Weston beginning freshmen year in Wisconsin

Weston admitted he wasn’t even aware playing NCAA hockey was an option until he was 15.

“[I] didn’t even know about it until I was in midget. Had no idea what it was,” Weston said in a phone interview on Monday afternoon. “Then once I read more into it, I started looking at the opportunities [and] it was very appealing. I would definitely recommend it to lots of younger kids.”

While growing up, Weston played three years of junior A hockey in three different provinces including the first in Alberta with the Lloydminster Bobcats, then in Saskatchewan with the North Stars, and finally in Manitoba with the Portage Terriers.

But it took until last season, while playing for the Terriers of the MJHL, for scouts from NCAA schools to express interest in him.

It was during the 2015 MJHL showcase – an annual early season tradition where scouts are invited for a weekend of games in a given junior A league – when Marian University head coach at the time Erik Largen spoke to Weston.

But Marian wasn’t the only university interested in him. At the same showcase, another Division III school reached out and later in the season, a couple more joined in as well.

As Weston’s season in Portage wore on, he and Largen stayed in touch. Before long, Weston was beginning to buy in to all the appealing things the coach had to say about the Division III school.

“There’s only like 1,500 undergrads at the school, so … the professors realize that you’re a student athlete and the demand is quite high,” Weston said. “They’re understanding and appreciative of what we go through in our training schedule, playing schedule and all that … and they had an excellent international scholarship opportunity.

“They were able to offer more than I could get from anywhere else so that was a drawing factor as well,” Weston added.

Weston and his Terriers ended up winning the MJHL championship last season and fell just shy of qualifying for the RBC cup – the national junior A championship tournament.

Weston put up career numbers – a whopping 34 points in 42 games – good for seventh in scoring among defensemen in the MJHL.

It was a great way to end what was a difficult junior A career, given the constant moving between cities and teams.

“It’s definitely tough to adjust,” Weston said, on playing in three provinces in three seasons with three different teams. “You’ve got to meet new people, find guys that you gel with…but everywhere you go you also make some lifelong friends and billets for sure, you consider them family forever, so that was a plus.”

It was a trade that brought Weston back to the Battlefords in 2014, which is also where he played one season of AAA hockey three years earlier. He ended up struggling with the North Stars in 2014-15, scoring just five points in 27 games.

“It’s not a great feeling getting traded in hockey,” Weston said. “Just wasn’t the best year for me injury wise and playing wise. Didn’t get a lot of chance to develop so that was tough.”

That spring, he requested a trade out of the Battlefords. His wish was granted and that’s when he flourished with the Terriers.

Now, Weston hopes to keep that momentum going at the next level. He knows it will be difficult going from junior A to NCAA, mostly notably because of the age difference.

“[In junior A], you get your odd 16,17-year-old but more or less they’re all 18, 19, 20,” he explained. “Here, you’re playing against grown men. I’m one of the younger guys on the team at 21. Some of these guys are 25. You’re playing against mature men for sure, so the strength factor is definitely up there.”

Plus, the roster on the Marian University Sabres is 30 players deep which means every practice is like training camp.

“[The coaches] can only play so many,” Weston said. “Everyday is a battle with your teammates to get into the lineup.”

So how will Weston prove he’s worth it?

He points out every player was brought in for a reason, so it’s all about work ethic. He’ll just do what he does best, which is moving the puck, starting the rush and creating offence, and he’ll force the coaches to play him.

“If there’s a team that we’re going to be playing that I’d be able to take advantage of something with my skill set then…they’ll give me a chance in the lineup,” he said. “But every day you come to work. It’s time to work.”

So whether he’s at the rink, in the gym or studying for exams, the 21-year-old Weston is prepared for what is sure to be a jam packed semester.

But he’s not alone. He’s got a dressing room full of teammates all in the same boat.

“You’re here for a reason. You’re here to be a student–athlete and win a championship.”

Nathan Kanter is battlefordsNOW’s sports reporter and voice of the Battlefords North Stars. He can be reached at Nathan.kanter@jpbg.ca or tweet him @NathanKanter11

by Nathan Kanter

Weston beginning freshmen year in Wisconsin

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