Ethan Lund – Alberta Junior A Player
My name is Ethan Lund. Born and raised in Calgary. I played community hockey in the Crowfoot Hockey Association, and later Bantam and Midget AAA in the Northwest Calgary Athletic Association. At 16, I played my first Junior A hockey game as an affiliate for the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior A Hockey League.
Northwest Calgary Athletic Association.
I played 75 games in my first full Junior A season with the Brooks Bandits in 2018 – 2019. The Bandits had a record-setting 57 wins and 3 losses during the regular season, won the AJHL championship and the National Junior A Championship on home ice! I was fortunate to be named to the AJHL’s All-Rookie South Division Team.
In 2019 – 2020, I returned to Brooks and was named assistant captain. I got my “A” by leading by example, mentoring our rookies, and by maintaining a strong focus on my mental and physical preparation for every practice and game. The Bandits had a very successful season, finishing 2nd in the south division and earning a bye into the 2nd round of the playoffs. Unfortunately, we had our season cut short right before the playoffs started due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In December of the 2019 – 2020 season, I was extended a tryout invitation for Team Canada West. This was a weeklong tryout at the Markin MacPhail Center in Calgary, where the top 44 junior “A” hockey players in Canada were picked to compete for a spot on the roster. I was selected to be one of the 7 defensemen to represent Team Canada West. This team participates in the World Junior A Challenge. The event brings together two Junior “A” teams from Canada (West and East) for players 19 years old and under to face international competition. This tournament attracts several NCAA and NHL scouting attention. I felt privileged to play alongside great players and great competition on the international stage.
In 2020 – 2021, I returned to Brooks as a seasoned Junior A veteran, with over 100 games played. Despite strict pandemic-related health and safety rules and restrictions, the Bandits were able to play 17 full games, including 5 inter squad games during our training camp, 10 exhibition games and 2 regular season games. In December 2020, I committed to play for the NCAA Division 1 Niagara University Purple Eagles in Livingston, NY for the upcoming 2021 – 2022 season. We are hoping our Bandits season will restart in January so we can chase another championship for my final Junior A year.
You can check out a recent interview of Ethan HERE!
Throughout these 3 years, our team has been very involved in our community. We participated in school visits to help students with schoolwork, read at Brooks’ book clubs and helped out local businesses through volunteer work. We have also worked with minor hockey players and teams in Brooks. Each of our Bandits players have worked as an assistant coach for a minor hockey team throughout their season. This provided me some great experience, and advancing my coaching knowledge. Also, I have created some strong connections with the many kids and coaches involved in Brooks’ minor hockey.
Editor’s Note:
Ethan started up as a Tucker Hockey on ice Assistant Instructor last summer. He has become a great addition to the Tucker Hockey Team! Ethan offers a strong technical hockey skills set and an outgoing / pleasant personality. He connects well with his students and he is s a very effective communicator on the ice. Based on his leadership skills and maturity, I believe he has the potential to grow and develop into a really strong head instructor in the years ahead. Ethan, congratulations on your achievement to play NCAA Division 1! We look forward to working with you during your Spring and Summer breaks in the years ahead and to continue to have fun on the ice! Best wishes with your hockey playing and academic pursuits!
~Coach Rex.