(Halifax) The last thing Nathan Eides wants — and he makes it clear — is for the spotlight to be on him. And yet, it is. At each commercial break; during each celebration following a goal; after each victory; after each loss.
Dressed in white from head to toe, the cameraman on skates commands attention at the World Junior Hockey Championship inside the Scotiabank Center in Halifax.
“I’m well aware that I have the best seat in the building,” admitted Eides between two recent games. “It’s quite nice to be in the middle of everything. »
The 39-year-old, who hails from Rosenort, Manitoba, zigzags around the rink during stoppage time to provide an intimate, up-close look at hockey’s next stars.
“He’s going to look for nice pictures of the guys,” said Team Canada defenseman Brandt Clarke. “I saw him almost get rammed into it. When I scored against Germany, I smiled for him. »
Eides moves into the penalty box and jumps into the fray — in specific situations that have been endorsed by the International Ice Hockey Federation — as soon as the whistle blows.
The Winnipeg-based freelancer who works mostly when televising hockey and football games on TSN, noted that the pre-game warm-up is the only time players change their behavior.
“They’re having a little more fun with the puck,” he said.
Eides gets involved in these chaotic and orderly sessions where each player has his own routine and where the potential dangers are numerous.
“Touch wood, I’ve never been hit by a puck before,” he said. “I try to follow the red line as much as possible. Then, I choose my moments and I start. »
Eides can find himself inches from a stretching goaltender, or close to a puck-savvy player like Canadian phenom Connor Bedard.
“The first time is strange,” admitted Austrian striker Vinzenz Rohrer. “I take my hat off to him. He always manages to sneak past everyone. »
“Pretty well camouflaged,” added Swedish goalkeeper Carl Lindbom. “The finished product is fantastic. »