Collin Bowman could feel the clock ticking on his junior hockey career.
Bowman has achieved a lot — including a WHL title and a trip to the Memorial Cup by the time he was 18 — but he felt he had more to contribute before his junior days were done.
Bowman asked for a trade from the Kelowna Rockets and got his wish three weeks ago when he was dealt to the Moose Jaw Warriors for fellow 19-year-old defenceman Kevin Smith.
“In my exit meetings last year, sitting down with (Kelowna’s head coach Ryan Huska and president/general manager Bruce Hamilton), I requested a trade,” said Bowman. “I’ve been there for three years under the same coach and I thought I was being put in a bit of a box. They wanted me to be a pure shutdown guy and I wanted an expanded role to try to round out my game a little bit.”
When Bowman was acquired, Warriors director of hockey operations Alan Millar praised his offensive upside and said he expects him to get a chance to showcase that side of his game.
That sounds great to Bowman.
“I just want to be an all situations guy — show what I can do on the offensive side of the puck more and keep playing steady D,” said 6-foot-2 defenceman.
“I think they’re expecting the same things from me so right off the bat it was a pretty good fit.”
Bowman scored four goals and had 20 points in 65 games last season with the Rockets. The season before he had 26 points in 70 games.
In addition to chipping in offensively, the Warriors are hoping that Bowman will be a leader on the team after being an assistant captain for the Rockets last season.
While Bowman is comfortable in a leadership role, he does marvel a little bit at being characterized as a veteran presence with championship experience.
“It’s funny. It goes by quick,” said Bowman. “When they brought me in they said they were excited to have a guy with championship experience. It’s funny to think I’m getting old and I’m that guy, but it is what it is.
“I was playing behind some pretty good guys the year we went to the Memorial Cup. Now I’m on the older end of the league.”
For more please see Saturday's Times-Herald.
