Canadian boy 'Coach Cal' brings Ellen to tears during speech
A Canadian boy who gained attention for giving a passionate pre-game hockey speech brought Ellen DeGeneres to tears during an appearance on her talk show.
Callan Perks, from Lakefield, Ont., won the opportunity in November to give the pre-game speech to his hometown OHL team Peterborough Petes.
He was selected by the team as part of their 'Next Gen' day, where kids sign single-day contracts to see what it's like to be part of a professional hockey league.
Ontario boy 'Coach Cal' appears on The Ellen Show. (Michael Rozman/Warner Bros.)
The pre-game speech to his hockey idols racked up hundreds of thousands of views online – and even gained the attention of The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
The seven-year-old was given the opportunity to fly to California to appear on Wednesday's episode.
Dressed in a suit and tie, Cal gave a passionate speech to DeGeneres, who is currently taping her farewell season of the popular talk show.
"For 19 seasons, you have given your all on this stage," Cal said. "You danced hard. You joked hard. You laughed hard. You cried hard and you gave hard. So when it's time to say goodbye and turn out the lights just remember, you, Ellen, will always get the 'W' because you have always given whatever it takes to be you."
"So keep working hard and staying positive and making people laugh because you are a legend."
Cal received a standing ovation from the audience for his speech and DeGeneres was brought to tears.
"You know what? I have to say, I know a lot of fancy people," DeGeneres told Cal. "What you just said to me means more to me than what I can possibly convey to you. I don’t even know you, but you are just a special little being with such a big heart and I thank you for that."
DeGeneres gifted Cal with a personalized track suit, clip board and megaphone for his future speeches.
"I think you are going to go on to do big, big things my man," DeGeneres said. "You are adorable."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard found not guilty of sexual assault
Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago. The former Hedley frontman had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.
Police arrest Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides
Police have arrested a Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides and investigators say that they believe two of the victims may have been 'randomly targeted.'
Missing B.C. climber died from fall on Mount Baker, medical examiner says
The body of a British Columbia mountain climber has been located and recovered after the 39-year-old man was reported missing during a solo climb on Washington state's Mount Baker earlier this week.
Following child's death in Ontario, here's what you need to know about rabies and bats
An Ontario child died last month after coming into contact with a rabid bat in their bedroom, which was the first known human rabies case in Canada since 2019.
A French judge in a shocking rape case allows the public to see some of the video evidence
A French judge in the trial of dozens of men accused of raping an unconscious woman whose now former husband had repeatedly drugged her so that he and others could assault her decided on Friday to allow the public to see some of the video recordings of the alleged rapes.
Former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters sentenced to 9 years for voting data scheme
A judge ripped into a Colorado county clerk for her crimes and lies before sentencing her Thursday to nine years behind bars for a data-breach scheme spawned from the rampant false claims about voting machine fraud in the 2020 presidential race.
Anne Hathaway confirms 'Princess Diaries 3': 'Miracles happen'
You might be thinking, 'Shut up!' but it’s officially true: the 'Princess Diaries' franchise is finally growing.
Youth pleads guilty to manslaughter in death of P.E.I. teen Tyson MacDonald
A teen charged with the murder of another teen on Prince Edward Island last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
Sask. man pleads guilty in U.S. after unknowingly providing videos of men raping toddlers to FBI agent
A Saskatchewan man living in the United States has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography after he unknowingly provided disturbing videos to an FBI agent he thought was a pedophile.