Brotherhood of the traveling hockey bag

From the bottom of the bus, to the bottom of a plane, there aren’t many places J.P. Kascsak's hockey bag hasn't been.

Story by Ryan Williams

North Bay is far from home for J.P. Kascsak, a native of Springfield, Virginia, but for him it’s just another stop along the way in his hockey career. Kascsak joined the North Bay Trappers Jr. ‘A’ team half way through this season after being acquired from the San Antonio Diablos.

“I had actually never heard of North Bay ever, I came up here and I felt like I was in Russia because of all the snow,” Kascsak said, laughing.

“In San Antonio I was wearing flip flops and shorts every day, so it was a shock for me when I got up here” he added about the change in climate.

Kascsak had previously lived in Montana when he was younger, where temperatures were cold enough to require a winter jacket, so he does own one, but he didn’t have everything.

“I had to get some winter gear, my dad who lives in Colorado to send some out to me,” Kascsak said, laughing.

San Antonio and Virginia were both too hot to support playing pond hockey on the frozen bodies of water, but it’s something that every hockey player should experience.

“It’s so much fun; it’s different than playing hockey out on the rink, so I love it,”

Kascsak played ‘AAA’ and Jr. ‘B’ during high school, then moved to Boston to play for one year out east, and then moved to play for San Antonio because he knew the coach. Now after his trek around the states he is a part of the North Bay Trappers.

“I want to play the best hockey I can, wherever I can,” adding “I did really well out there, and then North Bay found me, so now I’m here,” he said.

Kascsak has 21 points (14 goals, 7 assists) in 23 games with the Trappers, so he has adjusted well with the new team.

“It’s like a whole new season, you have to meet new people and fit in with them”

Kascsak gives credit to his head coach Ian Swalucynski and the new players for helping him find his stride with the new team.

“Coach Ian put me on a good line, it works out well for me” Kascsak said.

Coach Swalucynski assigned Kascsak to a line of players that would set him up to unleash his shot, something that caught the eye of his new coach.

“He’s got a hell of a shot; he has a big league shot very quick release,”

“He is quiet, but works really hard, he wants to learn” Swalucynski said.

Kascsak admitted to practicing his shot a couple years ago and still takes time to work on his shot. He believes having a good shot helps you put more pucks in the net.

“Sometimes the other players give you the puck last second, to shoot it in,” adding “I think it’s one of the better parts of my game.” Kascsak said.

HOCKEY IN THE SOUTH

The warm states such as Texas and Virginia don’t really have much of a hockey market because take a back seat to professional teams and other sports according to Kascsak.

“Football is huge in Texas” but there is hope for Virginia “Hockey is starting to get more popular there (Virginia) because of the Capitals (Washington),” he said.

After being in markets where hockey doesn’t get much publicity, North Bay makes Kascsak somewhat of a public icon.

“It’s cool actually, being up here in a hockey town,” Kascsak said proudly.

Moving around a lot keeps Kascsak out of his hometown, and out of his house something he has had to experience a lot of his life. He has three brothers at home. On the road he lives with billet families that help him stay full and give him a roof over his head.

“Home-cooked meals are awesome especially being away from home,” after explaining his home-cooked meals he was put on the spot to pick his mothers cooking or his billets. “I would have to say my mom,” he said, laughing.

“I have traveled around since I was a little guy, but yeah, I miss my brothers and my family.”

However a long playoff run and a chance to make it to the Dudley-Hewitt Cup would make this well traveled sniper feel much closer to home.