A former Surrey Schools student has become a role model for others after recently making his NHL debut with the Vancouver Canucks and becoming only the fourth Punjabi player to play in the National Hockey League.

Twenty three-year-old Arshdeep Bains, who attended Hillcrest Elementary and Clayton Heights Secondary, made his debut with the Canucks on February 20, facing off against the Colorado Avalanche.

When he hit the ice in Colorado, two of Bains’ former teachers were watching.

Laura Hutchins and Anne-Marie Middleton both taught Bains during his time at Hillcrest Elementary and were thrilled to see their former student realizing the dream he’d been talking about since childhood.

“It was such a joy to see him in action,” said Hutchins, who taught Bains in Grade 3. “I remember him as being really determined at whatever he tried and his attitude was, he didn’t have to be the best at everything, but you just had to try.”

A long-time Canucks fan herself, Hutchins said even from an early age, Bains showed a deep appreciation for the sport.

“I had a dedicated hockey corner in my classroom full of Canucks memorabilia and he used to joke that when he played, I’d have to put his picture up alongside it all,” she said, recalling Bains was always trying to improve his skills, be it in sports, academics or anything else he set out to do. “He was always working towards improvement and was never the type to give up on something if he didn’t make it the first time.”

Arshdeep Bains (third from top right) in Grade 3 with teacher Laura Hutchins (far right). (Image: Laura Hutchins)

Middleton echoed Hutchins’ comments, having taught Bains for Grades 6 and 7.

“He was one of the most humble students I’d ever had the pleasure of teaching,” she said. “Even before his NHL debut, I would often bring him up as an example to students on the importance of working together, how it wasn’t about how good you might be as an individual, it was about how you make those around you look, and he really lived that.”

“These kids can see themselves in Arshdeep, many come from Indo-Canadian backgrounds and to know that somebody like them can do something like that is really an inspiration,” said Middleton. “It’s just been wonderful to see.”

– Report and photo: SURREY SCHOOLS

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Arshdeep Bains of Surrey makes Canucks debut against Colorado Avalanche