Former Blazer captain Baines hoping to inspire kids dealing with diabetes, other life challenges through book

KAMLOOPS — Ajay Baines was one of the best to suit up in a Blazers uniform. He captained the team for three seasons, playing all the while dealing with diabetes.

His journey to becoming a pro hockey player, while being challenged by the chronic disease, is chronicled in a new children’s book called “Stand Out: The True Story of Hockey Hero Ajay Baines” written by his good friend Sean Campbell.

“At first, you kind of gush and [say] ‘I don’t really want a book.’ But [Sean] had written a few books and he had written a few children’s books,” recalls Baines on how the idea started three years ago during a gathering at Shuswap Lake. “He said ‘how about we doing it a children’s style? Wouldn’t it be nice to have your kids read a book about you?’ That kind of changed everything.”

So the friends started the journey of writing a book in 2019. Campbell, who’s in the publishing world, says his buddy’s story was just too good not to be told.

“This guy was really a hockey prodigy here in town, then diagnosed with diabetes, but goes on to captain the Blazers and then goes on again and scores the winning goal in the Calder Cup [in 2007],” said Campbell. “That’s a great story. That’s a storybook life. That’s a storybook career.”

The book takes kids through Ajay’s journey through hockey and diabetes, and both hope readers can use the story to help in overcoming their own struggles in life.

“Playing sports and having something like that, staying positive and being able to do. I was able to draw on athletes prior to that [who] were able to play with diabetes. It shouldn’t stop you from doing what you want.”

Campbell had to take his story and the message Ajay wanted to convey and put it layman’s terms.

“When you get to know Ajay, and I think it shows through the book too, he has a real presence. When he meets people, he has a real leadership quality, and so themes in the book about leadership, about perseverance. Those should really be relatable to anybody. It’s not just kids who love hockey. It’s not just kids who have diabetes. It should really have that universal feel, so that every kid can find something in here.”

There is a booking signing Friday night (Dec. 2) with Baines and Campbell at The Commodore from 4-8 p.m.

Some of the proceeds from the book will go towards Diabetes Canada.