Elkhorn decorating to support Sanheim in the Four Nations Tournament
February 3, 2025, 3:02 pm
Ashley Bochek
Elkhorn’s Travis Sanheim will be part of Team Canada for the Four Nations tournament.
Sanheim has played with the Philadelphia Flyers throughout his NHL career.
Sanheim was selected by the Flyers in the first round, 17th overall, of the 2014 NHL entry draft.
Travis, the son of Kent and Shelley Sanheim of Elkhorn, has played the most sustained stretch of excellent two-way hockey in his career this season (including five goals and 15 points in 25 games) while absorbing massive ice time responsibilities.
The 28-year-old has represented Team Canada before, but the Four Nations tournament represents the toughest competition he’s had to beat out for a national team roster spot.
Previously, Sanheim was part of Team Canada at the 2014 Under-18 World Championships, the 2016 World Juniors and the 2022 IIHF World Championships.
The tournament will take place in Montréal and Boston February 12-20.
Home town proud
Kaileigh Kyle of Elkhorn says people in the community wanted to show their support by decorating their homes and businesses in support of Travis Sanheim.
The community of Elkhorn already displays their pride for Sanheim with signs by the highway and at their community rink.
“Lots of people are well aware of Travis’ outstanding career as a Flyer, and we have the big sign out on the highway and one above the doors at the rink,” she said.
She said the entire community is proud of their local NHLer.
“The community thinks it’s great,” she said. “I think it is amazing and really something for the little kids in the community to look up to and if they work hard toward their dreams—even if you are from little Elkhorn, and go to little Elkhorn school, and play hockey out of the Elkhorn rink, you can still make it to the big leagues.”
Community hub
Kyle explains the rink is a community hub in Elkhorn.
“The rink is the centre-point of the community, it is where we all gather and chat over a hockey game,” she said.
“Elkhorn has always been a hockey hub and that includes teams stopping in over the years to eat meals at the rink. The WHL Brandon Wheat Kings stopped here when they were going by for many years. We have had lots of kids go and play excellent hockey—well Travis and Sheldon played in the NHL, but we also have had lots of kids play in the WHL and in the junior leagues in Manitoba and Saskatchewan and go on and play university hockey. For this small town, the rink is a lot of what we offer.”
Decorating the town
When did the community decide to decorate in support of Travis playing for Team Canada?
“The news had come out that he made the team and as a community it was just an idea thrown out from the ECAR Steering Committee, a group I sit on, saying ‘Hey, do you think this would be fun?’ and bring the community together and show our support for him.
“Making team Canada is—probably in anybody’s eyes—a highlight and achievement in their career.
“It is an easy way for the community to bond. Everyone in the day care can be involved to the nursing home to the lodge, the school, the businesses, to everyone! It brings people together to socialize too, whether you have a watch-party or anything like that as well. It is just something we as a community decided we should be supportive of. His family lives here, he grew up here, and his grandparents live here.”
Kyle explains posters, jerseys, and window paint are only some of the few ideas the town will be displaying in support of Travis.
“So far, we are still in the early stages of things because the tournament doesn’t start until February 12. So, I know just from driving down the street one day—I’ve already seen one house had ‘Go Canada Go’ written in window paint. We’ve just put the idea out and started getting the word around and we just hope people will partake.
“I know at the nursing home, where I work, that we are going to decorate, it is on our calendar, and we are going to have a watch-party and we are very excited.
“People can do little things like having red Christmas lights hanging up, or put a Canada flag in their window, or I suggested to the school that maybe they make a big banner.
“It is easy for the day care to do crafts too of the maple leaf or any ideas like that or ‘Go Canada Go’ or ‘Go Travis Go’ or a jersey you want to hang up. Honestly anything!”
Kyle says the community wants to recognize and support the dreams being accomplished by other community members.
“It is important to support our former and present community members when they are achieving excellence and possibly lifetime goals and dreams and it shows that we are a well-bonded community and that we all work together to support our local neighbours and community members.”
If anyone wants to paint their windows in support, here is how:
At-Home Acrylic Window Paint Recipe:
• 2 oz Acrylic paint
• 1 oz dish soap
Add cornstarch to thicken it up so paint doesn’t run
