ItSA国际影视传媒檚 not often two players from Yellowknife end up on the same junior team, but thatSA国际影视传媒檚 the case in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL).
One is back for his second season. The other is hoping this will be a chance for him to show what he can do.
Ethan Anstey and Carter McLeod are lining up this season with the Flin Flon Bombers and itSA国际影视传媒檚 a reunion of sorts SA国际影视传媒� both were teammates once before on Team NTSA国际影视传媒檚 2019 Canada Winter Games menSA国际影视传媒檚 hockey squad. But it will be the first time theySA国际影视传媒檝e played together on the same junior team and both were excited to get going.
The Bombers opened up the new SJHL season at home on Sept. 16 against the Melfort Mustangs and came out on top, 2-0. Anstey was in the line-up for opening night and hit the scoresheet, registering an assist on the gameSA国际影视传媒檚 opening goal.
He said the team came out with confidence, but Melfort didnSA国际影视传媒檛 make life easy for them at all.
SA国际影视传媒淚t was close until the third period and we were able to seal it with an empty-netter,SA国际影视传媒� said Anstey. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 looking like Melfort is going to be a real good team this year and we need to be able to beat those teams if weSA国际影视传媒檙e going to repeat last season.SA国际影视传媒�
This will be AnsteySA国际影视传媒檚 first full campaign with the Bombers; he joined the team midway through last season after being dealt by the Cowichan Valley Capitals of the B.C. Hockey League in January. It was a move that saw him end up getting to the Canalta Cup, the SJHL championship, before being beaten by the Estevan Bruins.
But that wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 the end of the line for the Bombers. Because the Bruins were the host team for the Centennial Cup, the Canadian Jr. A menSA国际影视传媒檚 hockey championship, they were already guaranteed a spot. That meant the Bombers would play in the tournament as well by virtue of getting to the final. They would advance to the playoffs, but would lose in the quarter-final to the Pickering Panthers of Ontario in overtime.
Anstey, who lines up at centre, said thereSA国际影视传媒檚 no reason why the Bombers canSA国际影视传媒檛 reach that height again this season.
SA国际影视传媒淢ore than half of our guys from last season are back and we added some new faces in the off-season,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e just need to learn how to win in the regular season because we canSA国际影视传媒檛 just turn on the switch in the playoffs and expect to be successful.SA国际影视传媒�
Expectation of success
McLeod, a right-winger, didnSA国际影视传媒檛 play in the season-opener, but he did dress the following night when the Bombers hit the road to take on the Nipawin Hawks. The Bombers would lose, 5-2.
McLeod signed with the Bombers during the off-season and he said it all played out as well as it could.
SA国际影视传媒淚 started talking with them during the tail end of last season,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 talked with one of their scouts at the MacSA国际影视传媒檚 Tournament (in Calgary) and I went down to their camp. I signed the letter of intent and here we are.SA国际影视传媒�
McLeod was drafted by the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League in 2019, but wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 able to crack the main roster before being released in 2021. He went back to play at the Edge School, where he had played since 2018, before making the jump to the Bombers.
He said being in the Manitoba town is a second chance for him to make a first impression.
SA国际影视传媒淚 worked a lot on what was holding me back and I think ISA国际影视传媒檓 a better player now,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 made the adjustments and I couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 wait to get back out on the ice. It was a long summer and ISA国际影视传媒檓 excited to get back out there and show everyone what I can do.SA国际影视传媒�
McLeod knows heSA国际影视传媒檚 walking into a situation where success is expected, especially after the run the Bombers went on last season.
SA国际影视传媒淓veryone here is real hungry, but I think I fit in well here,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淣o one likes to lose and thereSA国际影视传媒檚 that expectation that weSA国际影视传媒檙e going to do well.SA国际影视传媒�
At 18, McLeod still has three years of eligibility left in junior hockey. His goal now with the rest of the time he has left is to go the school route and play his way into an educational opportunity.
SA国际影视传媒淭he staff here in Flin Flon have some good connections with that and ISA国际影视传媒檓 just hoping to attract some attention,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 want to keep playing hockey in college after ISA国际影视传媒檓 done junior and I have a few years to make that happen.SA国际影视传媒�
AnsteySA国际影视传媒檚 role on the team this year is one of a veteran. At age 21, heSA国际影视传媒檚 in his final year of junior eligibility and heSA国际影视传媒檚 mindful of making sure the younger players know their way.
SA国际影视传媒淎ll of the veterans are stepping up,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 learned that from last year being the new guy and there are definitely some roles that need to be filled. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 all about leading by example and itSA国际影视传媒檚 real cool that CarterSA国际影视传媒檚 here. I can help him out if heSA国际影视传媒檚 nervous or if he has questions or just needs to talk. WeSA国际影视传媒檝e known each other a long time and if I can help him, ISA国际影视传媒檒l be there.SA国际影视传媒�
