There’s a quiz question in there when you can ask, which Scottish player provided an assist for a goal scored by NHL and KHL legend Alexei Yashin. The answer would be Fife Flyers forward Jordan Buesa.
Two years ago, the 20-year-old, from Troon was in Toronto for a hockey school, topping up his skills after leaving Braehead Clan. The next thing he knew he was playing a significant role in a movie.
“The Last Big Save”, now available to watch on Amazon Prime, is one that’s perhaps slipped by ice hockey movie fans, but now it’s out there, featuring Buesa, who appeared with Daniel Baldwin, one of the Baldwin brothers, of course and Yashin, who played himself.
And the Flyers man looked back on a night he’ll never forget as he combined being an ice hockey player with the life of an actor, even if it was for a few hours.
“When I was in Canada two summers ago, I went over for a hockey school and there was a family I stayed with over there,” he said.
“This film was being made and they were needing extras. It so happens Mario Filice, whose family I was staying with, knew the producer and the director of the film and he was able to help get me on, which was pretty cool.
“I didn’t expect much to be honest. I was asked to be at the rink for 7pm and we got changed and kitted up. We were sitting in the changing rooms for hours while the actors went over their scenes and their lines.
Buesa got to share the ice with NHL and KHL legend Alexei Yashin (PHOTO: Jordan Buesa)
“In the movie, I got an assist on an Alexei Yashin goal, which you actually see in the final cut. It was a really cool experience and something not too many people can say.
“The whole thing was done in a night, but after thinking it would only take an hour or two, we didn’t get finished until midnight or so and I had to be up again at 7am for my hockey school. I guess that’s the life of showbiz.”
Buesa recalls hanging out with Daniel Baldwin, But the whole experience of seeing a movie being made first hand really opened his eyes to the film-making industry and revealed the reaction when the cast had a Scottish ice hockey player in their midsts.
He added: “That night really gave me an insight into making films I never expected. It was a real eye-opener and one I’m pleased to have been involved with in my own way.
“I wasn’t expecting much from it. I just expected to skate around a bit and do a few little things, but when you watch it back, you can see me clearly. I was quite taken aback by it.
“They were also a bit surprised to find a Scottish guy over there playing ice hockey as well, but they were good people and I’m delighted to get the chance to be involved in something like that.
“I got to hang out with Daniel Baldwin, one of the Baldwin brothers and I remember around that time, his niece, Hailey, got engaged to Justin Bieber so the guys were joking with him about getting invited to the wedding.
Buesa with one of the film’s stars, Daniel Baldwin, making a Canadian peace sign apparently (PHOTO: Jordan Buesa)
“Since then, I’ve been waiting on the call from the Hollywood producers, but nothing as yet so I’ll need to keep playing professionally for now.”
The early season shutdown has impacted everyone in ice hockey in all manner of ways and Buesa is no different as he works to stay in shape during the off-season.
But despite the disappointment of not knowing whether Fife could have fought their way back into the play-offs, he’s looking ahead to the next challenge.
Buesa said: “It’s amazing how much we all take for granted being able to go out and interact with other people and certainly, as a hockey player, I’m either at the rink or in the gym or travelling to games.
“You’re always out and about so to be reduced to having to stay at home, it’s hard to take, but it’s for the best and the more people that obey and do what’s asked, the sooner we can go back to normality.
“There’s a lot of home workouts and I’m lucky to enough to have some weights, a treadmill, a spin bike so I’m able to keep myself in shape and work towards the new season, whenever that’s going to be.
“We’ll never know if we would have been able to push ourselves back into contention for the play-offs, but it was a disappointing way to end the season. You never want to not finish your games, knowing you had a chance to turn things around, but it was unfortunate and understandable.”
WATCH: The trailer for The Last Big Save, now available to watch on Amazon Prime
