Parker Wakaruk
Parker Wakaruk is the latest Humboldt Bronco to make a foray into collegiate hockey as he recently announced his commitment to Selkirk College in Castlegar, B.C.
The 20-year-old Lethbridge, Alta. native wrapped up his third and final season of junior hockey with the green and gold, where he posted four goals and 11 assists in 62 regular season and playoff games, all career highs.
Being able to continue his career beyond junior is very exciting, says Wakaruk.
鈥淗umboldt was awesome, junior was a blast as well and just looking to get some education and keep playing pretty competitive hockey.鈥�
Making the decision was an easy one for Wakaruk, who said it felt like a good fit for him.
鈥淭hey have a really good team, it鈥檚 a really good school as well. It鈥檚 in B.C., it鈥檚 a beautiful place.鈥�
Broncos head coach Darcy Haugan was really pleased to see Wakaruk commit to school and says the Saints will be getting a tremendous player and person.
鈥�(He鈥檚) very durable, a defenseman who obviously played in a lot of different roles for us. Parker鈥檚 a great leader as well; he鈥檚 very vocal, he competes hard, he鈥檚 loyal, he鈥檚 a lot of things that are important to any team and he鈥檚 a good person.鈥�
Saints head coach Brent Heaven noted it was Wakaruk鈥檚 character that was the thing that stood out the most.
鈥�
One of the big things I really liked about him was the type of character that he has, the type of person that he is not only on the ice but away from the ice and how he presents himself. And for me that鈥檚 a big key to have people in our program that are able to succeed and push the pace and also develop our program and make it stronger.鈥�
On the ice Heaven says he really likes the game Wakrauk plays, noting he is a very steady defenseman.
鈥淗e plays tough, he plays hard, he鈥檚 very difficult to beat, he brings a ton of leadership, he makes a great first pass. He does all of the simple things that make a strong defenseman at a high level of hockey.鈥�
Over the last couple of years Heaven says he has seen a real progression in Wakaruk鈥檚 game, and says they are confident that they will continue to see him grow over the next four years.
Because of his growth, expectations will be high for Wakaruk in the coming seasons, says Heaven, who expects him to become a go-to guy for the Saints.
鈥淲e expect him to show his leadership qualities and just really kind of take ownership in the back end there. And we鈥檙e hoping that he can come in and establish himself early and be a contributor.鈥�
Wakaruk will be joining former Bronco Ashton McLeod with the Saints, and will be on opposite ends of the ice from former teammate Garrett Mason.
Getting the chance to face Mason after being teammates last year will be fun, says Wakaruk, who says he hopes to score a few goals on him in the coming years.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a good goalie and he鈥檚 going to be doing well for them.鈥�
Wakaruk would like to thank the Broncos for everything they did for him during his one season in the green and gold.
Luke Kempf
The commitments keep on coming for the Humboldt Broncos.
After teammates Michael Korol, Connor Swystun, Garrett Mason, and Parker Wakaruk announced commitments earlier this spring Luke Kempf made his own announcement as he will be heading to Calgary to study at 麻豆视频ern Alberta Institute of Technology.
Being able to continue his hockey career beyond junior means a lot, says the 20-year-old Sherwood Park native.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a great experience going to Calgary and playing college hockey so I鈥檓 really looking forward to it.鈥�
Kempf鈥檚 decision was made very easy after traveling to Calgary a couple of weeks ago to visit the school, he says.
鈥淚 went down and looked at the school and just the hockey program and the schooling is top notch.鈥�
Kempf toured the school with hockey head coach Dan Olsen, who noted Kempf left a great impression.
鈥淗e seems like a really responsible, mature kid so I鈥檓 looking forward to working with him.鈥�
Kempf wrapped up his junior career after three seasons, including his 20-year-old year in Humboldt where he posted eight goals and 21 assists in 56 regular season and playoff games.
