Though there are no games being played in Saskatchewan's U18 AAA hockey league, one member of the Estevan Bears clearly made an impression on teams before the stoppage. The Grande Prairie Storm announced yesterday they had signed Bears forward Cooper Chisholm to play for them next year. 

Chisholm, a 2003-born forward from Weyburn, played two seasons with the Prince Albert Mintos but has broken out offensively since joining the Bears. In six games this season, he's put up three goals and three assists. 

"I was overjoyed," said Bears Head Coach and GM Jeff Smith. "A few other teams from the AJ had been calling me and asking about him, and Grand Prairie wasn't one. So when he said he'd signed there I was excited and shocked all at once. Good for him. He's put the work in since he's been a Bear, and hard work pays off."

With two seasons of U18 AAA under his belt, Chisholm was one of the few veterans of the level on the Bears when the year began. He was also one of just a handful of 17-year-olds on the team, so he was relied upon for leadership. 

"He's definitely a huge leader on the ice and off the ice as well," said Smith. "If there's anything I need with the team, I'll usually contact him and he gets it done. He's a pretty big leader in that core group that we have."

Chisholm is in a three-way tie for the team lead in points, but his value at the Junior A level won't be just in his offense. As many first-year junior players do, he'll have to make some adjustments to his game to get up to speed in Alberta. 

"He'll be a 200-foot player," said Smith. "He's good offensively, he's solid defensively. Playing in the AJ, it's a fast-paced game so he's going to have to play both ends of the rink and do well mostly defensively, and chip in when he can offensively."

Chisholm is technically the second Bear to commit to a junior team, as Turner McMillen has already played two games for the WHL's Kelowna Rockets.