Ain't love grand!
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
For Canadian Tyler Labatie and Mittagong's Billie Van Beek life is just that. As grand as the canyon they will soon be flying over.
Tyler is an ice hockey player who has been living with Billie and her parents Rodney and Kellie Van Beek for the past five years.
Born in London, Ontario 28-years ago, Tyler could never shake the travel bug.
He latched onto a Greek island hopping tour and met Billie. Billie as attractive as attractive can be, was letting her hair down. Not too far down. She works as an eyelash technician.
But now the Mittagong liaison is drawing a close, albeit a brief one.
Tyler is hot-footing it home to Woodstock, Ontario at the end of February. His dad is not well. He has MS.
Billie has already lodged a resident's visa application and hopes to be back on Tyler's arm late March.
While in Mittagong Tyler has worked with Billie's dad as a builder. Building homes and cementing a loving relationship with Billie.
Returning home reunited Tyler with his sporting passion-ice hockey.
He has had ice skates on his feet since he was two and a half.
And at four years of age played "tid bit" hockey-designed for young fry.
He then advanced to junior representative hockey and will return to a more senior level once back in Ontario.
In order to hone his skills, Tyler has travelled to Liverpool three nights a week where there is a first class ice hockey arena.
When at Liverpool he always gets asked the same question: "Can ice hockey catch on in Australia?"
'Yes," he responds, "but it will take a mountain of money to build the facilities."
"There is an Aussie playing in the NHL (National Hockey League).
Nathan Walker plays with the St. Louis Blues, Stanley Cup winners two years ago.
Tyler, you're a decent young man. It was a joy to interview you and your stunning girlfriend, Billie. Canada is lucky to get you back.
SKATENOTE: Lo and behold news this week that the South Australian Government is giving an indigenous ice hockey team $60,000 to play competition in Edmonton, Canada.
The team all under 18, including two girls, is the Kaurna Boomerangs.
Unlike Tyler, the Kaurna team will come back.