Rookie won't cower to convictions

Faith based blueliner

Sep 14, 2022 | 11:00 AM

Standing firm in his faith.

That is the challenge facing sixteen-year-old Ismail Abougouche in his first season in the Western Hockey League with the Kelowna Rockets.

Abougouche is Muslim and doesn’t shy away when asked about his Islam faith.

“In Islam, we can not drink alcohol, consume drugs or eat pork”, Abougouche told RocketFAN. The boys (teammates) know that and are very respectable and aren’t pushing me.  They respect my beliefs and I am very thankful for that.”

An estimated 2 billion people practice Islam around the world, with it being the second largest religion in Canada behind only Christianity.

“Some people may try to convince me to do something I know is wrong. I take pride in my religion, so I am not easy to manipulate,” Abougouche added.

The soft-spoken d-man from Lac La Bishe, Alberta isn’t the first Kelowna Rockets player to hold steadfast to his belief system.

J.J Hunter of the country music band – The Hunter Brothers – was open about his Christianity while playing here. Goaltender Josh Lepp didn’t shy away from the topic, nor did defenceman David Schulz.

While Abougouche practices kindness with those he encounters, it doesn’t mean he is a pushover on the ice.

“If you have a little battle with a few chirps, that’s ok,” he said with a chuckle. “It is a competition. I want to win. If you have to get into a guys head, so be it. I need to rough guys up. That is my game.”

Growing up a two hour drive north of Edmonton had its challenges. It required long trips to practice when his minor hockey days were over.

“In pee-wee, I left (home) and played in Bonnyville, Alberta. In bantam, I drove two hours – one way – four days a week to practice in Fort Saskatchewan.”

Abougouche’s father, Monear, was instrumental in introducing him to the game of hockey. While his dad was a sub-par goalie, the younger offspring gravitated to the blueline.

“I am trying to play solid, shutdown defence. I will try to supply some offense and get some power play time next year or the year after that,” Abougouche said.

Now in grade 12, getting used to Kelowna Secondary School, which has an eye popping two thousand students, takes some getting used too. Back home in Lac La Biche, if 400 students are walking the halls, that’s considering massive.

The goal is to eventually make it to the NHL. If that doesn’t work out, sports medicine is Abougouche’s back up plan.

For now, it is all about enjoying every moment in a new league, a new city with new teammates and welcoming billets.

“As a 12th round pick, the second to last pick in the (WHL prospects draft) draft, I was expecting to be here for five days. It is a miracle I am still here. I didn’t expect this”, he said with a grin.

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  1. Ali says:

    Great write up and very much appreciated Regan! Go Izzy!

    • Regan Bartel says:

      It was a pleasure telling his story and taking that angle. I love how he doesn’t cower from his beliefs and stands up for what he believes is right. That should be celebrated.