Clarke Breitkreuz and his older brother, Brett, never got the opportunity to play hockey together while they were growing up because of the two-year age gap between them. Brett was always aging out of a division just as Clarke was getting to it. But once they reached adulthood, that age gap didn鈥檛 matter much anymore.聽
Now Clarke, 25, and Brett, 28, play on the same team 鈥� in Germany.聽
The Breitkreuz brothers are from Springside, SK. Clarke spent a fair bit of time with the Yorkton Terriers during his junior career, and also played in the WHL. But during his 19-year-old year, he fully committed to the Terriers.聽
鈥淭hat was one of the best years of hockey I鈥檝e ever had,鈥� said Clarke.聽
That season, he racked up 68 points in the regular season and an additional 22 points in the Terriers playoff run. They made it all the way to the league final, but lost to La Ronge in the championship game.聽
After that season, Clarke was supposed to head to Humboldt to finish off his junior career. But after attending a camp in Germany, where his brother Brett was playing at the time, Clarke was offered a position.聽
鈥淲ith my brother being there already, it was just a way to start my pro career a year earlier,鈥� he explained. Since he spent time in the WHL, he wasn鈥檛 able to get a NCAA Division I scholarship. So he knew the next step would be pro hockey.聽
That was in 2011, and he鈥檚 been playing in Germany ever since.聽
Clarke has been playing with Lowen Frankfurt (Frankfurt Lions) since 2013. Brett signed on with the same team for the 2015-2016 season.聽
Last season, the Saskatchewan brothers helped the Lions win the DEL2 league championship title.
鈥淚t was unbelievable. We finished second in the league, and then we kept going and came together at the right time, as any championship team does,鈥� explained Clarke.聽
鈥淭he best part about it,鈥� he continued, 鈥渇or our final round, my Dad flew in and got to watch us win the championship on home ice in Frankfurt.鈥�
Clarke said it was just one of those teams that had the ability to come together and do what they needed to do, all season.聽
鈥淚t felt like it was meant to be,鈥� he added.聽
But amidst all the success and cheering fans in Germany (which he admits are quite a bit louder than North American fans), Clarke said he doesn鈥檛 forget his time with the Terriers.聽
鈥淏eing able to live at home and play out my 19-year-old season, and having my family from Springside 鈥� for me it was special being a hometown product,鈥� he said.聽
Clarke said he credits his amazing final year as a junior player to two members of the Terriers staff at the time 鈥� Trent Cassan and Don Chesney.聽
鈥淲hen guys reflect on their career they have a few coaches who stand out. I definitely can say Trent was a massive part of my growth and success as a player,鈥� said Clarke.聽
鈥淎nd Don 鈥� growing up, I watched him on the bench. When you think Don, you think of the Yorkton Terriers,鈥� he added.
The Breitkreuz brothers are on their way back to Germany this week from Saskatchewan to play another season together, and to try to get their hands on that championship trophy another time.聽
