"It was a lot of emotions for all of us.""Maybe if I can phone in to my work, they'll let me stay," Lloyd said, laughing. He re-joined the Canada U18 team following the WHL playoffs, winning a bronze medal at the 2015 World Juniors. As for Monday's game against Arizona, they still have to check in with their lives back in Saskatchewan.Both Lloyd and Geraldine had just gotten back from travelling to Arizona to watch their son play for the Bakersfield Condors, the Oilers' AHL affiliate. 2011-12: Ethan Bear skated for the Pursuit of Excellence bantam team in British Columbia. Seattle finished second in the U.S. Division and reached the second round in the playoffs.
But what Geraldine and Lloyd are most proud of his the way Ethan presents himself to whomever he meets.When Ethan Bear skated out for his first pre-game warm-up with the Edmonton Oilers Thursday night against the Nashville Predators, no one followed him onto the ice.After the game, Geraldine Bear said Ethan was feeling good about where he was at. Ethan Bear. League: Honor: Description: WHL: Bill Hunter Trophy: 2016-17: WHL: West First All-Star Team: 2016-17, 2015-16 Bear scored 13 goals with 25 assists and was +1 with 23 penalty minutes in 69 regular season games for the Thunderbirds. Despite his lack of stature he has the stamina to play a lot of minutes on a nightly basis. Bear is still developing both physically and in terms of his tactical game. He was selected by Edmonton in the fifth round (124th overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft.2012-13: Bear made his WHL debut, skating in one game for Seattle in March following his midget season with the Yorkton Harvest in Saskatchewan.
They try to go see Ethan play every four to six weeks, even when he was with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL.He realizes that achieving his dream to play in the NHL carries with it the hopes of an entire generation of First Nations kids who look up to him."We're proud of the fact that he can influence the youth and share his knowledge and his experience," Geraldine said. In 38 regular season games for Yorkton he scored 7 goals with 28 assists and 30 penalty minutes. Canada defeated host Switzerland in the bronze medal game. His play to this point has been impressive and he has the makings of being a late-round steal.2011-12: Ethan Bear skated for the Pursuit of Excellence bantam team in British Columbia. He was selected by Seattle in the second round (25th overall) in the 2012 WHL bantam draft.Photo: Management overhaul has changed things in Edmonton but Tyler Pitlick, the 31st overall pick of the 2010 draft, has the skill to take advantage of his opportunities this season (courtesy of Rich Lam/Getty Images)Bear is a short but compact skating defender who can move the puck. Everett also played defence, and Lloyd said he was a key part of pushing Ethan to become the hockey player he is today.Originally from the Ochapowace First Nation in southeastern Saskatchewan, Bear is one of six players of Indigenous descent on an NHL roster.They caught Thursday's game, and they'll be in town to watch Saturday's game against the New York Rangers. Playing in all situations for the Thunderbirds in 2015-16, he has logged large amounts of ice time and is among the team leaders in assists and points. "As much as he could be."Lloyd coached Ethan and his older brother, Everett Bear, when they were younger.