Ontario boy moves Ellen DeGeneres to tears with motivational speech
After his motivational hockey team speech video went viral, an Ontario boy landed an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Callan Perks, 7, known now as "Coach Cal" rose to fame after he won a contest to give the Ontario Hockey League team, the Peterborough Petes, a motivational, pre-game speech back in November.
Callan, dressed in a fine suit jacket and tie, gave an "electrifying speech" that led to a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa 67s.
"We are going to do whatever it takes to get the W," Callan says in the speech, which has been viewed over 400,000 times on Twitter.
Coach Cal's dreams came true 🙌🏻
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) November 30, 2021
On Sunday while Coach Wilson was away at the Capital Cup, Coach Cal delivered this electrifying speech that led the boys to a 3-2 victory over the @Ottawa67sHockey during Next Gen night! pic.twitter.com/DZwFRpBIML
The speech was so popular the hockey team started selling Coach Cal t-shirts.
Last call for Coach Cal shirts! Commemorate the greatest hockey speech this season with a limited edition t-shirt to help your favourite pint-sized coach raise proceeds for a cause near and dear to his heart!
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) December 10, 2021
SNAG YOURS BEFORE MIDNIGHT TONIGHT ⤵️https://t.co/QLtoG4Gdgp pic.twitter.com/vOA76hO9qm
The viral video caught the attention of media and eventually landed Callan a spot on The Ellen DeGeneres Show this week.
The energic Callan seems like a natural and not at all nervous sitting across from the talk show icon. DeGeneres asks if he always has so much energy.
"You got to give a lot of energy to give those motivational speeches," Callan says with impactful hand gestures punctuating his points.
Callan also radiates pure enthusiasm.
"I always want to think positive. So like, even if like, you're having a bad day, just go out there and get W no matter what," he says.
The short interview ends with Callan giving DeGeneres a pep-talk on the final season of her talk show.
"For 19 seasons you have given your all on this stage," he says. He adds she has danced, joked and made people laugh and cry.
"When it's time to say goodbye and turn out the lights, just remember that you Ellen will always get the W because you have given whatever it takes to be you. So just keep working hard and staying positive and making people laugh because you are a legend."
The short speech moves DeGeneres to tears.
7-year-old Coach Cal gave me a pep talk that literally brought me to tears. pic.twitter.com/DG1TBFU7qF
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) January 5, 2022
"I have to say I know a lot of fancy people I know a lot of people and what you just said to me means more to me than what I can possibly convey to you that was the sweetest I don't even know you," she says. "But you are just a special little being with such a big heart and I thank you for that."
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