What started out as a usual Wednesday night for volunteer Christopher Lakusta as he prepared to start rolling to capture the Kodiaks鈥� latest home game live 鈥� took a surprising turn.

What the 31-year-old hockey buff from Aldergrove didn鈥檛 know 鈥� was that something special was about to happen.

Lakusta was 鈥渏ust doing his job,鈥� waiting to hit 鈥渞ecord鈥� on the Kodiaks鈥� fourth playoff game against Mission City on March 4.

But as time went on, the game didn鈥檛 start.

A red carpet was rolled out and Kodiaks鈥� co-owner Ingrid Harkins motioned for the long-time volunteer to come with her out onto the ice.

鈥淚 was speechless,鈥� he told the Aldergrove Star.

After getting used to working behind the scenes at games, Lakusta was himself thrust into the spotlight and a roar of arena applause.

鈥淚t was very touching and I don鈥檛 feel that very often,鈥� he admitted.

Harkins and assistant general manager Roy El Caswell then presented Lakusta with a 鈥淰olunteer of the Decade鈥� plaque, a personalized game-worn Kodiaks jersey, and a lifetime pass to all Pacific Junior Hockey League games.

RESULTS OF THE GAME:

The Aldergrove resident has spent his last 10 years volunteering weekly to bring the sights and sounds of the game to online viewers. He鈥檚 even helped keep score as a goal judge, with a close eye on net.

鈥淰olunteering has just always been in me,鈥� Lakusta said, mentioning his previous decade of volunteering as a Scout leader.

鈥淏eing paid for it would just ruin the fun,鈥� he said.

It鈥檚 because Lakusta is a true fan of the thriving Junior B Kodiaks that he continues to support them in such a way.

He鈥檚 also known team owners 鈥� including Rick Harkins 鈥� since he was 8 years old, when he played baseball with their son Travis.

鈥淚t鈥檚 part of the reason why I came to watch the team at first,鈥� he said.

Lakusta remembers being 19 when he first heard that Aldergrove was starting its own Junior B hockey team.

He even recalls the exact day: 鈥� Sept 3, 2008,鈥� Lakusta said.

As a curious 3-year-old, Lakusta has fond memories of watching 91原创 rookies earn their stripes on the ice at George Preston.

His mom, who then worked at the recreation centre, would take him to see games.

鈥淚 remember seeing Scott Gomez play for the Surrey Eagles,鈥� Lakusta lauded.

Then, 鈥渉e was drafted in 1998 to the New Jersey Devils 鈥� he鈥檚 a legend.鈥�

Ever since those days Lakusta鈥檚 had a sincere interest in the development of local hockey players and teams.