Nelson Home Building Centre Leafs Player Profile of the Week — Alec Wilkinson
By The Nelson Daily Sports
He may be a rookie but at 5’8″, 150 pounds Calgary native Alec Wilkinson is playing like a season veteran for the Green and White.
Wilkinson, one of the Leafs “super pests”, is having a very fine first Kootenay International Junior Hockey League seaso, tied for third on team scoring with another pest, Carsen Willans.
Wilkinson is back in the lineup, and will be needed as Nelson is currently in a battle for top spot in the Murdoch Division with the Beaver Valley Nitehawks.
Nelson faces two Murdoch opponents this weekend at the NDCC Arena as Castlegar Rebels and Grand Forks Border Bruins come to town Friday and Saturday, respectively.
The Nelson Daily.com, in conjunction with Nelson Home Building Centre present a closer look at Wilkinson in the latest Leafs Player Profile of the Week.
Nelson Home Building Centre Leafs Player Profile of the Week.
Alec Wilkinson
Age: 18
Born: Calgary, Alta
Height: 5’8”
Weight: 150 pounds
Leafs Stats: 36 games, 16 goals, 31 assists, 47 points
Years in Hockey: 12
Hometown: Calgary, Alta
Favorite NHL Player: Sydney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Favorite NHL Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
Favorite Music: Rap
Pre-Game Meal: Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Biggest accomplishment in hockey: Finishing second at the Western Canada Bantam AAA Finals, losing in overtime to Winnipeg
Work: Pacific Insight
Nickname: Wilkey
Other interests: Snowboarding and Golf
Twitter, Facebook, Instagram: Instagram
The Nelson Daily: What type of player are you?
Alec Wilkerson: I’m a playmaker. I just look for my teammates on the ice. I have good vision and I’m more of a passer than a scorer, for sure.
TND: What are your individual goals this year and beyond?
A.W.: To win the Cyclone (Taylor Cup). That’s the only goal I really have this year. I really have no goals for myself. I just want to win as a team. I really have no goals of being the leading scorer or anything like that. I just want to win as a team.
TND: What attracted you to come to Nelson?
A.W: The Cyclone Taylor Cup probably is the reason that brought me here. But I also heard Nelson is a good team and I wanted to come to play for a good team.
TND: What do you like about playing for this year’s edition of the Leafs?
A.W.: I just like how everyone is a team. Everyone loves each other in that dressing room and they’re all good guys and that’s how you know you’ve got a good team is everyone comes together and plays hard for each other.
TND: You’ve been out of the lineup with an injury. How difficult is it to be watching from the sidelines?
A.W: It really hard. I just want to get out there and help the team. But there’s nothing you can do so you have to wait it out. But it’s definitely difficult watching for sure.
TND: You’re a small player. How have you had to adapt to the KIJHL?
A.W: This is a tough league to play in and there are a lot of guys out there who are just trying to take your head off. So you’ve just got to keep your head up . . .. As long as you have your head up you should be fine. You can’t be scared, that’s for sure if you’re a small guy. You’ve got to be tough and be willing to go into the corners.
TND: Is that your biggest adjustment your size?
A.W.: This is a pretty fast league and there are guys, who are a lot stronger than me so I need to use my quickness and move out on the ice and be smart.
TND: Where do you hope to be next year?
A.W.: I don’t know where I’ll be, if it’s back in Nelson, but I’m definitely going to be playing hockey somewhere.
TND: Where do you hope to be in five years?
A.W.: In five years I want to own a business. I’m going to SAIT (Southern Institute of Technology) in Calgary and take business and hopefully I can own my own business.
TND: In 10 years?
A.W: Hopefully I’m retired.
