Former Waywayseecappo Wolverines forward, Drew Anderson has signed his first professional hockey contract.
The 20-year-old from Portage la Prairie announced via Instagram on Monday that he has signed a one year contract with Osby Ik in Sweden’s HockeyTvaan Divison 2 league.
“It started last summer, I ended up signing with an agent,” Anderson explained from his home in Portage. “I was supposed to go this year but decided to stay another year and play junior. I ended up with a better team in a better league in Sweden so it worked out for the best.”
Anderson, a veteran of 149 games at the Junior ‘A’ level between Waywayseecappo, Steinbach, and Weyburn, scored 26 goals and 64 assists. And, instead of taking the traditional route of playing college hockey after the junior ranks, Drew sees his signing at the pro level as an opportunity to travel and play the game he loves.
“Just get to travel Europe for a bit, see the world and play hockey while I’m at it. I’ve only been on a two-hour plane ride before so it should be interesting.”
“I’m just looking forward to getting to know the culture, meeting all the boys and playing a different style of hockey with the ice surface and all that. They take care of the accommodations and I’ll be living with two other guys in a house so that will be pretty cool.”
Playing 51 of his 149 junior games in Waywayseecappo, Drew has fond memories of playing for the community, some which he soon won’t forget.
“The respect you get around the rink from the coaching staff to the people in the community is crazy. Learning from Elder, Jim Cote about residential schools and the culture, that was something that really touched me and something I’ll never forget,” Anderson concluded.