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By Windspeaker.com Staff
With files from Jeremy Harpe, CFWE-FM
Anson McMaster, age 15, from the Siksika Nation has been drafted to the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League, picked first in the second round. He comes from the Rocky Mountain Raiders Bantam AAA team, with 15 goals, 24 assists, 39 points, and 34 penalty minutes in 36 games this season.
He says he’s looking forward to learning about his new team and how the WHL works, but he has no illusions about what’s ahead. He’s well aware that the hard work is just beginning.
“I’m going to have to train twice as hard, and watch what I eat and keep my grades up and stay in shape.”
At 6 ft., 4 inches and 163 lbs, the defenceman can strike fear into the hearts of his opponents.
“I get reminded about it at school all the time,” he laughed.
Still, he says the best part of being on defence is that the position controls the play, “and you can take on some of the top players in the world one on one.”
He told Jeremy Harpe of CFWE-FM that being drafted was a really surreal feeling.
“Just knowing that I’m one of the top players in all of Western Canada is a pretty big accomplishment.”
It all started with minor hockey, and his maturing and loving the game, he said.
Shay Weber, a defenceman for the Nashville Predators, is his favorite player and the Pittsburgh Penguins is his favorite team.
Asked to provide advice to the young players coming up through the ranks, McMaster said “It doesn’t matter where you come from. If you love the sport, you love the sport, and if you are committed to it great things will happen.”