Douglas taking full advantage of WHL Scholarship program at UBC
Once a leader, always a leader.
Former Red Deer Rebels forward Chris Douglas, who wore an ‘A’ during his final season with the club in 2020-21, now wears the ‘C’ with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds.
Douglas is in his third year at UBC, enrolled in the business program while continuing his hockey career in the Canada West division of U-Sports.
“The reason I chose UBC is because they give you a great opportunity not only to continue to play hockey but also set yourself up for life after hockey,” the Richmond, BC, native told Rebels director of broadcast and communications Troy Gillard during a recent interview.
Douglas, like thousands of graduating WHL players have done over the years, is taking advantage of the league’s scholarship program, which provides students with a year of books and tuition at an institution of their choice for every year they played in the league.
“It’s what the WHL scholarship program does for the players,” he said. “Of course it’s everyone’s dream to sign a NHL contract coming out of the WHL, but that’s not the case for everybody.
“This gives you a chance to still pursue professional hockey and get another aspect of your life sorted out.”
The T-Birds are in the midst of a successful season, currently sitting second in Canada West with a 14-4 record, two points back of the front-running U of Calgary Dinosaurs.
“I’m really proud of the guys on the team. It’s been a really good start to the year,” said Douglas, who is at a point-per-game clip with nine goals and nine assists.
“We have more of a veteran group this year, a similar group. There’s been some bumps on the road but it’s been a good start.”
“One of the great things about UBC is the trajectory of the program has been on the ups,” added Douglas. “The program has been turned around and the guys on the team are carrying it forward.”
Douglas joined the Rebels in January 2017 and played 24 games through the remainder of that season. He went on to play four more seasons with the team, appearing in 250 regular season contests while contributing 43 goals and 98 points.
“It was the day before or the day of the (WHL trade) deadline,” he reminisced. “I signed my (standard education) contract and was in Red Deer within 24 hours.
“I didn’t even know what had happened yet, being that young and away from home. Little did I know that it would be my home for the next five years.”
Douglas looks back at his time in Red Deer with fondness.
“I learned so much in Red Deer, I was taught a lot not only about hockey but how to become a good person off the ice,” he said. “I think it really translated into my school life here. I think Red Deer really prepared me not only to be a good hockey player but a good person.”
His final season was perhaps his most memorable, for reasons other than the game itself. It was the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 bubble campaign in which the team played 23 games over two and a half months while living inside of the Peavey Mart Centrium.
“To be honest, it seems like a bit of a dream when I look back on it. I still can’t believe it happened,” said Douglas. “That’s just the way the world was at that time. We were lucky just to be able to get to play.
“It really makes you thankful for a lot of things in life. The experience definitely built mental toughness for a lot of guys on the team. It was a real bonding experience and the guys who went through it have that memory for the rest of our lives.
“For sure it was an unbelievable experience and obviously a different one with me ending my career with us living in the rink. I was lucky enough to get that 250th game on the dot, the last (WHL) game of my career.
“Everyone says it, but it goes by so much faster than you think. Before you know it it’s your last game so you really have to cherish the time you’ve had.”
Douglas enrolled in the UBC Sauder School of Business later that year and joined the T-Birds.
“This league is a little different than the WHL, you’re playing only 28 games in a season,” he said. “In the WHL it was sometimes three to four games a week, so it’s a little bit of an adjustment for everyone.
“No doubt, it took me a bit to get adjusted to the lifestyle here, coming into university and learning to be a student again.”
Douglas’ teammates during his stint with the T-Birds have included a host of former WHL players including a few childhood friends.
“There’s been a lot of guys I played with growing up,” he said. “I have three to four teammates from my exact midget team. There’s been a lot of familiar faces here and it was nice to have some buddies right off the hop.”
Douglas, who still keeps in touch with several former Rebels teammates, including Dallon Melin, Dawson Barteaux, Josh Tarzwell, Jacob Herauf and Arshdeep Bains, will extend his time at UBC to five years.
During his first two years he was enrolled in the necessary general business courses and this year he’s specializing in finance.
Through the UBC hockey alumni program he earned an internship last year and next summer will work with an accounting firm while continuing to work toward a degree with his off-season studies.
(Photos by Bob Frid/UBC Thunderbirds)