Trenton Curtis committed to play Junior A hockey for the Olds Grizzlys in Alberta after spending two seasons with the Tisdale Trojans (Twitter/@GrizzlysAJHL and Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff).

By Aaron Schulze

Curtis Commits to Olds

Trojans’ Curtis commits to Junior A hockey in Alberta

Apr 30, 2020 | 12:00 PM

One of the graduated Tisdale Trojans is moving west to continue his hockey career.

Trenton Curtis, an 18-year-old center from Bethune, Sask., committed to play Junior A hockey for the Olds Grizzlys in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) on April 25. He’s coming off his final season of Midget AAA hockey, scoring 51 points (13 goals and 38 assists) in 44 games, tied for 10th in Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL) scoring.

Curtis told northeastNOW he wanted to commit to a team that would have a spot open for him. He feels that not only will he have a spot, he could end up playing lots.

“I’ll still be able to make plays and score goals,” Curtis said. “It’s a faster league and everyone is stronger, so I’ve got to keep up. [Coaching staff] said I’d be playing the same role I played in Tisdale. It’s exciting to know my journey with hockey is still progressing, I’m looking forward to it.”

The Grizzlys will hope Curtis duplicates his SMAAAHL success to the AJHL. Olds finished their 2019-20 season with a 10-41-5-2 record and haven’t had a season with a point percentage higher than 0.500 since 2009-10. But the idea of being a part of a young, potential up and coming team intrigued Curtis.

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“They signed lots of kids my age or a year younger who are also skilled and talented. We should do better than we did last year,” he said.

Trusting the process

A late bloomer with a lot of upside.

That’s how Tisdale Trojans Head Coach Dennis Kubat described Curtis after coaching him for two seasons.

Curtis’ path to playing Junior A hockey was unconventional. After scoring 32 points (15 goals and 17 assists) in 23 games with the Prairie Storm in Bantam AA, Curtis didn’t get selected in the Western Hockey League or Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Bantam Drafts in 2017. He would spend his 2017-18 season playing Midget AA hockey as a 15-year-old with the Lumsden/Bethune Lions.

“My first year of midget, I wanted to go to a couple of places but none of them really worked out,” Curtis said. “My second year, [former Trojans Head Coach Darrell Mann] texted me that a couple of guys were moving on and he wanted me to start school [in Tisdale]. One of my good friends Landon Kosior was also there and I knew quite a bit of other people there. I kept working and finally I signed. I’m glad I stayed there.”

After three forwards – Dylan Esau, Kaden Kohle, and Zack Smith – moved up to play junior hockey, Curtis became one of the final forwards to make the Trojans ahead of the season where they’d host the 2019 Telus Cup Western Regionals.

Kubat spent his first year with the Trojans that same year as an assistant coach. He said Curtis earned everything he achieved in 2018-19.

“I respect Curty,” Kubat said. “He came to camp and battled for a spot… he ended up being one of our top players. Offensively, that’s where he shined. He’s really good on the power play, great hockey IQ, and I thought [in 2019-20] his compete level and leadership skills improved him into a 200-foot player; a guy you can put out any time on the ice. I hope he goes to Olds and they give him a chance. They’ll be happy with what he can bring.”

Curtis finished the 2018-19 Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL) season with 38 points (19 goals and 19 assists) in 38 games. On a national stage, he was a point-per-game player during the Telus Cup Western Regionals and the Telus Cup national midget ice hockey championship.

Instead of trying to find his way on to a Junior A hockey team, Curtis opted to go back to Tisdale for his final season of midget; to become one of the leaders on a rebuilding team and to polish his game. Kubat credited Curtis for being smart and patient with his development process.

“You don’t have to be a 15-year-old playing Midget AAA to be successful,” he said. “When you’re 15, you can play Midget AA where he had a lot of points and was put in all situations. [Curtis] came in as a 16-year-old full of confidence and it showed right from day one of camp; he scored for us all year. Everyone’s development path isn’t the same. If you’re good, you’re going to get noticed, it doesn’t matter.”

Curtis said he’d never have guessed he’d end up being a top-six scoring player his first year of Midget AAA, helping him get started on the Junior A path he’s about to begin.

“I wouldn’t have done it any other way,” he said.

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow