Powell River Minor Hockey product Luke Shipley has just completed a great season with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL) and is now university-bound.
Shipley, who was nominated for the defenceman of the year in the WHL, will be attending University of Massachusetts Lowell to play for the River Hawks in NCAA Division 1 this fall. He is excited about his hockey future.
Shipley, who was born in Campbell River but moved to Powell River at a very young age and entered the local minor hockey system.
“I started playing here when I was five until, I want to say, 13-years-old, then I moved away to West Vancouver to play for an academy team,” said Shipley. “I ended up coming back to Powell River that same year and finished the season with the bantam team in Powell River Minor Hockey. I moved away to the academy and that probably got my name out there, and I did well with the bantams. I had some scouts come to the games.”
Shipley, a right-handed defenceman, was drafted by Victoria Royals of the WHL at the age of 14. He went to play for the Royals when he was 16. Shipley said this was during the COVID-19 lockdown, so they played 20-odd games in the bubble city of Kelowna.
However, after playing for the Royals, he asked to be traded.
“We didn’t have that strong of a team and I felt that I needed a fresh start and a new beginning to help me get back to being the player I wanted to become,” said Shipley. “Sometimes change is hard, but it can be good. So, I’m happy that it happened. It was a difficult decision, but ultimately, it was a good decision.”
Shipley, who was traded to the Brandon Wheat Kings when he was 18, said it was an adjustment being in Manitoba, so far away from home, but for his hockey career, the move worked out exceptionally well.
“They were a younger team and there was definitely an opportunity to be had there,” said Shipley. “So, I was excited to be traded. I didn’t know anything about Brandon, or Manitoba, but they are rich in their hockey history and have a lot of alumni who have played in the National Hockey League and done really well.”
Shipley improved steadily in Brandon, recording seven goals and 14 assists in 43 games in his first season. In his second season with the team, he scored nine goals and 25 points, and in the recently concluded season, he had 20 goals and 57 points.
“I came in and wanted to be an important player on the team,” said Shipley. “Each year you play, it gets easier. You mature, and you also figure out what you can do and what you can’t do, and ultimately, that comes from the trust of the coaching staff.
“I’ve always just needed the opportunity. I felt my skill set was there, so I just needed the chance to show myself and prove to the coaches I can be trusted in any situation.”
In his last year in Brandon, in addition to scoring 20 goals, Shipley also led the team in plus-minus.
“It feels good to have that trust from the coaches and to be that guy, when you’re out there in all situations, that you are contributing to the team’s success every night. Looking back on it, scoring 20 goals was pretty special, because not many defencemen get that many. So, I’m proud of it. It’s to do with the work that I’ve put in throughout the years and it is paying off.”
This past season, the NCAA expanded its eligibility for hockey players. In years past, college-bound players came to teams like the Powell River Kings of the BCHL, because major junior hockey players were excluded from university hockey. Now, with the eligibility rules allowing major junior players, Shipley, who at 20 has aged out of junior hockey, has continued hockey opportunities.
Shipley said when he was 15 and making the decision on what junior league he would play in, he thought major junior was the best league and the best opportunity for advancement of his career.
“It produced more players who went off and played professionally, and that was my goal,” said Shipley. “I made the decision to go with the WHL and I don’t regret it. Now, we are super fortunate with the rules change that we’re able to go and play at the next level and also get a degree.”
Shipley’s transition to UMass is a work in progress. He is still determining what he would like to study through his scholarship, but he is thinking of something in the realm of exercise science or kinesiology.
As for his new team, Shipley knows it is in a very strong conference and that they have “unreal fans.”
“I know they have a really good coach who is very well respected throughout the league; that’s exciting for me,” said Shipley. “This is a whole new beginning and a new chapter. I’m just going to go out there and be ready to learn and go through different experiences.”
Shipley said he will be playing fewer games in college than he did in Brandon and will have to find a balance between studies and hockey.
“It’s going to be hard to balance hockey and school at the same time but it’s a challenge I’m looking forward to,” said Shipley.
He said the NCAA produces players who have been drafted into the NHL. He said he wants to play professional hockey, but if things don’t work out on the ice, he always has the backup plan stemming from a university degree and starting out well in life.
“So, it’s kind of a win-win in all situations, playing at my best level and also getting a degree,” said Shipley.
He said playing professional hockey has always been a dream and the prospect of being able to make it to the NHL would take it one step further. To prepare himself for the coming hockey season and his future, he is going to train hard this summer, as has been the case in previous seasons.
“I’d love to be in Powell River over the summer, because it’s beautiful here, and I love it, but there’s no ice and not much for training, so I think I’ll head back to Brandon,” said Shipley, who recently returned to Powell River.
He said he is grateful for the help he has received along the way, starting with his family, who made the sacrifices so he could live his dream. He said there are tonnes of other people to thank for the support, helping him to chase his aspirations and succeed.
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