The More You Know…..Golden Bears Edition

Some of you out in Oilerland must wonder why the managers of the Oilers Rig allow my posts on the University of Alberta Golden Bears. You have Oilers, Oilers, Oilers, on the brain and that is all that you want to read about. So why these articles on some university team? I’m a fan of the Oilers too, however, I discovered a few seasons ago that there is great non-NHL hockey being played in town and that games are fantastic to go to. The truth is that the Oilers Rig management asked me to cover the Bears for this website; they know I am a season ticket holder and approached me last summer. I jumped at the opportunity to hopefully increase the exposure of the Golden Bears. Even though they are in the mix for a National Championship virtually every season (including the last two National Championships), it seems as though they have missed the gaze of most local hockey fans.

The goal of this post is to hopefully broaden the knowledge and appreciation for the University of Alberta Golden Bears for anyone who cares to read this article. I know that most local fans have no idea of the level of hockey they are missing down at the Clare Drake Arena.

Quick Facts about the Golden Bears Hockey Program*

*taken from 2015-16 Game Day Program handed out at Bears Games

• There have been 103 seasons of University of Alberta Golden Bears Hockey
• All-time record of 1906 wins, 855 losses, and 141 ties
• .705 all time winning percentage
• .713 winning percentage in Canada West Playoff Action (112-45-0)
• .693 Winning percentage in the CIS University Cup (it is the Memorial Cup for Canadian Universities)
• 52 Canada West Conference Championships
• 15 CIS University Cup National Championships (CIS Record)
• 20 CIS University Cup Final Appearances (CIS Record)
• 38 CIS University Cup Tournament Appearances (CIS Record)
• 6 Senator Joseph A. Sullivan Trophy Winners (CIS Outstanding Player)
  • 1979-80 Randy Gregg
  • 1987-88 Sid Cranston
  • 1988-89 Stacey Wakabayashi
  • 1992-92 Serge Lajoie
  • 1999-00 Russ Hewson
  • 2000-01 Russ Hewson
• 125 Canada West Hockey Trophy Winners

The Current Roster

Many local hockey fans have no idea where the players on the Golden Bears come from. The common impression is that the Edmonton Oil Kings and WHL are a higher level of hockey. That notion is completely unfounded and untrue. What most people don’t know is that most of the players on the current Golden Bears roster are ex-WHL players. Not only are they from Major Junior, they are players who have evolved from teenagers to men.

It is true that the highly touted WHL players, like Leon Draisaitl, get drafted high and sign NHL deals. However most of his former teammates don’t go onto fame and fortune in the NHL as is the case with most former WHL and Major Junior players. Draisaitl’s former teammate and line mate in Prince Albert, Dakota Conroy, is a rookie with the Golden Bears this season. Out of the 26 players currently listed on the Golden Bears roster, only 3 have no Major Junior experience. One of the Bears current players, Jayden Hart, already played 11 games in the AHL with the Rochester Americans last season.

If you take the time to study the current roster, you find that the Golden Bears are comprised of some very talented and high-end players. Here is the current roster with links to their Hockeydb.com profile:

#1, Ryan Demharter, Goal

#4, Brennan Yadlowski, Defence

#5, Thomas Carr, Defence

#7, Sawyer Lange, Defence

#8, Brett Ferguson, Forward

#9, Stephane Legault, Forward

#10, Jamie Crooks, Forward

#11, Kruise Reddick, Forward

#12, Jordan Hickmott, Forward

#14, Riley Kieser, Forward

#17, Jayden Hart, Forward

#18, James Dobrowolski, Forward

#19, Dakota Conroy, Forward

#20, Rhett Rachinski, Forward

#21, Joshua Derko, Forward

#23, Tanner Clarkson, Forward

#24, Wil Tomchuk, Defence

#25, Mitch Topping, Defence

#26, Joel Topping, Defence

#27, Brayden Low, Forward

#29, Dylan Bredo, Defence

#30, Luke Siemens, Goal

#31, Marc-Olivier Daigle, Goal

#37, Lucas Nickles, Forward

#40, Levko Koper, Forward

#52, Jordan Rowley, Defence

Pro Hockey

Most fans of the Edmonton Oilers over the age of 35 know about Randy Gregg and how he went from being a standout with the Golden Bears to a key member of the Edmonton Oilers dynasty teams of the 1980’s. He is not the only Golden Bear to trade in the green and gold for orange and blue. Since he was the U of A coach last season and moved to become an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oilers over the summer, many of you are probably aware that Ian Herbers was another Golden Bear who moved across the river to become an Edmonton Oilers player. Cory Cross was the last Golden Bear to move from the University of Alberta Campus to Rexall when he became an Oiler during 2002-03 season after starting his professional career a decade earlier in the Tampa Bay organization.

While some local fans know the stories of how former Golden Bears have worked their way into the NHL and onto the Oilers, many view these stories as a one-off or an abnormality. The truth is that it is very common for graduating Golden Bear players to sign professional contracts. It happens every summer, albeit not to NHL teams. This past off-season graduating Bears Johnny Lazo and Jesse Craige signed pro deals overseas. Lazo in the Italian ‘A’ league and Craige in the Asia Ice Hockey League. Also this past summer, and closer to home, T.J. Foster (both a former Golden Bear and Oil King) signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs Organization with the AHL Marlies.

Here is a look at how many Golden Bears from past teams have gone on to sign professional contracts. You’ll notice that I used five year gaps as the maximum number of seasons for a player in the CIS is 5 and this way players are not double counted.

• The 2000-01 Golden Bears featured 18 Bears who went on to sign professional contracts. Russell Hewson, Kevin Marsh, Mike Garrow, and Graham Belak went on to play games in the AHL with the other contracts coming from a variety of leagues across the globe.
• The 2006-07 edition of the Bears ended up graduating 11 players to the pro ranks. 2 players, Jesse Gimblett and Aaron Sorochan managed to play as high as the AHL level. The remainder of the contracts came from the ECHL, CHL, and Europe.
• 7 members of the current Bears current roster were around in for the 2011-12 season. They have watched 8 of their former teammates from that team sign professional contracts. It is likely that players who will graduate this spring, such as Levko Koper (who was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 7th round) and Jordan Hickmott, will follow their past teammates and add to the total of Bears from the 2011-12 season playing professional hockey.

Here is a list of former Golden Bears who are playing professionally this season:

Eric Hunter, Austria

T.J. Foster, Orlando Solar Bears, ECHL

Derek Ryan, Charlotte Checkers, AHL

Ian Barteaux, Atlanta Gladiators, ECHL

Colin Joe, Colorado Eagles, ECHL

Johnny Lazo, Vipitento, Italy-A

Jesse Craige, Asia

Should I give the Golden Bears a try?

Yes. While they’ll never have the flash of the NHL and the Oil Kings currently have the higher profile, it is safe to state that the defending National Champion Golden Bears are the second best hockey team in the City of Edmonton. They develop players who play professionally across the globe, it is affordable, and it is great hockey. The atmosphere at the historic Clare Drake, which is almost running out of room to hold all the championship banners, makes it a one of a kind experience.

The Bears are on the road this weekend visiting the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in Vancouver, so you have just over a week to plan for the U of A’s next set of home games on the November 27th and 28th at the Clare Drake. What do you have to lose by trying something new?

Can’t go to the game? You can watch online!

All University of Alberta Golden Bears are available online on CanadaWest.tv !