Kalen Ukrainetz (right) receives a Community Service Award at last season's award's banquet for the Tisdale Trojans. (Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff)

By Mat Barrett

Ukrainetz Breaks Records

Ukrainetz breaks Trojans all-time scoring record with massive game

Feb 18, 2020 | 5:00 PM

Kalen Ukrainetz is now all alone at the top of the Tisdale Trojans scoring mountain.

After scoring three goals and adding three assists in the Trojans 9-3 win over Beardy’s Blackhawks on Sunday, Feb. 18, Ukrainetz became the Midget AAA franchise’s all-time leading scorer with 130 points through the regular season and playoffs. His 123 regular season points also sit him tops on the list as well.

Ukrainetz said he knew he was near the record, but really didn’t know close he actually was. The Wynyard, Sask. native said it’s special to be on top right now.

“You got to hold on to it because there’s going to be that one guy that comes up and steals it from you,” Ukrainetz said.

“You’ve got to hold it close while you have it.” _{-Kalen Ukrainetz on being the Tisdale Trojans all-time leading scorer.}

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Ukrainetz passed Melfort native Rylan Freed on the list, someone Ukrainetz had become close with over the years. Freed told northeastNOW he thinks Ukrainetz is an incredible player and hopes other young kids can come chase the record that he once held.

“We came up the same way as 15-year-olds, and leaving as 17-year-olds,” Freed said. “He’s got a bright future ahead of him in hockey or whatever he intends to do.”

Over his three years with the Trojans, Ukrainetz has improved his offensive numbers every year. It started with a 15 goal, 13 assist, 28 point season as a 15-year-old, a season where Ukrainetz said he focused a lot on the other side of the puck. He even said it was a surprise to even be playing AAA in his first year of Midget hockey.

“Playing as a 15-year-old, you have responsibilities, and I kind of worried about the little things like getting the puck out and working hard,” he said. “In this league that’s kind of what you have to do to have success.”

Ukrainetz added one point in four playoff games in his rookie year. His 16-year-old season in 2018/2019 was an eventful one as he had 17 goals, 18 assists, and 35 points in 37 games that regular season, followed up by six points in seven playoff games. That was followed by the Trojans hosting the Telus Cup West Regional tournament. Ukrainetz starred there with nine points in four games, helping Tisdale win the tournament and move on to the National Tournament in Thunder Bay where he showed his offensive prowess again, tallying seven points in seven games.

Through his time in Tisdale, Ukrainetz saw two head coaches. This year being the first for the Trojans under Dennis Kubat, but Ukrainetz said both bench bosses helped him get to where he is today.

“[Darrell Mann] and Dennis [Kubat] both gave me plenty of opportunity to play on the powerplay, play on the penalty kill, all that kind of stuff,” he said. “So it gives you a lot of opportunity to put up points and play with some good players.”

This season, Ukrainetz’s role expanded even more as he was named captain, and has put up points at a torrid pace.

“You have a lot more responsibilities on your back,” Ukrainetz said. “And you have to pretty much make sure the guys are ready to go to get the job done every single night, and I enjoy it.”

With two regular season games remaining, Ukrainetz will get a couple more chances to pad his lead in the record books as he already has 32 goals and 28 assists for the Trojans who have already clinched a playoff spot.

On top of his points record, Ukrainetz also holds the franchise record for regular season goals with 64, 13 more than the next closest alumni. His 118 regular season games played are also tops in franchise history.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6