Houston twin boys were drafted into the Western Hockey League and are one step closer to fulfilling their NHL dream.
Josh and Tyler Maser were born and raised in Houston and now, at 15, were drafted by the WHL Prince Albert Raiders.
The twins were in school on draft day, and Tyler says all the boys their age had their phones out, “refreshing every 15 or so seconds” to see who was getting picked.
“The teachers were getting so mad at us that day,” Josh said.
Josh was in Science class when his name came up.
“I wasn’t on my phone when it happened, and then all my friends said ‘Aw, you got drafted!’ and I was like “Oh, cool!” he said. “I was pretty excited.”
Josh was picked in the fourth round, 74th overall by the Raiders.
A day later the family got a call from the Raiders General Manager saying they wanted to sign Tyler too.
“I was pretty happy,” Tyler said. “It’s pretty exciting.”
The draft was the climax of a great bantam hockey season.
The twins started their minor hockey in Houston, coached by their Dad Brian Maser.
But Houston hockey is tier four, so they decided as a family two years ago that the twins and Mom Val would move to Penticton during the winters, so the boys could play tier two hockey.
“We try to make it happen for the kids,” Val said. “If these guys want to play hockey, then we’re going to do whatever it takes to help them get there.”
Val said the boys made the Penticton Junior Vees bantam team very easily, and had an incredible season this year.
“It was a lot faster and people took it a lot more competitively,” Tyler said.
Playing for the Vees under Coach Rob McLaughlin, Tyler said his game really improved.
“I got way faster, I got a better shot and my positioning is better,” he said.
The Vees won tier two Provincials this season and the Kamloops International Bantam Ice Hockey Tournament (KIBIT).
Josh was the top scorer in the Okanagan league and Tyler was third top scorer on their team.
“They were almost unbeatable,” Val said, adding that throughout the season this year, scouts littered the stands every game.
Josh said significant people were Coach Rob McLaughlin and Dad and Houston minor hockey coach Brian.
“And Mom, she left her job and everything just to move down to Penticton with us,” he said.
Josh and Tyler train everyday, making shots in the backyard and hitting the gym or else running behind Val on the ATV.
They’re gearing up for the Prince Albert rookie camp in August.
Josh said going together will probably give them an advantage, since they’ve been playing together their whole life.
“I hope to play in the WHL for five years, and then hopefully get drafted into the NHL,” Josh said. “Canucks or L.A.”
“Anaheim,” Tyler said.
