The players are from La Ronge and Stanley Mission. (La Ronge Ice Wolves)

By Derek Cornet

Stay Here, Play Here

Ice Wolves auto-protect hometown players

Jul 11, 2024 | 1:31 PM

The La Ronge Ice Wolves have auto-protected two players through the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s ‘Stay Here, Play Here’ initiative.

The program includes valuing hometown players aged 17 and under who choose to play in their home market. This year, the Ice Wolves auto-protected Darryl Mckenzie and Dawson Graas.

Mckenzie is from Stanley Mission and currently attends the Indigenous Sports Academy, while Graas is from La Ronge and plays for the North East Wolfpack U15 AA.

“It’s going to be a great experience,” Mckenzie said in a release issued Tuesday.

“Where I am from, it’s all about representing my community and my last name and showing the younger generation how hard work can get you places. I have been playing in the North my whole life and played with the Stanley Mission River Hawks, and now I am representing the Indigenous Sports Academy.”

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In a statement, Grass said he has looked up to the Ice Wolves since he was a kid.

“It will be a really awesome experience to play with them some day.”

Ice Wolves Head Coach Kevin Kaminski said it is great to see local talent move away to play better hockey to further their development and skills.

“I remember these boys coming to the Ice Wolves camps for a number of years,” he explained.

“It is a great reward that warms my heart to see these kids prevail in their dreams.”

The La Ronge Ice Wolves kick off the 2024-25 regular season on Sept. 20 when they host the Melfort Mustangs.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com