Hockey Friends in Hot Places

One of the most important things someone can have is friendship. It is a constant with many variables, and everyone defines it differently. However, some common things are love, care, mutual trust, and support. 

True friendship does not have distance, boundaries, or age limits. Chris Ordoobadi, a professional hockey player signed with the Florida Everblades, the reigning ECHL champions, knows all about it. One of his friends is Nik Pavlovich, an elementary schooler and junior hockey player based in Jacksonville.  

“Chris is my best friend because we go to steakhouses together. He is a nice guy,” said Pavlovich. 

Ordoobadi was Pavlovich’s father’s teammate, and both men played for the Orlando Solar Bears. One day, Nik came to the rink with his dad and met all the players in the locker room. The Solar Bears’ head coach even signed the junior player to a one-day contract.  

Ordoobadi had few role models he admired as a child, and he took every chance he could to talk to professional hockey professionals. “A couple of players took me under their wing. I had a chance to practice with them,” said Ordoobadi. “They set an example for me.” That experience helped shape Ordoobadi into the role model he is today. 

When the Everblades travel to Jacksonville to face the local hockey team, the Icemen, Chris Ordoobadi invites Pavlovich to his games. In return, Pavlovich draws banners and waves at his favorite hockey player during a warmup skate to show his support. Ordoobadi sent Pavlovich a special gift for Christmas: the Florida Everblades jersey with the number 26. In March, Pavlovich got his jersey personally signed by his hockey mentor. 

Love for hockey unites people and breaks down barriers.