Young, highly touted Elmer eager for second chance
Jake Elmer is taking the Regina Pats back to the future.
The highly touted WHL prospect has been called up to fill the roster spot of star forward Morgan Klimchuk, who’s in Toronto for Canada’s world junior selection camp.
Elmer is regarded as a key piece of the Pats’ future, having made it all the way to their final cuts in September despite the fact that he doesn’t turn 16 until Dec. 31.
Elmer is currently the youngest player in the WHL — a distinction he relishes.
“It’s pretty exciting,” said the Calgary native.
“I’m a younger guy, but I think I can hold my own. It’s a challenge that I’m willing to accept. It’s just going to take a little bit to get used to getting back in the routine of the junior lifestyle, but I think I can fit pretty naturally.”
Elmer has been told he’ll remain with the Pats for the next three games, after which they begin a nineday Christmas break.
He’d like to stay even longer.
“I look at it as an opportunity to get better as a player and as a person,” said Elmer, who had three goals in five pre-season games. “It’s a big learning experience. I want to take as much as I can from John (Paddock) and the coaching staff and all the other players.
“Every game I play up here right now can help me step up my game to another level, whether it’s (staying) here the rest of the year or (coming back) next year.”
Elmer, a sixth-round pick in the 2013 WHL bantam draft, is the top goal-scorer on his prep team at Edge Hockey School in Calgary.
He has 13 goals and 24 points in 15 games with five of those goals coming in his last game, an 11-1 win over a Swiss team. He also had two assists in that contest.
“It was a surreal moment,” said the 6-foot-1, 155-pounder.
“I just had a good feeling out there. I think I had about 10 shots in the whole game and five of them went in the back of the net.”
Elmer is one of three players called up this week by the Pats, who are especially shorthanded on the blue-line because of injuries to Colby Williams and James Hilsendager.
In their absence, the team has brought in Ryan Krushen, 16, from the midget AAA Sherwood Park Kings and Nathyn Mortlock, 18, from the SJHL’s Melville Millionaires.
Paddock said Krushen and Elmer are being evaluated for next season, not this one. He kept the door open a crack to the possibility of them sticking around, but added that it’s unlikely.
“They’re good young players,” said Paddock.
“Ryan and Jake were on the verge of making the team at the start of the year. We just didn’t think we could go with that many 16-year-olds.
“We want to get a little evaluation of them. With our injuries on defence, Nathyn is playing close by, so it’s a good chance to get him in the game.”
Paddock said Elmer might see some time in Klimchuk’s spot on the line with Sam Steel and Braden Christoffer.
However, the team wants to handle him with kid gloves.
“The biggest reason he didn’t stay here this year is because he’s hours away from being a (2014) draft pick (which would make him too young for full-time duty),” added Paddock.
“He’s not even 16 yet. He’s going to be a big part of our future.
“What he does right now, I have no idea. I don’t think it’s fair to put any expectations on him.”