hockey. So we’re probably
not all the way back yet, but
we’ll be a much better team.”
It’s certainly more
fun for the veterans.
“This is my fourth year and
yeah, there have been some
lean years,” said Hunter York,
an 18-year-old who started
with the North Stars as an AP
four years ago and has now
played with the North Stars
since the 2014-15 campaign.
“I played all my minor
hockey in Norway House and
I was first called up when I
was a Midget. I haven’t played
anywhere else other than
Norway House and we’ve had
some tough seasons. Last
year, there were games when
it really got tiring when I was
the only guy on the bench.
It’s tough with only one or
THE ROOKIE, 16
YEAR OLD RICHARD
DUCHARME
2 8 | G AME O N | D EC EM BER 2017
GLEN PAUPANEKIS
(RIGHT) IS BACK AFTER
SPENDING A YEAR IN
WINNIPEG
two guys on the bench, but
this year, it’s better. Bus
trips are better with more
guys on the bus. We’ve got a
pretty competitive team.”
His feelings were echoed
by assistant captain
Braden Simpson.
“It’s been pretty hard,”
said Simpson, bluntly.
“There would only be
a couple of players
coming on trips. It got
really tiring for those
of us who did have to
skate. It wasn’t a lot
of fun most nights.”
For Anderson, just
having a chance for
a change makes the
season fun. After
all, he’s been with the
team since long before
the team entered the
KJHL in 2004. In fact,
he’s been a North Star since
1995. He started out as the
team’s bus driver, became the
trainer/bus driver, assistant
coach/bus driver and now,
while he doesn’t have to
drive the bus anymore, he
has the responsibility of
driving the entire show.
“It’s my second year as
head coach and I’m proud
of the fact that I’m (owner
and general manager) Eddie
Albert’s buddy,” he said with
a laugh. “I was the assistant
coach when Eddie was the
head coach and now it’s
my team. I have two great
assistants, including my son
Alfred, who played four years
in the league (three with
Selkirk and one with Norway
House) and Cory Hutchings.
We have a good group and
now we’re getting at least
18 players on most trips.
“I also have three of Alfred’s
cousins on the team – Glen
Paupanekis, Tanner Poker
and Corbin Tait. This is a
family business, I guess. It’s
important to all of us to play
as well as we can all the time.
“And, I think, if we do the
work, it will be a good year.” ❍