Dryden native Ben Hackl is relishing the chance to play for his hometown Dryden GM Ice Dogs.
Hackl, fresh off his second season with the Kenora Midget AAA Thistles has been called up for the Ice Dogs' series against the Thunder Bay North Stars in the Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL) semifinals.
Hackl's first game was a 4-3 overtime loss in Game 1 on March 28.
Growing up in Dryden, Hackl said he remembered going to Ice Dogs games as a young as five years old.
"It was pretty cool to finally put on the jersey," he said.
The physicality and pace of the game was ratcheted up from the Manitoba Midget Hockey League, but Hackl said he held his own.
When Hackl steps on the ice, he's hard to miss. His tenacious style of play wreaks havoc on opposing teams. Hackl said he tries to model his game after Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler.
Hackl is coming off his best season with the Thistles, notching 18 goals and 33 points in 37 games. He was named the MMHL CCM Player of the Week in November 2018 after notching six points in a two-game series against the Central Plains Capitals. The 16-year-old racked up 32 points in 47 games last season in the red and white.
Although the Thistles just missed out on the playoffs this season and were swept by the Thunder Bay Kings in the Hockey Northwestern Ontario branch playdowns Hackl enjoyed his time in Kenora this season.
"I thought by the end of the year we were playing our best hockey and it was fun to be a part of," he said.
Hackl does not have his eyes set on next season just yet, as he is focusing on finishing the playoffs with the Ice Dogs. Dryden is currently down 2-0 in the best-of-seven series, Game 3 of the series goes Sunday at 3:30 p.m. in Dryden.