Great neighbour

“When I made the decision to move away from home at such a young age and really commit to the game ... it was a legit feeling of ‘I have a chance to do something here’”

DRAFTED

STORY AND PHOTOS BY BRITTON LEDINGHAM

Jake Neighbours makes the NHL

When Jake Neighbours was selected 26th overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 2020 NHL Draft on Oct. 6, he and the other draftees did so in the comfort of their own homes.

Yes, COVID-19 has thrown off a lot of best-laid plans, including the NHL Draft, which was cancelled in Montreal in June and made into a global live stream in the fall. That meant Neighbours was home on the couch surrounded by family in Airdrie when his name was called by Blues’ GM Doug Armstrong.

“When St. Louis stepped up and said my name we were thrilled,” says the left-winger. “I can’t even describe the feeling I had when I heard my name called.”

On Oct. 17, the Blues website reported they agreed to terms on a three-year entry-level contract with Neighbours.

The 18-year-old is thankful for where he’s at in his hockey journey. Uncertain of what team would select him, all he knew was he wanted to end up somewhere “that wants me to be there and wants me to succeed.”

His mom, Tanya Lacoursiere, is thrilled.

“It’s exciting and overwhelming,” says Lacoursiere. “You watch your kid play the sport he loves and work so hard, and you almost never think that they’ll make it this far. So, when it happens, it certainly is a pinch-me moment.”

Jake’s dad, Ed Neighbours, is equally elated.

“It was very, very exciting, [and] stressful for everybody at the same time,” says Ed. “We’re very, very proud [of] when, and where he got picked.”

Jake’s most recent hockey home has been with the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Edmonton Oil Kings, where he posted 23 goals and 47 assists (70 points) in 64 games prior to the 2019-2020 season ending in March.

His hockey spark was ignited when the three-year-old took his first strides in 2005.

His father, and former semi-pro hockey player in Germany in the 1980s, introduced Jake to the game. It doesn’t hurt that his mom was a former provincial-title winger in ringette, too.

“He just always had a passion for [hockey],” says Ed, noting he was able to coach his son as a four-year-old under-age kid in tyke within the Airdrie Minor Hockey Association (AMHA).

His mom recalls her son’s energy for early morning practices.

“He leapt out of bed,” says Lacoursiere. “Whether it was a game or practice or off ice, he never wanted to miss it.”

She notes the independence of the youngest child of a blended family with older step- and half-siblings, Carter Anderson, Geoff and Justin Neighbours, and Dayna and Courtney Lacoursiere.

“Jake’s personality and character, he was just built to just fly young,” says Lacoursiere. “He never worried about being away from home.... He was so independent and so driven.”

He worked his way up through the age groups in the AMHA until completing his first year of bantam with the Airdrie Xtreme Bantam AAA club in 2015-2016. After picking up 22 goals and 18 assists with the team that only won five and tied four of 36 games that season, he was itching for change and flew the coop at age 14, heading to Kelowna for the opportunity to grow more in his sport of choice at the Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy in Kelowna, B.C.

“When I made the decision to move away from home at such a young age and really commit to the game ... it was a legit feeling of ‘I have a chance to do something here,’” recalls Jake. “But, I mean, obviously I think ever since I laced up the skates I’ve been dreaming to play in the NHL.” Ed notes his son has always been “willing to share the puck” as seen from his assist-heavy points structure. “He’s always had that kind of vision that he ... always seems to be able to find that open guy,” says Ed. Jake’s skills caught the attention of the Oil Kings, who selected him fourth overall in the 2017 WHL Draft. He played the following season for the Calgary Buffaloes in the Alberta Midget AAA Hockey League before the last two seasons in the WHL. His junior play earned him ice time and a silver medal with Team Canada on the international stage during the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. The self-described two-way winger loves to chirp opponents and throw around his 5-11, 200-pound frame. “I’m someone who plays with a bit of bite to my game,” says Jake. “Whenever I’m out there on the ice I want to be an offensive threat, but at the same time reliable in the defensive zone.”

Now he’s aiming to break onto the Blues’ roster in training camp this winter with the NHL season beginning in early 2021.

“From here I gotta ... grasp that and run with it, and try and do my best to get on that roster in St. Louis,” says Jake, noting he’s also prepared to continue to grow his abilities to be NHL-ready if he continues with the Oil Kings.

“I’m very excited moving forward,” he says. “Hopefully I can get to the NHL soon.”

Wherever he goes, he’ll have his family.

“He has massive support,” says Lacoursiere. “It’s been really fun watching his junior career, and I am sure excited to see him on the ice again.” life