By Jadon Frank

Rookie defenseman Pierre Landry has been having an impact on the Briercrest hockey team this season.

After completing his Junior A hockey career with the Waywayseecappo Wolverines of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, where he played for three seasons, Landry brought his smooth skating and great vision across the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border.

“Playing hockey while working on my business degree brought me to Briercrest,” the native of Winnipeg, Manitoba said.

The Winnipeg Jets fan has found his experience at Briercrest to be a very unique one.

“These are the most polite teammates I have ever had,” the 6’ 2” left handed defenseman said. “I keep them on their toes with curveball sayings and weird anecdotes. We have had lots of fun in the dressing room before and after practice.”

Landry’s favourite professional athlete is Nicklas Lidstrom.

“As a person, my biggest strength is dedication and work ethic,” Landry said. “To the team, I bring uniqueness. On the ice, I bring speed and good puck movement.”

Head coach Dalton Stoltz has been impressed by what Landry has brought to the team this season.

“Pierre has a great head for the game,” Stoltz said. “He sees the ice very well, he makes simple plays and he knows how to create offense.” 

Landry, whose favourite class at Briercrest is accounting, has simple goals as a student-athlete.

“My goals are to get the best grades as I possibly can and work as hard as I can on the ice. I want to have no regrets.”

Coach Stoltz looks forward to seeing Landry grow over the next several seasons.

“Pierre has a bright future in a Briercrest jersey,” Stoltz said, “and I look forward to him continuing to develop as a player and a man.”

Though only in his first year at Briercrest, Landry is already thinking through different options for after he graduates.

“After Briercrest I would like to continue playing hockey oversees,” Landry said. “If not, I would like to return to Manitoba and start a business or run some sort of business; possibly look at obtaining a trade. The possibilities are endless when you live in Canada! If money was not a problem, I would start a contracting business and head oversees to play a little puck and see the world.”

Landry’s favourite quote is “to strive, to seek, to find and not to yield,” and if he could do anything to change the world it would be to “stop war and help countries in need.”

 “The greatest moment in life is every time I get to spend with my friends and family,” Landry said. “They’re a bunch of beauties. My family always steers me in the right direction, allowing me to make my own choices, good or bad.”