Virden Oil Capitals defenceman Tristen Cross knows it’s often been said, but he can’t believe how quickly his junior hockey career went by.
“Every 20-year-old says the same thing every year about how junior hockey is over in the blink of an eye,” he said. “You don’t realize it when you’re still young, but … I feel like it was only months ago that I first came into the team when I was 17.”
The son of Rick and Donna Cross of Virden played parts of four seasons with the Oil Capitals. Last season, in his second full campaign with the team, he helped it make it to the Manitoba Junior Hockey League finals. This winter he was an MJHL Second Team All-Star while scoring 15 goals and recording 45 points, which put him third among league defencemen. Cross was named the Telus MJHL Defenceman of the Month for both January and February.
“He is one of the more underrated players in Junior A hockey in the MJHL and across other leagues as well,” said Jamie Hodson, the Oil Caps director of business, hockey operations and player personnel.
Virden head coach Troy Leslie said Cross skates as well as anyone in the MJHL. Leslie said, “Lots of times when we have a three-on-two, it is really a four-on-two with him coming in from the back.”
Hodson called Cross “one of the best skating defencemen in Junior A hockey.”
“He has a real ability to push the rush. As a defenceman that is tough to do,” Hodson said. “He can join the forward group so easily but gets himself back into defensive responsibility quickly.
“He is gifted from an offensive point of view. He can find those holes that the back door D-man can jump into. He has a good shot … He has really improved his first pass out of our end, helps our forwards get moving quickly into an offensive position.”
Cross is also an important leader for the Oil Capitals. Rookie defenceman Logan Rands has been paired with Cross on the blue line for most of the season.
Rands said he was very fortunate to play with a player like Cross as a rookie. He said Cross has “been an unbelievable leader to everybody in the room, but especially to me with him putting me under his wing and showing me the ins and outs of junior hockey.”
Leslie said Cross works hard on and off the ice. Hodson said the defenceman takes pride in his conditioning and works part-time many mornings.
“He really is exemplary that way off the ice, in showing what it takes to be a good player both on and off the ice, and what it takes in reaching the next stage of his career as a player or into his next career in the workforce if he so chooses,” said Hodson, who called Cross “a great kid” and someone younger people can look up to.
During his junior career, Cross has enjoyed meeting new people and making friends with teammates and opponents. He is appreciative of being able to do this in Virden.
“I’m a hometown kind of guy and really enjoy billeting at my own home,” he said. “It would have been fun to try billeting with a different family but I can’t say I have any regrets.”
Cross said every one of his coaches growing up helped him in a way. Three memorable coaches who played a role in Cross’s minor hockey career were Randy Kalynuk, Jason Rinn, and his dad. He appreciates the support both his parents have provided.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without them,” said Cross, who hopes to play hockey at the post-secondary level next season. “They basically drop everything and put me first when it comes to my hockey and I am very grateful for that.”
