Center Ice Spotlight: Liam & Gabriel Chen | Vaughan, Ontario Canada

The Chen Brothers

Gabriel Chen

I'm 6 years old and am born and raised in Whitby but I'm moving to Vaughan in January. I'm Chinese Jamaican by heritage and am being raised close to my roots. I play the piano and am an all around athlete. I enjoy basketball, badminton, hockey, football and running. Currently I play up a year with kids born in 2013 for the Vaughan Rangers but I was born in 2014.

I wanted to become an ambassador because my family and I believe that there needs to be more diversity with hockey. It's one of the few sports that seem to have little participation from minorities and I want to encourage others to play and enjoy the sport that means so much to me. By doing this, we can hopefully break down racial barriers.

What I look forward most about being an ambassador is being associated with a brand that encourages and is proud of the color of their skin.

Some non hockey talents I have is I can do a belly role with my stomach. You need to see it to understand but it's quite unique. I am passionate about food. Some people are motivated by money, presents etc. For me, entice me with a piece of cheesecake and I'll put in some work to get it.

If I could sit down and have dinner with one hockey player is PK Subban. He's been a hero to my brother and I. Mainly because he's a visible minority in hockey but also because he comes from our home town. I'm also proud of the person he is and how he gives back to the community and represents the Jamaican heritage well.

The best advice I've been given is from my dad... There's no substitute for hard work. He doesn't mind if I make mistakes, fall, blow a play but he does expect I be the hardest worker and give it my all in everything I do from hockey to piano to school.

My hockey dream is to see acceptance of all races and nationalities.

Liam Chen

I'm 8 years old and am born and raised in Whitby but I'm moving to Vaughan in January. I'm Chinese Jamaican by heritage and am being raised close to my roots. I play the piano and am an all around athlete. I enjoy basketball, badminton, hockey, football and running. I'm a AAA player who played for the Pro Hockey elite AAA program this past spring. I'm currently playing tier 1 hockey for the Whitby Wildcats but will be transitioning to another team next year as we are moving.

My family and I believe that there needs to be more diversity with hockey. It's one of the few sports that seem to have little participation from minorities and I want to encourage others to play and enjoy the sport that means so much to me. By doing this, we can hopefully break down racial barriers.

I look forward to becoming an ambassador and being associated with a brand that encourages and is proud of the color of their skin.

A non hockey talent / hockey is I have been training in Muay Thai for almost 2 years now and love the sport.

I could sit down and have dinner any hockey player it would be PK Subban. He's been a hero to my brother and I. Mainly because he's a visible minority in hockey but also because he comes from our home town. I'm also proud of the person he is and how he gives back to the community and represents the Jamaican heritage well.

The best advice I've been given is from my dad... There's no substitute for hard work. He doesn't mind if I make mistakes, fall, blow a play but he does expect I be the hardest worker and give it my all in everything I do from hockey to piano to school.

My hockey dream is to see acceptance of all races and nationalities.