Meet and Greet Information

Where: Victoria Village Arena, 190 Bermondsey Road
When: Sunday, September 13 at 10:00 AM
Tickets: $90.00 (Pay at the door. Cash, credit, debit accepted)
Includes:
– Meet and greet with Chris Tanev
– Personally signed 8×10 photo (NHLPA Certified) by Chris Tanev
– Picture taken with Chris Tanev and emailed to ticket holder
– Goodie bags with value up to $200 gifted to ticket holder from sponsors

Parts of proceeds will go to support Victoria Village Minor Hockey Association.

About Chris Tanev

Home is where your heart is. For Chris Tanev, the Toronto Maple Leafs powerhouse defenseman, his first home was with the Victoria Village House League (VVHL).

Chris laced up his first pair of skates with Victoria Village at just 5 years old. There, he gained the confidence and skill to jump from house league to select to rep hockey. From ages 9-15, Tanev played with some of the top GTHL teams of the time (North York Canadiens, Toronto Red Wings, and Mississauga Reps). But being the smallest on the ice meant he was often overlooked by coaches and scouts.

It was Chris’ grit and determination that pushed him to never give up on his dream of playing in the NHL. Where most players make it to the pros through the draft, at under 5’10”, Tanev was never drafted. Instead, he played NCAA hockey at RIT University on a US scholarship.

It was during his first year there that his prowess on the ice caught the attention of NHL scouts. In 2010, Chris’s dream of playing in the NHL finally came true, and he signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks. The smallest guy on the ice had made it.

In his 16 years of NHL hockey, Tanev has grown, not just into his 6’3” stature but also into an elite defenseman known for his hockey IQ, his positional awareness and his fearless shot-blocking skills.

From learning to skate at Victoria Village HL to playing on hockey’s biggest stage, Chris’s journey hasn’t been easy. Despite adversity and not fitting the traditional mold of a hockey player, his love of the game has never faltered. He is a devoted team player, who remains proof that with hard work, anything is possible.