Not many players can say they're as born and bred into the Black and Gold as Chase McKersie.
The 17-year-old Estevan native started down the trail blazed by his father Dan on Oct. 29, suiting up with the Estevan Bruins for the first time in a 3-2 overtime win over the Yorkton Terriers.
McKersie wasn't the only player in the lineup that night with a dad who starred for the Bruins, as long-time friend and linemate Lynnden Pastachak was his teammate once more.
"This has been a childhood dream for my whole life. I'm 17 years old and ever since I (first put) on skates, it's been awesome watching the Bruins. I got to start tonight, so it was pretty cool," McKersie reflected.
The Yorkton Harvest star was leading the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League in scoring at one point this year and is currently tied for fourth with nine goals and 18 points through 12 games.
He didn't figure in on the scoresheet in his SJHL debut, but Bruins head coach Chris Lewgood was impressed with his game.
"We were careful not to play him in situations where he might be uncomfortable, but he did everything we expected of him and he's progressing really well this year," the coach said of McKersie.
"He's such a good skater and he always brings a good work ethic, so you can always count on him to make good plays. I think as he plays more games, he'll just be more comfortable and be able to adjust to the speed of the game. It's a big jump from triple-A, but as long as he keeps it simple, he's not going to have any problems at all."
McKersie said he was "pretty proud" of what he did with limited ice time.
"I don't usually play centre, so it was different. I really had to try hard to not screw up. But I had fun. I really did."
Pastachak, who scored his first SJHL goal Oct. 24 in Flin Flon and added his second during McKersie's debut, said it was nice to be reunited with his old partner in crime. He said they had played together since peewee AA.
"Playing with him that last year I was in Yorkton, it was a good experience to play with each other. (We were) not even on the same line but just to have him on the bench, it was good energy."
McKersie added, "Usually it's me passing to Lynnden and him scoring the goals. We didn't get a try tonight, too bad. Look out next year."
With Dan McKersie (1986-90) and Kevin Pastachak (1983-86) both among the best players in Bruins history, it means a lot to the two kids to play for the Bruins.
"To play where our dads played, it's just unreal to get that chance and play with each other. Even playing with each other in Yorkton there we just bonded with each other and played off each other and everything went good from there," Pastachak said.
The two played together in midget AAA with the Harvest last year, with Pastachak finishing fifth in league scoring with 58 points and McKersie chipping in 29.
Lewgood said the two forwards, along with defenceman Josh Rieger, are the top 1996-born prospects in the organization.
"Pasta kinda got the opportunity to be the big guy in Yorkton last year and it's Chase's turn this year," Lewgood said. "Hopefully when he comes to us next year, he's going to be playing with more confidence and be that much further ahead."
