Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Just over a year ago, Ethan Mercer celebrated a Centennial Cup national championship with the Brooks Bandits.
Soon, he will suit up as a member of the MacEwan Griffins, joining the men's hockey squad for the 2023-24 Canada West season, head coach Zack Dailey announced Tuesday.
Mercer joins recently announced recruit Kadyn Chabot on the Griffins' left wing as they look to restock the position following the departure of Brecon Wood and Kobe Mohr this off-season. The 6-foot-3, 201-pound Mercer will bring heavy hockey to MacEwan, filling a need for the Griffins.
"That's something I feel we were lacking last year," said Dailey. "I really liked our skating and our compete level but being hard to play against and wearing other teams down, I don't think we did a great job of that, so I'm trying to bring in guys who can help in that department."
The Slave Lake, Alta. native finished his Junior A career as an assistant captain with the Flin Flon Bombers in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League in 2022-23 and also previously played in the BCHL with the Vernon Vipers.
In total, he has 97 regular season games and 22 playoff contests under his belt in three Western Canadian Junior A leagues, also playing in the AJHL with Brooks and Olds, where he started the 2022-23 season.
"He's played in all three leagues and had success," said Dailey of Mercer. "He's a big body with exceptional character, exceptional work ethic. He's someone who has continued to improve from year to year, so we're really excited to have his work ethic, leadership and compete level on our team."
Prior to his junior career, Mercer rose up through the Whitecourt and Grande Prairie elite hockey streams and finished his minor hockey career with locally-based NAX U18 Prep. His closet is full of eight different jerseys worn since 2016.
"To be someone who has been successful in all three junior leagues says something about his work ethic, his character and willingness to adjust and do what's needed of him," said Dailey.
