Hebert commits to Fredonia State University

Dylan Hebert recognizes the importance of a fresh start.

In fact, without his, he likely wouldn’t have landed an even bigger one.

The 21-year-old defenceman from Bonnyville, Alta., had a short stint with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Waywayseecappo Wolverines, but it was certainly still long enough for him to land a gig at the college level after committing to Fredonia State University out of New York to play NCAA Division III with the Blue Devils for the 2026-27 season.

“It feels great to get it done,” said Hebert, who will study accounting at Fredonia. “It was definitely in the back of my head for the last three weeks here, so it was kind of down to the nitty-gritty, it felt like now or never because you have to apply for school, do all that kind of stuff, so I had this little sit down with my family, played the pros and cons with which school would be the best fit and it was Fredonia.

“Honestly, Wayway I feel like helped me a lot in securing that so I’m thankful I got to go there and now don’t have to worry about what I’m gonna do for hockey next year. It’s set in stone and I get to go to school as well and make life out of it so I’m pretty stoked.”

Hebert’s arrival to the Wolverines was as late as it could have been in his junior career.

He spent his first three seasons and the start of his senior year in a dream, playing for his hometown Bonnyville Pontiacs of the Albert Junior Hockey League. The five-foot-10, 155-pound blue liner notched just four assists in 40 games for a team that eventually went onto reach the North Division final after they defeated the Whitecourt Wolverines in five games.

So while it may have been hard to lock down meaningful minutes, Hebert said he was still enjoying his time considering it was with his hometown squad.

“Playing for my hometown team, it is what I dreamed of my whole life basically playing and growing up, so it was honestly a no brainer being there,” Hebert said.

Over the next few seasons, he’d go onto earn more trust of the coaching staff and expand his role, but the cost was playing on a less competitive team. The Pontiacs organization held itself to high standards, though, so when those expectations weren’t met, change was almost guaranteed.

The coaching carousel appeared to be endless, as Hebert and his teammates ended up going through six coaches in just four seasons. In his last year, the frequent changes proved to be too much for their homegrown talent, as Hebert asked to be moved just three games into the campaign.

“I wasn’t happy with the way things were going, so I asked out,” Hebert said. “With all the turnover, you didn’t really have time to settle in. It was basically always a tryout every year, so last year came about and it just wasn’t fitting for me.”

Hebert moved one province over to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League to play for the Warman Wolverines, a move that appeared to be a good one at that time and could have been if not for an unfortunate injury.

The slick skating offensive defender appeared in just four games for Warman before he dislocated his shoulder thanks to a blind side hit, which sidelined him until January. Hebert did physio once a week and still managed some off-ice training, but the mental toll of not playing for his new team was beginning to sting more every day.

“Mentally, it was tough just knowing the first half I had and how much of a negative impact it had on me,” he said. “It’s my last year in junior, so I had high expectations going in so for it to go the way it did was just frustrating, for sure.”

Then he was thrown a lifeline.

Warman wasn’t doing so hot leading up to the trade deadline, so they quickly directed their intention to shipping off assets for futures. And Hebert, who still hadn’t returned to the lineup yet, was one of the casualties, as he was traded to Wayway for a player development fee.

Hebert wasn’t shocked by the move, but rather excited to get another shot at going out on a high note. And luckily for him, Wayway was the best case scenario to accomplish that.

His first game back from injury was with the Wolverines and in 22 contests, Hebert tallied two goals and five points, but more importantly locked down a balanced line of attack alongside partner Adam Chipelski of Foxwarren. The Wolverines placed third in the West Division with a 29-24-5 record and then went onto upset the Dauphin Kings in a four-game sweep during the first round of the Turnbull Cup playoffs, which was the franchise’s first ever playoff round victory.

Hebert added one goal and three points in the series, before his club was eventually stopped by the Niverville Nighthawks, who won the MJHL title and the Centennial Cup as well a few weeks ago.

While Hebert admitted it would have been amazing to see it through all the way, he’s grateful for the opportunity head coach Landyn Cochrane gave him in the first place.

“Everything about it was just great to be honest,” Hebert said of his time in Wayway. “I have all great things to say about them and it was great noticing just from being there I was a completely different player compared to earlier that year. It was the best second half of hockey I’ve ever played, so it was a real positive experience and the playoffs were just awesome too.

“We had a fan bus for playoff and in Dauphin after we won it was insane with all the fans. I’d only been to playoffs once and it was my first year in Bonnyville and I never had it again after that so it was nice to play playoffs again and just see the buy in from everyone.

“Everyone wanted it, there no bystanders whatsoever, so it was great to be a part of.”

After Hebert’s short, yet successful tenure with Wayway, his stock no doubt went up. He even admitted it’s what likely got him his deal with Fredonia, even though they had interest in him before he event arrived in Manitoba.

“They probably didn’t know what I was capable of after my injury, so it was nice to be in Wayway and show what I can do out there,” Hebert added.

Hebert will now play under head coach Jeff Meredith, who has led the Blue Devils since 1988. His club posted disappointing results last year, going 4-21-1 overall and 4-13-1 in the State University of New York Athletic Conference last season, but are expected to be a significantly tougher out beginning in the fall.

Hebert already knows a few guys on the roster from his time in the AJHL, but his most familiar teammate will be a familial one in cousin Carson, who also committed for next season following three seasons in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.

“We’re gonna be living together in the same downstairs suite, so that’s pretty cool,” Hebert said. “It definitely takes a weight off my shoulders just not knowing how my roommates will be, so it’s easy knowing that I know someone can be a best friend to me as and live with me too, so it will be great.”

As Hebert now enters a new chapter in his life, on and off the ice, he’s looking forward to just soaking up the opportunity as much as possible — with no regrets.

“I’m just excited for the experience.

“You only live once and you only get to do this probably once in a lifetime as well, like you’ll only get to go to school in the States for four years and make the most of it, so experience as much as you can and go through life knowing you did something instead of wishing you did do something. That’s kind of what I’m doing here, so I’m just hoping that I get experience and know that I tried it and if I don’t like it, then at least I know I tried it.”

» mdelucataronno@brandonsun.com