He was talented enough to have the option to play Major Junior for the Western Hockey League’s Prince Albert Raiders, but Travis Statchuk resisted the temptation in favour of the path he dreamt about since he was a young boy growing up in Wadena, Saskatchewan.
The 19-year-old Salmon Arm SilverBacks forward, who currently sits third in team scoring in his second year with the club, has committed to Ohio State’s Division I hockey program and will suit up for the Buckeyes in the 2011/12 season.
Even when Statchuk was playing midget hockey with the Prince Albert Mintos, he saw his future in the college route versus playing Major Junior in his hometown
“It goes back to when I was pretty young,” Statchuk says. “When I was 12, actually, I promised my parents I was going to get my schooling paid for.”
It’s also a matter of his physical strength.
“I’ve always been more of a late developer [physically]. I figured the extra few years of playing junior, then going to college, with a lot more practice and off-ice training, would work in my favor rather than going to the WHL, playing a lot of games, then trying to step into a pro league as a 20-year-old.”
Ohio State was interested in Statchuk and recruited him from the time he was in the Prince Albert midget system, flying him down to the campus and traveling to Saskatchewan to sit down with his family – a comforting visit that only served to reinforce his decision.
“It just showed that they really wanted me. They want to put me in a good situation when I go in there, so I can contribute early. That’s something every hockey player wants,” he says.
To prepare him for the challenges of NCAA hockey, Statchuk made the move west to play for the SilverBacks, who had aggressively scouted and recruited him during his final year of midget hockey. Silverbacks’ general manager Rylan Ferster, who is originally from Prince Albert, had established a strong tradition of recruiting talented players from the Mintos, which is widely considered the best midget hockey program in the country.
Statchuk knew other players that enjoyed their time in the BCHL and figured Salmon Arm was a solid choice for the next phase of his career. Now a second-year player, he’s adapted to the faster-paced hockey in a league that fits his skills perfectly.
“When I’m skating, I can win races nine out of 10 times. Just chipping pucks past guys, winning battles and the races to loose pucks, that creates a lot of offence,” says Statchuk, who has posted five goals and 17 points through 11 games.
While Statchuk is known as a natural goal scorer, those who watch him on a daily basis see a solid two-way player who competes at both ends of the rink.
“He cares about playing the game without the puck,” SilverBacks head coach Matt Hughes says. “He focuses on defense as well and he blocks shots – he’s a pretty good all-around player for us.”
One key in Statchuk’s development was the experience of playing with Team Canada West at the 2008 World Junior A Challenge last October in Camrose, Alberta.
“It’s obviously something every kid dreams of, wearing a Team Canada sweater,” he says. “There’s no better feeling, other than winning the Stanley Cup. It was something special and a learning experience in itself.”
“The experience of being in a prestigious tournament like that helps you coming back to your own league, because it’s definitely higher paced hockey with highly skilled players. You don’t have your grinders – every team is an All-Star team.”
Ironically, though, Statchuk made the cut as a third line energy player, not in the type of offensive role he’s become accustomed to. It’s an experience he believes will help him as he continues to make strides and climb up the hockey ranks.
“It’s a role I’ve never really played in my hockey career,” he said. “I’ve always been a go-to guy, so playing that role definitely helps show that I can if I have to do it at a higher level.”
Beyond Salmon Arm and Ohio State, Statchuk holds out the dream of playing in the National Hockey League. And given the pace at which he’s developed and the potential for further growth in junior and college, playing in pro hockey is not out of the question for the speedy young forward.
“There are so many pro leagues around the world. I hope with my potential and with my speed, I can land myself on a pro team somewhere,” he explains. “I want to play hockey as long as I can, and if I can make money doing it, that’s a bonus.”
