It was a humbling moment for a guy that just spent a month hanging with NHL superstars and wearing a San Jose Sharks jersey.
Guelph Storm defenceman Ryan Merkley lined up for the national anthem prior to Friday's game against the Owen Sound Attack at the Sleeman Centre. On the back of his jersey his name had been incorrectly spelled "M-E-R-K-E-L-Y."
"I didn't even notice. I just put the jersey on," laughed Merkley after the game.
Some quick work in the equipment room came up with the right spelling on a name bar and the jersey was switched over.
All's well that ends well, including the game, as the Storm earned its first win of the young season, 6-2 over the Attack.
Merkley had an assist and was a plus-3 on the a night where two Storm rookies, Daniil Chayka and Ty Collins, scored their first OHL goals.
More importantly he returns to Guelph still beaming from his NHL experience.
"It was great," he said of the Sharks training camp," which included going to San Jose early and living with Sharks all-star Brent Burns for a couple of weeks.
"It was just really cool to hang out and see how he goes about his daily routine,' Merkley said. "It was just a great camp, skating with all those guys, practicing with them and getting to meet them for the first time. It was exciting."
There were a couple of surreal moments, watching Ryan Getzlaaf and Corey Perry coming down the wing toward him in exhibition games,
"I was surprised for sure (playing so much in the exhibition season). I didn't know what to expect. I didn't expect to play so much for a young guy coming in."
Merkley said watching a player of Burns's stature hitting the ice early, working out before and after practice, watching how he carried himself off the ice, were all part of the learning experience.
"It's a different level for sure," he said.
Storm coach/GM George Burnett makes no bones about what he expects from Merkley this year.
"I expect him to be amongst the elite, if not the elite defenceman in the league and I think he expects that of himself," Burnett said.
"I know it's been a very valuable learning experience for him the last number of months .... there's a plan there and they (San Jose) were thrilled with his progress."
The Storm busted open what had been a tight game with four goals in the final 12:23 of the third period Friday, taking advantage of some iffy Owen Sound goaltending.
Liam Hawel scored what proved to be the game winner, his team-leading fourth goal of the season.
Chayka got his first goal when a point shot found its way through Owen Sound goaltender Mack Guzda. Collins' first OHL goal was a deflection of a Chayka shot.
Isaac Ratcliffe had his first two goals of the season in that third period while Alexey Toropchenko had Guelph's other goal.
Other than a sharp-angle wrister by Alan Lyszczarczyk that beat him in the second period, Storm goaltender Anthony Popovich was very sharp, making 31 saves.
Mack Guzda started for Owen Sound and was yanked after allowing five goals.
Guelph plays in Saginaw on Saturday night.
