Dunedin Thunder player Sam Loiselle with his parents, Patrick Loiselle and Julie Fournier, who have made the trip from Canada to watch him play at the Dunedin Ice Stadium. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH Where would you pick for your first big overseas expedition? Patrick Loiselle and Julie Fournier chose little old Dunedin as the proud parents snapped up the opportunity to visit New Zealand while their son, Sam Loiselle, makes a name for himself with the Dunedin Thunder this season. Loiselle is making the most of having his family — minus his three brothers, who are back home — by his side, taking them sightseeing throughout the region, including a trip to Milford Sound this week. ‘‘My family is here for 17 days so right now we’re making the most of it,’’ Loiselle said. The defenceman hails from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, the south shore of Montreal, and has been a brilliant addition to the Thunder in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League this season. He is among the league’s leading scorers and the French-Canadian is lapping up his time in Dunedin away from the ice as well. ‘‘It’s a very nice city and I like that it’s close by the sea. ‘‘I’ve always wanted to be there by the sea. Back home we’re in the middle... so we don’t have sea. ‘‘It’s nice scenery and I enjoy, too, the couple of days off we have during the schedule, because it’s a short season — only 16 games — so we have a lot of time to travel. ‘‘The guys are nice and generous. They want us to have a good time here, so it’s perfect.’’ Loiselle, alongside Thunder imports Cole Beckstead and Luke Stegmann, has been selected for a Canadian team to play the United States in the opening leg of the Ice Hockey Classic series in Australia. After pulling on the red jersey last season, Loiselle was looking forward to another chance later this month. ‘‘It’s core memories, you know, pulling that jersey on, representing the country,’’ Loiselle said. ‘‘I have high expectations. We got there to win games and prove that Canada is better than USA.’’ But first his attention is firmly on the Thunder’s doubleheader against the Canterbury Red Devils in Dunedin tomorrow night and Saturday. He encouraged the fans to get behind them this weekend. ‘‘Come to the rink to discover hockey in Dunedin. ‘‘There is body checks, contact, nice goals and ice skating... you will love it.’’ kayla.hodge@odt.co.nz
