Former Blackfalds Bulldogs captain Kody Willick has decided to continue his hockey career in central Alberta.
After completing his final year of Junior A hockey in the British Columbia Hockey League with the Bulldogs, the Saskatoon product committed to the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings hockey team ahead of the 2024-25 season.
He explained his decision to sign in Red Deer had a lot to do with him wanting to stay in the area but also because of the winning culture the Kings have built.
Heading into the upcoming season the Kings will defend their Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) league title for the second year in a row.
"That was a big thing for me was staying close and the team itself is having a pretty good run the last couple of years winning two in a row," he said.
"I wanted to go somewhere where I knew we would be competitive and be able to go for another championship. Red Deer seemed like the spot."
With opportunities to head back to his home province of Saskatchewan, Willick wanted to remain close to the people he's met over the last two seasons in Blackfalds.
"They just made it easy to stick around there. I'm from Saskatoon but I think I've made a life for myself in central Alberta, and I want to keep building on that," he added.
Willick is fresh off a 16-point campaign that saw him score four goals and 12 points in 67 games with the Bulldogs.
In his first season in Blackfalds during the 2022-23 season, he notched 24 points in 60 games and added 13 points in 16 playoff games.
He began his career in Junior A hockey with the Drumheller Dragons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League during the 2021-22 season. In Drumheller, he suited up for 63 games where he scored 26 points.
Even though he won't be a part of the team anymore he still hopes to be involved with the Bulldogs in some other way.
"Playing for the Bulldogs was awesome," he said. "It was two of the best years of my life and two that I'll probably remember for the rest of my life.
"Just everything from the people to fans were awesome. We had that run last year to the semi-finals and is something I'll remember forever. I made many memories there and hope to make more in the same area."
He also got to play alongside his brother Tanner for all three years of Junior A hockey with the Dragons and Bulldogs.
The two of them were traded together to the Bulldogs from the Dragons. However, their playing days together at least for now are over as Tanner heads to play hockey in the NCAA for American International College in Massachusetts.
"You don't see that very often," Willick said. "I don't know where I stood in that trade and when I got here they made me feel pretty good about it... I became a piece of the room I think before the ice. That was fine with me I just tried to help build the culture of the Bulldogs and help bring what I could to a young team."
Willick was also thankful for the opportunity to serve as captain of the Bulldogs for both of his seasons with the team. That was a title he hadn't held since he played midget AAA hockey with the Prince Albert Mintos in Saskatchewan.
"It was a great experience. Brett Meerman was the only other guy to serve as captain for Blackfalds," he said.
"He in a way let me help out with the room a lot. That was something that was always really important to me. I didn't want to step on any toes and he let me do my thing. It helped me out a lot this year with handling pressure and taking responsibility for things that are tough to deal with sometimes."