Aaron Pritchett poses just before playing his hit single, "Better When I Do," on May 13, 2019.

(SHELBY THEVENOT / iNFOnews.ca)

PENTICTON - You know Aaron Pritchett for his skills with a microphone and a guitar, but if he had his wish, it would have been with a hockey stick. 

The Canadian country music superstar is in the Okanagan this week working all his skills for the Pics and Sticks fundraiser tomorrow with fellow musicians Chad Brownlee, Dallas Smith and Gord Bamford. He'll be playing hockey against some Edmonton Oilers alumni who he normally plays with on the NHL Alumni team and later playing some of his hit songs.

He took a few minutes to sit down with iNFOnews.ca and get us caught up. 

Though he says so far 2019 is shaping up to be his "busiest year ever" he still finds time to play hockey with the Vancouver Canucks Alumni team at Rogers Arena on Wednesdays.

"I'm definitely slowing down these days," Pritchett says. "But to be able to be on the ice with (Vancouver Canucks Alumni) is amazing." 

He has been a lifelong hockey fan, and started playing hockey at age seven in Kitimat, B.C. Before he made it in music, his childhood dream was to be a hockey player.

"I skated to a practice one time from home in the middle of winter," Pritchett says. "I used to sleep in my hockey gear... so I'd be ready for practice in the morning."

Pics and Sticks raises money for lots of South Okanagan charities, but he's also helping out wherever he can, including Mamas for Mamas, which he was impressed by. 

"(It) eventually should go national, possibly international. They help out women and men who are in need of assistance in one way or another because they have kids and you know it’s tough these days… so these ladies and guys from Mamas for Mamas help them out in many ways."

He was on hand to help them give away a used car to a local mom in need. 

He's also participating in a golf tournament at Nk’Mip Canyon Golf Course in Oliver, though Pritchett admits it's not his forte.

"I'm not going to beat anybody or win any tournaments that's for sure," he says with a smile.

While he doesn't describe himself as aggressive he feels competitive looking at the country music charts. This past April he reached the number one spot for the first time with his single, "Better When I Do."

"Now with this number one song I could retire tomorrow and be happy with my career," he says. "It's kind of like my Juno or Stanley Cup is to get that number one."

It's not Pritchett's first time having a single listed as one of the top 10 songs on country radio. The one you probably recognize him for, "Hold My Beer," peaked at number nine in 2006. Several other hits have gone further up the chart.

"I think my legacy is always going to be 'Hold My Beer,'" he says.

At the Pics for Sticks wrap-up concert on Thursday he'll be playing five or six songs, one off them being his number one hit.

For more information about the event to buy tickets, check out the Pics and Sticks website here.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Shelby Thevenot or call (250) 819-6089 or email the editor You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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News from © iNFOnews, 2019