By Derek Holtom
The Waywayseecappo Wolverines look to be reloading rather than rebuilding this year – and some of those new pieces are players returning to Canada after playing south of the border a year ago.
One of those pieces is forward, and St. Laurent product, Ian Bours.
The decision to return to the MJHL and his home province was an easy one for Bours for a number of reasons, including friends and family.
“I made a decision with my family that I wanted to stay closer to come this year, and I have buddies on Wayway, so I thought this would be a group to come to this year,” he said. “It’s also a good group coming back this year, so I’m excited to see what they can do.”
One of those ‘buddies’ is Tavon McCorrister, who he played with two years ago in Notre Dame in the SJHL and last year with the Amarillo Wranglers in the NAHL.
“I’ve known Tavon forever – we played on Team Manitoba in the National Aboriginal Hockey Championship (NAHC) as well, so I’ve known him a long time, and it makes things easier when you already known somebody when you’re going to a new place,” said Bours.
The two players have won two medals together at the NAHC – a bronze and gold medal.
“I describe myself as a playmaker, someone who can see the ice well and move the puck, and who can get it to the back of the net, but also defensively responsible, so a 200-foot player, he said.
Bours finishing his career with Wayway is interesting as his first path to junior hockey was with the Wolverines, though he never actually played with them before this year.
“I was drafted by Wayway, so I know them pretty well, and I know they have a great fan base,” he said. “I think our team can do a lot of damage this year.”
Last week
Millionaires 2, Wolverines 1
The SJHL’s Melville Millionaires scored once in the first and second periods, and then held off the host Waywayseecappo Wolverines, beating them 2-1.
Ryden Duchon had the lone goal for the Wolverines, coming five minutes into third via the power-play.
Mariko Bercier made 25 saves in goal for the Wolverines while taking the loss.
Wolverines 5, Millionaires 2
A tight game last Tuesday through two periods exploded in the third with Waywayseecappo and Melville combing for six goals. Four of those goals came from the Wolverines, powering them to a 5-2 preseason victory.
Hudson Davidson scored a pair for the visitors. Wayway also got goals from Treycen Wuttunee, Blake Farthing, and Ryden Duchon.
Urijah Moosetail picked up the win in goal for the Wolverines, stopping an impressive 45 shots.
Up next
The Wolverines kick off the regular season this week with a home-and-home against the Virden Oil Capitals, who were league finalist’s last spring. The two teams clash Friday in Waywayseecappo Friday night, and then meet again in Virden on Saturday. Both games get under way at 7:30 p.m.
CLAW MARKS – The Wolverines end the preseason with an impressive 4-2-0-0 record … Last season the Wolverines were 29-24-3-2, good for third place in the MGEU West Division. They would go on to defeat the second-place Dauphin Kings in the first round of the playoffs, only to lose in the second round to the eventual champion Niverville Nighthawks