Look who's Jett-ed back
Canadian Jett McCullum in action for the SkyCity Stampede last weekend. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
It's been a whirlwind week or so for Canadian Jett McCullum.
The 20-year-old ice hockey player was, till about 12 days ago, ensconced at home, planning to spend his summer training before starting at Alberta's Portage College in September, where he's received a full scholarship.
He joined the SkyCity Stampede as an import for the 2024 season, but hopped on a flight almost as soon as the team lifted the Birgel Cup last year, bound for California, in the US.
There, he played a full season for the Ventura Vikings in the USPHL — "the biggest junior hockey league in the world".
When that team failed to make the play-offs, McCullum was traded to the Vernal Oilers, in Utah, where he finished the season and helped win the national champs, before heading back to Canada.
But not long after the final whistle blew on the IIHF Division 2, Group B world champs in Dunedin on May 3, Stampede coach Cam Frear flicked McCullum a text, asking if he'd be keen to come back, and how soon he might be able to get here.
His flights were booked last Monday, he flew out on Wednesday (New Zealand time), surprised the team at training on Thursday, and was on the ice last Friday and Saturday against the West Auckland Admirals.
"It wasn't easy," he says.
"I haven't skated for the past month-and-a-half in Canada, so I was surprised with how well I played, even though I didn't play my best."
While the Stampede enjoyed a hard-fought 3-2 win on Friday night, fortunes reversed on Saturday, with a 2-3 loss.
Overall though, McCullum says it was a "pretty good first weekend" for him, and he's stoked to be back with the Stampede, whom he describes as "a special group".
"It's probably the closest team I've ever been with ... we had the most fun we've ever had playing hockey [last year].
"The culture's quite amazing, the coaching's good and everyone really took me under their wing ... I'm happy to be back here with the guys this season."
He's also excited to be back in Queenstown, which "might be my favourite city in the world right now".
Frear says the timing's worked out perfectly to secure the defenceman, who'll be with the team till after finals.
"It's pretty cool [to have him back].
"He was obviously awesome for us on the ice, but just one of those personalities that all the boys love being around."
This weekend the Stampede travel to Dunedin for the southern derby against Phoenix Thunder, whom McCullum suggests "might be the team to beat" this year.
"But we're up for it — we're Stampede.
"It'll be a fun weekend."
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