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Petruic headed to Carleton University in the fall

Graduating Yorkton Terrier Captain Chantz Petruic has committed to the Carleton University Ravens starting this fall. “For me it was a tough decision. I had interest from all sorts of places,” Petruic told Yorkton This Week.
Petruic

Graduating Yorkton Terrier Captain Chantz Petruic has committed to the Carleton University Ravens starting this fall.

“For me it was a tough decision. I had interest from all sorts of places,” Petruic told Yorkton This Week.

In the end, a move to Ontario appealed to Petruic.

“I wanted to have a different experience, to experience life a little more,” said Petruic, who hails from Moose Jaw.

It didn’t hurt that the Ravens team is in the mix to win a national title, with a 24-3-1 record this past season, tops in their division.

“I wanted to go to a school with a chance to win a national championship, to go to a team that wants to win, and win right now,” said Petruic.

As for an education, Petruic said he will take “some business classes to start,” adding he looks at it as a way to ease back into the classroom after being away from one for a while as a 20-year-old.

Looking back at the abrupt end of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League as a result of a Canadian Hockey Association decision over COVID-19 health concerns, Petruic said it was a difficult situation.

“We were in the heat of a series tied two-two with LaRonge,” he said, adding the Terriers like hockey players in leagues all across Canada “Just wanted to play.”

But, Petruic said they understood the health concerns too.

“Life is more than hockey. They had to take precautions,” he said. “... But, it was frustrating, it wasn’t the way I wanted to end my Junior hockey career ... I really wanted a ring this year.”

Instead, like everyone else, Petruic is home staying away from everyone except family.

“I’m spending time with family I didn’t see a whole lot this year,” he said. “ . . . I’m walking my dog every day, playing some video games, and trying to stay away from everybody.

“And I run every couple of days.”

Besides the unlikely end of the recent season, what does Petruic look back on as highlights of his time with the Terriers?

“A lot of things,” he said, adding it started when he joined the team at 18.

“We weren’t the best team in the world, but Mat Hehr (Terrier head coach) had lots of faith in me.”

Then in his 19-year-old season there was the big game seven playoff win over Nipawin.

“I thought we had something special that year,” said Petruic, adding the team “came up short against North Battlefords” citing the Stars hot netminder.

The playoff run showed the fan support the Terriers have when they do well, said Petruic.

“I knew what kind of fans we have in Yorkton,” he said.

And then in his final season there was Petruic’s personal success achieving a 50-goal regular season, becoming only the sixth Terrier in club history to achieve the milestone.

Petruic, who finished the season with 58-goals and 109-points, said he recognizes the accomplishment as special, but added he wanted a championship holding team success above personal marks. He added he may grow to appreciate the 50-goal plateau more in the years ahead, but at present the season end is too fresh.

Petruic finished his Terrier career with 133 assists and 243 points, both, fourth best in team history, and 110-goals, fifth best career-wise.