From shoveling snow to NHL stardom

And who could blame him? If you’re going to eat a little humble pie, you might as well ask for it to be served with a side of winning. Preferably in a town with sunshine, vineyards, and a Memorial Cup in its sights.

While Draisaitl’s impact on the ice was immediate, his off-ice transition hinged on something far less glamorous — a welcoming home.

For nearly five months, Mike Twack served as Draisaitl’s billet dad. A longtime Kelowna resident and father of three, Twack had initially planned to host an international student that winter. Instead, by a twist of fate, he got one of the brightest young hockey talents in the world.

“It was pure luck,” Twack told RocketFAN. “I have daughters and was just looking for a little ‘guy time.’ We were planning to host an international student, and by chance, we got Leon. Even now, I still can’t believe my good fortune.”

Twack, who had started the season billeting defenseman Dalton Yorke before a midseason trade, pulled out all the stops when Draisaitl arrived. He knew the value of rest and routine for an elite athlete. So, he renovated a bedroom, blacking out the windows to help Leon get the pre-game naps he needed.

“We asked him what kind of food he liked. I think some of the guys on the team were a bit intimidated. He looked like a man among boys. A big superstar,” Twack recalled.

“He liked chicken and scalloped potatoes,” he added, thinking back. “Wasn’t big on broccoli or salads. He wanted protein and carbs, and I love to cook, so I’d make these hearty soups with beef and potatoes. He loved that. He was really appreciative of that and said thanks for cooking that. He would bring teammates over and they would gobble up a whole pot of that.” he laughed.

Despite being a first-round NHL draft pick, Draisaitl didn’t have a car or even a license. Teammates offered rides to and from the rink. And though it was clear he was destined for greatness, Leon never acted above those around him.

“A couple of the younger players didn’t have much money, and Leon would take them out for lunch. He looked out for people.”

Still, Twack admitted he didn’t realize just how good Draisaitl truly was — at first.

“I knew he was good, but I didn’t know he was that good,” he said. “We watched him play three or four games, and we were like, ‘Oh my god, look at him go.’”

What stood out most, though, was Leon’s humility. On his first day in Kelowna, snow blanketed the ground — about a foot and a half of the heavy, wet kind.

“I asked him if he could shovel the driveway. He said, ‘No problem.’ I watched out the window as he struggled with this makeshift shovel I had. Here’s a guy making $54,000 every two weeks, and he’s out there shoveling my driveway,” Twack said with a laugh. “But he did it. He helped out. He was part of the family.”

That family bond didn’t fade. Draisaitl still checks in, and when Twack’s mother-in-law turned 90, Leon made a heartfelt five-minute birthday video.

“He calls her his ‘Oma’ (German for Grandmother),” Twack said. “It’s really sweet.”

They also bonded over watching television together.

“He’d sit down and watch NHL games with me. I’d ask who he liked. He mentioned [Anze] Kopitar and [David] Pastrnak, said he modeled his game after them. They’re elite, but honestly, I think Leon has blown right by them.”

Today, Draisaitl is a Hart Trophy winner (2020), one of the best in the NHL, and a cornerstone of the Edmonton Oilers, yet those who knew him in Kelowna remember more than just his stats.

“When you watch him, he’s this big, hulking guy, but he’s not out there boarding people,” Twack said. “He saves his body, plays smart, and focuses on the right things. He’s right there with Connor [McDavid], [Wayne] Gretzky, and [Mark] Messier.”

“He was very focused on the pursuit of becoming this elite player,” Twack recalled. “Not many players have the eye of the tiger like Leon did.”

by Regan Bartel

From shoveling snow to NHL stardom

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