It’s always nice to see local players play for the local team. The Winnipeg ICE look like they will see two Winnipeg-born players join their roster this season.
Both Evan Friesen and Sequoia Swan played in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League last season. Each player plays a different style of hockey that can give them a chance to excel with the ICE this season.
EVAN FRIESEN, RW
17 years old
5’ 10” 181 lbs
Evan Friesen has a game all based around his high hockey IQ and the skill that the brain enables.
He joined the Winnipeg Blues as a 15-year-old and impressed in the six games the team played last year. His three goals and two assists as the engine of the team’s second line highlighted his growth as a player who was getting better in every game in which he appeared. At the time of the MJHL season’s cancellation, he was getting top power-play duties and became a player the Blues coaching staff could rely on in any game situation.
Originally, the expectation was the Blues would get their 2019 second-round pick back, with a top-line spot his for the taking. Instead, he signed an agreement with the ICE in May and forced himself into the discussion for a spot on the opening night roster with an impressive training camp.
It’s unsurprising to the Blues – Friesen has an unstoppable work ethic and is committed to developing all aspects of his game. Winnipeg loves players who work to hone every area of their game, so Friesen should be a great fit with this team. With enough effort, Friesen could become a part of the new core the Winnipeg ICE is sculpting.
SEQUOIA SWAN, LW
19 years old
5’ 10” 185 lbs
Sequoia Swan is making a return to the WHL after making his WHL debut with the Tri-City Americans in 2018. He wasn’t able to stick with them, so he went back to the OCN Blizzard before the pandemic finished the season for him. During the offseason, the expansion Winnipeg Freeze traded for him, but the Winnipeg ICE swooped in for the same reason.
One word describes Swan’s game perfectly: edge. He has led his league in penalty minutes in three of the past six seasons he’s played, including a whopping 207 in 2019-20. He fights, hits, gets in faces, and keeps an eye out for his teammates, all while chipping in points here and there.
The ICE don’t need Swan to be a top scorer – they already have plenty of scorers. They could use a little more bite. Swan has a lot of bite. The ICE may have to reign him in a little bit, as the team values disciplined hockey, but Swan should be able to make the adjustment without losing his on-ice attitude.
As a 19-year-old, he should also be a boon to the dressing room. Swan has lots of experience traveling from his OCN days and will likely adapt quickly to the WHL lifestyle.
How much he plays is up for debate, though he has a bigger opening after the team traded Hayden Pakkala to Prince Albert. If Swan manages to stick as a regular, he’ll be a player no one wants to go up against.
