Joey Payeur
The Muskie boys’ hockey team will have to make do defending its OFSAA ‘AA’ boys’ championship on home ice next spring without two—and possibly three—of its brightest young prospects from this past season.
Forwards Cooper Witherspoon, Nick Hahkala, and Ethan Jourdain all successfully tried out for the Thunder Bay Minor Midget ‘AAA’ Kings at the end of last month.
While it was uncertain at press time whether Witherspoon would make the move to the Kings, both Hahkala and Jourdain confirmed they’ll be leaving the black-and-gold for the Lakehead this fall.
Witherspoon and Hahkala, in just their Grade 9 seasons, were huge factors for the Muskies—and especially in Fort High’s 4-2 win over the Silverthorn Spartans (Etobicoke) in the OFSAA final in Ottawa back in March.
Witherspoon, with a pair of goals, and Hahkala gave the Muskies a 3-1 first-period lead they would not relinquish.
The still-fresh memories of that triumph, and the possibility of recreating the same scenario next spring when Fort Frances hosts the OFSAA tourney March 21-24, made it a hard call for Hahkala.
“It was a tough decision, but a decision I had to make as to whether to stay one more year [with the Muskies] or go there and further my career,” noted the 14-year-old, who was invited by the Kings’ to try out just two weeks beforehand.
“I want to develop as a player and this gives me the best opportunity to succeed at that,” he reasoned.
Jourdain, meanwhile, said he already was drawing interest from the Kings as far back as last year.
“I had a feeling I would be in Thunder Bay this season,” admitted the 15-year-old, who saw part-time action with the Muskies down the stretch last season after starring for the Fort Frances Bantam ‘AA’ Canadians.
About 45 players attended the Kings’ tryout, making for an intimidating environment for the three Muskies.
“It was tough competition at forward,” recalled Jourdain. “There were lots of guys with size and speed and skill.
“But I figured if I just played my game and went in confident, I would come out with good results,” he added.
“This was the best opportunity to get drafted,” Jourdain stressed.
“It was a difficult decision when I found out OFSAA was going to be here,” he conceded.
“I really came to feel like one of the guys when I played in the game against International Falls,” Jourdain noted. “The atmosphere, the feeling was unbelievable.
“But it’s time to move in a different direction.”
Jourdain is even more excited to head east with a pair of familiar sidekicks.
“Cooper was the MVP of OFSAA and Nick played pretty unbelievable down there,” he lauded.
“They are great players, especially for their age.
“The three of us have spent years playing alongside and against each other to see who the best is,” he added.
“There’s a lot of chemistry between us. It’s going to be fun.”
While the road ahead beckons enticingly, Hahkala said that doesn’t mean the lessons learned as Muskies will be forgotten anytime soon.
“Jamie Davis was a really good coach, as were all the coaches,” he remarked.
“They all helped us out and if we did something wrong, they didn’t criticize us—they just showed us the right way.
“They helped teach me to be positive.”
Davis wished his now-former players well in their future endeavours.
“It’s great for them to go get this opportunity to play and I hope it works out for them,” he said.
“They’re essential losses and some good young talent that won’t be here,” Davis added.
“There will be holes to fill but it’s not anything new to have to adjust to,” he reasoned.
“Their spots will be filled with other guys and it will give opportunities to other kids to step up.”
With local resident Cole Tymkin recently having signed with the Memorial Cup champion London Knights of the OHL, Jourdain is even more keenly aware that being from this area isn’t an impossible obstacle to overcome when striving to reach the next level.
“To represent Fort Frances in upcoming years would be a dream,” he said.
“I’m excited to see what happens in Thunder Bay.”
