Maritime Pride

They're mighty proud of Joey Russell in Newfoundland and Labrador. But his well of support runs much deeper than just his home province, as he's quickly finding out.
Every time Russell skates at the Canadian championships here in Halifax, the Metro Centre fans keep showing him that he's a favoured son all across Atlantic Canada. And Russell will tell you, quite frankly, that he's taken aback by all the fuss.
“There’s a certain amount of pride that comes with being from Labrador,” said Russell, a poised 18-year-old from Labrador City. “Not only Labrador, but Newfoundland and the Maritimes. I never expected an audience reaction like that one out there (today). Everyone is great in Canada and everyone is supportive, but when you’re back home in the Maritimes, it’s that much more, and they’re so happy to see you do well.
“The immense support I get, not only from Newfoundland and Labrador, but Nova Scotia and P.E.I. and New Brunswick ... they’re all helping me be my best.”
Russell was just that in tonight's senior men's short program. With a 59.84-point score, the first-year senior stands an impressive seventh going into Saturday night's free skate final.
“It’s always a blessing when you skate a good program but even if I didn’t, all I wanted was to look like I belonged with most of the guys out there,” he said.
That he did, though Russell knows he doesn't quite have the ammunition yet that he needs to contend with the best of the best yet. But give him a triple Axel and perhaps a quad — jumps he aims to conquer in the next year or so — and the young lad from Labrador will be in the hunt for a Vancouver 2010 Olympics berth.
Maybe someday he'll even put himself on the same plane as Newfoundland and Labrador's biggest sports heroes, the 2006 Olympic champion Brad Gushue curling rink.
“Two of the guys on that team (Mark Nichols, Mike Adam) are from my home town,” said Russell. “They’re just a huge, huge inspiration to everybody, not only athletes, not only curlers. But everybody in our sport looks up to those guys and we all think they’re the most amazing people.
“Coming from such a small town, it’s going to make me think it’s possible for me someday.”