CARLYLE - This is Jaden Fischer’s first year of playing on the U18 Carlyle Cougar hockey team.
The 15-year-old is in Grade 10 at Gordon F. Kells High School. He plays left wing and wears jersey No. 17. Despite his young age, he is already an alternate captain on the team.
The U18 Cougars finished regular-season play with a 16-2-2 record, good for second place in the Moose Mountain Minor Hockey League. Fischer finished the year with 11 goals and six assists and in 19 games. He plays a physical style but has only taken four minor penalties all season long.
Fischer loves his hockey and appreciates his coaches and teammates.
“Coaches Himmelspach, Dixon and Nelson have really helped the team along. We have a great group of guys that play hard for one another. It’s tough having a full roster as we are basically injury-free, and one or two players must sit out every game.”
Fischer was modest when assessing his own talents.
“I feel I am good in the corners, and I read the ice well. I think I am more of a playmaker than a goal scorer.”
Kirk Himmelspach is the head coach of the club and offered this assessment of Fischer. “Jaden is a very hard worker on the ice. He plays with grit and speed, and his size and strength are an asset as well. Jaden’s biggest trait is his leadership skills,” said Himmelspach.
“He has been a big part of the leadership group for all the Cougar teams he has played on including this year as a first time U18 assistant captain. He always plays a big role on the team and is always a positive force in the dressing room.”
Fischer is the youngest son of Calvin and Karen Fischer. Brother Jace and sister Kyla are his older siblings.
Himmelspach also wanted to recognize the efforts of Jaden’s mom, who is the team’s manager.
“Karen has been the manager for the teams Jason Dixon and I have coached for, I think, six straight years now. She has been the heartbeat of all those teams. Without her, I’m not sure where we would be. From booking all our games, which is a huge job this time of year, to organizing our bus trips, and everything in between, she does an amazing job. Karen makes our coaching jobs that much easier.”
In league playoffs, the Cougars play a best-of-three quarter-final against the Milestone Flyers. Games 1 and 2 were played Feb. 28 in Milestone and March 2 in Carlyle. Game 3, if necessary, would be March 6 at the Carlyle Sports Arena at 8 p.m.
In SHA Provincial D playoffs, the Cougars lost a heartbreaking Game 1 3-2 to the Wood River Flyers in Lafleche on Sunday. Game 2 of this best-of-three quarter-final series will be March 4 at the Carlyle Sports Arena. If the Cougars win, a mini third game will be played immediately afterwards.
