It’s a joke I often like to use in a public setting.
Kelowna Rockets General Manager Bruce Hamilton and I have a love/hate relationship.
I love him. He hates me!
It gets a chuckle from others in looking back at our 22-year relationship between owner and broadcaster.
Have I stepped on Hamilton’s toes in the past? Without question. Not once, but numerous times. As a member of the media it’s almost unavoidable.
But over time, I’ve become wiser in my approach and Hamilton has softened. Age does that.
While we haven’t agreed on several things over the years, I carry with me a memory I look back on with much fondness.
It was the spring of 2001. The Kelowna Rockets were facing the Seattle Thunderbirds in the opening round WHL playoff series. It was my first season with the team as radio broadcaster.
Hamilton decided to travel a day early to Seattle in advance of the series opener and elected to take myself and Kelowna Daily Courier sports reported Doyle Potenteau with him in his personal vehicle. Hamilton had scored tickets to the Seattle Mariners game and wanted to take two media members, new to the Kelowna landscape, with him to sparkling Safeco Field.
Potenteau and I had no clue what to expect. Arriving at the stadium, we followed Hamilton like puppy dogs down a tunnel leading through a posh restaurant to what appeared to be the lower level of the playing field. Hamilton walked through another set of doors which led to the playing surface.
Potenteau and I entered a few steps behind and – wham! To our amazement, we were meters away from the on-deck circle where the Mariners warmed up. We were literally within spitting distance of the players. We were stunned, mouths wide open at the seat location we were about to enjoy.
A waitress quickly came out of nowhere with a smile on her face asking us what we wanted to drink. Still shocked, Potenteau and I quickly surveyed a menu we were handed and made our selection. She returned with the drinks only to ask us what we wanted to eat. The question both Potenteau and I had at this point was – ‘what is this going to cost us’?
The answer was nothing. It was all complementary.
I am not sure what contact Hamilton had or knew that allowed us to enjoy those awesome seats or why he chose us to accompany him. But it will be an evening with the Kelowna Rockets general manager I will never forget. The generosity he showed won us over instantly.
Bruce Hamilton is not warm and fuzzy. He is well respected amongst his peers though, as one of the most powerful people in junior hockey.
I know the 65-year-old as a loyal man, a hard worker with a passion for the game of hockey. He is old school, yet his track record proves he is a winner.
Even today, 22 years later, we still don’t agree on everything, but we do share one thing in common.
We both want what’s best for the Kelowna Rockets.
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