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Bombers blueliner has no regrets about choosing Flin Flon

They may come from two different sports, but Flin Flon Bombers defenceman Mason Etter never hesitates to go to his dad for advice. Greg Etter is head football coach at Concordia University Wisconsin, an NCAA Division III school.
Mason Etter

They may come from two different sports, but Flin Flon Bombers defenceman Mason Etter never hesitates to go to his dad for advice.

Greg Etter is head football coach at Concordia University Wisconsin, an NCAA Division III school. He has coached such NFL players as Adam Vinatieri and Troy Vincent.

“I always joke with him saying he thinks he’s a head hockey coach instead of a football coach,” says Mason, who is from Cedarburg, Wisc.

“As a coach, he can pick up on puck movement and systems in the game. It is nice to able to talk about the game with coaches, teammates and a family member.”

As a 20-year-old in his third season with the Bombers, Etter has helped the team get off to a strong 3-0-1-0 start this season (see the latest box scores below).

Bombers head coach and general manager Mike Reagan first heard of Mason through the Concordia University Wisconsin hockey team coaching staff.

Mason had other opportunities to play junior hockey closer to home in the North American Hockey League, but he opted for Canada instead. He has no regrets.

“The best thing about playing for the Bombers is the town,” he said. “Everybody around town supports the team. We can expect an electric crowd every game. The support helps the team tremendously.”

For Reagan, Mason has been a solid addition to the Bombers on and off the ice.

“He is a team-first guy,” said Reagan, adding that Mason does a lot of good things and has offensive ability.

After recording two points in 34 games as a rookie, Mason had 19 in 55 contests last season. The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder had an assist in four games heading into this week’s SJHL Showcase.

Mason certainly comes from an athletic family. His dad played college football while his mother, Sherry, was a university tennis player.

Greg acknowledges the Etters didn’t have a background in the game of pucks and sticks, but that certainly wasn’t an impediment to his oldest son falling in love with the sport.

“Hockey has always been his passion,” said Greg.

Mason said that growing up around NCAA Division I and III hockey helped stoke his fire for the game.

“My father and I went to countless games in Madison watching the [University of] Wisconsin Badgers,” he said. “Concordia University’s home rink is in Mequon, Wisc. which is 10 minutes from my home. Watching all the games at the higher level showed me what it takes to make it at the next level and made me work hard to try to achieve my goal to hopefully play at that level.”

Greg says his son was always a competitive kid, but believes he learned a bit about the competitive side of athletics living with a coach.

“I look at the game a little different than other parents,” he says. “I want to make sure they are paying attention to their coaches. I want to make sure they are giving 100 per cent.”

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