Zach Wittenburg is appreciating the comforts of home these days.
The hockey journey is nearly finished for the Chestermere player, but he certainly appreciates the opportunity he’s had to be back with his family over the last three seasons with the SAIT Trojans.
His parents might not care for it as much though, as the petroleum engineering student gets home late and leaves early every day in order to do both school and hockey at SAIT.
“I might be more or less just a burden,” Wittenburg said with a laugh.
“I eat and sleep at the house. I probably cost them more money I think.
“It’s nice being at home. I help out a bit. They know what it’s like because they went through the whole school thing as well.”
Wittenburg has played a steady role with the Trojans defence this season, helping the men’s hockey team fight for a playoff position in the ACAC.
He knows for sure this is it for his competitive career though. After this school year finishes, he’s transferring to the University of Wyoming to complete his degree and then hopefully enter the working world in oil and gas.
He would like nothing more than to finish on a high note and a championship, something his team hasn’t accomplished in his time with the Trojans.
The end of the season is nearing, and so is the realization that a part of his life will be finished.
“I’ve played hockey my whole life,” said the 23-year-old. “You take the junior years for granted and now with school … I have a month and a bit left and I won’t play hockey like this again. In that aspect it’s tough. It likely won’t hit me for a bit. I’m looking forward to the future though.”
After playing hockey around Chestermere, Okotoks and Strathmore, Wittenburg left home at 18 to join the Fort McMurry Oil Barons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. He made great friends in three seasons there but the area left an impression on him, and that’s how he ended up at SAIT.
“It sparked my interest in oil and gas,” Wittenburg said. “My dad has a lot of friends in the oil and gas industry. They would talk about it a lot. Being around Calgary, it’s the main hub.
“When I was up there I toured the sites there. I got interested more and more. It hit me that I should go with it. I absolutely love it. Hopefully the future looks bright. The economy is turning around. Hopefully I get a career after I get my degree here. That’s the plan.”
Over the summer, Wittenburg worked for Canadian Natural Resources and was stationed north of Grande Prairie. The summer job kept his interest growing and he is excited to follow other SAIT Trojans alumni into the industry.
He’s been able to watch others take the path he wants to take, and he feels lucky to have them show him the way.
“It’s cool to see guys downtown working,” Wittenburg said. “You see them in a different setting. Even when they put their serious face on they can still joke around. It’s funny to see.
“It’s pretty exciting thinking it will be you working in a job once you get finished with your education. It’s the main goal going to school. You don’t want to waste this opportunity. You want to get a career out of it.”
Wittenburg looks back at his time with the Oil Barons and laughs about how easy it was to be a full-time hockey player and not a student-athlete.
The experience did teach him a few things about staying humble though. So now he can appreciate how great it’s been to be living at home in Chestermere while getting an eduction and playing for a varsity team.
“Growing up, you realize how much your parents actually do for you and how much they show you how much you take for granted and what you didn’t know you needed,” Wittenburg said.
“One of the things I always say to my parents is ‘The older I get the smarter you guys get.’ When you are a kid you think you are the smartest person in the world. I stand by those words pretty strongly.”
