By admin
CALGARY — Standing sheepishly next to the large picture window he’d just shattered with an errant shot from inside the house, Andrew Basha knew this time he’d probably gone too far.
Complying with a demand from his mother, Ronda, to go straight to his room, the 10-year-old hockey nut first calmly offered up some prescient advice.
“’Mom, you should take a photo, because when I make the NHL, it’ll be a good story,’” he said, as both can clearly recall.
Incredible foresight from a youngster who wasn’t saying it in jest.
It wasn’t the first time his passion for the game left its mark on their Altadore-neighbourhood home.
“I bought the Canadian Tire package when he was a year-and-a-half and he’d wear the gear to bed every night, skates and all,” said his father, Richard, a local Calgary legend of sorts who has long run the Garrison Pub, where Andrew was often spotted in his equipment.
“He started on skates before he started walking.”
And those skates stayed on all day and night, hardwood be damned.
“He would be hysterical if you tried to take his skates off,” said Ronda, who has a picture with Andrew in full gear with a baby bottle poking through his helmet.
“He used to call his skates ‘beats,’ and sometimes he’d have guards on, most of the time, no.
“The hardwood was destroyed.
“It wasn’t that there were no rules, it’s that, ‘This kid has to do this, and that’s it.’
“It was that much passion and it was so constant that to not have him do that all day long would have destroyed him.
“That’s all he wanted to do.”
All he’s ever wanted to do.
And now he’s doing it.
A second-round pick of his hometown Flames in the summer, Basha suited up for two pre-season games, including a stirring spin at the Saddledome Monday in front of family and friends.
On Wednesday, he picked up an assist against Vancouver with a nifty pass to spring Dryden Hunt in alone.
Refusing to see the audition as anything but another valuable stepping stone in his lifelong journey, he knew he’d soon be sent back to Medicine Hat, where his dad says his bilingual son has already envisioned speaking in both English and French when interviewed if his top-ranked Tigers win the Memorial Cup in Rimouski.
On Thursday morning, Basha and first-round pick Matvei Gridin got the news their first big-league stint was indeed over, despite impressive camps.
Hardly a setback for a youngster whose focus and drive has overcome plenty of obstacles along the way.
var adServerUrl = “”;
var $el = $( “#video_container-237419” );
var permalink = $el.closest(‘.snet-single-article’).data(‘permalink’);
/*
if ( “1” == true && ‘undefined’ !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) {
var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}};
adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( ‘http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6362356318112&cmsid=384’, so, permalink);
} else {
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6362356318112&cmsid=384”;
}
*/
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6362356318112&cmsid=384”;
var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes(“cust_params”);
var queryString=”;
if(adServerUrl_result){
var gettheDUFI = false;
if (localStorage.getItem(“consent”) !== null && localStorage.getItem(“consent-targeting”) !== null)
gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem(“theRED_loc”);
if(gettheDUFI){
queryString += “dufiid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
queryString += “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
var ppid = “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
}
var DUFI_IP = false;
if (localStorage.getItem(“consent”) !== null && localStorage.getItem(“consent-targeting”) !== null)
DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem(“DUFI_IP”);
if(DUFI_IP){
queryString += “dufiip=” + DUFI_IP + ‘&’;
}
adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + ‘cust_params=” + encodeURIComponent(queryString) );
}
$el.after( unescape(“%3Cscript src=\”” + (document.location.protocol == “https:” ? “https://sb” : “http://b”) + “.scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\” %3E%3C/script%3E”) );
