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Former Tiger moves on to play in the university ranks
DARREN STEINKE
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Jerrid Sauer is getting to see visions of his old life before departing to his new life.
While working at his summer job at the Puckmasters training centre the past few days, Sauer has seen many of his former Medicine Hat Tigers teammates pass through the doors. He has also been skating with them for fun at The Arena during some evenings.
On Monday, Sauer, who turns 21 on Sept. 12 and graduated from the Tigers this past season, will leave town to attend the training camp for the University of Calgary Dinos Men’s hockey team.
“I probably made the decision about a month ago,” said Sauer, who plans to study in the school’s kinesiology faculty. “It is an exciting city.
“There is a whole bunch of opportunity there for hockey and for just the rest of my life. I am just excited to go there and start a new stage in my career and my life.”
Sauer’s WHL career actually began with the Swift Current Broncos way back in 2002. In October of 2005, Sauer was traded to his hometown WHL franchise in exchange for Dale Weiss and Spencer McAvoy.
With the Tigers, Sauer was a key checking forward on the 2006-07 WHL championship team and made the transition to being a steady defensive defenceman during his overage year last season. In total, Sauer appeared in 331 regular season WHL games collecting 38 goals and 42 assists.
During his time with the Tigers, Sauer saw his family home become the site of impromptu team social functions. When he sees his former teammates, he is reminded of the life he is leaving behind.
“It is a little bit weird,” said Sauer. “I am going to miss it.
“I appreciated the five years I had in the league, but now I think I am ready to move on and see what else I could conquer.”
Sauer will be joining a couple of his other former Tiger teammates in the university ranks this season. Earlier this summer, Daine Todd committed to the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds.
This past Saturday, Kevin Undershute, who finished last season with the Portland Winter Hawks, arrived in Antigonish, N.S. with fellow Tigers alumnus Brett Robertson to play with the St. Francis Xaiver X-Men. Robertson will be entering his second season with the X-Men.
Under the WHL’s scholarship program, all those players will have their tuition, textbooks and compulsory fees paid for every year that they played in the league. Sauer has five years to use in this program.
“It is unbelievable that you can actually have that all paid for,” said Sauer, who will live with his sister in Calgary. “Schooling is such an important thing, if you want to try and get ahead in life a little bit.
“I know some people years and years down the road are still trying to pay off student loans. Without me having to worry about that, I can save a little bit of money and get a great education at the same time.”
NOTES – The Tigers are holding registration for their rookie camp today at the Medicine Hat Lodge. The on ice sessions for the camp begin at 9 a.m. Friday morning at The Arena. |
