Anyone looking for a Williams Lake booster need not look any further than the Mustangs roster.
The Tribune sat down with five of the players on Thursday, Feb. 13, and heard nothing but praise for the town and the team.
Jake Shtaif
Jake Shtaif, who at 21 is in his final year playing with the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, is originally from Calgary.
“I’ve loved Williams Lake,” he said. “I’ve never been on a team quite like ours and that’s a good thing. I genuinely enjoy spending time with everyone. There is not somebody that couldn’t come over to my house. There is not anyone who I wouldn’t want to sit next to me on the bus. I’ve never had that before.”
He said that camaraderie is what made him want to stay.
Before Christmas the team was on the fence at having a chance to make it to the playoffs.
When a team isn’t going to make playoffs, usually the 21-year-old players trade to a team that will.
“I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to enjoy the rest of my time playing here. It’s a really good group and we’ve come together really well.”
Before the Mustangs, he played with the Kelowna Chiefs for two years, and in his first year played in Nelson before moving to Kelowna.
Next year he plans to go to university and hopes that will involve being on a university hockey team.
“If that doesn’t happen I think I’ll go into criminology and work my way toward becoming a detective, CSI type of thing,” he said, with a big grin. “But, I’ve got a long way to go. I’ve been applying.”
His billet family has been Jordan and Lindsey Goetz, he said.
He also appreciates everything his parents have done to help him with hockey.
“Time and time again through my 15 years of hockey, my dad has missed very few of my games. Last weekend when we were playing Chase, my mom and dad were at a wedding, and my mom took a video of my dad watching my game while they were at a wedding ceremony. He was sitting there in the ceremony with his phone down to his side, watching it.”
Shtaif has had his fair share of injuries over the years and said there have been times his mom would prefer he stop playing.
“I got hurt halfway through this year - I separated my shoulder - and she wanted me to quit.”
Declan Pocock
Having the chance to return home and play for the Mustangs has been a fun opportunity for Declan Pocock.
The 18-year-old Williams Lake athlete had been living and playing in Edmonton since he was 14.
“I hadn’t lived at home in a long time so it’s quite nice to live at home and spend time with family,” he said. “Plus, the energy in the rink is good.”
The hockey has been “awesome” too, he said.
In the past he’d worked with Mustang head coach and general manager Tyrel Lucas at Lucas’s Total Ice Training Centre doing private ice times.
“I also skate with a big group at Total Ice in the summer all the time,” he said, adding he started playing hockey when he was five-years-old.
His way of playing hockey involves his body and mind working together, he explained.
“When I think about doing the next thing, it’s do it, because that’s when my body is ready to do it."
Hopeful they will make it to the playoffs, he said “it’s looking bright.”
They play the 100 Mile House Wranglers on Saturday, Feb. 22 as their final regular game.
Having Junior A Hockey back in Williams Lake, is something Pocock had hoped would happen when he was a young player.
“I always wanted to have teams like that around. Even when the Timberwolves were around it was exciting, although I vaguely remember that.”
It adds excitement to the town, he added.
“Lots of people are always talking to me about it and I hope it keeps going.”
When asked if he’s learned anything this year about himself, he smiled and responded he needs to get bigger and stronger.
“The physicality has gone up, there are a lot of big boys in this league.”
Logan Hauk
Originally from Prince George, Logan Hauk is enjoying his first year playing in the KIJHL.
He played one game with Kamloops Storm as an AP player last season.
Skating since he was about two-years-old, he’s played hockey since he was four.
“It’s been a while,” he said.
Being in Williams Lake has been great, he said.
“Everyone here is very welcoming and caring, it’s been an awesome experience.”
He lives with Michelle Palmer and Rob Dubois.
Asked about a highlight of the season so far, he replied, “honestly, just coming to a new town and playing in front of a bunch of new people and experiencing what it is like to be in a new city.”
As he eyes the playoffs, he is looking forward to the boys coming together.
“We have been in the last couple of games so I hope we can push toward playoffs and make it as far as we can.”
During a game he said sometimes he can view the entire scene and other times he cannot.
“Sometimes I get tunnel vision and can only focus on one thing and other times I’m really aware. That’s when I find that I play best.”
Alex Jessey
Alex Jessey, 19, is one of the team’s two goalies and joined the team in November, trading from the Grand Forks Border Bruins.
He grew up in Calgary, Alta.
“I love the town,” he said of Williams Lake. “Everyone is so friendly.”
He lives with Ken and Amy Hunt, he noted.
One of the highlights of the season was his first win with the team, which was against the Spokane Braves in December.
“I hadn’t played in over a month at that point, because of the trade, and the team’s success hadn’t been too crazy when I got here either. Getting that win, after that, we started going on that five-game winning streak and I think that got the ball rolling to have a chance at playoffs and get the team playing better.”
He was five-years-old when he started playing hockey and became a goalie when he was allowed to at around nine years of age.
“As soon as I went into goalie, I knew. I was better at it than a player so I knew this was going to be my thing. Obviously my parents were like ‘no.’”
Playing goalie is completely different, he added.
“It has its own way to practise and everything.”
One of his present heroes in the NHL is “probably” Dustin Wolf, he answered when asked.
“He’s on the Calgary Flames, my hometown team, but just because of his size. He’s another small guy, like me, and the average goalie in the NHL is about 6’3” so to see someone smaller like that make it and dominate is pretty cool to see. I base my game off of him and learn from him because he has some of the same limitations as I do. “
JP Desabrais
JP Desabrais, 19, joined the Mustangs from the Grand Forks Border Bruins at the same time as Alex Jessey.
The two played together in their first year.
It’s his second year in KIJHL and he likes playing with the Mustangs a lot, he said.
“I like the atmosphere."
He lives with Nathan and Taylor Zurak and noted his go-to-meal before a game is whatever his billet mom feeds him.
Desabrais grew up in Red Earth Creek, Alta. north of Slave Lake.
A late comer to hockey, he did not start playing until he was 12.
“I would skate here and there, but I never played organized hockey. We didn’t have it in Red Earth.”
Responding to a comment that he must have been a natural, he replied, “yah, I don’t know, I just worked hard.”
As the regular season draws to a close, Desabrais said he’s feeling good and that the Mustangs are turning in the right direction.
“We’ve got to ride the highs and manage the lows,” he added.
So far Desabrais has scored 19 goals for the Mustangs, and got 22 assists.
In a game against Quesnel on Friday, Feb. 14, the Mustangs won 5-2 and in their second to final game of the regular season. On Saturday, Feb. 22, they will play against 100 Mile House Wranglers in Williams Lake.
Puck drops at 7 p.m.
