Bo's All-Star blog 1

Hello from Los Angeles!
Now that I'm here and LA is hyped for the All-Star Game, it's really set in that this is happening. I'm proud of this accomplishment, it really means a lot to me. When Jim Benning called to tell me the news, I didn't know what to think. It's an honour and a privilege and will be a very humbling experience; I just try to work hard in practice and give it my everything in games and it continues to pay off.

Or I was voted in, I'm still not too sure how it works!
There was a voting component to the game, I know that, and I can confirm my hometown of Rodney, Ontario, had my back. Everyone in Rodney was voting 10 times a day; they were right on the horn right away. That means a lot to me to have that support. Rodney isn't a very big town, but to have everyone pull together for me, to help make this dream come true, that's pretty special. Rodney will be with me this weekend and I'm sure everyone will be pretty pumped to watch.
I wouldn't be here without the support of my family as well. My dad Tim, mom Cindy, brother Cal, grandma Louise and grandpa Bill are all making the trip, as is my girlfriend Holly. I actually flew back to Vancouver from Arizona Thursday night just so I could fly to LA from Van with her. These people mean everything to me. And Gus, let's not forget Gus!

I'm a little nervous, a little anxious and very excited. I don't know a lot of people here, Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid I know a bit, same with Drew Doughty from skating in the summer with him, other than that I don't really know anyone. It'll be nice to meet some of the guys and being around the best players in the world, that's what excites me the most.
I play alongside and against the best of the best on a daily basis, but this is the best of the best all at once. It's not Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, it's Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, P.K. Subban…it's going to be crazy that way. There will be tons of hockey legends around all weekend as well and of everyone, Wayne Gretzky would give me the biggest jolt.
If I get the opportunity to meet Gretzky and introduce myself, that would be something. I don't even know what I would say, I'd be starstruck and I'm not sure what words would come out of my mouth. I watched tapes of him when I was a little kid, maybe I'd talk to him about that stuff? Or that would just make him feel old maybe. Who knows!
I'm not too sure what the plan is tonight, but Saturday there's media availability and the skills competition where I'll be taking part in the fastest skater competition alongside McDavid. Can't wait!
Hopefully there are some Canucks fans in LA this weekend, be sure to say hi if you're coming down!
All the best,
Bo