The La Ronge Ice Wolves were in the midst of an exciting first-round playoff series versus the Yorkton Terriers when the SJHL season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March. 

The Ice Wolves had five players from the United States on their roster who had to make their way home to America, which leads the world in coronavirus cases. 

Forward Grant Longtin was one of those players who made the long trek south. Longtin is from Bourbonnais, IL, which is near Chicago. 

“My town, it’s pretty bad, the county I’m in has the most cases in my state, so everybody is taking it pretty seriously here, staying indoors, not really going out at all, just kind of getting time in with the family, only going out if you need groceries,” said Longtin. “A lot of people are getting pretty scared about this stuff because it’s hurting everybody — all ages pretty much. It’s a pretty big deal out here.” 

Longtin adds that he has been working out at home and watching old NHL games to keep hockey on his mind. 

Defenceman Rowan Barnes is from Denver, CO. Barnes was in his first season with the Ice Wolves and he says he was already on his way home before the border closed to non-essential travel. 

“We drove through Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota, so going through those desolate places, it wasn’t really bad,” said Barnes. “I was already on my way down to the border when Canada and the U.S. released a statement about restricting the border, so I was ahead of that. Once they kind of closed down the border somewhat, I kind of realized how serious it was getting.” 

Stewart Pond, Daylon Mannon and Max Kleiner are the other Americans who finished the season with the Ice Wolves this year. 

(PHOTO: Grant Longtin. Photo courtesy of Brandon White.)