Wanting more
Currie looking to earn full-time spot with Edmonton Oilers in training camp
Josh Currie has had a taste of the NHL and now he wants more.
The 26-year-old Charlottetown native made his debut in the best hockey league in the world during 2018-19 after 5 ½ seasons in the minor leagues. He scored two goals and had three assists in his 21-game NHL stint and is working hard this summer to give himself the best shot of securing a full-time spot in September.
“I think I’ve paid my dues in the minors long enough, but I have to go to camp (and earn it),” Currie said. “My whole goal is to make the Edmonton Oilers out of training camp. Those 21 games are going to give me just tons of experience and confidence going into camp.”
Currie’s journey to the NHL began with many early mornings at Cody Banks Arena, minutes away from his home in the neigbourhood of Sherwood.
He progressed through minor hockey and had stops with the Summerside Western Capitals junior A squad and the P.E.I. Rocket in major junior.
He was never drafted but remained confident in his own abilities.
Currie returned to the Rocket for his overage season and posted 49 goals and 104 points while playing all 68 regular season games in 2012-13. He credits the coaching staff of Gordie Dwyer, Luke Beck and Corrado Micalef for providing him an opportunity to shine.
“That year was just crucial in my development,” he said. “That year definitely helped me to get where I am today.”
But making the jump from junior to the NHL took time, as it does for most young hockey players.
Currie’s pro career took him to Georgia, Virginia and California with stops in the ECHL and the AHL. He played nearly 400 games in the minors.
“It was long, but it was definitely worth it,” he said. “Ever since I was four years old my goal was to play in the NHL and that’s something I never deterred from. I never really doubted myself even though there were some days it seemed further away than it was.”
Currie made his NHL debut Feb. 19 in Edmonton against the Arizona Coyotes with his family in attendance. It included parents Stephen and Joanne Currie, brothers Lucas and Nicholas Currie as well as grandparents Robert and Joan Linkletter.
He said it was special having them all there, particularly his parents who encouraged him to follow his dreams.
Two games later he scored his first NHL goal against the Anaheim Ducks on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada.
“It wasn’t a nice goal,” Currie admitted. “Everyone probably dreams of scoring that end-toend highlight-reel goal. It was just a rebound in front. I was in the right spot at the right time. I couldn’t believe when I saw the puck fall there.”
Currie’s aunt and uncle, Kathy and Wayne Linkletter, were in Alberta to watch their daughter Charlotte play for Team P.E.I. at the Canada Games in Red Deer. They had bought Oilers tickets for the Ducks game in advance of Currie being called up.
“For them to already be out there and come it was cool how it all worked out,” Currie said.
The last captain in the history of the P.E.I. Rocket is back on the Island for the summer and training with Owen MacWilliams at Andrews Hockey Growth Programs. He is continually working to get stronger and become more explosive with his first few strides on the ice.
“Today’s game is all about how quick you can get going,” he said.
During his tenure in Edmonton, Currie had the chance to play on a line with Connor McDavid.
“He is the best player in the world,” Currie said, noting he is a down-to-earth guy despite being the face of the game. “He is just so much faster than everyone else in the league.”
Currie recently dropped the puck at an international showcase at an Andrews Hockey Growth Programs camp at MacLauchlan Arena.
Currie remembers attending the event as a youngster and called it surreal to now be one of the people on the ice for the opening ceremonies.
“What a great story and what a great person Josh is,” founder Allan Andrews said. “He just didn’t stop . . . He persevered and got stronger.”
Currie said 2018-19 was a great year.
“A dream come true,” he said. “Now that I’ve got a taste of what the NHL is like, it’s just given me more drive to have a big summer and really look forward to next season.”