ARIZONA COYOTES

Bissonnette, Keller take it from the rink to the racetrack

Jul 21, 2018, 8:04 AM

It’s not uncommon to see Paul Bissonnette and Clayton Keller in the same space.

What isn’t common is their most recent venture from the ice to the asphalt.

Joining Bissonnette and Keller out at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway with Dream Racing was Vancouver Canucks’ Brock Boeser and New York Islanders’ Mathew Barzal.

The race car wasn’t too much of a step up for Keller either.

While Barzal drives a Cadillac and Boeser a Jeep Grand Cherokee, Keller owns a “newly-purchased” Porsche.

But before they could even get the racing gear on, the three young guns had to go through an advanced Driver’s Ed course.

“I thought we were just going to jump in the cars and have a little fun today, but apparently these young bucks are still in diapers so they have to take some sort of crash course,” Bissonnette said. “I think it might be a little tactic to throw me off my game but as you can see I’m in these glasses, I’m chilling and nothing is going to phase me.

“I’m going to mop the floor with these rookies.”

And while Bissonnette could talk the talk, it was the others who clearly could walk the walk.

“I was a little thrown off today when I  found out we wouldn’t be driving in a circle. Not knowing how to shift, I really don’t know much about racing at all, but I’ve been talking a pretty good game.”

Pair that and the intimidation Bissonnette was feeling from “Boeser’s looks” and things were clearly not on his side.

The one thing he could do right? Getting into his car.

“First thing we learned in our course today was how to get into the car and none of them did it right, so I actually like my chances,” Bissonnette said.

When it was all said and done, Bissonnette was on the outside looking in among the four racers, but it wasn’t without some late-race dramatics.

Keller’s time was cut short when a tire fell off the car. Luckily for him and Coyotes fans everywhere, the forward walked away without a scratch.

“Sounds like a big fat excuse to me,” Bissonnette said when Keller told him of the incident. “Sportsnet is going to send Clayton the bill for that one.”

Looking at the stats, the young Coyote took home first place, followed by Barzal and Boeser, with Bissonnette bringing up the rear.

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