A young man from Baie Verte is making a name for himself on the ice.
“Ever since dad put me on skates when I was three years old, I’ve loved every second of it,” says Alexander Snow.
The young grade 11 student at Copper Ridge Academy has been playing hockey most of his life. His young career has seen him reach new heights on the local, and provincial level, during his time with local programs in Baie Verte, the Central Icepak out of Lewisporte, and the Newfoundland and Labrador team at the Canada Games last winter.
But now, the young forward has reached a new milestone – recently being drafted into the QMJHL.
“I was really excited,” he says, talking about the moment when he found out earlier last month that the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles had picked him up in the 11th round.
Snow says he had been watching online on draft day, since he’d found out several weeks ago that he was on the scouting list as a possibility to be drafted.
“Basically, you sit there and wait to see if you’re picked,” he said. “It was pretty nerve wracking, but when I saw my name there it was great.”
Snow had been scouted in his past performances, which earned him a place on the list, and in the eventual draft.
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) is one of the key leagues that professional teams look to when considering players for the NHL draft every year. Snow says the magnitude of the situation isn’t lost on him.
“It’s crazy – I mean, this is the league that Sydney Crosby played in before he was drafted,” he said. The young Pittsburgh Penguins superstar recently signed a deal with that team worth over $100 million dollars – something Snow says he admires, and wants to work towards.
“I want to work as hard as I can and do the best that I can,” he said. “I’ve put a lot of time into hockey, and it’s definitely something I want to do as a career.”
To do that, though, he realizes that he has to leave behind the little town and some of the people in it.
Earlier this week, he left Baie Verte and headed to Nova Scotia where he’ll spend the summer training with the team, and working towards a spot on the roster for the upcoming regular season.
“I’ll be spending the next year or more up there, training hard and doing stuff with the team,” he said.
He’ll also complete his last year of high school in Nova Scotia, while fulfilling duties required with the team.
“I’m definitely going to miss everyone back here, and I think they’ll miss me as well,” he said. His friends from school along with family and community members gathered on Thursday of last week, and held a parade and BBQ at the AYSC Youth Centre.
The evening was filled with congratulations, well wishes, and celebration of the huge accomplishment.
“I’ve worked really hard to get where I’m at,” concluded Snow. “I’m just glad it’s paid off so far.”
editor@thenorwester.ca
