Life in the WHL suits Salmon Arm’s Colton McCarthy, who plays for the Moose Jaw Warriors.
Seventeen-year-old McCarthy accepted the offer from Moose Jaw a year ago this month, making the tough decision to leave the KIJHL’s Nelson Maple Leafs where he was second in goals scored in the whole league.
Born in Moose Jaw, he’s pleased to return to his roots.
“It’s really good,” he says of his move to the WHL. “The team’s not doing that great, we’d like to get a couple more wins... All the kids are nice, the coach is great, the manager’s great and it’s a nice city.”
He says the step up hasn’t been too much of an adjustment.
“It’s a little faster, but it’s junior hockey. The same road trips, the same practice schedule, everything’s mostly the same.”
The speed is a change, however.
“You have to be quicker and faster and think quicker to be successful out here.”
Long range goals for McCarthy?
He’d like to get called to an NHL team for a try-out.
“If that doesn’t work out, finish playing WHL and go to university in Canada.”
Also in the same division with McCarthy is Shane Danyluk, who plays for the Prince Albert Raiders.
Another Salmon Arm athlete in the WHL is Carson Bolduc, who was recently acquired by the Kamloops Blazers from the Prince George Cougars.
In his fourth season with the WHL’s Tri City Americans in Kennewick, Wash. is left-winger Lucas Nickles of Salmon Arm. Also south of the line is Shane Hanna, a former Salmon Arm SilverBack and Salmon Arm Minor Hockey product.
Defenceman Hanna was named on Dec. 3 the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Rookie Player of the Week for the Michigan Tech Huskies in Madison, Wisconsin.
Hanna recorded his first two collegiate goals and contributed three total points in Michigan Tech’s recent 3-2, 2-1 sweep in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Playing for Ohio State University Women’s Hockey team is 17-year-old defenceman Alexa Ranahan, also a local minor hockey product.
Maggie Shykula- Ross and Janessa Jenkins, both forwards from Salmon Arm, are playing for the Mount Royal University Cougars in Calgary. Sarah Botter is with the SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology) Trojans.
From Salmon Arm and with the Sicamous Eagles of the KIJHL are Darien Head, Brad Whitehead, Nicholas Astasiewicz, Riley Jepson and Nathan Grieve.
With the Chase Heat of the KIJHL are forwards Cody Hodges and Cody Koskimaki from Chase. Goalie Adam Luchkanych and forward Zach Fournier from Salmon Arm are reserve affiliates with the Heat.
If readers know of other local athletes playing higher level hockey – or other sports, email: sports@saobserver.net.