Peel prepares for real life in Regina

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This article was published 04/04/2020 (1983 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Landon Peel played his junior and post-secondary hockey in Regina, and now he’s settling down in the Saskatchewan capital.

The 24-year-old Virden product wrapped up his fifth and final year with the University of Regina Cougars men’s hockey team. The graduating business student is now looking at job opportunities in Regina, although he admits it’s not the best time to be seeking employment with the COVID-19 pandemic, .

Peel and his girlfriend still plan to make Regina their home for the time-being.

“I must’ve liked it a little bit if I’m going to stay,” Peel said with a laugh.

In his final season patrolling the blue-line with the U of R, he potted three goals and added eight assists for 11 points as the Cougars just missed the Canada West playoffs.

“This was probably the best season out of all of five I played,” Peel said. “We gave ourselves a chance at least. I see the organization, the team moving forward in a positive direction here in the future because of the young guys we have.”

Being a veteran forward was something Peel enjoyed, he got to provide guidance to some of the younger players on the team. Canadian university hockey teams usually have a wide range of ages, from 21 to 26.

“Being the older guy you understand what guys have gone through,” he said. “It was my fifth year so I’ve seen a lot. I’ve seen a lot of different guys. I’ve seen a lot of different guys in the league let alone my team. It was pretty awesome, actually, to be one of the older guys.”

In 130 career U Sports games, Peel put up 47 points (11g, 36a) and 71 penalty minutes. Peel played 140 career games in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League with the Swan Valley Stampeders and Portage Terriers, and the MJ was just one stop in his long junior career.

Peel is a product of the Southwest U18 AAA Cougars program and was drafted 50th overall by the Regina Pats in the Western Hockey League bantam draft in 2009.

Peel played five games in the WHL in the 2010-11 season before finishing the campaign in Swan Valley as an MJHL all-rookie teamer.

Peel played in the 2011 under-17 World Hockey Challenge with Team Canada West, skating alongside the likes of former Brandon Wheat King Ryan Pulock and Brandonite Brayden Cuthbert. Peel notched one assist in five games as Canada West finished in sixth at the tournament in Portage la Prairie.

The rearguard played 19 games with Regina the next season, before heading back to Swan Valley where he notched 11 points in 20 games. In 2012-13, he started the year with the Stamps and ended up finishing the year with the Kootenay Ice, who now play in Winnipeg.

Peel played the entirety of 2013-14 with the Ice, skating in 63 games and recording 20 points. As a 21-year-old, Peel returned to the MJ to skate with the Portage Terriers. The Terriers had acquired his rights from the Dauphin Kings who traded for his rights from Swan.

There, Peel and the Terriers went on to win the MJHL title and the national Junior A championship in 2015.

“Finishing off my junior career by winning the RBC (Cup) was probably one of the ones I’ll remember most about my junior career,” Peel said.

Playing in the picturesque city of Kootenay, in the mountains with some good players, was something Peel also holds as a highlight in his junior career.

Following his time in junior, playing post-secondary hockey in Regina seemed like a natural fit. It was close to home and he was familiar with the city from his time with the Pats.

“I had good conversations with Todd (Johnson) our coach,” Peel said. “Thought this was the best opportunity for me to come in and play right away. I got that opportunity from day one. I have no regrets. I’m happy with my choice to come to Regina.”

Peel’s junior career was long and he never really sure where he was going to play each year. He said it was a bit frustrating at times, but in the end he enjoyed every minute of it.

“I would say all in all it was awesome,” Peel said. “I’ve met so many great people, so many great people because I’ve been on that many teams.”

In all the communities he played in, Peel said he noticed the passion of the fans as something that stood out to him.

“Most communities and cities love having a junior hockey team within,” he said.

The other constant was the camaraderie built amongst the boys in the locker room. Peel felt welcome in any dressing room he stepped into.

“You’re always going to find a great group of guys,” he said. “When it comes to the end of the year you don’t really want to leave.”

He said his hockey career leaves lasting memories. Peel will easily be able to say he was a team player when handing out resumes to prospective employers this spring, as he knows what it takes be a good teammate.

However, a real world, office team is a lot different than 25 boys on a bus heading to Saskatoon for a road game.

“There’s lots of team environments but there’s nothing quite like a hockey team,” Peel said. “Especially when you’re practising everyday together, you’re spending every weekend together. In junior, you’re spending every minute together because there’s not much else to do. I think just that stuff. Being able to call a guy up any day at whatever time and just hangout and be around whatever 25 guys.”

» rstelter@brandonsun.com

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