The Coquitlam Express is always excited to catch up with former players that have graduated from the BCHL. One of our most recent alumni is Brett Hemingway who has gone on to the University to New Hampshire as a member of the respected Hockey East Association.
Hemingway spent the past two seasons with the Express, serving as team captain last year. During his two BCHL campaigns, the Yorkton, Saskatchewan native recorded 87 goals and 89 assists in 120 games. As a member of the Express he was the recipient of numerous honours, including being named BCHL rookie of the year in the 2001-2002 season and BCHL Coastal Division First Team All-Star for 2002-2003. However, his biggest personal accomplishment as a member of the Coquitlam Express has to be his selection in the 2003 NHL draft by the Colorado Avalanche.
Making the jump to college hockey was a big step for Hemingway “Faster, bigger and stronger” is Hemingway’s description of the differences between the BCHL and the NCAA. “It’s gone well,” he says about the adjustments he’s had to make in joining the Wildcats squad. “I was a little nervous starting off but the guys treated us well.” The “us” he’s referring to are the nine freshmen on the young team. As the season has progressed, Hemingway says that he has become “more comfortable”. This has been evident in his play as he was recently awarded the Hockey East Rookie of the Week after picking up two goals and an assist in two games against rival Northeastern.
Besides adjusting to NCAA hockey, Hemingway has also had to adapt to being away from home for the first time. “I wasn’t sure what to expect,” he says. However, he once again refers to the close-knit group of players on the team, saying that they helped with this transition as well. He does admit to being “a little homesick” and is looking forward to coming home during the holidays.
Away from the rink, Hemingway is enrolled in the School of Business and says that he is “liking everything” about his hockey career and academic life. We continue to wish him great success on and off the ice.
