NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
South Alberta Hockey Academy forward Noah Dziver passes the puck during SAHA's 4-2 win over OHA Edmonton on Nov. 13 at Big Marble Go Centre.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Noah Dziver joined the South Alberta Hockey Academy U18 men’s team to give himself a chance at finding a new place to play next season. Three months into the year, he achieved that goal.
The 17-year-old Winnipeg product is one of eight players to commit to playing with the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League next season. He was excited to be able to set up a place to play.
“It’s the reason I came down here, to expand my options for junior next year. I’m trying to get out of my province,” Dziver said. “Lots of teams offered, there were other teams talking to me, but Penticton offered and that’s a team you can’t say no to. So I’m very satisfied with them.”
Before a loss on Dec. 10 the Vees were 24-0 to start the season and average well above 2,500 fans per game.
“They’re arguably the best team in the BCHL, maybe the best junior team in Canada besides the WHL,” Dziver said. “It’s a team that is really going to move me forward in my hockey career, which is obviously what I’m trying to do.”
Dziver has obviously impressed in his first season in the CSSHL, joining SAHA from the Winnipeg Wild of the MU18HL. In 20 games this season with the local hockey academy, Dziver sits second in team scoring with 19 goals and 19 assists for 38 points, good enough for third in league scoring at the U18 level.
The trip Dziver will make home for Christmas is 10-11 hours from Medicine Hat to Winnipeg. When he embarks for Penticton to suit up for the Vees next season, that will be an almost 21-hour road trip. He says that’s one of the reasons he chose SAHA this year, to experience playing and living away from home knowing he would have to do it next year and beyond.
“There was an option to play CSSHL at home for Winnipeg, but I obviously wanted to move this year to get used to the lifestyle knowing that I’d be away from home the following year,” Dziver said. “So I get used to being away from home and being in Alberta it’s not as far as B.C.”
SAHA head coach Brayden Desjardins commended Dziver’s drive to be his best by moving from Winnipeg to Medicine Hat and was happy to hear news of his signing.
“He works hard, he doesn’t complain and he’s a guy who can produce. Everywhere he’s gone he’s produced,” Desjardins said. “To see him go to a place like Penticton is unbelievable. They’re a very high-caliber organization, for them to take notice of one of our guys is awesome for us. But it’s even bigger for him, no one deserves it more.”
Multiple players have graduated the program to play in the Western Hockey League and the Alberta Junior Hockey League, but Dziver’s commitment is a milestone for SAHA, marking the first from their program to sign in the BCHL. His signing comes a month after defender Kendal Davidson of SAHA’s U18 women’s team put pen to paper with NCAA Div. I Union College, another first for the academy.
Desjardins says SAHA isn’t a magic pill where players show up and reach the next level but it is a testament to the work the players and staff put into the program.
“Our staff is unbelievable, our skill development is almost second to none,” Desjardins said. “Torrin (White) does an unbelievable job with our skill stuff; the way they shoot the puck, working on skills and specific stuff that they can incorporate into their games, you see it translating. Gavin (Broadhead) does an unbelievable job in the gym. When guys leave here they’re strong, they understand what it takes, how to move in the gym.
“Looking at the amount of injuries we have, they’re very, very low compared to a lot of other teams so it been really, really good. I honestly think we have some of the best staff in the entire league and (these signings) are a testament to them.”
