In the future, Pipestone’s Luke MacKenzie’s hockey talents will take him to New York state.
The current Virden Oil Capitals junior player announced last week that he has committed to study and pay at Canisius College. The Buffalo, N.Y. school’s squad competes at the NCAA Division I level, the highest in American university sports. MacKenzie is the son of Gavin and Cheryl MacKenzie.
“We are proud of Luke and his decision to commit to Canisius College,” Oil Capitals head coach Tyson Ramsey said of the rookie. “We are excited to watch his development here with us.”
Virden’s Hunter Andrew, an ex-Oil Cap, is in his second year at Canisius College. Last season the Golden Griffins won the Atlantic Hockey conference championship and competed in the national tournament.
Last winter MacKenzie led the U18 AAA Southwest Cougars with 52 points in 42 games. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound forward was tied for the team lead with 22 goals.
“Luke’s got game-breaking speed,” Cougars head coach Tanner Lewis of Virden said. “He makes life difficult on defenders when he is attacking because of that speed. When he does have to play the chip and chase game, his speed gets him in on the forecheck quickly and puts pressure on the defence and can cause havoc with his strength in the corners. You pair his size and speed with an excellent release and goal scoring prowess, that has the ability to score at any level.”
ROOKES SIGNS WITH WILD
Manson’s Kurt Rookes has signed to play with the Western Hockey League’s Wenatchee Wild. The son of Mike and Leanne Rookes earned his spot during training camp and the exhibition season.
“Kurt came to camp with a goal of earning a roster spot in the WHL,” said Wenatchee director of scouting Leigh Mendelson on the team’s website. “With his character, competitiveness and work ethic, he has accomplished that goal.”
The Wild moved to the Washington state community after competing in Winnipeg as the Ice. Last season Rookes, a 5-foot-11, 178-pound forward, had five goals, 16 points, and 94 penalty minutes in 54 games for the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Waywayseecappo Wolverines.
FREEMAN WINS
Virden’s Jace Freeman skipped his rink to the Larry Jones Junior Classic title last weekend. The son of Graham and Roxanne Freeman guided his rink to a 5-0 record at the St. Vital Curling Club-hosted event. The rink includes Winnipeggers Ryan Ostrowsky, Luke Robins, and Nick Senff, whose father Danny Senff grew up in Virden.
“I think a big part of our success we had this weekend was our experience in a men’s bonspiel from the previous weekend,” Freeman said. “September 14-17, we played in the Mother Club Fall Classic at the Granite Curling Club and we made the quarter-finals. We beat three very strong men’s teams that weekend and I think that experience gave us a lot of confidence going into this junior spiel. We kept up our strong play and controlled each game we played in to emerge as the champions with a 5-0 record.”
