As local products Reece Forman and Brett Harris look to establish themselves as Junior A hockey players, the Nipawin Hawks of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) are looking for consistency in an association where things can change very quickly.
Forman, 19, and Harris, 18, grew up in the 100 Mile House area, but now reside in northeast Saskatchewan as members of the Hawks.
It's their first season playing Junior A hockey and both say it has taken some adjusting. Nevertheless, coach/general manager Doug Johnson has some praise for the boys, and notes “nothing is guaranteed” in the SJHL, especially since, as of Oct. 29 and after 13 games, Nipawin is playing below .500 hockey, with four wins, seven losses and two shootout losses.
“We're a very young team and inconsistent. When we play well, we can beat anybody. When we play bad, we will lose to everybody,” Johnson explains.
“Things change quickly. But, we've been very happy with [Forman and Harris]. They've earned spots, you bet.”
On Forman, Johnson says: “He's done incredibly well. He's added a little bit of poise to our [defence]. He's come in and played a lot of minutes for us and played important minutes for us.”
On Harris, the coach says: “He's got very good hands and he's been good playing centre for us. He's taken some key draws and he's doing well in the circle and adapting to our defensive zone.”
After 10 games this season, Harris has tallied one assist. In 11 games, Forman has earned 12 penalty minutes and one assist.
Complimentary comments from Johnson aside, the boys say there is still a lot of room to improve and agree their SJHL player cards aren't etched in stone.
“We just picked up another goalie from Alberta,” Forman explains after a recent victory over the Humboldt Broncos. “There are guys coming in and out. It keeps you on your toes – that's for sure.”
Adds Harris: “We're going through a couple of learning curves.”
The biggest adjustments the boys talk about are the speed of the game and preparation before them.
Harris says the quality of play took him by surprise at first.
“You don't have much space out there. Coming down here and playing your first game, it's a bit of a shocker.”
Forman says he approaches the game differently than his days playing Junior B in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.
“You always have to be ready and you can't take a shift off or it could really hurt the team.”
As well as being young, another characteristic of the Nipawin Hawks is they take a lot of penalties. It is the most in the Sherwood Division, and second only to the Battlefords North Stars of the Kramer Division.
When asked about that aspect of the game, Forman and Reece explain it's not that they're a dirty team, but one that steps up for each other and isn't afraid to drop the mitts.
“If there's a cheap hit, we have each other's backs,” says Forman. “They're not selfish penalties.”
However, playing shorthanded is not ideal, adds Harris.
“We do have games where we're not playing with discipline, and that's hurt us on the scoreboard every so often.”
Earlier this month, Harris skated in the SJHL Showcase. It consisted of 120 players from different teams and from different age groups playing two games against each other in front of college and university scouts in Warman, Sask., near Saskatoon.
Harris says earning a scholarship after junior hockey is his ultimate goal, so he was glad he played well and, hopefully, impressed the scouts. He scored a goal and one assist in the first game and one goal in the second game playing with and against other players born in 1995.
However, Harris adds he isn't scoring as much as he wants to in the regular season. But, along with Forman, he says he's staying focused and working at getting better.
“I plan on being a set-up man and putting up some more points. It hasn't happened quite yet, but it's all going to come in time.”
Forman adds he was looking for more points, and he earned his first in a 6-3 loss to the Estevan Bruins on Oct. 22.
“Throughout the season, I want to get faster and get up the ice quicker and play a little more physical,” the defenceman adds.
With respect to life off the ice, the boys say the town of Nipawin – with a population of just over 4,200 – is really supportive.
“They treat you like gold,” Harris says. “You walk down the street and people start talking to you. They know your number and how you played last game.”
Adds Forman: “You're a little bit of a celebrity. It's pretty cool that way.
“We're having lots of fun out here.”