Super hockey dad following son’s hockey journey one tourney at a time

By Darrell Greer Northern News Services

Dave Wiseman of Rankin Inlet has become somewhat of a super hockey dad as he follows the blossoming career of his 16-year-old son, Gregory.

Gregory was somewhat of a late bloomer in the sport, starting to play at the age of 10 and not taking to the game immediately.

However, with hockey being so big in Rankin Inlet (Hockeytown), all of Gregory’s friends were involved in the sport and he decided he was willing to put in the extra time needed to catch up to his friends skill-wise.

Dave built a rink at the side of his home and Gregory and his brother, Simon, went at it day and night to hone their skills and caught up to the other players within a year.

Gregory played three years in Rankin before following the path several young Rankin players had previously taken and suited up the following year for the Norman North Stars, a AAA midget squad based in Thompson, Man.

David said he’s never missed a tournament his son has participated in since he began playing and that’s come with a somewhat hefty price tag.

He said he caught some slack the first year, being Gregory’s coach, which allowed him to travel mostly free to all the tournaments.

“It cost us $46,000 a year with him playing away the first year and I went down there to live for three months, and I also went down every time he played in a tournament to watch him,” said Dave.

“This Arctic Winter Games (AWG) tournament was a little crazy as Gregory is only

16 playing with and against kids 19 years and under.

“We flew to Winnipeg from Rankin but, once there, anyone who knows me knows I hate to fly, so we drove the 17 hours to the AWG at Fort McMurray. It, pretty much, matched the cost of flying once we got there.

“With the car rental, hotel, food and gas you’re looking at $5,000 for a six-day tournament but it was well worth it – priceless, as I like to say, no matter the travel time and the cost involved.”

Dave said he’s been told by numerous coaches that Gregory is a natural goal scorer with a real love for the game.

He said this past year a national tournament was held in Cape Breton, N.S., and he and his other son, Simon, drove from Winnipeg, Man., all the way down to the event.

“That was fun,” said Wiseman. “It was a very expensive trip but it was worth every dime we spent to get to see Gregory play with kids from different provinces.

“The coaches Gregory has had the past couple of years have all said that he’s a natural goal scorer, sees the ice very well and gives 110 per cent a full 99 per cent of the time.

“Gregory also has a great work ethic, loves being on the ice, loves playing the game hard and he truly respects the game. That’s a big thing for him.”

Dave said the family’s not quite sure where Gregory is going to play next year. After the AWG he still has two weeks left with the North Stars in Thompson, then he moves on to the junior team that picked him up for its last six remaining games then the playoffs.

He said the junior team is currently in first place and both he and Gregory are excited about the upcoming playoff run.

“We’re gonna wait and see about next year. I want to make the decision over the summer. I think wherever he’s most happy at is probably the best place for him to play. It’s not just my decision. It will be his too.

“When it comes to the hockey scene in Rankin, I’ve never seen a place like it that’s so dedicated. And that’s not just the kids but some of the parents, the workers and the coaches.

“I’ve lived in a lot of communities over the years from Toronto to Nova Scotia and, obviously, different parts of Nunavut.

“Rankin has got to be one of the highest-ranking places I’ve ever seen for dedication, fundraising, and hard-working coaches and parents who are involved with the entire process.

“Following the AWG Simon and I will be travelling to Prince Edward Island to watch Gregory play in the Canada Winter Games.”