The son of Robin and Linda Patmore received a diploma this past spring in agriculture management and technology from the North Dakota institution. He played one season of baseball there and two hockey campaigns.
“Dakota College has completely changed the way I thought of our neighbors to the south. Never have I felt more welcomed and at home than I have during my two years in Bottineau,” Patmore said. “To this day and for the rest of my life the doors will always be open to go back for a visit with old teachers, coaches, and other faculty members.
“One thing I will never forget about Bottineau is the country that you see. Trips ranging from St. Louis to Green Bay, Salt Lake City, and Boston will forever be in my memory. All the stops along the way make the journey all that much more worthwhile. The way a group of kids from all over the world, places like Canada and the States, as well as Russia and Norway can come together in nine months to become lifelong friends says a lot about the program and the community.”
A standout with the Reston Rockets senior baseball team, Patmore initially went to Dakota College to play that sport and study. In November of his first year, Lumberjacks hockey coach Travis Rybchinski discussed with him the possibility of stepping into the net as a goaltending spot was opening at the semester break.
“Taking a year off made me a little nervous but, in the end, I would say it worked out well,” Patmore said. “The thing about the Bottineau ‘Jacks is the effort. We are a two-year school competing against four years from all over the country. There will be teams with bigger rosters, better facilities, and better regimens. The way that team can bury their heads and go to work made showing up everyday for practice the highlight of the day.”
Last season Patmore had a .900 save percentage and a 3.94 goals against average. Rybchinski said:
“Billy did some great things at our college. Whether it was on the ice or off the ice, he made his presence felt. On the ice, Billy was a steady goalie for us who worked hard and was a great teammate. Because of COVID, Billy essentially had two years off of playing hockey and came in and did a great job for us. Off the ice, Billy was a model student who got very good grades. Billy was well liked on campus from students to faculty and staff. We will miss Billy but know he will come and visit every once in a while and will do great things in his life.”
Patmore is putting his education to use. In May, he joined Redfern Farm Service in Virden as a facility operations assistant.
“I have been very happy to work alongside the team we have here and work with our great customer base,” he said. “I look forward to continuing developing with our customers and keeping up to date with this industry that never stops evolving.”
Growing up on the family farm had an impact on Patmore in his career and athletic pursuits. He praises his family members for their efforts and sacrifices over the years.
“I cannot say enough about what they have done for me in my lifetime,” Patmore said. “I think back to moments spent in the rink or on the baseball diamond and one thing remained constant, I had the phenomenal support of my parents, siblings, and grandparents. Taking time off work so they could take me and coach me from all ages I played has not gone unnoticed. I also owe a lot to the farm we run, that’s quite the way to learn how to work hard right from day one. It seems you never notice it until after the fact, but I truly appreciate everything they have done in my life.”
