They packed their belongings, said their goodbyes and laced up their skates with one thing on their minds – hockey. To pursue their passion of the game, senior Alex Durand and junior Jack McClelland have moved away from home. While they may have left their families, they have found a family on the ice as a part of the Russell Stover hockey team.
Durand is from the town of Blaine, Minnesota. Last season, he played as a wing for the Blaine High School hockey team. Russell Stover is a AAA Tier 1 hockey team, sought after by players interested in taking hockey to a college or professional level. Durand was no newcomer to high-level hockey as he was a wing for the Wisconsin Fire – a team that played all over the nation and ranked 2nd in the country while he was a member in 2008-2009. While Durand played with the Wisconsin Fire, his neighbor, Michael Shibrowski, left midway through his senior year to play for Russell Stover. Four years later, Durand tried out for Stover, following Shibrowski’s path.
“I was hoping to get away from high school hockey,” Durand said. “I just wanted to try out AAA hockey.”
Last winter, Durand was contacted by Russell Stover coach, Tom Rudrud, who asked him to join the team. Even though opportunity was knocking, Durand decided not to join at that time.
“At the time, although honored by the invitation, we were not ready to have Alex leave home,” Alex’s father Jamie Durand said. “Alex wanted to go but was understanding of our wishes. Alex never gave up on the desire to play for Russell Stover, and as spring drew near he began asking if he could try out for the team for the upcoming year.”
The following July, Alex tried out for the Stover hockey team. A few days later he was told he made the team. Rewarded by his patience, he was ready to play.
“Our thoughts and feelings at the time we found out were very mixed,” Jamie said. “We were excited for the opportunity this gave Alex, yet we shed a tear or two about his leaving home. I think most parents are close to being emotionally and mentally prepared that when their child graduates from high school they will be leaving home, this came a year earlier than that.”
After the final preparations were made, Alex moved in with fellow Russell Stover teammate, senior Garrett Becker and his family. As a new member of the team, Alex has enjoyed having teammates of high skill levels from different areas, forming a well-balanced team.
McClelland is originally from Toronto, Ontario. He has moved across North America due to his father’s job as a hockey coach. From Toronto, he moved to St. John’s, Newfoundland then Mississippi and Colorado, his family now lives in Wichita, Kansas. With each town came a new team; before Stover, McClelland played for the Wichita Warriors hockey team. He received a call from the coach of the Stover hockey team, who was looking to recruit him. After the decision was made, he moved to Overland Park. He now lives with his fellow teammate, sophomore Brant Millerborg. McClelland’s love for hockey comes from an inspiration his father has instilled in him.
“I want to follow in my dad’s footsteps and get far into the sport I love,” McClelland said.
His father, Kevin McClelland, played in the NHL for the Edmonton Oilers. During his time as a player, the team won four Stanley Cups (1984, 1985, 1987 and 1988).
“I was very impressed with Jack’s decision to chase his dream and also proud of him for having the courage to start all over again in another city,” Kevin said. “Living with a host family, going to a new high school, making new friends, and living life so far away from his family, that’s not an easy thing to do.”
Durand finds that being away from home has added an edge to his game, making him focus on hockey. He hopes to pursue hockey at a D1 college or play for the United States Hockey League. He will live with the Becker family for the duration of his senior year. As a junior, McClelland will be staying with the Millerborg family for the remainder of the school year. He is considering staying for his senior year to play for Stover again.
“I feel like this decision is definitely going to impact my life, “ McClelland said. “I mean, I miss my family a lot and moving away at 15 is hard, but maybe later on in life this decision will be for the better.”
