‘It's surreal': University of Alberta hockey coach inducted into the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame
The University of Alberta Pandas hockey coach is solidifying himself among hockey legends in the province.
Howie Draper has been inducted into the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame after leading the women's hockey team for nearly three decades. The coach says it's a tremendous honour and he couldn't believe it.
'It's surreal, I think is probably the best way to put it and I'd be lying if I said that there wasn't a little bit of imposter syndrome going on there,' Draper told CTV News Edmonton.
His resume proves otherwise. He's picked up eight national championships, the most in U-sports women's hockey history. Draper has also been named coach of the year four times with U SPORTS and has won multiple gold medals with Team Canada.
Most recently, he led the Pandas to victory this past March with the Canada West title.
'I've just been blessed with all sorts of opportunities and there've been a lot of people that have kind of been on my side that have helped me find those opportunities and encourage me to take them,' he said.
Draper was inducted alongside six other people, including long-time Edmonton Oiler Ryan Smyth and three time Stanley Cup champion Joe Nieuwendyk.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Evan Kenny
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
National Post
6 minutes ago
- National Post
Canucks: What can Jake DeBrusk do after career season? Be more of a hound
There is truth in advertising. Article content When Jake DeBrusk joined the Vancouver Canucks in free agency last summer, his biggest supporter and constant confidant banged the drum about the big winger's potential with a fresh start in a new city. Article content Article content It's what you expect from his father, Louie DeBrusk, a former NHL grinder and a Sportsnet and Hockey Night In Canada analyst. Article content 'The guy is a hound,' DeBrusk told this reporter of his son's upside. 'He's not easy to play against, he tracks back, blocks shots, and can play the penalty kill and power play. The most important thing is the kid is a finisher. Jake brings energy and a lot of speed, and when he's buzzing he'll take over a line.' Article content Or a game. Article content In that respect, the elder DeBrusk's summation was bang on. However, he could have added a streaky-scorer disclaimer. Article content DeBrusk, 28, bagged a career-high 28 goals in 2024-2025, with 14 on the power play, which ranked fifth in the NHL. He also struck for 19 road goals, which was 10th overall, and had a pair of hat-tricks. His 16.4 per cent shooting accuracy was third on a team that couldn't finish, with a 23rd ranking of just 2.84 goals per outing. Article content DeBrusk scored 12 of his goals with a wrist shot, five with a snapshot and two with a backhand, which showed versatility. And if the Canucks expect a season of redemption and return to the playoffs, they can't be missing the net and must show more moxie on home ice. Article content Article content The team stumbled out of the gate last season at Rogers Arena and were 3-5-3 after 11 dates. They won two straight in Vancouver on just two occasions, and finished at 17-16-8. Minnesota and claimed the final two Western Conference wild-card playoff berths with 23-13-5 and 24-14-3 home marks respectively. Article content While DeBrusk had a season to remember, he scored just nine times at home as the Canucks fell seven points short of the postseason. A few more wins at Rogers Arena and they would have been in. That should stick in the craw. And with two of their first three games next season at home, they need an early swagger. Article content Article content As for DeBrusk, what can he do for an encore? Consistency is key to get to the next competitive level. He's already a salary-cap bargain with seven years left at $5.5 million US in annual average value, but there's always room to improve. Article content DeBrusk didn't score in his first nine games last season. He struck in the next three, then went six games without a goal before erupting for nine in his next seven outings. That was followed by no goals in 11 games, one in a dozen games, and striking for three goals in his final four games. Article content 'Be patient. Don't let it get in your head,' he suggested. 'I need to take more control with body position and stop guessing where the puck is going to go.'
CBC
7 minutes ago
- CBC
Whitecaps expected to sign German superstar Thomas Müller
The Vancouver Whitecaps are in talks to sign a German soccer legend, Thomas Müller. CBC's Ben Steiner is reporting that Müller could make his debut when the team travels to San Jose Aug. 9. Former Vancouver Whitecaps commentator Peter Schaad speaks with Stephen Quinn about fan and media reaction.
CBC
7 minutes ago
- CBC
Swiatek cruises into 3rd round, Fernandez sisters bounced in doubles at National Bank Open
Social Sharing Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek of Poland cruised into the National Bank Open's third round with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Guo Hanyu of China on Wednesday. The second-seeded Swiatek hit four aces and converted six break points on eight opportunities, winning the match in 72 minutes. A day after blaming unfavourable scheduling for her first-round exit in women's singles, Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., and sister Bianca Jolie lost 6-4, 6-2 to top-seeded Italian duo Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini in doubles. Fernandez, who won the D.C. Open on Sunday, anticipated an evening match Tuesday to give her more time to recover. The Canadian lost in straight sets in the afternoon, however, to Australia's Maya Joint. Kayla Cross of London, Ont. and Toronto's Victoria Mboko fell 6-3, 7-6 (0) to Jiang Xinhu of China and Chan Hao-Ching of Taiwan. Canada's Victoria Mboko advances to 3rd round of National Bank Open 17 hours ago Second-seeded Ottawa's Gabriel Dabrowski and teammate Erin Routliffe of New Zealand were scheduled to take on Americans Sofia Kenin and Caroline Dolehide. Bouchard, who announced the hometown tournament would be her last, defeated Colombia's Emilia Arango in the first round. This year's National Bank Open — a WTA 1000-level tournament — debuted a revamped 12-day, 96-player format, with the top 32 seeds receiving byes to the second round. Diallo sweeps way into 3rd round in Toronto Canada's Gabriel Diallo advanced to the third round of the National Bank Open on Wednesday with a 6-3, 7-6 (5) victory over Italy's Matteo Gigante. The No. 27 seed from Montreal needed one hour 46 minutes to complete the rain-interrupted victory on Centre Court at Sobeys Stadium. Gigante double-faulted on match point. Canadian wild-card entry Alexis Galarneau was eliminated after dropping a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 decision to 13th-seeded Flavio Cobolli of Italy. The afternoon session was delayed for about half an hour due to showers in the northwest Toronto area. In other second-round matches, fourth-seeded American Ben Shelton beat French qualifier Adrian Mannarino 6-2, 6-3 and sixth-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev defeated Hugo Gaston of France 6-2, 6-3. Italy's Lorenzo Sonego, the No. 28 seed, topped China's Yunchaokete Bu 6-1, 6-4 and Australia's Aleksandar Vukic upset 31st-seeded Cameron Norrie of Britain 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-3. Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime, the 21st seed and only other Canadian singles players left in the draw, was scheduled to face Hungary's Fabian Marozsan in the evening. Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont., who dropped his opening singles match to American Learner Tien on Tuesday, withdrew from the men's doubles competition Wednesday due to a left knee injury. He was scheduled to team with Auger-Aliassime for a match Thursday against the American duo of Robert Galloway and Brandon Nakashima. A replacement pairing will be named a few hours before the match, organizers said. The ATP Tour's Masters 1000 competition continues through Aug. 7.
