(Submitted photo/Kale Margolis)

By Ben Tompkins

WHL Debut

Kinistino player gets WHL call-up to Tri-City Americans

Mar 14, 2024 | 12:18 PM

A northeast player recently got called up to the big leagues after it looked like this year’s hockey season was over.

Kinistino native Kale Margolis was part of the Prince Albert Mintos squad that lost their first-round playoff series against the Swift Current Legionnaires this past Sunday.

Originally, it seemed to be the end of Margolis’ 2023/24 hockey year, but that all changed just 24 hours later as he discovered he’d be on a flight to Vancouver.

“I was pretty surprised, I didn’t really expect a phone call, but they called me and said they have a flight for me to get to Vancouver and if I can make it then I probably should, so it all happened pretty fast,” Margolis told northeastNOW.

Margolis travelled to Vancouver, as he was set to play the Vancouver Giants, after signing a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the Tri-City Americans.

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He made his debut on Tuesday night, wearing the number 31 and filling in on the right wing side for the third line.

“It was a pretty good experience, definitely nothing like AAA or anything like that, they’re all professional and all the guys were really good to me, same with the coaching stuff as well. You definitely have less time with the puck and it’s very well structured. As soon as you get the puck, guys are on you right away and you have to make plays super quick,” he added.

“It was definitely a bit of an adjustment but I feel like I held my own there. I’m hoping to stay up here the rest of the year and I’m just excited to be here because I’ve been working towards this for a while now, so it really means a lot. I’m always wanting to play more hockey, so it’s nice to not have to go home.”

Life will change a lot for the 17-year-old as his previous hockey experience with the Tisdale Trojans and Prince Albert Mintos kept him quite close to home.

Now, he’ll be living in an entirely different country, but at least he got one last trip with his dad.

“My dad came up with me to Vancouver and watched me play, and I mean he’s been there for all my years of hockey, so it’s definitely not only special for me, but it means a lot to both of us for him to be here,” Margolis explained.

“Living in the US is definitely going to be different for sure, there will be lots to get used to and I’ll just have to find my own when I get there and find the lay of the land I guess.”

The 2006-born forward also has prior experience playing in Melfort, having suited up with the North East Wolfpack, back in his U15 AA days.

Margolis said having always played so close to home meant lots of support and lots of opportunities to further the game he loves.

“I’ve always loved the game ever since I started playing and then when I started playing in higher leagues is definitely when I started developing more for sure, and a couple of different coaches along the way helped with that,” he mentioned.

“I have lots of friends and family in Kinistino, it’s like a little small community, so everyone knows each other and it’s more like a family than a town, to be honest… so I just want to give thanks to all the coaches and teammates and families who helped me get here.”

For now, the six-foot-one, 201-pounder is just hoping to impress enough the rest of the way to earn himself another trip down next here, as he still has his eyes set higher than just the Western Hockey League.

“I want to come into camp next fall and hopefully make the team and stay there for the whole year and see what happens from there… I want to play as long as I can and just see where I can go with it, and just try and make a living off of it.”

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8