Six days later, Flair Airlines has found Marshall and Linden Erwin’s lost hockey stick.
The Nanaimo brothers got the prized piece of memorabilia from Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat at a recent game in Edmonton, only for it to get lost on the return trip to B.C.
Now, the stick is awaiting pick up from the family, a Flair spokesperson tells CHEK News in an update.
“We confirm the stick has been found and will be returned to the passenger tonight! A good result in the end,” the spokesperson said Friday.
The Canucks promised the boys a replacement stick, which they will now have in addition to the original.
In a tweet addressed to the Canucks, the boys’ mom, Janelle Staite, thanked the team for their “kind words and being ready to save the day — it meant so much to us and we are so grateful,” adding, “On and off ice — Canucks are amazing.”
@Canucks we just had a call from @FlairAirlines & 6 days later they found our sons stick from @BoHorvat it’s now in Abbotsford! Thank you for your kind words & being ready to save the day – it meant so much to us & we are so grateful. On & off ice – Canucks are amazing 💙💚🤍
— Janelle Staite (@JanelleStaite) December 30, 2022
Original story from Dec. 29 is below:
For Nanaimo brothers Marshall and Linden Erwin, there’s one player on the Vancouver Canucks who stands out — the captain, Bo Horvat.
“He’s just really kind, he’s really good, he has good sportsmanship and all,” says Linden.
On a recent family trip to Edmonton, the boys got a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get close to their idol on Dec. 23. Linden had a Horvat hockey card which he wanted Horvat to autograph.
So the brothers made a sign to attract the attention of the Canucks star.
“I was kind of like reaching over the glass pointing at my brother’s sign that we made and then he stopped for a minute and he looked at it,” says Marshall.
“Then he looked at his stick and he just grabbed it and chucked it right up to us.”
Season of giving 💙🎁 pic.twitter.com/nkOo56czGy
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 24, 2022
The trouble came when it was time to take a Flair Airlines flight back to Abbotsford. The stick wouldn’t fit in the overhead luggage, so the family had to check it in as baggage.
Then the flight arrived in Abbotsford without the stick.
“I was very sad because I wanted to bring that stick right as we got it home and I wanted to mount it on my wall,” says Linden.
In a statement to CHEK News Flair Airlines said that they were on the lookout for the missing stick.
“Flair Airlines’ teams in Edmonton are working to track it down,” says a spokesperson for the airline.
“We know how much an NHL stick means to our passenger. We are confident it will be found. When it does, we’ll get it to him.”
Still without the prized stick, the boys’ mom went to Twitter to try and find a solution.
“We thought no harm in reaching out on social media and seeing on Christmas if somebody might be able to help the boys out and if not reunite them with the original stick, help them replace the stick that they lost,” says Janelle Staite.
@BoHorvat @Canucks @CanucksPR my sons were given Bos stick on Dec 23 but @FlairAirlines lost it on our flight home to Abbotsford on Dec 24 & won’t get back to us … can you help us out please with a Christmas Miracle? pic.twitter.com/l3WZLiaH97
— Janelle Staite (@JanelleStaite) December 27, 2022
The Canucks quickly responded and after a few direct messages, Marshall and Linden will be getting a replacement stick. It is a happy ending for two of Bo Horvat’s biggest fans.
Huge shout out to the @Canucks for reaching out to us after hearing our troubles & going above and beyond!!! We can’t thank you enough – our kids were elated to hear from you 😃 @AbbyNews @NanaimoBulletin @CTVNewsVI @CHEK_News thank you to all of you for sharing our story 🏒 pic.twitter.com/7n8qvroIsU
— Janelle Staite (@JanelleStaite) December 29, 2022
Then, in a video posted to Twitter, Horvat said he’s going to make sure the boys get a replacement stick but it comes with a caveat.
“Hey Marshall, hey Linden. I heard you guys lost your stick flying the other day,” Horvat said in the video. “I’m gonna make sure you guys get another one on the way. So as long as you guys keep cheering for the Canucks, we’ll see you guys soon.”
Thank you so much @BoHorvat @Canucks … you’ve made my boys Christmas and more!
Good luck tonight 🏒 we’ll be cheering!— Janelle Staite (@JanelleStaite) December 29, 2022
Cole Sorenson
