Kalen Ukrainetz celebrates with the Telus Cup Western Regional trophy in 2019. (Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff)

By Aaron Schulze

Ukrainetz Focusing on School

‘School was the right thing’: former Trojans captain Ukrainetz playing Junior B with focus on university

Nov 19, 2020 | 9:00 AM

Former Tisdale Trojans captain and all-time scoring leader Kalen Ukrainetz is back on the ice, albeit in a different way than some imagined.

After his final season of U18 hockey in 2019-20, where he was named a Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League First Team All Star, Ukrainetz elected to play Junior B hockey with the Triple Seven Chrysler Storm in the Prairie Junior Hockey League.

Having garnered interest from Junior A clubs in British Columbia and being on the Saskatoon Blades’ protected list in the Western Hockey League, Ukrainetz acknowledged his decision to play Junior B was a shock to his family and peers.

“I definitely thought about it for many months,” Ukrainetz told northeastNOW. “It was a tough decision, and it came down to what I needed to do. I decided school was the right thing. It’s definitely a surprise to my family members and even my friends, but they definitely supported me through it and lots of them said going to school is also a great option.”

Ukrainetz is enrolled in the Arts and Science program at the University of Regina and currently has ambitions to become a lawyer. He said playing Junior B with the Storm in Pilot Butte has been a good mix of hockey and school.

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“It keeps a guy in shape too. During quarantine you can get out of shape pretty quick,” Ukrainetz laughed. “It’s a great group of guys and coaches; the organization is really good. It’s a little bit of a change and different hockey but I can say I’m having a lot of fun doing it.”

Playing hockey with some of his former Trojans teammates, including being on the same team with his roommate Zac Robins, was another bonus for Ukrainetz to go the Junior B route. He said his Junior B career will be a year-by-year decision with school being the main priority, but he could also play a few senior hockey games down the road as well.

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow