Four youths from the Coast are taking a step up in their hockey careers.
Jordan Robinson, Justin Fodchuk, Nevan Flay and Lucas Patton – who all played together for the Sunshine Coast Blues Midget Rep Team since age five – are each a little closer to the classic Canadian dream of playing professional hockey.
“These kids were being watched all through the season last year,” Sunshine Coast Minor Hockey Association (SCMHA) president Brenda Rowe said. “We’re flighted higher – we were playing all tier 2 teams. In tier 1 and tier 2 hockey you can be out at a regular league game and there will be scouts out. So they’ve been watching. There were also scouts at the provincials. People were contacted just after provincials [in March].”
Robinson, who played defence for the Blues, has been committed to the Junior B Nanaimo Buccaneers.
Robinson said being selected is one step closer to his dream.
“Ever since I was a little kid, I have always dreamed of being an NHL player,” Robinson said. “Until the last few years, I wasn’t sure I would be able to make it there. It’s a major thank you to my father for making me believe in myself and making me believe in and pursue my dream.”
Robinson will be moving to Nanaimo to play for the Bucs. He said that living in a new city will probably take some getting used to after growing up on the Coast, but he’s excited for his future.
“This season with the Sunshine Coast Blues was especially magical since we were able to host the Provincials,” Robinson said. “With all of the top teams in B.C. at our home rink, there were many scouts in the crowd. The Buccaneers, however, had been looking at me since the [previous] season and had kept in touch ever since. They saw a lot of the clips from our games and they had decided to verbally commit to me two months after and signed me a month later.”
Fodchuk, who played centre for the Blues, has committed to the Vancouver Northwest Junior Giants – a major midget team in the AAA midget league that BC Hockey runs.
“The feeling is unreal,” Fodchuk said. “I’m excited to be taking this big jump to a higher calibre of the game I love. After many small steps it feels really nice to have opportunities start coming my way.
“To be able to pursue every hockey players’ dream is amazing and I am prepared to do whatever it takes to get me where I need to be. As it’s my main ambition, it takes a lot of support from my family and friends, which I really appreciate.”
Nevan Flay and Lucas Patton have both been short-listed for the NW Giants. Flay was also offered a spot on the Nanaimo Buccaneers. Rowe said he is waiting to see if he makes the Giants, but if not he will go to the Bucs.
“I will continue to play hockey until I can’t,” Flay said. “Even then I hope to be involved in hockey in some fashion.
“The Provincials brought a lot of hockey people and attention to the Sunshine Coast,” Flay said. “It was a ton of fun and our team really got to showcase how hard we work.”
The aspiring hockey pros thanked their parents, coaches and the SCMHA.
“I can’t say enough about Sunshine Coast Minor Hockey – such a great organization and I am so grateful for having the opportunity to be part of it,” Robinson said. “I really want to thank Kelly Cousins and Dave Patton and all the coaches along the way. A special thanks to Jamie Killackey for getting me started in rep hockey. Finally a special thanks to my mom for all she has done getting me to the arena day after day and for being there for me whenever I needed her.
“I will miss playing at our home rink and seeing many of our fans who came out game after game to watch us play and cheer us on.”
