That was the case for an excited group of young, eager skaters at the Palm Beach Skate Zone on Sunday, as Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad made a surprise appearance at a "Learn to Play" class filled with first-timers to lend a helping hand with that week's lesson plan.
"I remember professional players coming to our little sessions when we were younger," said Ekblad, who grew up in Windsor, Ontario. "It's one of those things that sparks your interest. I was always that shy kid in the back that wouldn't go up to them, so I understand how it is… Hopefully it sparks their interest for the game, especially here in South Florida."
In speaking to the children, aged 5-9, Ekblad's message was simple: "keep getting back up."
"It's not easy," said Ekblad, who scored a career-high 16 goals last season. "You're not going to get it the first try. You're on thin little blades on the ice with a stick in your hand. It's not exactly normal. It's a little bit awkward at first, but I think all the kids had a good time."