Top 40 player glad to be part of the game

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At only 15 years old, Adam Houle has established 14 years of solid hockey experience. The Junior Bantam player from the Saulteaux First Nation has been playing hockey since age one.

"I remember him loving it when he was only a year old," said Joyce Night, Houle's mom. "He used to play in the living room on the rug and he would say, 'Hey mom, I'm skating backwards' and I used to laugh at him."

The years of dedication are beginning to pay off. He was scouted by the Western Hockey League for the Saskatoon Blades on May 4, and selected for the Saskatchewan Hockey Association's Sask First Program on May 1.

"It was a double whammy. He didn't really show his reaction when he heard. I think he is in a little bit of shock. I don't think it has sunk in yet," said Night.

"I was surprised, glad and happy," said Houle, about hearing the news.

This summer, the 5'11, 180 pound forward will be training to try out for a Midget Triple "A" team next winter, and will attend the Sask First Summer Camp from July 14 to the 19.

"He is a part of our team in the sense that he is on our list," said Brent McEwen, Saskatoon Blades General Manager. "We do a lot of work with them (scouted players) for their off-ice training and help them make decisions regarding where to go in the next couple years. We will sit down and talk to them and our coach talks to them about off-ice training and how they have an opportunity to move ahead in the game and that these are the things you have to do if you want to move ahead."

Houle was scouted 66th over all to the Blades and has been added to their 50-man protected list. When he is 16 he will have the opportunity to play with the WHL.

"I've watched him play quite a bit" said McEwen. "What he does now for the next couple of years from being drafted will give him the chance to play on the league. It really depends on him."

The chance to build a career in hockey is something Houle is taking seriously. He has made adjustments in his diet and daily training to pursue his dream of playing for the Edmonton Oilers.

"I'm already training," said Houle. "We live about two kilometres away from this little village called Cochin. There is a big hill there called the lighthouse, so I run to Cochin, run up the lighthouse and down, and back to my house every day. And I'm trying to watch what I eat."

His former coach has no concerns about Houle's future, and believes he has what it takes to make it.

"Adam has the ability and he has a good future ahead of himself if he gives the commitment," said Barry Belak, coach for the North Battleford Barons. "It is a big step for a kid. In four years he could be drafted by the pros, so life moves really fast now. Last year his total goals were 54 and he made 57 assists. That's over 100 points for a first-year Bantam player. He did super and I believe he is very gifted."

The Saskatchewan Hockey Association noticed Houle's gift on the ice as well. Being selected for their Sask First Program will give Houle the chance to contend for a spot on the Western Team, to compete in the World Junior under 17 Championships in Timmins, Ont. next year.

"Adam has established himself as one of the top 40 players in the province born in 1985 who made it to our summer camp," said Bill Krzysik, SHA technical director. "To be named one of the top 40 players is a fairly significant accomplishment in itself. There are a lot of players at the Bantam age and roughly 1,200 to 1,400 had signed up for the Sask First Program," he said.

"I'm looking forward to training in July for the championships," said Houle. "And I'm proud that I was the only Native Bantam draft pick for the Blades."

For Houle being a Native player and getting scouted has meant extra hard work.

Many coaches, including Belak, hold the belief that for cultural reasons Native players are more likely to get homesick and give up on their career aspirations. This leads scouts to overlook the players' talents to avoid investing in people who may high-tal it back to their families.

But racism, which Houle has faced and continues to overcome, and an unwelcoming environment in a predominantly non-Native hockey world, may be the real reason for talented young players to head for cover.

Houle, however, is determine to combat the stereotype.

"It's an exciting game and I want to make a career of it."