The road to the big leagues is a long one. However, it may have gotten a little shorter for 15-year-old Evan Groening of Niverville. The teenager was drafted into the Western Hockey League (WHL) by the Brandon Wheat Kings on April 22, chosen as the first pick in the ninth round.
Groening has played hockey since he was five years old, like many other young Manitobans. Up until Peewee, he played for the Niverville Clippers.
“Evan started and continues playing for the friendships and the love of the game,” his parents, Jody and Rachelle Groening say. “As he got older and into his Peewee year, he started to realize that he really liked the competitive aspect of the game. His competitiveness has driven him to play at the highest level possible.”
Groening is a forward and played for the Eastman Selects at the Peewee AA and Minor Bantam levels. When he reached Major Bantam, he played for the Rink Hockey Academy out of Oak Bluff. To make this happen, he attended Shaftesbury High School last fall instead of Niverville.
Just a few short days after the WHL draft came the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) draft, on April 26. The family received more wonderful news: Evan was selected by the Virden Oil Capitals seventeenth overall in the second round.
“It’s been a nail-biting week for our family! We are obviously extremely proud of him. This has been a dream of Evan’s for a long time and we know how hard he has worked to get to this point,” says Jody, Evan’s father. “He has earned these opportunities.”
The love of the game runs in the family.
“Ironically, 55 years ago, my dad, Evan’s grandfather, was asked to try out for the Wheat Kings,” says his mother, Rachelle.
Once the current social distancing restrictions lift, Groening will train and skate for both clubs.
“I want to play hockey at the highest level I can, and get an education,” Groening shares. “These are all great opportunities for me, but there is a lot of work to do in order for me to make it to these teams.”
While playing a higher level of hockey has taken Groening away from Niverville, he also remarks that he’s lucky to have a great group of supportive friends.
Being drafted means that Groening’s rights are protected in both the MJHL and the WHL. Though nothing is guaranteed, it’s clear to see that the future is bright.
“I would like to say a huge thank you to all of my family, friends, coaches, and trainers for helping me along the way,” he says. “Also, thank you to the Brandon Wheat Kings and the Virden Oil Capitals for showing interest in me.”
