When Anthony Ast and Carter Popoff first cracked the roster of the Richmond A1 Atom Blues, little did they know they would still be teammates nearly a decade later at the major junior level.
The 17-year-old forwards with the Vancouver Giants will be on the ice tonight when the Western Hockey League club opens its regular season against the Victoria Royals at the Pacific Coliseum.
Ast and Carter spent five years together playing on very successful teams in Richmond Minor's rep system, then played one season in major midget with the Greater Vancouver Canadians. Remarkably, their paths have crossed once again after Popoff was added to the Giants late last season.
Popoff was initially listed by the Seattle Thunderbirds but thought the B.C. Junior Hockey League might be his best route and asked for his release. He was enjoying an outstanding rookie season with the junior "B" Richmond Sockeyes when the Giants added him to their protection list.
"They had approached me last November and asked me if I was interested," recalled Popoff. "Of course, when the Vancouver Giants ask, you don't want to say no. I was all over it."
They eventually signed him early in the new year and he made his WHL debut as a call-up player in Everett against the Silvertips. Once the Sockeyes had been eliminated from the playoffs, he joined the Giants in time for their post-season run and dressed for six games. Now he's ready for regular duty with a training camp under his belt.
Ast's route to the WHL was more direct. He spent his final year of Bantam with the powerhouse Burnaby Winter Club program and that helped him get selected in the first round of the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft by Vancouver.
After an impressive year at major midget, Ast cracked the Giants roster last season as a 16-year-old. Injuries cut short his rookie campaign by 30 games and the 5-foot-8 centre is looking forward to an expanded role this season.
"When I did play, I thought I played well although my numbers didn't show that," said Ast, who managed 15 points in 42 games.
"I started third or fourth line but was getting more ice time as the season went along.
"It is a pretty big jump but the coaches really help you along so you are ready for game situations. You're playing time is not based on age but how will you play and practice. If you do well you're going to get your opportunities."
The highlight of Ast and Popoff's careers with Richmond Minor was helping the Bantam A1 Blues reach the provincial championship game in 2009.
It was the first time in recent memory a team from Richmond had advanced that far in what is considered the showcase division of minor hockey and is typically dominated by a handful of clubs. The team happened to be coach by Carter's dad Ron Popoff and his older brother Tyson was a key member on the blueline.
"When you looked at teams like Abbotsford and Langley, they had a whole bunch of guys drafted," said Carter. "We weren't the greatest players but we were a close group that stuck together and knew how to win. Those are some of my best hockey memories."
Both players live with billet families and are enrolled at South Delta secondary for their Grade 12 year. Ast had already been attending the Tsawwassen school after enrolling in its hockey academy for his Grade 10 year. Popoff had been going to McNair secondary.
A typical day will see them leave school at 1 p.m. to practice at the nearby Ladner Leisure Centre.
"They want to keep everyone close like a family," explained Ast. "It's nice to still be so close to home. My one year in Burnaby was just to get seen a little more. "My roots have always been in Richmond and I still think of myself as a Richmond boy."