Despite posting just 29 points over the course of the regular season, current Broncos head coach Darcy Haugan says SAIT is going to be getting a player who brings so much more than points.
鈥淭he quintessential leader. He always puts his teammates first鈥� he鈥檚 very valuable in that dressing room and just on the ice with his grittiness and his toughness.鈥�
Olsen noted that it was that style of play that really attracted him to Kempf, noting that they have a number of highly skilled players but needed to bring in some grit to play on the third and fourth lines.
Kempf鈥檚 intangibles off the ice were just as much of an attraction, says Olsen, who notes leadership is an important quality they look for in potential recruits.
鈥淣ormally those guys are a little bit more mature and especially those first year guys coming in. It鈥檚 a big commitment with the athletics and the school so usually those guys will be successful and we won鈥檛 have to worry about them not lagging behind in their studies.鈥�
Olsen noted that there would be an adjustment period for Kempf coming into his first season as a Trojan, saying it will take some time for him to adjust to playing against players a couple of years older than he is.
鈥淚 told him it would probably help him if he could get stronger this summer鈥� so our strength and conditioning coach is going to set him up with a program and if he takes it seriously he鈥檒l come in and adjust right away.鈥�
Kempf鈥檚 role on the team is projected to be a bottom six forward and Olsen notes they will not be expecting too much from him right away.
鈥淲e鈥檒l probably ask him to be a solid defensive forward, responsible in his own end and if he keeps going to the net like he does some offense will happen for him.鈥�
After three years of junior hockey in which Kempf鈥檚 teams only made the second round of the playoffs once, one of the things he is looking forward to is trying to help the Trojans bring a championship back to SAIT.
Kempf, who will be studying geomatic engineering technology, would like to thank Humboldt for everything they did for him over his one year with the Broncos.
Trevor Posch
The good news keeps on coming for graduating players of the Humboldt Broncos.
After Michael Korol, Connor Swystun, Garrett Mason, Parker Wakaruk, and Luke Kempf all announced commitments to post secondary schools, fan favourite Trevor Posch has announced his own commitment.
The 20-year-old Leduc, Alta. native will be joining Kempf at the 麻豆视频ern Alberta Institute of Technology for the upcoming season.
鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting for me obviously. I鈥檓 happy I get to keep playing competitive hockey and also that I can get some school done too while doing it,鈥� said Posch of the commitment.
Posch noted that it will be awesome to have Kempf around and says he is a 鈥済reat guy.鈥�
鈥淲e became pretty good buds this year anyway so it鈥檚 going to be definitely a little bit easier with having him around too.鈥�
Posch spent three seasons in a green and gold jersey racking up 157 regular season and playoff games, scoring 55 goals, and 50 assists for 105 points.
In addition to having a scoring touch, Posch is also not afraid to mix it up as he finished with 309 penalty minutes in his Broncos career.
It is that combination of size and skill that Posch says he can bring to a Trojans program looking to build off a 21-11 season and a conference semi-final berth.
Broncos head coach Darcy Haugan noted in a press release that the Trojans will be getting not only a great player but also a great person, one who took home the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League鈥檚 Hockey Ministries International Roger Neilson Award, which is given to the player who displays fair play and dedication to the game both on and off the ice.
鈥淭revor meant a lot, not only to this team but to the community,鈥� said Head Coach Darcy Haugan.
鈥淗e was an outstanding individual who always made time to connect with the fans and provide assistance to anyone whenever it was needed.鈥�
Joining the Trojans hockey program was a bit of a shot in the dark for Posch, who says it came together after sending a text to Trojans head coach Dan Olsen.
鈥淗e said there was room so we just kind of made it happen that way.鈥�
Looking ahead to next year Posch says he has not had an opportunity to speak with Olsen about his particular role on the team, and says he will just be playing it by ear.
鈥淗opefully I can get in the lineup a decent amount the first year so just kind of work it out as we go.鈥�
