Dogwood Travels to Halifax...the Long Way

[dogwoodmaple 380]

Shock, embarrassment, and utter humiliation.

 

That's what newly drafted forward Maple Dogwood is said to have experienced this weekend when his plan to join his new team went stunningly awry.

 

"When I got the call from Halifax, I was thrilled. They scouted me pretty thoroughly in the pre-draft process so I knew I was on their board somewhere and when word came that I was headed that, I was just over the moon. Words can't describe how happy I was because I knew it would be a great locker room, a great situation, and just a wonderful place.  Of course the first thing I did was call my parents and then my agent and we started to plan out the next moves. I knew I had to get to Halifax from Atlanta, make sure I had all my gear and everything. And since I was so excited, I booked the first flight I could find.  That's when it all went wrong," Dogwood explained.

 

"I thought it was strange that there wasn't an airport in Halifax, just one nearby, but I figured that was just how it was. I'd never been there before and I was so dang fired up that I don't think I was thinking straight. I booked my ticket, got a ride to the airport, and off I went," he said.

 

Unfortunately for the newest member of the Halifax 21st, Maple Dogwood booked a ticket to Halifax, England via Leeds Bradford Airport and not Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

 

"Look, I hadn't slept at all because I was so worried about the draft and then I got to the airport and do you have any idea how busy Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is in Atlanta? It's literally the busiest airport in the world. So forgive me if things got a little foggy there for me. Anyways, I got on the flight and got my seat and put my carry-on away before my row-mate sat down next to me. We made small talk and then it occurred to me that I hadn't eaten in a while. I asked him if they were serving any meals on this flight and he looked at me like I had eight eyes. 'Well I sure as hell hope so. We're going to be on this airplane for the next 11 hours.' I thought he was just joking or maybe I misheard him, but turns out he was completely serious.  I decided to take a quick nap just after takeoff and it turns out I was out for five hours before I came to. When I woke up it didn't seem like we were any closer to Halifax.  Before the flight, I googled the travel time before we left it said five and a half hours, so I was a little nervous and thought something might be wrong. That's when I used the little computer screen on the seatback in front of me to see exactly where we were.  That's when it hit me like a ton of bricks.  We had already passed Halifax, Nova Scotia and were clear over the Atlantic Ocean. I followed the path on the screen and saw that it had us landing just outside Halifax, England," Maple said.

 

That's when he broke his cardinal rule of never paying for in-flight wi-fi and frantically emailed his family, his new coach, and his agent, explaining that he would be late arriving to his new team and would miss the first practice.

 

"I eventually made it to the correct Halifax the next day, but the team all had a big laugh about it. There were 15 geography books, 12 maps, and nine atlases all piled up in my locker with a big red dot around Halifax and "YOU ARE HERE" written on them in marker," he said.

 

The winger joins the 21st as their second round pick and has been banned from any unapproved flights for the coming season.

[LucyXpher 1,585]

We’re all glad you made it… eventually! Here’s hoping all those geography books and atlases help prevent any future detours!