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Ross Drafted

‘It’s been a roller coaster’: Meadow Lake product, former Tisdale Trojan drafted to NHL

Jun 25, 2019 | 2:00 PM

It’s been a roller coaster ride for former Tisdale Trojan, and Meadow Lake, Sask. product Roddy Ross.

The 18-year-old goaltender was drafted in the sixth round, 169th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2019 NHL Draft on June 22.

Ross said it’s been a whirlwind few days.

“It was filled with lots of mixed emotions I guess,” he said. “It’s been really busy these past couple of days, right after the draft, I’m in Philadelphia actually right now, so yeah, it’s been a roller coaster.”

Ross said he had no idea that the Flyers were going to pick him.

For the goalie who stands well over six-feet tall, it’s been a meteoric rise. Just three seasons ago, Ross was playing in the Junior B ranks in the North Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League (NEAJBHL) where he played 19 games with the Onion Lake Border Chiefs. That was followed by a stellar season with the Tisdale Trojans in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL). During the 2017/2018 season, Ross was phenomenal for the Trojans, posting a 1.85 goals against average, and a .940 save percentage. His save percentage was tops in the league, leading him to earn a spot on the the SMAAAHL First All Star team. Ross said the stop in Tisdale was a major step in his development.

“I was thankful enough for Darrell Mann and the coaching staff to find me in Junior B,” Ross told northeastNOW. “I guess that’s where it really kicked off is to play in the competitive league again, and I was fortunate enough to have a good year there. As it turns out, I go to Camrose after that.”

Ross makes a save during the 2017/2018 season that he spent with the Tisdale Trojans. (submitted photo/Tisdale Trojans)

Ross’ performance then got him signed by the Camrose Kodiaks in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). He played 22 games for the Kodiaks, posting a 2.95 goals against average, and a .920 save percentage. The solid play he showed there caught the eye on the Seattle Thunderbirds in the Western Hockey League (WHL), where he spent the back half of the 2018/2019 seasons and posted a 16-5-2 record, a 2.76 goals against average, and a .919 save percentage, leading the T-Birds surging up the standings, into a playoff spot.

(submitted photo/Roddy Ross)

“A lot of people are saying I have raw talent,” Ross said. “And that’s something I’ve believed in, just because I never really did goalie training. But I think that’s what kicking in is my improvement and I think that’s what’s going to get me to the next level.”

Ross said his career so far has been a ride.

“I really checked out all the leagues I guess,” -Roddy Ross

“I guess I made the right decisions. It’s been a fun journey so far in my hockey career, and I can’t wait to keep it going,” he said.

Not many hockey players get drafted from Meadow Lake, but Ross is one of them and he said he is very proud to be representing his community. He said the support from the area has been tremendous.

“That’s one thing that I’ve really noticed, is that I have a lot of support,” Ross said. “I’d like to keep it going, just to show them and keep my hockey career going, because that support is just too good to give up and that’s something I cherish.”

Ross was also the only player with an Indigenous background taken in the draft. He that means a lot to him.

“It’s something to really take control of this year, and try to be a role model for the First Nations,” Ross said. “It was really exciting to do that and have that happen.”

As for what’s next, Ross said this summer is going to be huge, and he wants to keep developing, saying he wants to “tear up the league” next season with Seattle. He has two more years of WHL eligibility remaining.

mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6

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