N.S. hockey players represent Canada at Spengler Cup [Video]

Colten Ellis grew up near the base of Whycocomagh Mountain in Cape Breton, and now he’s one of Canada’s goaltenders at the Spengler Cup near the Swiss Alps in Davos, Switzerland.

“It was unbelievable to get the call when he told me he was heading over here. It was surreal, actually,” said Brian Ellis, Colten Ellis’s father.

The younger Ellis, a 24-year-old native of River Denys, N.S., plays for the Springfield Thunderbirds of the American Hockey League. He got the start in Canada’s opening game at the Spengler Cup.

Ellis made 25 saves in a 6-2 win over host HC Davos in front of their raucous home crowd, all while family and friends cheered him on back home in Cape Breton.

“It was pretty cool, and I don’t think I really anticipated how many people would be following along,” Ellis said. “Until after the game, when all of the messages and seeing people posting that they were watching.”

For Gerard Shaw …