The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Dallas Fidierchuk's surreal experience of playing in front of friends and family as a Flin Flon Bomber was short. The defenseman's career in a maroon and white jersey started in 1998/99 and lasted midway through the 1999/00 season. The stay was short-lived because the team also had Dustin Ernest, Ben Lulushnyk, Marvin Foth, Davor Durakovic and Arland Eliason for a d-core. "Growing up, I always went to games with my parents and it was always a dream to play for the Bombers," Fidierchuk said during a phone interview from Regina. "I saw the writing on the wall," he said, when it came to being traded. "Coming to a team with talented defensemen, it was just a tough position. I wasn't going to get the chance to play." Heavy Evason, director of hockey operations at the time, provided him with that chance when he told Fidierchuk that OCN, Nipawin, Estevan and Melfort were interested. He decided Estevan was the best fit for him. Being traded wasn't easy, especially because the team hosted the RBC Cup the following year. "It was definitely disappointing not playing in the RBC," Fidierchuk explained. "Seeing guys not playing, that's where I would have been." Like the majority of players taking the Junior A route, he wanted an NCAA scholarship. "I had lots schools interested," he said. "There was talk with 15 to 20, but I never got offered more than half a scholarship." To him, it wasn't fair to ask his parents to cover the remaining costs. What he regrets is not considering Division III schools. "I was looking at all or nothing," he said. Fidierchuk still plays hockey at the senior level, which pays $200 a game. Playing in 20 games lessened his need to work at Brewsters Restaurant as he attends the University of Regina, earning his Bachelor of Kinesiology degree and majoring in sports administration. "I want to stay in Regina and live with my girlfriend of two years," he said. "It's relatively cheap to live in the city." Just six classes away from completing his education, Fidierchuk would like to work with the SJHL. He has spoken to SJHL president, Laury Ryan, about future employment with the league and has also made other contacts in the city for other options. Fidierchuk has also worked for Hockey Canada. "As a player, you never want out of the loop," he explained. It's understandable why Fidierchuk wants to keep the game in his life, as it has helped him manage his way through school. "You learn how to perservere through tough things," he explained. "Time management skills definitely help you and it (hockey) forces you to mature faster."
