Josh Lee played 213 games with the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) from 2007 to 2011. In that time, Lee scored 35 goals and he added 70 assists.
On top of his offensive upside, Lee was one of the league's best lockdown players on the back end and the now member of the Waywayseecappo Wolverines are being rewarded by his old team. Over the past few months, Sherwood Park has been naming candidates for the top players over the past 20 years. More than 20 defencemen were named candidates, one of which is Josh.
The voting period is now over and Lee has been put on the Crusaders' 20-year team, along with five other defenders. Playing at the Sherwood Park Arena, Lee was a fan favourite during his time with a team he began his junior journey with.
"It's quite an honour for me. I got a message from my future mother-in-law and she was keeping close tabs on it," said Lee. "She had the chance to watch me in Sherwood Park and she was pretty proud. I'm definitely flattered and a bit surprised to be named to the team."
Here they are! Your six defenceman to be voted into the Crusaders 20 Year team!
— Sherwood Park Crusaders (@SPcrusaders) January 27, 2021
Joining Carter Gylander and Tommy Nixon are....#OneCru | #AJHL pic.twitter.com/4PidHebd8h
After 42 games with Sherwood Park in the 2010-11 season, Josh packed up his bags as he was traded to the Fort McMurray Oil Barons who was a title contender as Josh tried to go out as a 20-year-old with a championship. Ultimately, it wasn't to be as the team was swept by the Spruce Grove Saints in the North Division Final.
Josh remembers great things about the Oil Barons organization, but it was his time in Sherwood Park that is most special to him.
"Sherwood Park has my heart, there's no doubt about that," offered Lee. "I'm forever grateful for the opportunity that I was given in Sherwood Park. It was also great that they traded me to a contender in my final year, that meant a lot and gave me another chance to win a title."
Josh went on to play with NAIT of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference for 18 games and he recorded eight points in that time, two of which were goals. Following that season, Lee spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the SSAC Lions 15U team which was followed by two years with the U18 team. 2016-17 was Josh's final assignment in Alberta when he was an assistant coach for the Leduc Oil Kings.
In 2018, Josh made his way to Manitoba as he was hired on to be the team's Assistant General Manager and Assistant Coach. Since that day, he has worked closely with Taylor Harnett and the remainder of the organization and all of the hard work has paid off. Just years removed from an eight-win campaign, the Wolverines are regarded as one of the top teams in the league every season.
They were leading the Northwest Division this season when the campaign was put on pause. As we look forward, Josh says bigger and better things are on the way.
"We're not satisfied. We're happy, but we know there is more we need and want to accomplish," ended Lee. "We're trending up and that's great. Our play on the ice needs to speak for itself."
Josh says working for the organization has been an incredible experience and he has learned so much over the past three years. He is now back in Alberta where he recently got engaged to his long-time girlfriend.
