The Yorkton UCT Terriers of the SBAAHL have put together one of the most dominant rosters known to Saskatchewan Bantam hockey ever.
Their roster boasts the likes of offensive dynamo Carson Miller and twin towers of offensive firepower Keenan and Kaeden Taphorn.
However there is one player just as skilled as those three that, somehow, manages to continually fly under the radar.
Brett Kemp, the second year second line centre for the top ranked bantam team in the province has consistently shown up on the score sheet, posting 37 goals and 42 assists for 79 points in just 30 SBAAHL regular season games.
Kemp also currently leads the UCT Terriers in playoff scoring with 13 points, eight goals and five assists, in just four games, two points more than both Miller and Kaeden Taphorn, who each have four goals and seven assists.
But Kemp鈥檚 skills didn鈥檛 just develop overnight. According to UCT Terrier head coach Graham Garrett, Kemp鈥檚 ability has been on the rise ever since his first SBAAHL game in 2013. 鈥淟ast year when he came in as a first year he was a smaller kid,鈥� offered Garrett, continuing, 鈥淗e had that skill but he didn鈥檛 have that confidence to use it yet.
鈥淚 thought the ice time that he was able to get, especially on the power play and penalty kill last year, definitely showed he has a high hockey IQ and it also built his confidence up.鈥�
That confidence carried over from the end of last season and continued to grow all throughout the 2014/15 SBAAHL season. 鈥淭his year he鈥檚 come to camp, he鈥檚 a little bit bigger, a little bit stronger and now all of those things that he has, his hockey IQ and his strength and his speed is now becoming more evident in his every day play,鈥� mentioned Garrett. 鈥淗e鈥檚 the type of guy that coaches want on their hockey team.鈥�
Kemp, too, is fully aware that his stock is rising faster than that of Apple Inc., but was quick to point out that it鈥檚 all because of hard work and the talent that he gets to practice with every time he takes to the ice. 鈥淚 just try to go 110% in practice and make myself better and make sure that I can compete at the next level once I make it there,鈥� offered the talented forward, adding that scrimmaging against the skilled players on his team has done nothing but improve his own ability. 鈥淧racticing with those guys definitely helps. They鈥檙e really skilled, so they definitely help me get better.鈥�
However Kemp also touched on the fact that not all of his skills are developed on the ice. 鈥淚 go to the gym lots, every week,鈥� said Kemp. 鈥淎fter school I鈥檒l go with a couple of buddies and we challenge each other and make each other better.鈥�
The time in the gym has been evident this season as Kemp, who isn鈥檛 the largest player on the ice, has also demonstrated his ability to throw the body; something his head coach noticed early this season. 鈥淗e鈥檚 not a big body but he throws some solid body contact,鈥� offered Garrett. 鈥淗e catches guys, he angles guys very well and he makes some skilled plays out there and he can play in all situations.鈥�
The 14-year-old forward also acknowledged the fact that his physical game has increased this season. 鈥淚 try to play big and make sure that the bigger guys know that, although I鈥檓 smaller than them that I could still compete with them,鈥� said Kemp, adding that while he can play physically, he feels he鈥檚 more known for both his offensive abilities and his defensive play; two areas that he hopes will continue to not only benefit himself, but those around him. 鈥淚 just want what鈥檚 best for the team,鈥� suggested Kemp. 鈥淗opefully I can keep going strong and producing, but as long as the team is winning that鈥檚 what matters.鈥�
