The only St. Albert Steel rookie to play in every game this season is surprised by his longevity with the last-place team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
“I wasn’t expecting to play in every game that’s for sure,” said defenceman Brett Fagerheim. “We’ve had a bunch of injuries and trades so that kind of opens things up for you. I’ve just tried to work hard and do my best.”
Fagerheim, 17, has one assist and 42 penalty minutes in 41 games with the Steel (6-33-2).
“It’s been good to play in every game so far. Obviously it has its ups and downs with losing, but as long as you take whatever you can from each game and move forward with it, you become a better player,” he said. “Since the start of the year I’ve improved my play in the defensive zone as a whole and I’m making less mistakes.”
The six-foot, 175-pound Fagerheim and 16-year-old defenceman Jakob Lavoie are the only Steel players without an AJHL goal.
“I’m trying to score. I’ve come close a few games but not yet,” said Fagerheim, who is pointless in 17 games.
“I try to be as sound as I can defensively while doing whatever I can to contribute offensively as well, whether it’s just making a pass or jumping into the play.”
The biggest hurdle for Fagerheim to overcome in the AJHL has been the size of the players.
“The average strength of the guys you’re competing against really magnifies your weakness and your mistakes.”
The product of the Edge Hockey Academy in Calgary was affiliated with the Okotoks Oilers last season and dressed for two league games and one playoff match. He also played for the midget AAA Edge in the MidWest Prep Hockey League and in 13 games had five assists.
“We played against teams in Toronto and the states. It was a lot of travelling.”
Fagerheim joined the Edge School in Grade 6 and participated in the skills academy program until midget AA in Grade 10.
“We practiced a lot. We really worked on our skills.”
The Grade 12 Paul Kane High School student spent the Christmas holidays at home in Calgary recharging his batteries for the last 19 games of the AJHL season.
“It will be good for us, just as long as everyone works hard during the break and they reboot and come back with a new, fresh attitude and be ready to work hard and build off that for the end of the season and next year,” said the brother of former Steel forward, Brandon Fagerheim.
The Steel limped into the new year with a nine-game losing streak and only one win in the last 17 games. They are also 19 points back of the seventh and final playoff spot in the north division.
The next game for the Steel is Jan. 4 against the Fort McMurray Oil Barons (32-4-3) at 7 p.m. at Performance Arena.
