North American Hockey League


Hebda brothers eye college opportunities B


By Matt Mackinder


uster and Jake Hebda haven’t played on the same


team in four seasons, but, this year, the twins from Frederick are enjoying their final cam- paign of junior hockey reunited


with the Minot Minotauros. The Minotauros, a North Dakota-based expan-


sion team in the North American Hockey League (NAHL), were mired in the lower echelon of the league standings entering the New Year, but that hasn’t deterred either Hebda from staying positive and seizing the opportunity to showcases their at- tributes in the Tier II Junior A circuit. “Our team is very talented and we have some


great players, but I guess we’ve just been unlucky,” said Jake, a goaltender, of Minot’s misfortunes this year. “It’s been a learning experience - that’s for sure - and hopefully we can turn things around in the second half and finish strong.” “We’ve been in every game we’ve played,” added


Buster, a forward and one of the Minotauros’ leading scorers. “But, regardless of our record, I will say that playing in Minot and playing in the NAHL has been a very positive experience.” Both junior hockey veterans, the 20-year-olds share a billet home in Minot and both agreed the


Buster Hebda, left, and twin brother Jake are teaming up for their final seasons of junior hockey together with the first-year Minotau- ros. Photos/NAHL


“It’s been fun and I wouldn’t trade this year for


anything,” said Buster. Growing up in Colorado, the Hebdas played in the


Hyland Hills Hockey Association and for Boulder Hockey Club before going their separate ways once high school hit.


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experience has been nothing short of rewarding, “but we tend to get on each other’s nerves, just like when we were kids,” Jake said. “We’re competitive, but we support each other


to the bitter end, whether it’s hockey or something else,” Jake added.


Being born at the same time, however - Jake is


the older of the two by six minutes - doesn’t mean they’re similar in every which way. “We’re twins, but there are so many ways we’re


different,” said Jake. “Buster is the one who gets up on time and I’m the one that sleeps in and he has to wake up to go to school or practice. “Buster was always the one who studied for two


weeks for a test and I studied the night before and I got the better grade. It’s just funny like that.” With college scouts at most Minot games, both


Hebdas want nothing more than to continue play- ing competitive hockey next year, whether it’s at the NCAA Division I or Division III level. “All we’ve ever dreamed about was playing


D-I,” said Jake. “If I got an offer and Buster didn’t, I wouldn’t think twice about signing it and I know Buster would be right there to be the first one to congratulate me; he’d probably hold the pen for me. “We’ve always been very supportive of each


other and would love nothing more than to see the other have success.” Buster echoed those sentiments, and doesn’t


take for granted the opportunity to skate in the NAHL, which churns out plenty of Division I and professional prospects year after year. “We just want to keep playing hockey,” he said.


“That’s all we’ve ever known and, hopefully, with a strong finish in Minot we get the chance.”


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