Curtis Taylor
Polytechnic Press
SAIT Trojans fans will notice a few new faces on the team
this semester. Wearing number 15
for the team, Curtis Billsten, was sought after by Ken Babey in previous years
and the Trojans coach is excited to throw him into the mix.
“He’s a proven player who’s experienced, and he gives us
some much needed depth,” said head coach Ken Babey.
Billsten grew up in Saint Albert, just ten minutes northwest
of the city of Edmonton.
He was introduced to hockey at the young age of four, and has
been hooked ever since.
In cold Saint Albert winters Billsten was out on the pond,
playing hockey every day with his older brother. When summer came along and the city thawed out, the hockey
games shifted from the pond to the street.
“Like every other typical Canadian hockey players, me and my
brother played basically every day,” said Billsten. “From that and through my
parents I grew a love for the game.”
Fast forward to today, at 25 years old Billsten has already
built up quite the resume.
After excelling in junior hockey, Billsten was drafted into
the WHL by the Red Deer Rebels.
Going into his first WHL training camp, Billsten surprised a
lot of people including current Calgary Flames coach Brent Sutter, who was then
the bench boss for the Rebels.
“He was a very physically demanding coach who throws a lot on your shoulders,” he said. “But it was definitely a huge learning step in my career.”
 |
| Billsten and the Trojans celebrate a late season victory over the Mount Royal Cougars. Curtis Taylor Photo |
The WHL took it’s toll on Billsten, and after playing half a
season he decided to go play Junior A for the Calgary Royals to work on both
the physical and mental aspects of his game.
“It’s a grind, you get into that pro hockey style of life
and you realize that life changes pretty quick when it becomes a job and
somewhat of a career at that age.”
The following summer Billsten got picked up in the expansion
draft by the Everett Silvertips, where he would play for another former NHL
coach in Kevin Constantine.
Though Billsten enjoyed playing for a class organization in
Red Deer, he felt he had an overall better experience playing for the
Silvertips.
“Playing for a first year team in a brand new building, the
fans were absolutely nuts. We sold
out even the majority of our season games,” he said.
That year Everett made it to the WHL finals, a rare feat for
an expansion team. The people of
Everett embraced Billsten and his teammates and they became instant stars in
the town just 45 minutes north of Seattle.
“The way (the fans) treated us, hockey was so new and fresh
to them they thought of us as their pro team, and the city really built up
behind us.”
After his WHL career was over, Billsten attended training
camp for the Ottawa Senators. Though
he felt he did well at camp, Billsten wanted more security in his career and
decided to accept a hockey scholarship to the University of British Columbia.
Billsten surprised himself with his dominant play in the
CIS, and his dream of playing professional hockey had not yet faded.
“I couldn’t see myself getting an arts degree at UBC and
throwing my hockey career away at such a young age.”
Billsten left UBC and bounced around playing for
professional teams in Victoria, B.C,, Laredo, Texas, and even Germany before
deciding to attend SAIT to enroll in the carpentry program and play for the
Trojans.
Billsten has made an instant impact for the Trojans with two
goals and an assist in his first two games, and his hockey experience provides
instant leadership off the ice with this young Trojans squad.
“When a guy like that comes in, if he has something to say
you listen to him,” said first year Trojan and Wolseley, Saskatchewan native
Nolan Souchotte
“He’s great in the dressing room, and he’s a hard worker. He brings a lot of experience to the
lineup.”
Heading into the second half of the season, the Trojans are
looking up at NAIT and Mount Royal in the standings.
With Garret Watson back from injury, he and Billsten will
bring a physical presence to a team in search of their fifth ACAC championship
in six seasons.
No comments:
Post a Comment