From statistics to offering a listening ear
Justin Halbersma has always had an interest in hockey but he would never have guessed it would be as big a part of his life as it is now.
As far back as he can remember, Halbersma’s interest in hockey comes from watching it with his grandma.
“Some of my best memories are watching Hockey Night In Canada with my grandmother, who has since passed away. So those memories are near and dear to me,” said Halbersma.
Halbersma grew up in the Valley and has now done the scoring and statistics for the Valley Wildcats since 2016.
“I can't play (hockey), so you contribute any way you can,” said Halbersma. “Every little bit helps to keep Junior A team functioning in the Valley. We want to keep those teams going. It all worked out I get to watch some great hockey and contribute to a team in the Valley.”
In this role, Halbersma records plays, assists, and goals as they happen on the website so those watching online can stay up-to-date in near realtime.
“It’s a way so that people who don’t have access to the game on video or radio can still follow along,” said Halbersma.
Halbersma has also been the team chaplain since 2018 when the Humboldt Broncos bus crash happened.
“They realized this could happen to any junior A club - or any club at any given time. It's not something that was separate from us,” said Halbersma.
“Our boys are constantly on the bus traveling all over the Maritimes. You just never know. They just needed someone to be there - not necessarily religiously, but someone they could confide in if they have fears or something else is going on that they don’t want anyone else to know.”
As the chaplain, Halbersma is there as a confidant.
“I'm just there for the guys if they want to talk. It's not obligated,” said Halbersma.
Halbersma has been a practicing Christian for the past 20 years and is now a pastor, so for him, this role was about giving back to the community.
"This was just another way to give back to the community and the sport I love,” he said.
Since some of the players are far away from home and they are still kids, Halbersma wanted to ensure they had someone to turn to if needed.
“As we all know, teenage guys - especially in hockey - try to portray to everybody this macho ‘nothing bothers them’ type of mentality,” he said. “But we need to remember they are kids and some of them are far from home. So, even if they are dealing with a little homesickness, they can reach out if they want to.”
Halbersma also wants the boys to know it's OK to admit when something is wrong.
“Having been a teenager myself, I know sometimes there are things you just can't talk to people about,” he said.
“It’s just something in the teenager DNA I guess. ‘I can't show any emotions.’ Well, we can, and I want those kids to be able to realize they have that option they don’t have to keep it locked up.”
More about Justin Halbersma
Question: When you were younger, did you play hockey?
Answer: Briefly. I wouldn’t call it 'playing' - I would call it 'attempting to play'. More pick up than anything.
Q: Do you have a favourite team?
A: The Pittsburg Penguins Q: Do you have a favourite player?
A: Mario Lemieux
Q: Is there a particular play you like or remember?
A: A particular moment I think every Canadian will remember is the Gretzky to Lemieux moment in the Canada Cup 1987. This is a play I could watch over and over again, not just because it was Lemieux, but because it was Team Canada scoring that goal. On a Pittsburg level, I would say in 1991, when Mario Lemieux scored in Game 2 that sealed the deal for their Stanley Cup that year.
Q: What is the most overused song at a hockey game?
A: The Good Old Hockey Game
Q: Ultimate player question - Wayne Gretzky or Bobby Orr?
A: Bobby Orr.
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