Game On Magazine 2017 March 2018 | Page 25

D U R A C O ’ S W H L P L AY E R O F T H E M O N T H MARCUS SEKUNDIAK THE PREDICTOR BY CARTER BROOKS Photos by Brandi Pollock, Marissa Naylor and Brandon Wheat Kings BRANDON – The story of Oak Bluff’s Marcus Sekundiak is one Manitoba’s greatest hockey tales from the 2017-18 season. In playing high school hockey for Oak Park in his grade 10 season (2015-16), