Although his team missed the playoffs, Edwin Hookenson's final season of midget AAA hockey was rewarding in other ways.
"It was a bit of a struggle of a year, not winning many games, but our team was good to be a part of still," said the Lampman defenceman, who captained the Swift Current Legionnaires this past season while potting seven goals and 30 points.
"I played quite a few minutes. We went through a stretch with only five defencemen and I was playing over half the game. Specialty teams, I played a lot of minutes on those. I was given every opportunity I could've wanted, basically."
The next opportunity for Hookenson will come with the Estevan Bruins. The offensive rearguard is considered the Bruins' top defence prospect and is a virtual lock to make the club this fall.
One encouraging step in Hookenson's development came when he was named captain of the Legionnaires.
"It was great. I was a captain in peewee, but it's a great honour to have those guys look up to you like that and know they think of you as a leader on the team. You make sure the way you're always acting is a way the other guys will take after, because I was their guy with experience there, and I could show them how to play in that league."
Hookenson played three games with the Bruins this season as a call-up, and he said he learned a lot from another captain, Bruins defenceman Connor Milligan.
"You watch Connor Milligan, he's so calm and he's confident in himself. He stays calm and he just gives 100 per cent effort all the time. You see that and it makes you always want to play the way he does and put in the effort he does."
Hookenson said that although he was counted on to lead his teammates, he still learned some things this season.
"My coach really tried to work with us on defensive positioning in our end and even though I was trying to be offensive, I worked a little more on making sure I was always back in our end. Our team spent a lot of time in the defensive zone. I really tried to work on limiting other teams' space and always being in the right position," he said.
Hookenson said his time with the Bruins helped him get used to the level he'll be playing at next year.
"It was a great experience. Stepping up to that level and playing with those older guys that really have experience, it's great to see the league I'll be playing in the next couple of years. It's a big step up from midget. Everybody's older and bigger and stronger.
"Going into it, I didn't really know what to expect at the junior level, but next season I'll know what it'll be like and it won't come as such a shock."
He's not expecting his offensive success in midget to translate to the SJHL right away, but Hookenson is optimistic that he can contribute as a rookie.
"Hopefully I can play, not a real flashy role, but a fairly solid role. I am more of an offensive defenceman, not really known for the major physical play, but I'm not expecting to come in and put up a bunch of numbers either.
"Maybe if I'm lucky, getting to play some power play time, in midget that's kinda where I had the most success. I try to play a pretty smart game with good passes out of my end and hopefully I'll set up guys for some chances in the offensive end."
