish off their sets. I鈥檝e been fortunate to have been part of all that.鈥�
Since opening in 1993, Pastime has grown to four locations in the Lower Mainland, and is considered Western Canada鈥檚 number one source for sports memorabilia and collectible card games.
