DIDSBURY - Coming off an outstanding regular season with the Mountainview Colts, Haiden Parks hopes to continue his scoring ways as the team heads into the playoffs.
In his second year with the Didsbury-based Heritage Junior B Hockey League squad, Parks is the team’s top scorer in 2023-24, notching 24 goals and 28 assists for 52 points over 35 games as of last week.
“I think I’ve just found my stride in the league this year. I kind of figured out how it works last year and now the pucks have just been going in and it’s been working out,” Parks, 21, told the Albertan.
Born in Langley, B.C., Parks grew up in Carstairs where he played minor hockey. He joined the Colts in the 2022-23 season, notching 12 goals and 14 assists that campaign.
A right-winger, Parks credits his success in 2023-24 in part to his linemates Cohen Richardson and Simon Leischner.
“You can’t play hockey by yourself and they have definitely been a huge help,” he said. “They are both fast and that helps a lot.”
As well as being the team’s top goal scorer in 2023-24, Haiden is also one of the lowest penalized players on the team, with only two minutes in the box so far this season.
“I’d rather be on the ice than in the box,” he said. “I want to stay out of the box and get lots of goals.”
While the Colts have already made the 2023-24 playoffs, the exact team matchups won’t be set until this week.
“I’m excited about the playoffs,” he said. “It should be a good battle and I’m hoping we can make it all the way. We’ve got a good team and some great guys and if we all show up, I think we have a shot at making it all the way.”
Head coach Dan Visser calls Parks a key member of the 2023-24 Colts.
“He’s a great player and such a great person,” said Visser. “I rely on Haiden for his scoring but also in every situation.
“He leads by example on the ice with his hard work and his ability to turn nothing into something.”
Parks is currently studying nursing at Red Deer Polytechnic.
See mountainviewtoday.ca for updates on times and places for the first round of the playoffs.
