Every time he hits the ice, there are cheers. When he scores, those cheers intensify and when it's time to head back home to the Skownan First Nation, he's welcomed back with open arms and congratulated for his success.
Kingston Catcheway is a rising star in the community. When he was four, he started making the nearly one-hour journey from Skownan to Winnipegosis to play in their minor hockey association. After playing a few years with the Tigers, Kingston started playing in Dauphin and today, the star from Skownan is playing all over the Parkland region and province.
"It was a sport that I knew I wanted to play when I was young," said Catcheway. "I love being on the ice and making new friends."
Kingston is now one of the youngest players on the Parkland U-15 Rangers team. They opened their season with a 4-3 win against the Yellowhead Chiefs on September 28. While the team hasn't enjoyed as much success as they would have hoped to in terms of wins and losses since that victory, it continues to grow and make strides in the right direction.
For Kingston, he's proud to be a Ranger in his first year of AAA hockey.
"It feels great to represent my home community and be a Parkland Ranger," offered Catcheway. "I'm getting a lot of great experience, I get to play alongside some awesome teammates and go up against some of the best U-15 players in the province, it's been great for me."
With a population on-reserve of about 750 people, Catcheway, who loves watching the Toronto Maple Leafs, can feel the love from so many in his hometown.
"I feel so much support every day," commented Catcheway. "I appreciate it as well, it feels good to know that so many people are cheering me on and following my journey."
Kingston and the rest of his Ranger teammates went to Regina over the weekend to play in the Graham Tuer U-15 Challenge. Going up against teams from Airdrie, Warman, Prairie Storm, and Central Plains, the Rangers showed signs of brilliance throughout the tournament. Catcheway hit the scoresheet scoring one of the Rangers' three goals.
"It was a fun weekend, great to be on the road with the guys," continued Catcheway.
In seven league games this season with Parkland, Kingston has two goals, three assists, and ten penalty minutes. In addition to creating waves in his debut year of AAA hockey, the Skownan star made waves on the international scene earlier this year when he played with Team World at the 2024 Prospects by Sports Illustrated World Cup of Hockey in Toronto.
The tournament features teams from the United States, Italy, Finland, China, Czechia, and Sweden. Scouts from all over North America are at all games and Kingston made Team World after a successful tryout in Brandon.
It was an event that Catcheway will never forget.
"It was incredible, it was an honour to get that opportunity," ended Catcheway. "The hockey was amazing and I made some lifelong friends, I'm so happy that I was given the chance to play and represent my community and country."
If you are a hockey fan in the Parkland, keep your eyes out for Kingston Catcheway who is excelling at the game he loves and living the dream in the process.
