It can’t be denied, Nakusp is a hockey town.
While many younger players will be part of the Nakusp Minor Hockey League, few of them will go on to play in the higher leagues, such as Major Midget or Junior A.
Fewer still will play for a Division One university team.
Greyson Reitmeier is one of the few.
Born and raised in Nakusp, Reitmeier got his start on the ice at the age of three when his parents took him out onto a friend’s outdoor ice skating rink. A year later he was learning how to handle a puck.
Through the years Reitmeier has played for a few local leagues, along with some further from home, including playing for both the Midget, Major Midget, and Junior A teams in Trail, where he billeted for three years.
Greyson is now 20 years-old and has been playing hockey full time since he graduated from high school.
When asked when they realized Greyson was so talented in hockey, his parents Paul and Nicolene Reitmeier couldn’t say when the exact moment was.
“Just playing at those levels he was playing at already showed that he was passionate about it,” said Nicolene. “I suppose that was a goal of his, to get to a Division One university, and this year he made sure he did everything to get their attention, and he did.”
Greyson currently plays for the Flin Flon Bombers, based out of northern Manitoba, but he was recently signed to play hockey at Michigan Tech in the U.S.
Unlike minor hockey where players try out for a team, players for Division One universities are scouted through the team’s coach.
“The schools really know the coaches of all the teams, so if they see a player that’s doing well, they’ll contact the coach first and then they ask about the boy and then say ‘Let the boy know,’” said Paul. “It’s not really Greyson looking at the schools, it’s the schools looking at him.”
Several schools were interested in Greyson, including Alaska Anchorage and Rochester Institute of Technology.
While playing for Michigan Tech he will also be taking classes, and has decided to study business.
Though he will be farther away from home, his parents couldn’t be any prouder of him.
“He’s getting what he’s worked so hard for, and we’re really excited for him,” said Nicolene.
