麻豆社区

Brett Roulston no longer takes anything for granted.

The 18-year-old Whitehorse native is enjoying a breakthrough season with the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League, just two years after considering giving up the game he loves.

"It's a lot fun to play in that league,鈥� he said of the WHL. "It's a great stepping stone and I appreciate it every day I'm there. I'm just absorbing all the knowledge I can and taking everything I can from it.鈥�

Roulston's road to major junior hockey took longer than anticipated due to a freak injury sustained in December 2009.

While playing with the Midget Fort St. John Trackers, Roulston was checked from behind, suffering a severe back injury that included a slipped disc and two minor fractures.

After attempting to play through the pain for a time, Roulston finally relented, and spent the entire next season on the injury reserve.

"I never take anything for granted anymore, and I'm a lot more cautious with things like stretching and keeping myself healthy,鈥� he said. "Every day I go to the rink, I think about it, and I'm just happy I'm there, and happy I got the opportunity that I did.鈥�

In the first half, Roulston netted seven goals and an assist as a WHL rookie, tying him for fourth on the team with Jari Erricson. Buffalo Sabres draft pick Colin Jacobs leads the team in scoring with 11 goals and 15 assists.

The Cougars (12-18-1-3) enter the Christmas break ranked fourth in the Western Conference's B.C. Division with 28 points.

Roulston returned to Whitehorse for the holidays this week for the first time in three years. He spent much of his youth outside the territory chasing his hockey dream.

"Growing up in Whitehorse, you see lots of big names come out of the WHL,鈥� he said. "I've kind of made it a goal to get there and use it as a stepping stone. I definitely want to play as long as I can, whether that be overseas or in any pro league.

"As long as I'm playing the game, I'm going to be happy.鈥�

His hard work has paid off, and he now dresses for games in the same room as NHL players like Dan Hamhuis and Zdeno Chara did before him.

"It's a great experience, especially with all the players and people I get to be around, with the knowledge and coaching experience that they have,鈥� he said Wednesday. "They have a lot of great advice for you, and it's just a lot of fun to play in that league.鈥�

Roulston began the year as the Cougars' 14th forward, but has worked hard to impress the team brass and has found himself a regular in the lineup.

The 6-foot, 198-pound Roulston plays an energetic, rough-and-tumble game, usually on the Cougars' third or fourth line and penalty kill.

The highlights of his first goal, assist and fight are safely tucked away in his memory.

"I'll remember all those for the rest of my life,鈥� he said.

His first goal won't make any highlight reels, but it counted in a 5-4 win over the

Kootenay Ice Oct. 10.

It was the fourth goal against goaltender Mackenzie Skapski, in just Roulston's third game of the season.

"It was a turnover in the offensive zone, and I picked it up and just looked up. I kind of fanned on it trying to go high glove, and I put it five-hole on him.鈥�

Roulston laughs at the memory.

"It wasn't the prettiest goal, but it went in and I celebrated pretty hard.鈥�

Cougars head coach Dean Clark has liked what he's seen from Roulston thus far.

"Because he's a bigger body, we kind of rely on him to be a physical guy,鈥� Clark said. "He's a character guy in the way he plays, and a good team guy. He's one of those guys that you win with on a consistent basis.鈥�

Roulston has been on the WHL radar for some time. Prior to landing with the Cougars, Roulston had also spent time on the Kamloops Blazers protected player list.

His tremendous potential saw him make the Major Midget Prince George Cariboo Cougars roster in 2010 while he was still injured.

The move paid off for the Cariboo Cougars in 2011, when Roulston scored 16 goals and 36 points in 35 games.

"It's quite the story with all the injuries, his surgery and everything else,鈥� Clark told the Star. "One thing about him is he can really shoot the puck. He's got a great shot.

He's managed to get some goals for us, on a team that doesn't score much.

"I expect him to be better in the second half just for the fact that he's got half a year under his belt now. I think he's got some confidence, because he's had a little bit of success when it comes to scoring goals.

"His dependability has helped him become a guy we couldn't take out of the lineup.鈥�

The Cougars next action consists of three games in three nights versus divisional rivals. They will battle the Victoria Royals Dec. 28 and 29, before heading to Vancouver Dec. 30 to face the last-place Giants.

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Whitehorse's only other major junior hockey player has left the Moncton Wildcats for personal reasons.

David Stephens played 12 games in the QMJHL this year, registering two assists, before suffering a knee injury.

The 19-year-old centre previously played with the Edmonton Oil Kings, before transferring to Moncton to follow in his older brother Ted's footsteps.

Ted Stephens is currently playing AUS hockey with the St. F.X. X-Men in Antigonish, N.S.