$( document ).one( “ready’, function() {
$( “#video_container-237419” ).SNPlayer( {
bc_account_id: “1704050871”,
bc_player_id: “JCdte3tMv”,
//autoplay: true,
//is_has_autoplay_switch: false,
bc_videos: 6362356318112,
is_has_continuous_play: “false”,
adserverurl: adServerUrl,
section: “”,
thumbnail: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/6362356318112-1024×576.jpg”,
direct_url: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/flames-huska-has-same-expectations-with-veterans-as-rookies/”
});
});
var adServerUrl = “”;
var $el = $( “#video_container-258429” );
var permalink = $el.closest(‘.snet-single-article’).data(‘permalink’);
/*
if ( “1” == true && ‘undefined’ !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) {
var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}};
adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( ‘http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6362356318112&cmsid=384’, so, permalink);
} else {
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6362356318112&cmsid=384”;
}
*/
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6362356318112&cmsid=384”;
var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes(“cust_params”);
var queryString=”;
if(adServerUrl_result){
var gettheDUFI = false;
if (localStorage.getItem(“consent”) !== null && localStorage.getItem(“consent-targeting”) !== null)
gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem(“theRED_loc”);
if(gettheDUFI){
queryString += “dufiid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
queryString += “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
var ppid = “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
}
var DUFI_IP = false;
if (localStorage.getItem(“consent”) !== null && localStorage.getItem(“consent-targeting”) !== null)
DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem(“DUFI_IP”);
if(DUFI_IP){
queryString += “dufiip=” + DUFI_IP + ‘&’;
}
adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + ‘cust_params=” + encodeURIComponent(queryString) );
}
$el.after( unescape(“%3Cscript src=\”” + (document.location.protocol == “https:” ? “https://sb” : “http://b”) + “.scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\” %3E%3C/script%3E”) );
$( document ).one( “ready’, function() {
$( “#video_container-258429” ).SNPlayer( {
bc_account_id: “1704050871”,
bc_player_id: “JCdte3tMv”,
//autoplay: false,
//is_has_autoplay_switch: false,
bc_videos: 6362356318112,
is_has_continuous_play: “false”,
adserverurl: adServerUrl,
section: “”,
thumbnail: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/6362356318112-1024×576.jpg”,
direct_url: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/flames-huska-has-same-expectations-with-veterans-as-rookies/”
});
});
“Hockey is all-consuming, I’ve always been obsessed with it,” said the six-foot, 187-pound prospect who spent hundreds of hours stickhandling in the living room while watching TV.
“I don’t think I’d be here without that passion because, honestly, I always had to battle as a smaller guy.”
Cut from the Calgary Royals bantam AAA team, he just dug deeper en route to a journey through Medicine Hat that saw him get 30 goals and 85 points in 63 games last year.
“I have to give a lot of credit to my mom, with her being a psychologist, she’s helped me with the mental side of the game,” he said.
“Both my parents are such good people, down to earth, and they’ve been so supportive in every way.
“Like that story shows, they let me do my thing and beat the house up, and here we are.
“My mom is just a saint for that. I can’t believe she put up with that. I ruined the entire living room and kitchen.
“Clearly, I was obsessed with it, so they rolled with it.”
Every year, Richard took his son to the world juniors, where Andrew watched with stars in his eyes.
Along the way, they’ve hired a tutor to help him with public speaking, turned the garage into a shooting gallery and done whatever possible to foster a passion that started so remarkably early.
A team effort.
