Justin Lies and Joie Simon are skating into unknown territory.
The two long-time friends and Flin Flon minor hockey products have been named team captains for northern Manitoba’s regional bantam teams.
It’s rare for Flin Flon-based players to earn captaincy designations on regional teams, which are usually dominated by players from larger centres like Thompson and The Pas. Lies and Simon have broke with tradition, becoming the first Flin Flon-based captains for their respective teams.
Simon splits her time between defence and forward on the girls’ Norman AAA Wild. In a showcase tournament in Winnipeg earlier this season, Simon led her team with four goals and five points.
“It feels good. I’ve never heard of, for girls especially, a Flin Flon player with a ‘C’ before,” said Simon.
Lies, a lanky 14-year-old swingman, is the captain for the Norman Bantam AAA Wolves. He currently sits second in team scoring with 28 points in 18 games in the Winnipeg Bantam AAA league. He is one of only two Flin Flon area players with the team this year, along with goalie Odin Church.
“The majority of our team is from Thompson. There’s only two of us from Flin Flon.” he said.
Growing up in Flin Flon as friends and competitors, the two were often put on different teams in local house league.
“Basically, we play against each other every year,” said Lies.
“It’s always my team versus his team in the finals,” added Simon.
Lies retorted, “And I always win.”
“Not even!” said an exasperated Simon.
In tournaments against teams from Winnipeg, with larger populations to draw players from and fast access to advanced coaching and equipment, Norman teams have traditionally had a rough go. Neither team has a spectacular record, but both have exceeded expectations so far this season.
“It’s kind of been a rough start. We’re 3-13 to start the season,” said Lies. “It’s better than it’s been in the past.”
For Simon, finding a place to play in the womens’ game is becoming increasingly difficult. The Wild do not play in a bantam league, instead playing exclusively in showcase tournaments down south. There is no regional midget girls’ team in northern Manitoba, meaning that if Simon wants to continue playing next season, she’ll have to move.
“There isn’t midget for girls in the north. I may be moving next year, so I hope to make a team in Winnipeg or something,” said Simon.
Nonetheless, the future still looks bright for both Lies and Simon. Lies hopes to either make a Western Hockey League team or earn an NCAA scholarship. In the end, Lies aspires to be the first Flin Flon-born NHL player in a generation – no Flin Flon-trained player has played in the big leagues since Reid Simpson suited up for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2003-04.
Meanwhile, Simon has similarly high hopes.
“My dream is to make Team Canada, but if not, then hopefully I can keep playing in other leagues,” she said.
