Hitmen overagers stay positive
Players lost year of junior hockey to pandemic
They know there's no time to sulk, no time to pout.
For Calgary Hitmen in their final year, the goal is to stay upbeat … even though they might be left feeling that COVID has shafted them of time needed for one last showcase of their wares with hopes it might lead to puck life after the Western Hockey League.
“It's been hard finding my smile,” said Hitmen veteran Riley Stotts. “It's obviously been difficult with hockey shutting down and no camps over summer and now we're into (March) and we're not playing yet. But it's like that for everyone — people are losing businesses … and I'm lucky enough I get to say, `We are going to play hockey.'”
Yup, it's on the horizon.
In fact, the Hitmen are mere days away from a return to live action with the opening of their COVID -shortened 24-game WHL season, Friday night against the visiting Red Deer Rebels (7:30 p.m., watch.chl.ca/sportsnet 960 The Fan), putting behind them a year with no junior hockey after the campaign was cut short of any declaration of a champion.
“We were a super tight-knit group last year,” said Stotts teammate and fellow overager Josh Prokop. “Seeing the season cut short was super tough for us. So getting back to hockey should re-energize us.”
Positive vibes are just what Prokop and Stotts need in the face of what has become a particularly challenging time for the two 21-year-olds.
Both are hoping to continue on a hockey path after their WHL careers come to a halt, which comes at this season's end.
But nobody could have known it wouldn't be the usual 68-game season during which they could prove themselves in one final audition for the pro life.
Truly, they got the short end of the stick.
“I don't think you can look at it like you've been robbed, because everybody in the world has had to sacrifice something, and that sucks,” Prokop said. “But I guess the way it works out that it's our last year and this is happening. You can't sulk about it. You have to take the positive from it and push through — that's the biggest thing.” Stotts agrees.
“Time is of the essence with this season ahead, and lots of it has been taken away,” Stotts said.
“But we're going to be playing, so it's better than nothing. Twenty-four games are better than zero. Now I can't worry about the last six months that we haven't been playing, but I can worry about the next few months here coming up.”
What happened for each of the Hitmen talents in the lead-up to camp was very different, though.
Stotts, a Winnipeg kid, was greatly restricted by the rigid rules of Manitoba in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
He largely forged on with the extended off-season training on outdoor rinks in both Winnipeg and Northern Ontario. And he often skated on the lake outside the family cabin in Kenora, Ont., where he also rented ice at the arena from time to time.
“Couldn't really do anything in Winnipeg,” Stotts said. “Just pretty much skating on outdoor rinks — that helped a lot. And it was working out at the cabin and hanging out there — and that helped a lot.
“I've just been worried about getting into shape. I feel I've put myself in the best position I can to succeed considering the circumstances.”
Stotts was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs two years ago — third round, 83rd overall — but
never came to terms with them and is now a free agent.
“The goal is just to go play as hard as I can and grow as a player and try to put myself in the best position I can for the season and earn a contract somewhere,” said Stotts. “So I'm back with an open mind to just play and have fun with a 24-game season.”
Prokop, meanwhile, enjoyed quite a contrasting experience during the off-season.
The Hitmen loaned the winger to the BCJHL'S Vernon Vipers, the team he played on before joining the WHL club, so he was able to practise and get into a handful of games with the junior A squad ahead of B.C.'S second shutdown in the fall.
“Even after the shutdown, we could remain practising and working out, and I just thought it was better than nothing,” Prokop said. “And it's always good to be in
a team environment and to stay busy. It was awesome. I couldn't thank the organization enough. They let me do a lot there.”
His mission, of course, was to stay in the hockey mindset, hoping to get a leg up on others who didn't have similar access to facilities and action ahead of the WHL season.
“That was kind of my whole thinking behind going there,” said Prokop of the Vernon adventure. “I even learned a couple of things along the way just for myself. My time there was valuable in helping me develop as a player and a person, and I think it'll pay off.
“When I get out there, I want to be super prepared,” added the 21-year-old Edmonton native who hopes to catch on in the pros despite never being drafted or signing with an NHL club. “I've been training hard. I want to come out of the gates hot. Right, when they say, `Go,' we're going to start, so I want to be super focused.”
So even though it'll be a short one, Prokop's primed for his final audition.
Just like Stotts, who's rediscovered his smile these days.
“I've noticed it every time I get back on the ice with guys … I forgot about how much fun the outdoor rink is. You get those big scrimmages going with your friends …” Stotts added. “So now I'm just going to go in every game and play the best I can and have a smile on my face and just have fun with the game, and everything will roll if you keep having fun.”
I forgot about how much fun the outdoor rink is. You get those big scrimmages going with your friends .