Rhett Warrener and I first crossed paths as members of Canada’s national U17 team. We were both coming off successful 16 year old seasons in the WHL, (Rhett was in Saskatoon and I was with Spokane) when Hockey Canada gave us the phone call that we were chosen to travel to Japan and play in the Pacific Cup.
We were reunited at the 94 draft, when Rhett was chosen 26th overall and I went 5 picks later, both to the Florida Panthers.
We were reunited again in 96 when we represented Canada at the World Junior Championship held in Boston, where we won the gold. We even appear together on the back of one of Rhett’s hockey cards, celebrating after we won the final!
I joined Rhett and the Panthers for their epic 1996 playoff run, after my season with Spokane ended. I was a “black ace”, but Rhett was playing regular minutes. The Panthers made it to the final, but got swept by Colorado.