Craig McCallum is going to school.
After leading the Prince Albert Raiders in scoring last winter in his final season of junior hockey, McCallum has committed to the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.
The 21-year-old forward from Canoe Lake First Nation finalized his plans in the past couple of weeks, picking the Huskies over other Canadian Interuniversity Sport suitors.
“It’s a good fit,” McCallum said Monday night from his parents’ home on an acreage between Spiritwood and Glaslyn.
“My hockey career is not going to stop right there. I think (the U of S) would be the best place for me to develop and just get better.”
While his long-term goal remains pro hockey, he believes the reputable Huskies program can help him reach that target. He’s familiar with Saskatoon, where he has lived during the off-season, and he already has connections with the U of S roster.
“They’ve got a good program, and they’re going to host nationals two years in a row (in 2013 and 2014), so I don’t know if there’s any place better,” said McCallum, who came to Prince Albert last season after two years with the Edmonton Oil Kings.
“Brenden Dowd was my roommate for two years in Edmonton. He played (at the U of S) last year and he’ll go back again this year. I’ve known him for a long time.
“And a lot of the other guys, too, like (Kyle) Bortis and all the Saskatoon guys, just from playing hockey with and against them.”
The Regina Cougars also showed strong interest in McCallum, who heard from universities in all parts of Canada.
“I kind of already had my mind set on what I was going to do, but I was willing to listen to whatever anyone else had to say,” he said.
The University of Alberta Golden Bears announced last week that 11 more WHL players are headed to the Edmonton school, but they didn’t court McCallum.
“That was kind of surprising,” he said. “It was disappointing, but (Saskatchewan) has a good program, too. I feel comfortable in Saskatoon, close to family still, just like the situation in P.A.”
One of McCallum’s longtime friends, Red Deer Rebels defenceman Cullen Morin of Meadow Lake, has committed to the Acadia Axemen of the Atlantic conference. Morin’s buddy, former WHL goaltender Kris Westblom, plays with the Wolfville, N.S., school and was a first-team conference all-star last season.
McCallum had envisioned playing university hockey on the same team as Morin, but the Raider graduate preferred to stay in Western Canada.
He had good vibes from his correspondence with longtime Huskies coach Dave Adolph this spring.
“We always kept in contact, but he never bugged me,” McCallum said. “Anyone I’ve talked to said he’s a good coach.”
Adolph’s son, Max, plays in the WHL with the Kelowna Rockets.
McCallum scored 72 points, including 45 assists, in 72 games with the Raiders. He was chosen the team’s best defensive forward.
While he’s a quick study on the ice, McCallum expects the transition to university life to include a few challenges off the ice.
“You’ve got to wake up in the morning and go to work, pretty much,” he said with a chuckle.
“We didn’t get to sleep in, in the Dub, but you didn’t have to wake up at 8 a.m. to go to class all day, and then practice. It’s been a while since I’ve been in the classroom.”
And without the comforts of a billet, McCallum anticipates a few growing pains.
“Probably a lot of microwave meals and takeout,” he said.
Not to mention the housecleaning.
“Oh man, don’t even get me started,” he said.
“But it’s time to grow up, I guess.”
