In this photo: Is he a lover or a fighter? Collin Shirley’s teammates don’t deny he can play gritty, but there is a soft side to the Kamloops Blazers’ forward. Allen Douglas/KTW
In Grade 4, Collin Shirley’s tender heart was smashed to pieces.
“I had this girl. Her name was Hope,” said Shirley, a left winger with the Kamloops Blazers.
“The St. James School in Saskatoon shut down and one of my best buddies came to St. Philip, where I went, and, boom, just like that — it was love at first sight for her.
“She dumped me.”
The 18-year-old has since recovered from the elementary-school heartbreak, thank goodness.
Shirley and a few of his teammates were asked to name the most romantic Blazer, in honour of Valentine’s Day tomorrow.
Marc McNulty, a 19-year-old defenceman, pointed to the affable forward from the Prairies — “I live with Shirley and he’s been out the last few days getting some Valentine’s stuff together, so I might say him. He’s a pretty soft guy, I guess.”
Logan McVeigh, Shirley’s 20-year-old linemate, wasted no time in singling out the most lovestruck player wearing Blue and Orange.
“It would have to be Collin Shirley, for sure,” McVeigh said.
“He’s had a girlfriend for a while and I think he’s excited for Valentine’s to show his love off, for sure.”
It appears McVeigh himself has also been struck by Cupid’s arrow.
“McVeigh has fallen in the last couple weeks,” said Shirley, who’s not particularly fond of talking publicly about his girlfriend.
“I hate to throw him under the bus, but it’s been head over heels in love for that guy.”
Towering Swiss D-man Michael Fora has a girlfriend who lives in Europe and they make long-distance love work.
It just so happens she is in town this week and will be watching her beau and the Blazers face the Seattle Thunderbirds at Interior Savings Centre on Friday, Feb. 13, in a crucial Western Conference matchup.
Game time is 7 p.m.
Kamloops also hosts the Victoria Royals on Saturday night at 7 p.m.
“I haven’t seen her for a long time, so it’s really nice,” Fora said.
“Sometimes it’s tough [not to have her around], but I’m doing what I love, so I’m just trying to achieve my goals.”
As for Valentine’s date plans this weekend, Fora will focus first on beating the Royals on Saturday before letting his Romeo-like instincts take over.
“Usually, I just improvise, deciding in the moment,” Fora said. “I’m expecting to win the game, then think about it.”
Mike Needham, the Blazers’ assistant coach, approves of Fora’s hockey-first thought process.
“If you want to be good at this game, you have to be focused and you have to make sacrifices,” Needham said.
“Kids are falling in love all the time, but you have to be focused.”
The former Pittsburgh Penguin shares the long-distance problem with Fora, although oceans are not between the Needhams.
Cathy, Mike’s wife, is living in the family’s Penticton home with daughter Brett, who will graduate from high school this year.
“It’s difficult if they’re not with you and right now we’re living apart, so it is an issue,” Needham said.
“She’ll be here this weekend, though. We’ll spend a good day together.”
Needham calls himself a traditionalist when it comes to romance, a flowers-, dinner- and movie-type guy.
Nick Chyzowski, a 17-year-old forward, said his idea of an amorous soiree is dinner at Earls and a walk downtown, noting Cam Reagan is among the more lovey-dovey Blazers.
McNulty’s suggestion for a night out might come under fire.
“I haven’t really been on many good dates. Maybe a movie or something like that, something where you don’t have to talk a whole lot,” the Detroit Red Wings draft pick said.
Perhaps they should go to Shirley for advice.
Fora agreed with McVeigh and McNulty — he is adept in the art of wooing.
“I expect Shirley to be the most romantic guy,” Fora said with a laugh.
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