Game On Magazine 2017 Nov Game On low res | Page 36

“The MMJHL is a perfect
league for me,” the five-year
MMJHL veteran said. “I
can study at university
and play a lot of good,
competitive hockey.”
Currently enrolled
in his third year at the
Asper School of Business,
his career plan includes
becoming a CPA, going
into business with his
cousin, and of course
running the family farm
alongside his brothers.
At 3,500 cultivated acres,
the farm combines grains
and about 450 beef cattle.
Nicknamed “Vandee,” James
is both farm boy-tough and
high end- intellectual. With
a busy schedule divided
between university and
hockey, one of his biggest
and most rewarding efforts
is returning to the farm to
work the land.
“There are several
challenges to farming
these days,” lamented Van
Der Velde. “Tax changes
and the abandonment of
income sprinkling to family
members is significant.
Farming is unique and the
family farm relies on family
members -- young and old
-- to make it work. Other
challenges include stringent
emission regulations and
never ending pressure to
increase yields. After all,
there’s only so much land
to go around.” His business
acumen obvious. So, too,
are his hockey skills.
He’s a smooth skater
with plenty of finesse and
considers himself a “stay-
at-home defenseman.” who
likes the physical aspect of
the game. And while he’s a
true student, some might
say a true intellectual, he’s
3 6 | G AM E ON | N OVEM BER 2017
also one of the tougher
players in the MMJHL.
“I like TJ Oshie and Alex
Ovechkin,” he said with a
smile. “They’re really skilled
players but they really
like to throw their bodies
around.”
Although this year’s
version of the Twisters did
not get off to a great start,
the team has always been
competitive and Van Der
Velde expects the club to
improve as the season goes
along. He’s particularly
impressed with team
captain Alex Tetrault who
he considers a superb player
and leader.
“Alex has really stepped it
up,” Van Der Velde said. “He
works very hard to get the
team ready.”
The big defenseman is
also impressed with rookie
goaltender Griffin Dyck,
whom he says, “is doing
an awesome job.” And on
defense, Van Der Velde
believes Tanner Wiebe is a
top notch rookie who has a
lot of potential.
“We had to replace two
goalies this year, so to bring
in two young guys and
then see how well they’ve
adjusted has really been
great,” Van Der Velde said.
“Also, when you consider
we’ve added 11 rookies
to the lineup and we’re
learning and getting better
every game, then I think
things are looking good for
us moving forward.”
With one more year of
MMJHL eligibility after this
one, Van Der Velde will be
counted on as a leader going
forward. There is no doubt
that in his fifth season in
the league, he’s already
accepted that role. ❍
10 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
ABOUT JAMES VAN DER VELDE
1
He’s thinks Devin Muir of the Stonewall Jets is the
best player in the MMJHL. “When he shows up to
play he can be a pretty good force out there. He’s
fast enough and has some great hands.”
2 His vote for best goalie in the MMJHL would go to
either Ben Thorlakson of the Charleswood Hawks
or Hunter Ploszay with the Stonewall Jets.
3 Aside from himself, Van Der Velde believes that
Stonewall’s Chase Faulkner and the Raiders’
Carson Rybuck are the toughest players in the
league. “Rybuck always likes to show his body
presence out there.”
4 J  amesownsahomeinthecityandhasfive
roommates. The guys compete and keep track of
wins and losses playing the NHL video game series
and James didn’t hesitate to mention that so far
he’sinfirstplace.
5 He plays a lot of baseball in the off-season, mostly
intheoutfieldandbehindtheplate.Heplayswitha
senior team in his home town, a tournament team
called the Mariapolis Bear Cats.
6 Apart from his school books, the current book he’s
reading is one written by his aunt, Janita Van de
Velde’s Post Cards Never Written, a humorous book
about, “The stuff she did while she was traveling
in her youth that she couldn’t write about to her
parents and how out of control she was getting.”
7
8 Favorite musical style is classic rock and he’s
a big fan of ACDC.
Favorite movie is Now You See Me (with Jesse
Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo and Morgan Freeman)
and his favorite actor is Seth Rogan.
9
10
Favorite hockey team is
the Calgary Flames.
He wears No. 26 because “I’ve always
worn it,” and his brother Max, who played
forward for the Twisters, also wore it.