Home For The Holidays

He wasn’t wearing a red suit and black boots, but Teddy Purcell was certainly the picture of Christmas cheer when he made his way back to Newfoundland.

The last time Purcell was home for Christmas, in his estimation, had to be seven or eight years ago. So, when the opportunity to head to eastern Canada arose, the Tampa forward jumped at the chance.

“To be able to come home, see my family, old friends and some of the other guys that are from out here, I was thrilled to be able to do it,” said the native of St. John’s. “It definitely brought back a lot of good memories.”

Those recollections would include some cherished Christmas presents from his younger days.

“There’s a few that I definitely do recall,” said Purcell. “There was a GT snowracer that came with a Brett Hull poster. I used that thing night and day, going up and down hills, through the snow. I loved it.”

A hockey-related present, however, didn’t quite pan out as Purcell had hoped.

“I got Road Warrior street hockey goalie pads,” he remembered. “I wanted to be a goalie. I’d eat breakfast, throw them on, go and play for hours, come back in and then go out again. I know my parents have a funny picture somewhere in the house of me wearing them. Hopefully, it stays hidden.

“I was probably in Grade 1 or 2 and I put them on one day,” the winger continued. “But I put them on the wrong legs and then proceeded to let in about 17 goals or more. I think that was the moment when I knew I wasn’t cut out to be a goalie.”

Thankfully, for Purcell, he opted to give the forward position a try. It’s worked out well, to say the least.

Last season, the 27-year-old was a major contributor for the Lightning, scoring 24 goals and playing on a line with Steven Stamkos, one of the game’s premier offensive stars.

“I guess I did make the right decision,” he quipped.

Bringing home his equipment for the holidays was also a good choice.

“I wanted to have it with me and I put it to use,” offered Purcell. “I skated with Ryan Clowe, Michael Ryder and Adam Pardy. Four guys from Newfoundland just having a blast.”

There was more hockey on his agenda.

“I had some of my parents’ friends and some other friends, guys who I golf with, that all got together and got some games in,” said Purcell, who was traded from Los Angeles to Tampa in 2010. “It gets pretty competitive, but it’s always fun.”

When he wasn’t playing playmaker on the ice, Purcell has taken on planner duties, more specifically, helping arrange a Christmas party.

“I asked my parents if we could have our extended family over like we always did,” he said. “It was always a great time. I missed being part of it after I left for hockey. There would be about 50 people and everyone enjoyed themselves. This year, I made the calls and then I showed up. I suppose that’s a pretty easy job.”

But one he relishes.

“To see people I haven’t seen, to be with my family and friends, it’s nice. I’ve been lucky enough to play in beautiful cities with amazing weather, in Los Angeles and Tampa. But being home has a really different feel to it. There was snow on the ground when I got back and people really got into the spirit of the season. I really enjoyed every minute of it.”