Content Provided By: Dave Anthony – Voice of the Steinbach Pistons
20-year-old defenseman Parker Jasper has announced his commitment to Augsburg University for next season.
“I was talking to a few schools down in the States and Augsburg kind of came out of nowhere,” explains Jasper. “It seemed like a pretty good school, so I started to learn more about them. They told me a few other things and shot me an offer. I had some conversations with my advisors and my parents, explained the situation to them and then decided to take it. I couldn’t be happier.”
Used to making decisions under pressure on the ice, the 2023 Turnbull Cup champion says this process was a bit more stressful. “It’s been on my mind the last month or so, ever since I’ve been home, it’s what I’ve been thinking about. My mom tried to tell me not to rush it and you try not to but can’t help it, you want to get it done and know what you’re doing next year. It’s about trusting the process. I’ve been pretty stressed out the last two weeks but now, I couldn’t be more excited for what’s next.”
Throughout the season, not having a college commitment can weigh on players, especially in their final year of junior, but Jasper says it wasn’t something he ever focused on. “It may have been in the back of my mind, mainly when you get into playoffs, but my main thought is all about winning, helping the team, and what we need to do as a group to be successful. The rest of the stuff will figure itself out.”
When Jasper was brought to Steinbach midway through the 2022-23 season, he came in as a 19-year-old who had a ton of games under his belt, so he never got the rookie treatment. That will change with Augsburg and the now rookie blueliner couldn’t be more excited about it. “Honestly, I’m so excited to be a rookie again,” he says with a big smile. “I love playing when I’m one of the youngest guys, I feel that’s when I’m at my best. I like to show what I got and show off a bit of what I can do. I love being the young guy and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Many of the 20-year-olds from last year remain in almost constant contact and Jasper says the outpouring of support from recent teammates or even past teammates over the year is something that he cherishes. “It means everything. When something like this happens, it’s not something that happens every day, the number of texts you get from guys you played with when you were 16,17, or 18 years old to whatever year, it’s crazy to see. It’s just a hockey family. The friendship you make on teams is something you can’t look past, you make life-long friendships. They’ll text and say congrats and that we gotta get together, it’s just amazing to see.”
On top of the support from former teammates and coaches, Jasper says the community of Steinbach and area is something he won’t ever forget, and he can’t wait to get down to his new team to tell stories of how hockey crazy southeastern Manitoba is. “The people are just so unbelievable. When we moved to La Broquerie, we were maybe expecting a half-full barn, we were not sure if people would come to us who’d travel to see us… then we get to the home opener, and it’s just packed. Pistons fans are the best. The outpouring of support is second to none. They support us all year long, not just in playoffs. Home games or away games, you’ll always see a few Pistons fans in the crowd. Even when we moved to Niverville for the finals, it was crazy to see and it’s something not a lot of junior cities get. With Steinbach, we know we’re lucky and we all appreciate it so much.”
In the old TG Smith Centre, in the VIP room, there were framed photos of the players who wore a Pistons jersey and then went on to various levels of hockey. For Parker Jasper whose photo will hang in a similar capacity in the new Southeast Event Centre, it’s something that will forever be an honor. “If you look at that wall, there are probably 50 names you’d recognize for having an impact on the team and in the community. It’s a crazy thing to think that I’ll be up there with so many amazing players and people who moved on to continue their journey. It’s going to be cool when I get to go back there one day and see my picture on that wall with them.”