18-year-old Standard hockey player Jace Koole will be suiting up for the Grand Forks Border Bruins next season. The former Wheatland Chiefs player will be taking his talents to the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL), a Junior A hockey league in British Columbia with 20 teams.
Koole is excited to take his talents to the next level and is looking forward to showing he has what it takes to play Junior A hockey.
"It's definitely fun to move on and see how far it can take me, and I guess we'll see what comes from this. I'm definitely excited, it's a good league to develop and try and go as far as you can, so I hope to have a good year," he said.
To prepare for the higher level of play Koole says he's been constantly hitting the gym and the ice to make sure he's in shape and ready to go for when camp starts. As for what he hopes to bring to the Border Bruins, he described himself as a "200-foot player", which in hockey terms means a well-rounded player that can play both offense and defense at a high level.
Koole can't wait to hit the ice with his new teammates, but beyond the hockey he's also looking forward to moving out. B.C is of course a big move, so while there are some nerves he said he's mainly just excited for a new opportunity.
"I definitely think that I'm ready for it, to get out and try something new for sure. I know a kid on the team up there already I've kind of known my whole life and it's exciting, I got a few kids that I played with last year that are going to be coming up there with me this year."
The KIJHL exhibition games start at the end of August, and Koole will be hitting the ice with the Border Bruins for the first time on September 2 against the Castlegar Rebels.
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