var adServerUrl = “”;
var $el = $( “#video_container-859351” );
var permalink = $el.closest(‘.snet-single-article’).data(‘permalink’);
/*
if ( “1” == true && ‘undefined’ !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) {
var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}};
adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( ‘http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6362477944112&cmsid=384’, so, permalink);
} else {
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6362477944112&cmsid=384”;
}
*/
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6362477944112&cmsid=384”;
var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes(“cust_params”);
var queryString=”;
if(adServerUrl_result){
var gettheDUFI = false;
if (localStorage.getItem(“consent”) !== null && localStorage.getItem(“consent-targeting”) !== null)
gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem(“theRED_loc”);
if(gettheDUFI){
queryString += “dufiid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
queryString += “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
var ppid = “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
}
var DUFI_IP = false;
if (localStorage.getItem(“consent”) !== null && localStorage.getItem(“consent-targeting”) !== null)
DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem(“DUFI_IP”);
if(DUFI_IP){
queryString += “dufiip=” + DUFI_IP + ‘&’;
}
adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + ‘cust_params=” + encodeURIComponent(queryString) );
}
$el.after( unescape(“%3Cscript src=\”” + (document.location.protocol == “https:” ? “https://sb” : “http://b”) + “.scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\” %3E%3C/script%3E”) );
$( document ).one( “ready’, function() {
$( “#video_container-859351” ).SNPlayer( {
bc_account_id: “1704050871”,
bc_player_id: “JCdte3tMv”,
//autoplay: true,
//is_has_autoplay_switch: false,
bc_videos: 6362477944112,
is_has_continuous_play: “false”,
adserverurl: adServerUrl,
section: “”,
thumbnail: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/6362477944112-1024×576.jpg”,
direct_url: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/nhl-pre-season-highlights-canucks-4-flames-3-ot/”
});
});
var adServerUrl = “”;
var $el = $( “#video_container-968629” );
var permalink = $el.closest(‘.snet-single-article’).data(‘permalink’);
/*
if ( “1” == true && ‘undefined’ !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) {
var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}};
adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( ‘http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6362477944112&cmsid=384’, so, permalink);
} else {
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6362477944112&cmsid=384”;
}
*/
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6362477944112&cmsid=384”;
var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes(“cust_params”);
var queryString=”;
if(adServerUrl_result){
var gettheDUFI = false;
if (localStorage.getItem(“consent”) !== null && localStorage.getItem(“consent-targeting”) !== null)
gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem(“theRED_loc”);
if(gettheDUFI){
queryString += “dufiid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
queryString += “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
var ppid = “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
}
var DUFI_IP = false;
if (localStorage.getItem(“consent”) !== null && localStorage.getItem(“consent-targeting”) !== null)
DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem(“DUFI_IP”);
if(DUFI_IP){
queryString += “dufiip=” + DUFI_IP + ‘&’;
}
adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + ‘cust_params=” + encodeURIComponent(queryString) );
}
$el.after( unescape(“%3Cscript src=\”” + (document.location.protocol == “https:” ? “https://sb” : “http://b”) + “.scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\” %3E%3C/script%3E”) );
$( document ).one( “ready’, function() {
$( “#video_container-968629” ).SNPlayer( {
bc_account_id: “1704050871”,
bc_player_id: “JCdte3tMv”,
//autoplay: false,
//is_has_autoplay_switch: false,
bc_videos: 6362477944112,
is_has_continuous_play: “false”,
adserverurl: adServerUrl,
section: “”,
thumbnail: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/6362477944112-1024×576.jpg”,
direct_url: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/nhl-pre-season-highlights-canucks-4-flames-3-ot/”
});
});
“He’d wake up at 4:30 a.m. and point his fingers and say, ‘Are you ready?’, so we’d go down the stairs in his skates and he would imagine where he was playing and we’d have to sing the Star Spangled Banner or Canadian anthem,” said his mom, laughing.
“If it was Montreal in his head, we’d have to sing it in French.
“He was always allowed to play in the house because what else would you do?
“I drywalled the living room three times, and on the third time when he was 8 or 9, we turned the garage into a hockey arena with boards and fake ice, which still exists.”
It’s helped him get this far in a journey sure to be completed in due time.
“We live across from the Flames Community Arenas, and on Fridays, Andrew would go over at 6 p.m. and wait for the Mount Royal Cougars bus to leave, and he would sit in my car if it was winter, and he’d cry and say, ‘I just want to be on that bus,’” she recalled.
“He was three or four years old, and didn’t even go to school yet, and he would be in his car seat and I’d say, ‘Buddy, it’ll be OK, you’ll be on the bus one day.’”
No doubt he’ll cherish his final year criss-crossing western Canada before the next step unfolds.
He’s prepared a lifetime for all of it.
“He manifested this when he was seven years old, saying, ‘I’m going to the NHL,’” said Richard.
“He deserves everything. He worked for it.”
