NEW PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Corson Hopwo skates towards the Medicine Hat Tigers bench after scoring in the first period of the Tigers 6-3 loss to the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Jan. 15.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
In his five-year Western Hockey League career, there is one moment that stands out clearly for Corson Hopwo.
“Elijah Brown sat next to me in Med Hat two years ago, right before COVID-19. He snapped his fingers and said, remember this snap. It will feel like your career will fly by, because it does,” Hopwo said. “I remember that snap so clearly and I can picture that interaction we had so clearly. The career does fly by and it’s a weird thing to remember, not much of a sentimental thing, but it was really cool and I’ll probably remember that snap for a while.”
Hopwo’s WHL career came to a close April 28, when his Lethbridge Hurricanes lost 6-4 in Game 4 against the Edmonton Oil Kings to complete the first round series sweep. Hopwo was on the ice for the last 10 seconds of the game and said it was an emotional moment alongside a former teammate.
“I lined up pretty quickly and just took everything in and it was really cool. Josh Williams lined up next to me and we played with each other and know each other really well. As he lined up, he congratulated me and the tears are already flowing,” Hopwo said. “It was hard for me to say thanks for anything, but it was a great game.”
Hopwo said once the season came to a close he hung around Lethbridge to say goodbye before heading to Nova Scotia to tour some schools and see the sights. He said playing school hockey wasn’t his first option but after visiting, he’s looking forward to the idea.
“It was really cool to see a couple of schools out there and it was really interesting. I’ve never been out there so I love that,” Hopwo said. “It really reminded me of back home. A little different, not as many mountains and probably more rocks but I love it there.”
He hasn’t yet made a decision but is between Dalhousie and Acadia University. Hopwo isn’t sure yet what he’s going study, but said he’s just excited to continue his hockey career.
“Being able to continue to play hockey and have a chance at pro hockey after that, is really exciting,” Hopwo said. “That’s still my goal, whether that be in Europe or North America it’s still what I want to do. Having the opportunity to either sign a contract during or after is huge.”
Before classes begin, Hopwo said he’s going to Hamilton, Ont. in June to see the band, the Arkells, but has no other major plans for the summer besides training, being with friends and visiting Vancouver.
In his 201 career WHL games with the Medicine Hat Tigers and Hurricanes, Hopwo had 47 goals and 106 points. As he reflects on his career, the 20-year-old says he hopes his legacy with his teammates is he was a great friend and that he brought that to the rink every single day.
Hopwo said he learned he can do much more than he or anyone thought he could do and said that realization excites him.
“Believing in yourself is huge and working hard to get what you want is even bigger,” Hopwo said. “Having that pride in yourself and work ethic to back it up is one of, if not the biggest things in life to have outside of hockey as well.”
Hopwo has a long list of people he would thank over his hockey career and it starts with his parents for supporting him the entire time, his teammates who were always good to him and to the Tigers organization where Darren Kruger was the reason he was drafted and where he played under head coaches Shaun Clouston, Willie Desjardins and associate coach Joe Frazer. Hopwo said all three played a big role but said he and Frazer had a great relationship.
“I’m at that point where now I can officially really call him my friend, he’s such a great guy,” Hopwo said. “He’s an awesome guy and Joe’s the definition of a Medicine Hat Tiger.”
Hopwo said 14-year-old him would be just as critical as he is and think the exact thing he is right now about his career, you proved everyone wrong.
“The 14-year-old would be really happy that I proved everyone wrong and made a name for myself,” Hopwo said. “Saying that he’d be disappointed with the 20-year-old season I had. I didn’t have the season I wanted and I believe he would probably feel the same. I’m always looking to better things and and I believe I was like that when I was younger as well.”
