Drake Batherson is modelling himself after professional hockey players already.
Like NHLers when they finish up their seasons, the 16-year-old goes from playing hockey all winter to golf when the weather gets warmer.
The New Minas teen, who will enter Grade 11 at Horton this fall, was recently tapped by the Valley Junior A Wildcats as one of their territorial picks in the 2014 MHL draft, even though this past season was the forward’s first at the midget level.
“I’m happy for the opportunity the Wildcats have given me,” he said, “and I’m looking forward to attending their training camp in August.”
Batherson says he has played hockey since he started walking. Although his dad Norm is a former professional hockey player, Batherson said he, “never felt any extra pressure,” either to play hockey or to excel at the sport.
At the same time, he says, “my dad taught me to play, and gave me my passion for the game.”
Last fall, Batherson enrolled at the Ontario Hockey Academy, a private school in Cornwall, ON which he describes as a prep school for hockey. He returned home at Christmas, and today, says only, “it didn’t really work out” and “didn’t feel right.”
On his return, Batherson suited up for the midget Wildcats for the remainder of the season, collecting three goals and two assists in six regular season games, and adding a goal and two assists in five playoff games.
He says he had “no troubles adjusting” to joining the Wildcats midway through the season.
“My teammates and the coaches all made me welcome.”
On the greens
Despite the hockey season getting longer for him with each passing year, Batherson can still usually be found with a golf club in his hand in the spring. He has been golfing at Ken-Wo since he was four years old and has spent time on the provincial under 18 team. Last year, at 15, he won both the Junior Club Championship, with a three-under-par 67, and the Subway Junior Invitational.
Although he “prefers hockey to golf,” Batherson adds, “I wouldn’t turn down an NCAA golf scholarship if one was offered to me.”
Choosing the midget and junior route in hockey means Batherson won’t get to play hockey for Horton, but he hopes to be able to represent his school as a golfer.
“I didn’t play at Horton this past year because I was still in Ontario during golf season, but I plan to play this coming year.”
While his two main sports might not seem all that similar on the surface, Batherson says there are similarities.
“I find the mental part of golf helps me with hockey, in that you have to learn to focus for long periods of time.”
Golf, he says, will likely be a lifelong passion.
“I like to think I’ll always golf, in season, but not necessarily competitively. At some point, I know I’ll have to choose, in terms of competitive playing. When that time comes, if everything works out right. I’d choose hockey.”
Looking forward
His dream, says Batherson, is to play hockey professionally.
“It’s the dream of every young hockey player,” he said, adding that for now, he wants to “keep moving up the ladder to higher levels.”
He plans to attend the Junior A Wildcats training camp next month, with the goal of making a good showing and maybe even making the team. If he falls short in that attempt, he will suit up again for the midget Wildcats.
Batherson is committed to having a good season, for whichever team he plays. He hopes to someday get drafted by the Q.
Asked if he would consider university hockey, if that is an option when the time comes, he said “playing at Acadia someday would be great,” and only partly to “follow in my dad’s footsteps.”
Norm Batherson played three years at Acadia, where he won the national championship.
“It would be nice if I could do that, too,” Batherson said.
Drake Batherson is modelling himself after professional hockey players already.
Like NHLers when they finish up their seasons, the 16-year-old goes from playing hockey all winter to golf when the weather gets warmer.
The New Minas teen, who will enter Grade 11 at Horton this fall, was recently tapped by the Valley Junior A Wildcats as one of their territorial picks in the 2014 MHL draft, even though this past season was the forward’s first at the midget level.
“I’m happy for the opportunity the Wildcats have given me,” he said, “and I’m looking forward to attending their training camp in August.”
Batherson says he has played hockey since he started walking. Although his dad Norm is a former professional hockey player, Batherson said he, “never felt any extra pressure,” either to play hockey or to excel at the sport.
At the same time, he says, “my dad taught me to play, and gave me my passion for the game.”
Last fall, Batherson enrolled at the Ontario Hockey Academy, a private school in Cornwall, ON which he describes as a prep school for hockey. He returned home at Christmas, and today, says only, “it didn’t really work out” and “didn’t feel right.”
On his return, Batherson suited up for the midget Wildcats for the remainder of the season, collecting three goals and two assists in six regular season games, and adding a goal and two assists in five playoff games.
He says he had “no troubles adjusting” to joining the Wildcats midway through the season.
“My teammates and the coaches all made me welcome.”
On the greens
Despite the hockey season getting longer for him with each passing year, Batherson can still usually be found with a golf club in his hand in the spring. He has been golfing at Ken-Wo since he was four years old and has spent time on the provincial under 18 team. Last year, at 15, he won both the Junior Club Championship, with a three-under-par 67, and the Subway Junior Invitational.
Although he “prefers hockey to golf,” Batherson adds, “I wouldn’t turn down an NCAA golf scholarship if one was offered to me.”
Choosing the midget and junior route in hockey means Batherson won’t get to play hockey for Horton, but he hopes to be able to represent his school as a golfer.
“I didn’t play at Horton this past year because I was still in Ontario during golf season, but I plan to play this coming year.”
While his two main sports might not seem all that similar on the surface, Batherson says there are similarities.
“I find the mental part of golf helps me with hockey, in that you have to learn to focus for long periods of time.”
Golf, he says, will likely be a lifelong passion.
“I like to think I’ll always golf, in season, but not necessarily competitively. At some point, I know I’ll have to choose, in terms of competitive playing. When that time comes, if everything works out right. I’d choose hockey.”
Looking forward
His dream, says Batherson, is to play hockey professionally.
“It’s the dream of every young hockey player,” he said, adding that for now, he wants to “keep moving up the ladder to higher levels.”
He plans to attend the Junior A Wildcats training camp next month, with the goal of making a good showing and maybe even making the team. If he falls short in that attempt, he will suit up again for the midget Wildcats.
Batherson is committed to having a good season, for whichever team he plays. He hopes to someday get drafted by the Q.
Asked if he would consider university hockey, if that is an option when the time comes, he said “playing at Acadia someday would be great,” and only partly to “follow in my dad’s footsteps.”
Norm Batherson played three years at Acadia, where he won the national championship.
“It would be nice if I could do that, too,” Batherson said.
