Former Selkirk Steelers goaltender Cole Plowman is set for the next chapter of his hockey career.
After finishing his junior hockey career with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Steinbach Pistons in 2023-24, Plowman has committed to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks in Division One of the NCAA.
“It was very quick; it happened within a couple of days,” said Plowman on Thursday morning. As soon as I was given the opportunity, I jumped all over it.”
The Nanooks staff approached Plowman in late April ahead of Game Four of the Pistons Turnbull Cup series against the Winkler Flyers.
At the time, Plowman was still in the midst of his best season in the MJHL, one in which he only lost six games over 39 contests while posting a 1.81 goals against average and a .934 save percentage, along with four shutouts.
Back at the beginning of the 2023-24 season, Plowman knew he wanted to play Division One college; now, as the summer progresses, he is getting ready to head out to snowy Alaska for his first year of college.
“My whole offseason plan the year before was to leave it all out there because I had an up-and-down year before, and I knew I wanted a Division One scholarship,” said Plowman. I knew I had to leave it all out there, and hopefully, I’d receive something, and that’s what happened. I can’t really thank my team enough, especially my coach Paul Dyck and his staff. They’re so helpful there in Steinbach and really allowed me to excel.”
Plowman got his start in junior playing for the Steelers between the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons, where he suited up in 32 games.
During those years, he spent summers training with Evolution Hockey in Winnipeg, where he continues to train even this summer.
Now that he is a member of the Nanooks, he has taken on additional off-ice training to help him prepare for the grind of college hockey.
He said it’s been a busy summer getting ready.
“They set me up with an off-ice program, so I’ve been in the gym basically four to five times a week with two days off,” said Plowman. It’s been a couple of phases of some really hard stuff. At the beginning, it was more conditioning, almost circuit-type things, and it’s taxing on the body but really good. Now it’s more of a strength phase, just trying to build strength and power before we get up there.”
Plowman will head to Alaska on Aug. 20 for the beginning of the school year and training camp.
Though he has yet to visit campus, he already knows what life will look like up North through conversations with coaches, teammates, and a few MJHL alumni.
“I know a couple guys,” said Plowman. “Trent Penner (former Winkler Flyer), who I played against in the finals, is going to be my roommate actually in the first year, so it’s going to be pretty funny. I know our captain this upcoming year; he played in Steinbach a couple of years ago, Braden Birnie. He’s been so welcoming to me and the other freshman. All vets honestly, they’ve been talking to me and the other freshman, if we need anything they said they can help out with rides when we get to the airport and stuff so I want to go down there and meet them as soon as possible. The coaching staff, seems like a very tight-knit group, and it’s all about bettering yourself, and we’ve had some meetings that have been on being accountable, and doing your part, and the culture they are creating seems very top-notch.”
After playing in 111 games over the past four regular and post-seasons, Plowman understands he likely won’t see as much of a workload to start.
With three goalies currently listed on the Nanooks 2024-25 roster, Plowman said he intends to take the time to prove himself and hopefully land a bigger role once his coaches feel he is ready.
“This first year I just want to prove myself and prove that I deserved the opportunity that they gave me,” said Plowman. “I don’t know if I will get much games or any but I know I want to prove to the coaching staff and my teammates that if I do get called upon this year and next year, that’s my plan, that I will be ready and play at a high level.
Plowman will likely get his first real look in front of fans on Sept. 21 in the Nanooks annual Blue/Gold Scrimmage at Fairbanks Patty Ice Arena.
The club will then play an exhibition game against Grand Canyon University on Sept. 28 at Fairbanks Big Dipper Ice Arena before opening their regular season at home against Penn State University on Oct. 5.
