Robinson Leads By Example

December 23, 2011
Posted in Alberta Edition, Minor

By Laurence Heinen /

As a Grade 11 player on the Edge Mountaineers prep boys squad last year, James Robinson tried to learn as much as he could from older teammates like captain Austin Donaldson.

“He was probably the best captain I ever had,” said Donaldson, who helped the Mountaineers win a Midwest Prep Hockey League title in February and a Canadian Sport School Hockey League championship in March.

“Being in Grade 11 last year, being with all the Grade 12s, definitely it kind of showed me the ropes,” Robinson added. “It showed me how to be a leader to the younger guys and what it takes to be that consistent player all the time.”

Now in his senior year, Robinson was appointed as captain of this year’s edition of the prep squad. Head coach Tyler Deis explained that Robinson was chosen for many reasons, one of which is that he leads by example.

“James always plays the same way,” Deis said. “As long as I’ve known James since Grade 6, that guy comes out for every ice time and every game. He never really has a bad game. He always comes out and works hard.”

That work ethic has turned into point production on the ice. Through 12 CSSHL games, Robinson has notched 13 goals and 10 assists to put him in top spot among league scorers just ahead of teammates Cam Amantea (7g, 13a) and Mitch Ferguson (6g, 12a).

While Robinson is listed with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League and affiliated with the Spruce Grove Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, the 17-year-old Cochrane resident said he’s going to keep his options open as to where he’ll play after he graduates from the Edge.

Seeing former Mountaineers teammate and good friend Coda Gordon playing well in his rookie season with the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos has given Robinson confidence that he will be able to succeed at the next level as well.

“I grew up with him since Novice,” Robinson said of Gordon. “To see that you can make that jump and still be successful is really encouraging.”

Previous Story: Mountaineers Rise To Top Of CSSHL Prep Division Standings
Next Story: Hockey Calgary Proposes to Delay Body Checking Until Bantam