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Hundreds turn out for Garrett Meurs Day in Ripley By Liz Dadson |
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 Garrett Meurs (centre, back) is surrounded by fans at the public skating session Wednesday afternoon at the Ripley Arena  Garrett Meurs, second to left, chats with a group of skaters at the Ripley Arena Wednesday afternoon  The Under-18 team celebrates its gold-medal victory in August Hockey Canada photo | ||||
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Garrett Meurs was a bit overwhelmed at being the star of the show Wednesday at the Ripley Arena. It was Garrett Meurs Day in the village, celebrating the 17-year-old hockey player's part in the gold-medal win for Canada's National Men's Summer Under-18 Team at the 2010 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka World Championships. Held in August in Piestany, Slovakia, the tournament saw Canada defeat the United States, 1-0, in the gold-medal game - the third year in a row and sixth time in seven years that Canada has won the tournament, formerly known as the Junior World Cup. As he was joined by about 100 people skating Wednesday afternoon at the arena, Garrett said it was great to be back home in Ripley where his hockey career began. "It's good to see everybody," he said, adding he was looking forward to dropping the puck at the Ripley Wolves game that night and watching the Wolves take on the Lucknow Lancers. The Wolves ended up winning, 5-2. A reluctant celebrity, Garrett said he doesn't mind signing autographs but is a bit surprised at all the attention. "I was so proud to play for my country in the worlds," he said. "Then, for Team Canada to win gold - that was a great feeling." After skating with his fans and signing autographs in the afternoon, Garrett returned to the arena Wednesday evening for the puck-drop, and was on hand for the official unveiling of his Team Canada jersey mounted in a display at the Ripley Arena, in honour of his gold-medal achievement. Besides winning gold, Garrett was a silver medalist with Team Ontario in the World Under-17 Challenge. He played for the Huron-Perth Lakers AAA and was drafted to the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League on May 2, 2009. He is currently in his second season with the Whalers.
Garrett Meurs (R) signs a hat for a fan
Karissa Schiestel (L), 12, of Teeswater, and Hayli Charette (R), 12, of Ripley, help Keaton van der Hoek, 4, of Ripley, soar on his skates during the public skating Wednesday afternoon in Ripley
Travis Richardson, 3, of Ripley ends up sliding on the ice despite doing so well with the help of the plastic pylon
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 Huron-Kinloss mayor Mitch Twolan (R) congratulates Garrett Meurs on his gold-medal championship, in front of the display of Garrett's Team Canada jersey in the Ripley Arena  Garrett Meurs (L) signs a jacket sleeve for Luke Richardson, 9, of Ripley  Garrett Meurs (R) poses for a picture with Carson Watson (L), 9, and his brother, Nash, 2, of Ripley  The Ripley Wolves mascot (C) hugs Pat Chatham (L) and Marina Cameron at the Wolves game Wednesday night in Ripley Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area. You can click on the ads for more
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