The Whirlwind Junior Hockey career brings Devin Pimm back to his family roots

Hockey can take you to all sorts of places you never imagined. For Devin Pimm, whose younger hockey career has taken him to opposite sides of the country, his latest stop is a new place for him, but not for his family’s roots.

Pimm changed from Grand Falls Rapids to Grande Prairie Storm earlier this summer, moving from the MJAHL team from New Brunswick to AJHL. In the process, Pimm lives for the first time in an area of ​​peace from which much of his family comes. Grandfather Larry still lives here, Father Bernie was born here, and he has an aunt and uncle who live in Grande Prairie.

“I’m really excited about it. When I heard Grande Prairie had a chance on what I was excited about. I have a family at St. John’s Castle, I was there too long ago and spent a week there,” Pimm said.

“I’ve never lived there in person, but as I grew up it always felt at home. It feels familiar, and I’m excited to come back close.”

Devin grew up in Kamloops and Vernon with his parents before they moved to Ottawa. He spends the summer in Stanstead, Quebec, practicing at Stanstead College, where his father Bernie teaches.

“We’re pretty excited about it. I’ve been friends since high school with people there for a long time, a lot of family is still there. (Devin) still has a lot to do, it’s always competitive in junior hockey, but I know he puts his best food forward,” Bernie said.

“The storm suits him well, for the young man he’s a huge leader and I think he has a good impact on the guys there.”

Pimm had stops in Bonnyville, Hawkesbury and Penticton before he settled in the Grand Falls for a year and a half. The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted his first season in the Rapids series, like last season, but his 23 games, played in the 2020-21 season, were far more than his younger hockey friends Alberta and BC were allowed to play.

“They had shorter seasons than I did, yeah, but this is kind of a new, new start for everyone. It’s the first legitimate season in a year and a half and a chance to play meaningful hockey,” Devin said.

“Personally, I know there is nothing guaranteed in junior hockey, so I make sure I go into every situation in mental health to be the best, do my best to get the team and strengthen the role and see what happens. No one really knows what to expect this year, but it’s really exciting. can expect me to get back on track and see how everything works. “

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