A 21-year-old hockey player who was born and raised in Yellowknife is heading to the United States to play university hockey in the fall.
SA国际影视传媒淕rowing up, I always wanted to play hockey but never really had the opportunity,SA国际影视传媒� said Michael Iatridis.
He didnSA国际影视传媒檛 know how to skate until he was 10 years old. Until then, he learned some aspects of the game by following it online and on TV.
Iatridis, a defenceman whoSA国际影视传媒檚 listed at 6SA国际影视传媒�1SA国际影视传媒�, 194 lbs, said he derived inspiration from watching Jordin Tootoo, a hockey player from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. He also admired one of his cousins who grew up playing hockey and was really good at the sport.
SA国际影视传媒淚 always wanted to be like that, and he helped me out and getting ready for the first time skating,SA国际影视传媒� Iatridis recalled.
His cousin and neighbor would always play road hockey together, SA国际影视传媒渟o I had the fundamentals of hockey, I just didnSA国际影视传媒檛 know how to skate,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Iatridis convinced his parents to sign him up for a hockey tournament, thinking it was floor hockey, but it turned out to be on the ice.
SA国际影视传媒淚 felt embarrassed that I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 know how to (skate) so it was one of the few things that made me want to learn how to skate,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
He joined CanSkate in Yellowknife and played in the NWT capital for four years until he and his family moved to Edmonton.
He continued improving his skating in Alberta while suiting up for the St. Albert Raiders of the North American Hockey League. After advancing to the Junior A Superior International Junior HockeySA国际影视传媒檚 Red Lake Miners and then the Junior A Northern Ontario Hockey LeagueSA国际影视传媒檚 Cochrane Crunch, where he posted three points in 21 games this past season, he hit maximum junior hockey eligibility. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 when the coach at Calvin University messaged him.
SA国际影视传媒淚t was something I canSA国际影视传媒檛 pass up on,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Now Iatridis will be playing for the Calvin Knights in Grand Rapids, MI. The team is Division One in the American College Hockey Association.
As itSA国际影视传媒檚 college hockey, he will also be studying. HeSA国际影视传媒檚 chosen to focus on kinesiology.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e always just been athleticSA国际影视传媒� it is my whole life. I just canSA国际影视传媒檛 see myself doing anything else,SA国际影视传媒� he said, adding that heSA国际影视传媒檇 like to be part of sports management or help people rehabilitate from injuries.
But first, SA国际影视传媒淚 hope I could keep playing hockey for as long as I can,SA国际影视传媒� Iatridis said.
Playing in the NHL and making a living off of hockey is the ultimate dream.
SA国际影视传媒淏ut for now, just enjoying the next four years that I have to see where it goes,SA国际影视传媒� he said of his university years ahead.
