Sash Barbour (right) and his friends Jason Kemper (left) and Matt Calijouw (middle) loudly and proudly cheer on the Nanaimo Buccaneers at the Nanaimo Ice Centre. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

super fan

‘Leave it up to me to do that job:’ Buccaneers fan relishes super-fan status

Jan 11, 2020 | 11:08 PM

NANAIMO — For fans of the VIJHL’s Nanaimo Buccaneers, Sash Barbour is a celebrity.

The ‘Bucs Super-Fan’ has been a fixture at games in Nanaimo since 2014, enthusiastically cheering junior B hockey team from his seat.

“The special needs hockey team that I play on played the Buccaneers and I admired the way they played and since then it’s been an adventure,” Barbour told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Originally from Barrie, Ontario, Barbour moved to Nanaimo in 2012. A passionate hockey fan, Barbour connected to the Bucs immediately.

“They needed somebody be partly a mascot and partly the biggest superfan in the arena,” Barbour said. “If no-one else was going to do it, leave it up to me to do that job.”

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Over years of Buccaneers fandom, Barbour has added to his energizing routine and costume he wears to every game.

“It started with a party-made buccaneers sword,” Barbour said. “But then I thought I needed to pick it up a bit and be a super-fan and a mascot to dance for the crowd.”

Barbour has since added a hockey helmet with visor, several replica WWE championship belts and a microphone to further amp up the crowd and players.

Four year Nanaimo Buccaneers veteran Dylan Hartl has experienced Barbour’s passion for his entire career.

“When you look up there he gets the boys going, he’s always here and always in a good mood and you look at him as an example to keep going,” Hartl said.

Hartl said Barbour’s energy is infectious and often heard by players on the ice.

“Most of the time it’s hard to hear fans over the play, but his voice seems to come through and he’s easy to hear.”

Barbour and friends Jason Kemper and Matt Calijouw have travelled to support the team on the road, with trips to Courtenay and Parksville in recent years.

“I know a few guys in Parksville, they know what I’m about and they know I’m there to fire up my guys so it’s all been good,” Barbour said.

While some fans can be demanding of a team’s play, Barbour’s only request of his Buccaneers is a simple one.

“It doesn’t matter if they win or lose…as long as they’re putting in their best effort that’s all I’m looking for.”

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley