With a crowd of more than 100 fans, friends and family chanting her name in unison, cowbells clanging and a planeload of fellow WestJet passengers wondering what the kerfuffle was all about, hockey star Haley Irwin arrived home in Thunder Bay on Friday, her Olympic gold medal held aloft for all to see.
An exhausted-looking Irwin, 21, caught a second win upon passing through security, where she was greeted by a raucous throng, and after hugging her mom Kerry, her aunt and some friends, she began signing autographs.
She didn’t stop until everyone who wanted one got one, or got the chance to have a picture taken or touch the medal hanging around her neck.
It was a little overwhelming, she said.
“It was bigger than I thought. I was expecting my mom and a couple of news reporters, but I think that the kids that came out and showed support for me means a lot,” she said. “Even when you’re in Vancouver you get letters and emails, but to have them here at the airport is very special.”
Irwin, who plans to return to the University of Minnesota-Duluth in the fall, didn’t mind that many of the kids skipped school on a sunny Friday afternoon, at least one of which told her teacher she was going to a dentist appointment.
“I’ll support that, for today only,” said a smiling Irwin, who scored four goals and one assist in her Olympic debut, including a pair of semifinal goals against Finland.
Irwin began her day in Calgary, her home-away-from-home for much of the last year, a city where she joined the senior national women’s program and made her mark, ultimately forcing Hockey Canada officials to name her to the Olympic squad last year.
Getting back to Thunder Bay wasn’t without its obstacles, she said. Like fellow Olympic champion Eric Staal of the men’s hockey team, Irwin had a little explaining to do when she went through security.
“They wanted to see what was in my bag. Obviously it was a medal. After that they were more than happy to let me go through,” she said. “It was in its case, but once they looked at it, they put everything back in (my bag).”
If Irwin was overwhelmed at the crowd, the kids who came out to greet their newfound hero were bowled over at the chance to get up close and personal with someone that just eight days ago they watched win gold on TV.
“It was pretty amazing,” said nine-year-old Hana Whalen. “I’ve never actually seen an Olympic champion, and it’s just really amazing.”
The youngster wasn’t sure what was cooler, meeting Irwin herself or getting a chance to touch the medal.
“It’s just incredible,” she said.
Her friend, eight-year-old Erica Vidotto, was equally thrilled.
“It was pretty amazing. It was much better than seeing it on TV. I think it was pretty good that they won the gold medal.”
Erica, the guilty party who told her teacher a little white lie to be at the impromptu celebration, has special plans for the picture and autograph she got.
“I’m going to bring it home and show my mom and we’re going to put it up on my room.”
Eight-year-old Kaleigh Power said she’s proud that Irwin is from Thunder Bay and brought home the gold. “Just to see her up close, I was saying in my head, wow, this is so incredible.”
Hana’s mother, Julie Whalen, who also brought seven-year-old daughter Esme to the airport, said her family had so much fun watching the Olympics that she wanted some of the excitement to continue for her daughters.
“It’s overwhelming. It’s so exciting. It was everything we wanted it to be and more,” Whalen said. “For Haley to be from Thunder Bay, that’s the craziest and best thing ever. It was really important for us to come and show her support and show her that we just think she’s awesome.”
Mayor Lynn Peterson, who skipped meetings in Schreiber to be at the airport, called it a wonderful tribute, holding a bouquet of red and white flowers she would later give to Irwin on behalf of the city.
“The look on her face when she came around the corner was wonderful,” Peterson said. “To have this many people come out with sincere congratulations, and they’re so proud of her, I mean this is this community at its best celebrating one of this community’s best.”
Could she get used to this every four years?
“Absolutely,” Peterson beamed.
Meanwhile, Irwin’s older brother Brent, a former Fort William North Star, joked he’s a little jealous at what his sister has accomplished – though he did join his mother and other sister in Vancouver for the Games.
“I’ve been riding on her coattails my entire life,” he joked. “No, I’m very proud of her though.
From the turnout on Friday, so is most of Thunder Bay.
