Game On Magazine 2017 Nov Game On low res | Page 118

PROFILE
RILEY
STOTTS
Big Man
in his Family
BY LES LAZARUK
Photos by Steve Hiscock
Saskatoon Blades
1 1 8 | G AM E ON | N OVEM BER 2017
HE MAY BE THE “BABY,” but
Riley Stotts appears ready
to become The Man when
it comes to a hockey career
within his family unit.
A sophomore left winger
with the WHL’s Swift Current
Broncos, Riley is the 17-year-
old, third son born to Len and
Lora Stotts of Winnipeg. Riley’s
older brothers are Chris, age
24, and 21-year-old Tyler.
“Growing up was a little
tougher,” admitted Riley when
it came to being the youngest
of three boys. “But, I always
got some leeway with my
parents and it’s easier on me.
It’s fun being the young kid
in the family, always getting
pushed around and getting
pressure on them.
“My brothers played Midget
AAA and some high school
(hockey), but I used to play
on the outdoor rinks with
them growing up. I’d always
challenge them, skate with
them and see how I could do.
It always pushed me to be
better. They stopped playing
hockey but, even to this
day, they’re always calling
me and telling me what I
can work on after games
and what they see that I
could always do better.”
After the first WHL games,
Stotts’ Swift Current squad
was the only undefeated
team with seven straight
wins to start the season. The
6-foot, 171-pounder has
scored twice after posting
nine goals and 25 points
in 52 games as a Broncos’
freshman last season.
The pursuit of being
“The Man” in the family,
at least when it comes to
hockey, has had its ups
and downs. One of the ups
is being labelled as a “C”
prospect by NHL Central
Scouting’s preliminary
“Players to Watch” list.
That means he’s expected
to be selected between the
fourth and sixth round in
next June’s Entry Draft.
There have been downs,
however. During the 2016
World Under-17 Hockey
Challenge in Sault Ste.
Marie, Ont., while playing
for Canada Red, had one
skate off in the dressing
room as he and his team-
mates were removing their
gear after a game. That’s
when teammate and fellow
Winnipegger Caiden Dailey
stepped on Stotts foot
with his skate, opening big
cuts on two of his toes,
including the big one.
“It was a total accident,”
explained the Assiniboine
Park Minor Hockey
product. “It was something
that happens I guess.”
Another down moment
came this past summer
when Stotts failed to make
the grade with Team Canada
for the annual summer-
time Ivan Hlinka Memorial
Under-18 Tournament in the
Czech and Slovak Republics.
“It’s a huge honour
representing your country,”
said Stotts, unbowed by the
inability to wear the Maple
Leaf in August. “It’s a great
tournament. You always
want to try to be there