Bechtold commits to Clippers

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

After playing a season with the UFA Bisons, Strathmore’s Alex Bechtold started his junior career with the Canmore Eagles in the 2011-2012 season before being bounced around to five other junior clubs.
Upon completion of his junior career in Weyburn this past season, Bechtold earned himself a spot on the Briercrest Clippers come the fall, a place he has familiarity with, with his father John having coached 17 seasons there.
“I obviously grew up watching my dad coach the Clippers for a few years there,” said Bechtold. “I knew a lot of the players and I was just a young guy. I looked up to those guys a lot and being a part of the team now, it’s pretty special.”
The former Strathmore High School student felt the one season with the Bisons was a great opportunity to get noticed and allowed him to play with his younger brother Markson, who laced up for the Spokane Chiefs last season.
“Our team did really well in the Mac’s Tournament,” said Bechtold. “I initially got picked up by Canmore to start my career. I don’t think I would’ve got that opportunity if I hadn’t played on the Bisons because it’s a high level and I got a lot of exposure at the Mac’s Tournament.”
The 6’1″, 185-pound forward is an outdoorsy person who loves fishing, camping hanging out with friends and listening to country music. He said these trades made him a better person and gave him a chance to learn about coaching, which he will consider taking up after his playing career is complete.
“I think it definitely helped me become the man who I am today, just with all the adversity,” said Bechtold. “It’s life. Sometimes things just don’t work out. I spent time in every league in Western Canada, I met some really good people, met a lot of players and a lot of coaches. I think it’s something I want to do in my future is coach and I’ve learned a lot of different systems and how they’re all orchestrated.”
Bechtold highlighted a lot of memories of his ‘road-trip’ across the nation’s western provinces and he reflected on some notable highlights in two stops.
He said that as a 19-year-old, he had a great experience when he was traded to Drumheller in November and finished the season there where the Dragons ended up making it to the South Final but lost. Then this past season he played for the Weyburn Red Wings where he took on a leadership role.
For his leadership qualities, he received the Most Popular Player Award and Most Inspirational.
His father thinks this will be a great place for him to play and hopefully show what his capabilities are on the ice.
“I think it’s a great place for him to play and great place for him to learn,” said John.
“I think it’s really important that he steps up his game. I think he did well in a lot of those junior areas. I think he has an opportunity to really be one of the main players on the team.”
According to John, he thinks Alex can chip in more offensively with the Clippers than he did in junior.
Clippers Head Coach Jamie Ramer is excited to be coaching a second-generation Bechtold and said that he will have to see where he fits until after camp.
“I guess what I’d say I see in him, one of his biggest assets, beyond his skill and experience is just his passion for the game, his passion to win and compete,” said Ramer. “Obviously with his size, he can be pretty potent up front. I guess we’ll see how our training camp goes to see where we’re going to have him this year. I think with his shot and his work in the corners, he can fit into a few different lines.”
Bechtold plans to enroll in education in hopes of being a teacher some day.