Local photographer Chad Mitchell got to meet Ron MacLean when he was in town on Sunday for Rogers Hometown Hockey. In fact, MacLean signed some of his prints which will now be used to support local charity. Pictured are, left to right, Kelly Cribb-Mitchell, Chad Mitchell, Dana Pittman and Ron MacLean.
One of Mitchell’s memorable photos brought a smile to his face during Hometown Hockey weekend in Grand Falls-Windsor, and will likely end up creating many more smiles.
His image of frozen Rushy Pond at sunset framed with a hockey net on an outdoor rink last winter took on an increased air of Canadiana when hockey broadcasting icon Ron Maclean added his signature.
In fact, Mitchell ended up getting the autographs from MacLean, his Rogers Hometown Hockey co-host Tara Slone and former NHLer and Newfoundlander Harold Druken.
“This is definitely the highlight of my photography career,” said Mitchell who has been capturing images around his hometown of Grand Falls-Windsor since receiving a Canon Rebel SLR as a Christmas gift from his wife four years ago.
Operating professionally under Inspired By Max Photography, Mitchell has begun using some of his works, and his time, to benefit local charities, particularly Beagle Paws.
He packed along three prints of the rink photograph on Sunday in hopes of getting one autographed for himself, another to be used for charity and the other to be presented to MacLean.
He waited a while for the opportunity to approach the veteran broadcasted for his autograph.
“He was mobbed when he came outside during the first intermission,” Mitchell told the Advertiser Monday. “When he came out for the second period there was still a big crowd, but eventually he worked his way back to where we were.”
MacLean was complimentary about the picture but asked Mitchell to keep it and “do some good with it,” Mitchell noted.
“I was overwhelmed that I actually got it done,” he said of the whole experience in tracking down the autographs. “It’s not every day you get to meet Ron MacLean and get him to sign something for you.
“I couldn’t have asked for it to have turned out any better,” he added. “The added bonus is now I actually have two autographed prints to be given away to help some local charity.”
