There will be at least one Yellowknife hockey player playing junior A hockey this season and it's someone who has already had a taste of the semi-pros.
Jack Works will suit up with the Okotoks Oilers of the Alberta Junior Hockey League this season after making the final cut of the team's training camp earlier this month. He spent the last four seasons with the Edge School in Calgary, where he notched 68 regular season goals and added 38 assists over that time.
Works said he was invited to the team's summer camp back in June, which came with another invite to the team's main camp this month.
SA国际影视传媒淚've played with the head coach's (Tyler Deis) spring team as a bantam, the Junior Oilers, and I've always gone to their camps,SA国际影视传媒 he said. SA国际影视传媒淚t's a great place to play and I've been to their games to watch. They have a full house pretty much every game and they're always a top team in the league every season.SA国际影视传媒
Playing in Okotoks has always been on his mind, he added, and it was the one place he preferred to be if he ever got the call to play in the AJHL.
Works already knows what it's like to play with the big club as he suited up for one regular season game last season against the Camrose Kodiaks.
He said he found out just how much different the junior A style is to the major midget style, which he played last season.
SA国际影视传媒淚t's a lot faster and the players are tougher,SA国际影视传媒 he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 felt I played well in that game but I'm a better player now than I was then and I'm a bit more comfortable with the team and the style.SA国际影视传媒
Because of that one game, Works said he's not too nervous about making his debut with the team, which will happen this evening at home when the Oilers take on the Brooks Bandits, one of the perennial contenders of the AJHL.
SA国际影视传媒淚 was nervous in that game last season but the guys have been really good in making me feel like I'm part of the team,SA国际影视传媒 he said.
The AJHL has always had the reputation of being a SA国际影视传媒渟ize leagueSA国际影视传媒 with the players being bigger and stronger than other leagues.
Works said he's not too concerned about the size but more about being tough.
SA国际影视传媒淪ize can be important but it's all about being tougher and playing stronger than your opponent,SA国际影视传媒 he said. SA国际影视传媒淚t's being stronger and competing with everyone else.SA国际影视传媒
If there was a letdown, Works joked that it was his jersey number.
SA国际影视传媒淚've got no. 25, my second choice,SA国际影视传媒 he said. SA国际影视传媒淩ookies don't usually get their number when they first come in.SA国际影视传媒