Edmonton Oilers draft pick Ethan Bear trades hockey stick for ball glove

Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders, Danny Ainge — all three were athletes known for playing two sports at the highest level.

Ethan Bear shrugs off the suggestion that he might follow in their footsteps.

"[Growing up] if there was a ball tournament or a hockey tournament, I'd rather go to the hockey tournament," said the 18-year-old Bear, who was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in this June's NHL Entry Draft but is currently playing softball at the Saskatchewan First Nations Summer Games.

"But whenever I had the chance to play ball with the boys around the community, just with those guys, I'd go play all the time."

The games are taking place this week on the Ochapowace First Nation, about 200 kilometres east of Regina, where Bear was immersed in both sports as a kid.

'Kind of stunned' 

Although he's playing center field this week, during the winter months the five-foot-eleven, 200-pound Bear is an imposing physical presence on the blue line for the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds.

It was his strong defence that got the attention of the Oilers, who chose Bear in the draft's fifth round.

Bear says he almost "blacked out" when he heard his name.

"I couldn't believe it. I was in shock. I was kind of stunned," he said. "I hugged all my family...I couldn't wait to go down and meet all the Edmonton guys."

Bear skated at the team's development camp about a week after the draft with other Oilers prospects, including Connor McDavid, who was chosen first overall.

"I got to practice with him four or five times," said Bear. "He's very good. I think he's as good as everyone says."

Oilers captain and 14-year NHL veteran Andrew Ference also dropped by camp to say hello.

Back to the Thunderbirds

Bear's expecting to head back to the Thunderbirds for at least one more season, but not until the summer games — which feature about a thousand First Nations athletes from across Saskatchewan — wrap up.

While he doesn't want to "pump [his] own tires" Bear admits he's pretty good with a ball glove, even if hockey's where his heart is.

But do those hockey skills translate to success on the diamond? That, says Bear, is up for debate.

"Maybe when I work on things like my slapshot, maybe it helps my bat swing," said Bear. "Maybe that does help, I'm not too sure. I can't honestly tell you."

Along with softball, the Saskatchewan First Nations Summer Games also feature canoeing, archery, golf, and four other sports. They run until Aug. 14.