Billy Crawford is heading into his fifth and final year of eligibility for college hockey. This will be his third season with the Clippers.

Crawford came to Briercrest after spending two years at the University of Alberta, where he was a member of the track and field team. Crawford grew up in Taber, Alta., with his parents, Jim and Janice. Crawford has an older sister and brother-in-law and a younger sister and brother.

He attended W.R. Myers High School and played hockey for the Taber Golden Suns AA Midget program.

Crawford is an all-around great athlete, having excelled in both track and field and hockey before coming to Briercrest. He won high school provincial medals in the 400 m, 800 m, and 3000 m races. He was also top ten in scoring and a league all-star for his Midget AA team in Taber.

While at the U of A, Crawford placed top five in the Canada West 600 m race and finished 12th in the country in Canadian Interuniversity Sport track and field.

For Crawford, a couple of highlights from his time at Briercrest stand out: playing on a team with his little brother for the first time and making the ACAC hockey playoffs two years in a row.

Crawford's favourite moment, though, is his assist on a game-winning goal in the team's 2009 playoff run.

Overall, what he enjoys most about Briercrest hockey is “the opportunity to play competitively after high school ... traveling and hanging out with the team and playing for the glory of God—something I’ve never seen an entire team do before,” he said.

Crawford chose Briercrest because he wanted to play on a team with his younger brother, John, and had heard a lot about the school from friends and family.

“I thought it would be a great place to grow in my faith and find good Christian friends while competing at a high level of athletics,” he said.

Crawford is enroled in the AA in Biblical Studies at Briercrest and says that outside of hockey, he really enjoys the classes and what he is learning from the great professors and leaders at the school.

“I enjoy the incredible professors and men of character who are willing to share their knowledge and friendship even outside of the classroom—namely my mentor, Cal Macfarlane.”

When not on the ice or in the classroom, he loves to play any and all sports, watch movies, and hang out with friends. After his time at Briercrest is done, Crawford plans to complete a civil engineering degree in Calgary.

Crawford is looking forward to enjoying his last year of college hockey and being a veteran leader on this year's Clipper team.

“I can still rock a spandex one-piece suit like no other hockey player/track runner I know!” he claimed in spite of his veteran status.