BARRHEAD - A Barrhead hockey player is taking the next step in his hockey evolution.
When Chase Visser laces up his skates this season, he will do it for a new team, the University of Jamestown Jimmies in North Dakota.
In late March, Visser announced he would play for the private Christian liberal arts university's men's hockey team in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA).
For the last four years, Visser has played Junior 'A' hockey, first with the Lloydminster Bobcats in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) for a season and a half before being traded to the Nipawin Hawks of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), where he suited up for 88 games, recording 15 goals and 19 assists. In his second year with the Hawks, he also served as one of the assistant captains.
In addition to his hockey career, Visser will further his education by enrolling in the school's Exercise Science program to become a chiropractor or physiotherapist.
But he reiterated that would come after he had exhausted all his avenues to play professional hockey.
"I love the game and want to pursue it as far as possible and play professionally," he said, adding he believes the University of Jamestown will give him a good opportunity.
After the Hawks' season ended, Visser, who plays centre, said he talked with several colleges and universities, including ones in Toronto and Boston.
However, he said, it did not take him long to decide that the University of Jamestown and the Jimmies would be the best fit.
"It seemed they really wanted me, and the opportunities moving forward, it seemed Jamestown was the best option for me," he said. "The Jamestown coach, Dean Stork, has played at the pro level [having stints with teams in the American Hockey League and East Coast Hockey League], and that, again, is something I'm definitely interested in doing."
How he got into hockey
Visser said his hockey career started when he was young, learning to skate when he was three or four.
"Chris Driessen [of Pro North Hockey Skill Development] taught me how to skate, and every summer, I would be at her hockey camps."
Visser played up to Peewee (U13) for Barrhead Minor Hockey Association teams.
But when it came time for Bantam (U15), Visser, along with other (BMHA) players, including Robert Kincaid, Adam Mueller, Keaton Branden, and Sheldon Dewsnap, learned about a new 'AA' Team starting in Morinville and decided to make the jump.
Visser noted that all of the Barrhead players made the squad.
Robert Kincaid, who is a couple of years older than Visser, also went on to play Junior Hockey with the Camrose Kodiacs before playing collegiate hockey for two different schools, the University of Maine and Canisius College. Adam Mueller also went on to play Junior Hockey, playing for teams in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League and the Capital Junior Hockey League (CaJHL).
In his second year, Visser played 'AAA' in St. Albert.
After graduating from the Bantam program, Visser moved on to play 'AAA' Midget (U18) for the St. Albert Raiders in the Alberta Minor Midget Hockey League.
Visser said he moved in with his aunt and uncle, who lived in the city, to facilitate the move.
"We had an excellent team," he said, referring to his first-year Raiders team. "We only lost one game in the regular season."
Visser said the Raiders' playoff prospects looked just as promising as the team looked like they would have a long run, but unfortunately, they were cut short due to the pandemic.
The following year, he returned to the Raiders, but as with the previous season, the league was impacted by COVID restrictions, which cut the season to six games.
Visser said hockey is also a tradition in his family.
"My grandpa [George] played hockey and was invited to an Oil Kings camp, and my dad [Mark] played hockey and ended up playing university hockey, and so do my [younger] brothers Jamie and Brett."
Both look like they are following in their older brother's skates. Brett has played 'AA' U18 in Morinville for the last two seasons for the Sturgeon Sting, while Jamie played U18 for the St. Albert Raiders and Sturgeon Sting before making the jump to Junior 'B' playing for the Morinville Jets in the CJHL after starting their careers in Barrhead.
As for what is next, Visser said he will have a busy few weeks ahead of him. He will be preparing to leave for college while also trying to help the Barrhead Orioles of the North Central Baseball League not only qualify but also make noise in the playoffs.
Visser will leave for Jamestown on Aug. 18 for first-year orientation, with classes and training camp starting Aug. 25.
Nipawin Hawk general manager and head coach Tad Kozun said the organization was excited that Chase would be able to continue his hockey career with the University of Jamestown.
"He was a great hawk on the ice but most importantly a great leader for our team and community. Chase is going to have a great impact on the school in Jamestown and will do great things in life afterwards. We wish him all the best down there and he will be missed in the Nipawin community,” he said.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
