Sean Bonar is back home for the second time within a week to make a rare appearance at a Lower Mainland rink.
The 22-year-old from Tsawwassen will be between the pipes for the Princeton Tigers as part of the Great Northwest Showcase at Bill Copeland Arena in Burnaby. The collegiate men's hockey event features Simon Fraser University and UBC hosting a pair of high-profile NCAA Division One programs - Princeton and the University of North Dakota.
The Tigers will play SFU Friday and UBC Saturday. Both games get underway at 4 p.m. Ticket prices range from $10-20 and are available at the door.
Bonar hasn't played a game on "home" ice since being a member of the Penticton Vees After two outstanding seasons, he left the B.C. Hockey League club for the renowned Ivy League school where he has thrived at the rink and in the classroom. He has been an All-Academic Conference selection the past three seasons and will graduate this spring with a degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
Bonar made his usual trip home to spend Christmas with his family, but didn't have the luxury of waiting for his teammates' arrival. He left Boxing Day for a tournament in Florida where the Tigers played a pair of games before making their way to Vancouver.
"The last time I played here was probably against the good old Surrey Eagles," laughed Bonar. "This is something I have been looking forward to for a while. Just the opportunity to play in front of my family and friends again.
"It's great to see the local universities providing this kind of exposure to their programs. University hockey is definitely under appreciated in many parts of Canada. People just don't realize how good of hockey it is."
Bonar was part of an exceptional 1991-92 age group that came through the South Delta Minor Hockey Association. The '91 class also featured Nashville Predators prospect Cam Reid who is currently in the American Hockey League, while the '92s have at least five playing pro hockey, including Brendan Gallagher. Goalies Harry Fredeman (Trinity Western) and Luke Siemens (Alberta) are playing at the university level.
Bonar spent one season in the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League with the Greater Vancouver Canadians then made the jump to the BCHL where he compiled a 39-15 record and six shutouts over two seasons. He was also tournament MVP for Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge.
"When I made the decision (to go the university route) it just wasn't going to be any school. I was looking be challenged as an athlete and as a student," he explained.
"It has definitely been everything I thought it would be.
Playing at the NCAA Division one level has taken my game a long way. Keeping up with my studies has been difficult but fortunately this school has provided me with a schedule and the resources to succeed."
Bonar is looking to complete his senior season with a flourish to open up opportunities at the next level. He has already attended training camps with the LA Kings and Philadelphia Flyers. He expects to be playing on an amateur contract this spring somewhere in the AHL or East Coast Hockey League.
"That's up to my family advisor on where exactly that's going to be," explained Bonar who doesn't have an agent due to strict NCAA rules. "The last couple of years have been up and down for me so I really want to finish strong.
"I know there will be a lot of opportunities with my degree but the window to play professional hockey is only so big in your lifetime. That's what I want to pursue right now."
