BRINE IN THE BIG LEAGUES

TRURO - A Bible Hill resident who grew up playing ground hockey in the driveway, pond hockey on Meadowland Avenue and spent countless hours in rinks across Eastern Canada has made the National Hockey League.
David Brine fulfilled a childhood dream by playing his first game a week ago today in Tampa Bay when he pulled on the Florida Panthers uniform in an inner-state contest with the rival Lightning.
It is believed that Brine is only the third Colchester County native and first since Lyle Carter, who played for the California Golden Seals in 1971-72, to play in the world's top professional hockey league.
"It's unbelievable. It's awesome. I am proud of being a Nova Scotian and where I come from," Brine said from Ottawa this week.
"It's great to have that kind of honour."
He has one assist in three contests while playing about eight minutes per game centring the fourth line.
Brine has always been a well-known commodity in the Truro sporting community. A reliable scorer who takes care of business in his own end, Brine's ascension to the top wasn't an easy one.
In his final year with the Pictou County Weeks midget AAA, he was second to league MVP Sidney Crosby with 43 goals and 85 points in 34 games.
He was drafted by the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL but was a late cut in two straight camps.
Brine returned home and played a season of junior A with the Truro Bearcats while completing Grade 12 at Cobequid Educational Centre. It was there that a key component of his game took shape. Brine, a 17-year-old on a veteran-laden team, decided faceoffs could be his niche to increased ice time.
"You had to find a way to get on the ice and once you're on the ice you can make things happen," he recalled.
Following a strong year in junior A, Brine played three seasons in the Quebec league with Halifax, co-captaining the team and scoring 100 points in 70 games in his final year.
That showing earned him a shot with the Manitoba Moose during the American Hockey League playoffs and an audition in the reality TV show Making the Cut with current Calgary Flames coach "Iron" Mike Keenan.
Brine didn't win but the contest helped him sign a three-year contract with the Panthers.
Two years later, Brine got the call he dreamed about following last Friday's game against the Toronto Marlies.
"I wasn't expecting it at all. We just finished our game and I was ... icing down and coach came in and told me."
The next night Brine participated in warmups but wasn't sure he'd dress against the Lightning.
"When I found out I was playing it was just unbelievable," he said.
One of his highlights from the first game was winning a faceoff against sniper Vincent Lecavalier.
Florida has been decimated with injuries as five forwards and two defencemen are on injured reserve but Brine has not been given any indication how long he will be with the club.
His next game came against the Toronto Maple Leafs with the Patton family from Bible Hill in attendance.
He recorded an assist at 8:14 of the third period on Steve Montador's goal for his first NHL point and had a chance to speak with the Pattons following the game.
"The grin on his face was just ear-to-ear," Steve said, noting it couldn't happen to a better person. "He's so down to Earth and ... is just a really good role model for young kids."
David's family is excited for him, knowing the hard work he has put into his sport.
"His perseverance has paid off for him," said father Ralph, who coached him in minor hockey. "He takes his lunch box to the rink with him all the time. He works hard on his skills."
David, who started playing the game when he was two, was hooked immediately.
"He had a love for it at the beginning," Ralph said. "I think anyone that's going to be a professional in any endeavour ... they have to have a passion for it and he certainly had a passion for hockey."
David said he never lost faith and kept the course despite some bumps along the way.
"I went from junior A to the Q to the Coast to the A to the Show. So it's been a pretty long road but I've enjoyed every minute of it," said Brine, who was never drafted in the NHL.
"You got to always believe and you always got to keep the faith and keep working hard to try to get there."
Brine has received more than 100 messages from friends and family since making the Show. "I have been lucky to have great people in my life that have been quite supportive."

jmalloy@trurodaily.com