The five most important words in sport

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/05/2022 (371 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Kruno Brnjas is a six-year-old Grade 2 student at Dr. F. W. L. Hamilton School in East St. Paul.

Kruno is a little shy but when he decides to speak he doesn’t mess around.

“I like math. I like numbers,” he said when asked how school is going.

“My teacher is Ms. Sarapu. We all call her Ms. S. She is a good teacher. She is nice and friendly, and she is good at math.”

Kruno is growing up in a sport-loving home and it is believed he was already playing soccer and hockey when he was still in his mom’s tummy.

“I play soccer and hockey. Hockey is my favourite,” he said — a statement that almost broke his poor father’s heart.

“In soccer I play all over. My favourite position is keeper, though. Why? I just like it!” he said.

“I play at the A.K. Soccer Academy. I have lots of friends there and we have lots of fun.”

It seems clear that Kruno is destined for a future keeping pucks and balls out of nets when he talks about hockey.

“For hockey I play in the Canlan League. I like playing goalie the most,” he said. “My favourite team is the Winnipeg Jets and my favourite player is Connor Hellebuyck. For soccer, my favourite player is Luka Modric (a star midfielder for Real Madrid and Croatia). I have his poster in my room.”

Now for the big question — I asked Kruno if he could choose between playing a game in the World Cup or playing a game in the Stanley Cup, which would he pick?

“The Stanley Cup, if I could pick,” he said, another answer that was followed by a loud groan from his dad.

Kruno, his dad Joey and mom Charlotte live in North Kildonan. When I asked Kruno if he had any brothers or sisters he said, “No. But I want a brother or sister though!”

Dad Joey jumped in right away with: “No! I’m too old!”

Kruno is a good, kind, and polite young man whose future is filled with a lot of fun and love from his family.

He is also wise beyond his years and when I asked him what his advice would be to other young athletes, he may have said the five most important words in sport:

“Try hard and have fun.”