Arik Weersink always wanted to be a goaltender.
Growing up in Lethbridge, Weersink became interested in the position at a very early age.
“I started playing back when I was about three. It started on frozen lakes in Lethbridge with my two older brothers used me as a goalie, or rather a punching bag. Not to mention the endless games of mini sticks in the basement,” Weersink said.
As he grew through the Lethbridge Minor Hockey system, the young goaltender followed the career of some of the NHL’s best to try and model his game.
“Miikka Kiprusoff was always my idol growing up, until he retired,” Weersink said. “Carey Price stepped in. Of course, there are other phenomenal goalies who inspired me like Roberto Luongo, Marc Andre Fleury, but ultimately Carey was the role model.”
Weersink played for the Lethbridge Raiders U15 AA, Lethbridge Golden Hawks U15 AAA as well the Lethbridge Hurricanes U18 AAA team before moving onto junior. He started his career with the Grande Prairie Storm of the AJHL before finishing his career in Weyburn with the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Red Wings.
He’s currently playing for the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings of the ACAC, where he’s spent the past five seasons.
He’s thankful that he followed the path of his two older brothers, who were a major influence on his early playing days.
“My biggest influence growing up was always my brothers, I followed them in their paths, until I hit my second year of U18,” he said. “Then it was my U18 AA and then AAA head coach Doug Paisley. He inspired me to work a little harder, focus on the sport and he believed I could grow as a great hockey player, but also a person as well.”
Weersink said his minor hockey experience helped shape him into the player that he is today.
“It prepares you for on ice intensity and the mindset of getting better everyday, but even deeper, it rounds you to be a better person,” he said. “You must have people skills to be a teammate. You need professionalism and a “work-life balance” such as school and hockey. Leadership is learned in hockey and portrayed at school or in the community.”
Outside of hockey, Weersink is applying for optometry school. One piece of advice he has for young hockey players is to take their schooling seriously.
“School does matter,” Weersink said. “Although the NHL is your ultimate goal, knowing math, English, and everything in between will make you a smarter person, and a smarter hockey player. Be a student of the game. Learn what other players are thinking, learn what goalies are thinking, learn your strengths and weaknesses.”