NIPAWIN — As a rookie in the Western Hockey League with the Everett Silvertips, Nipawin’s Roan Woodward is spending long hours at the rink – and loving it.
“The hockey is the fun part,” Woodward said. “That’s why we’re here.”
The son of Mike and Joyce Woodward spends five or six hours on most non-game days at the facility of his Washington state-based team. The 16-year-old’s day usually includes a workout, practice, a video session and more.
“The day-to-day is hard, but the development is so much better when you’re at the rink for that long,” Woodward said.
As of Sunday, Woodward had helped the Silvertips to the best record in the WHL’s Western Conference at 36-7-3-5. The team had clinched a playoff berth. Last Saturday, the Silvertips shut out their rivals, the Seattle Thunderbirds, 4-0, in front of 8,381 fans at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena. The T-Birds usually play in the suburb of Kent but hosted what was billed as the Battle of the Sound in the home of the National Hockey League’s Seattle Kraken.
A 5-foot-8, 168-pound forward, Woodward had a goal and five points through 34 games, as of Sunday. He has learned the ropes of the WHL while contributing to a successful squad. Silvertips head coach and general manager Dennis Williams said Woodward has strived to learn from the team’s top-end players, worked hard every day, and taken the roles given to him.
“He has great confidence in his abilities,” Williams said. “He fits in well with the guys. He has really come into his own here the second half and has done a really good job.”
Woodward lit the lamp for the first time in the WHL in a road contest in Prince George, B.C. in late December. He recalls there was a neutral zone turnover and teammate Austin Roest got him the puck.
“The left D-man stepped up on me and I kind of put it under his stick and I went top glove,” Woodward said. “It was definitely exciting. That first one took a while but finally it came. … My teammates and coaches were pretty excited for me.”
He said first tallies such as that goal, which came on a two-point night for him, and his first assist help his confidence. Woodward has had to make a number of adjustments this season, including moving about 22 hours away from home. He has learned the importance of the mental side of the game, such as:
“Staying positive every day when you are not getting a ton of ice time or if you’re in and out of the lineup … it’s hard on you but you’ve got to just realize moving forward what your goals are. … Coming into the league at a young age, everybody goes through it. You just have to stay positive the best you can.”
Woodward had to make some adjustments on the ice as well when he moved up to the major junior level.
“The strength and the speed is a big adjustment,” he said. “And scoring on the goalies is a lot more challenging. Even in practice, you really notice the difference from a man goalie compared to a [U15] goalie. Just less net …”
Off the ice, Woodward has enjoyed the scenery that comes with living in a community on the ocean with mountains nearby. He has appreciated access to malls and a greater variety of stores. Woodward has attended some Kraken games with his billet family.
Growing up in Nipawin, he earned provincial medals in hockey, baseball, cross country and swimming. On the ice, Woodward developed his game within the region for much of his career. In his final U15 AA season with the North East team, he posted 100 points, including, 42 goals, in only 31 games. That helped him be drafted by Everett in the fourth round of the 2020 WHL Draft.
“Roan was a lot of fun to coach,” said former U15 AA North East coach Gavin Brandl, now with the U18 AAA Tisdale Trojans. “You could tell he was going to do what is necessary to reach a high level as an athlete. At the age of 14, he was already developing many professional habits, such as a commitment to quality nutrition, strength and conditioning. Paying attention to those details that separate great from good. On the ice, he was a very gifted offensive player who also had a tenacity that made him a rare talent. I admired him a great deal for how much he cared about the team and his drive for improvement.”
With the North East squad, Woodward enjoyed playing close to home with friends from the region. He said his time there helped him develop.
“I was getting a lot of ice time and getting put in all situations – getting to play power play and penalty kill – and getting lots of opportunities,” said Woodward, who noted the team competed in some big tournaments when provided exposure for the players.
For 15-year-old season, he joined the U18 AAA Blazers, who were pleased to have him. Woodward posted two assists in four games before the season was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Roan walked into a veteran group and his personality immediately endeared him to that group,” said Scott Scissons, the head coach of the U18 AAA Saskatoon Blazers, who coached Woodward last season. “Always a big smile and a never-ending work ethic, he fit in quickly. Even though we only had a short game season, having his positivity through COVID and the small group work that ran the rest of the season, it kept things fun and entertaining.”
Although Woodward’s hockey journey has now taken him far from home, he still knows he is strongly supported by his family. He refers to them as the main drivers of his hockey career. Woodward’s father coached him on various teams.
“My dad is my biggest support and my biggest fan,” he said. “He kind of guided me through my whole hockey career – pushing me in the gym and pushing me on the ice and even off the ice in the classroom.”
Woodward emphasized that his mother was also a big support and helped him with the mental side of the game “guiding me through the situations and supporting me that way.”
His older sister, Mikayla, plays NCAA Division II volleyball at Minot (N.D.) State University. He said she has helped him with nutrition and gym training.
“She takes the gym pretty seriously, so she’s been a big supporter for me with the gym.”
