Achi news desk-
Riley Hearn’s journey with the Calgary Canucks has not been an easy one, but he has stuck it out and is now going to play for the Centennial Cup following a successful season.
In his first season, the Canucks had just 36 points and were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round.
In year two, the Canucks improved by 11 points but were bounced once again in the first round.
This year, however, was a complete turnaround for the third-year Canuck. Hearn and his teammates were crowned AJHL champions after beating the Whitecourt Wolverines in a four-game sweep.
“It felt great,” said the 21-year-old forward.
“From my first year to now we completely changed the culture around. In terms of our performance on the ice, we have been winning games throughout the regular season and we have been more consistent and it has paid off. We had great play-off games and the boys are pumped up.”
Big time leader
Culture doesn’t change overnight and for the Canucks it’s taken three seasons dating back to when Hearn joined the team.
When he came to the Canucks a few years ago, Hearn wanted to be part of the answer. He worked closely with head coach Brad Moran to bring in a new approach.
“I would call him the heartbeat of the team,” Moran said.
“The guys rally around him and he’s always having fun and talking. To me, the intangibles he brings on and off the ice, those are his biggest assets.”
Hearn has had to fight for everything he has gotten in the game of hockey. He’s only 5’3′ (160 centimetres), but forward Matt Paszkiewicz says Hearn is a player everyone looks up to.
“You know, it made me feel welcome when I first came here,” said 18-year-old Paszkiewicz.
“He’s a great team guy and puts in a lot of effort even behind the scenes. He makes sure everyone gets the best treatment and he’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever had.”
Quite the transformation
Hearn knew right from the start of training camp that this Canucks team had turned a corner. But could he have predicted that this team would be the AJHL champions?
“Well two years ago I would have said nothing at all,” he said.
“But at the start of this year, I had a feeling that the locker room we had and the group of guys we had that anything could be possible and we were able to prove some people wrong and go the distance this year.”
Next up for Hearn and the Canucks is the Centennial Cup. That tournament begins on May 9 in Oakville, Ont.
