Jackson Rowland, the captain of the Okotoks Oilers for the 2024-2025 season, has seen it all with the Green and Gold the past three seasons.
Rowland has been with the team through some major changes in that time, having played through their last full season with the AJHL, remaining with the team through their midseason move to the BCHL last year, and he will now lead them through their first full season in the BCHL.
His love for the sport came at a young age and largely stemmed from his brother Ethan, who also played for the Oilers.
"My parents put my brother into hockey at a young age. I watched him, and I always wanted to do it, so I kind of got that inspiration from my brother and wanted to play because of him. So it's pretty cool," Rowland said.
Like so many Canadians, Rowland started out in Timbits Hockey at five or six years old.
"Funny enough, I was super scared for my first game. I didn't want to go, I was crying and I told my parents I didn't want to go. But, when I got there I think I scored a hat trick in my first game. So fell in love after that," Rowland recalls.
Rowland got the chance to play with his brother Ethan during the 2022-2023 season and both came away with 19 points.
"It was obviously super cool. I mean to have your older brother on the team is amazing, he taught me a lot of things. He played in the Western League (WHL) for a couple of years, so he knew a lot and helped me out a lot on this team," Rowland added.
It was a far cry from the days when he and his brother would play mini sticks in the basement, which Rowland recalls leading to some disagreements and the occasional hole in the wall.
Growing up in Calgary, his transition to junior hockey in Okotoks was an easy one. In fact, he calls it "It was the best decision of my life."
The Oilers' move from the AJHL to the BCHL last year was an uncertain time for Rowland and his teammates, but he feels the team grew through the pain.
"Last year it was pretty hard when we switched over, we didn't think we were going to have a season. But those 20 games actually helped us a lot to get in the playoffs and feel Brooks out. It was good," he said.
Rowland added that playing against the Sherwood Park Crusaders, Spruce Grove Saints, Blackfalds Bulldogs, and the Brooks Bandits for the latter half of the season felt like every game was a playoff game with the quality of competition. He also mentioned that it helped with development in playing the top teams that were once a part of the AJHL.
In game six of the second round against Brooks, Rowland was unable to play due to an injury, but that didn't stop him from helping the team in any way he could. For game six, instead of sitting up in the stands and watching, he would instead sit on the bench, giving his team a morale boost. It obviously helped, as they won the game 3-2 in overtime with then-captain Dean Spak getting the overtime winner.
"I think Deis just wanted me on the bench talking a lot, like being around the guys because it could have been our last game, but it wasn't. It was awesome, I love being on the bench. Would rather be on the bench than up in the stands. Seeing everyone work hard and bleed for the team was awesome," Rowland explained.
Having shown his leadership in game six and his ability to make a tough go of it for the opposing squad, Rowland was named captain of the Oilers for this season.
"I didn't know that I was going to get it, so it was truly an honour. Great names of people who wore the "C" before me, so it's pretty cool to be on that list," he added.
Spak who was the captain of the Oilers for the previous two seasons left an imprint on Rowland while they were playing together and left a great example of how to get the group going.
"He was a huge role model for me, he's one of my best buddies actually. He taught me a lot of leadership stuff, and sitting beside him in the room I could learn a lot and pick up some things from him."
Before he hits the ice for game days, Rowland follows a pre-game ritual.
"Daily routine, wake up around 9:45, come to the rink, we have to check-in in the morning, and then a bunch of the boys go for breakfast after. Then I have a nap, a pre-game meal, come to the rink two and half hours before, tape my stick, and then I have a routine stretches I do and then ride the bike for five minutes," he said.
Rowland says the Green Army means a lot to him, from the crowd's energy with every goal to the way they pay close attention to the team during warm-ups, Rowland describes the energy as "the best thing ever."
10 Questions with Jackson Rowland
What is your go-to cheat meal?
"A&W, a couple of BLT chicken burgers with poutine and onion rings."
Who was your favourite player and team growing up?
"Favourite player was Sidney Crosby, and I was a big Penguins fan. I had the biggest crush on Crosby."
Favourite sport other than hockey?
"I would probably say either golf or tennis."
What is your guilty pleasure song?
"Tennessee Orange by Megan Moroney."
Do you prefer to use black or white hockey tape?
"Normally I'm a black tape guy, but in the last week or so I switched to white. Just haven't been scoring, wanted to switch it up and see how it goes. I put my number and three dots at the back of my stick. Brett Huxley, his dad always put three dots on his stick for a hat trick, so I started doing it a long time ago."
What is your pre-game ritual?
"I have to be on first for warmups."
Favourite TV show and movie?
"TV show, I would say the Office. Movie, I would probably say Step Brothers."
Who in the world would you like to meet, alive or dead?
"Maybe a guy like Justin Bieber. I think he is a super cool guy. Started from the ground up."
Best chirp you have said or heard?
"One of my buddies in Bantam broke his nose a few times, so he has a pretty big nose. He went offside and the backup goalie from the bench said 'Your nose is offside.'"
Would you rather travel to the past or visit the future?
"Visit the future. I would probably go to a hockey game and see if it's different."
Bonus
If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you buy?
"A house or a sports car."
If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
"Super strength."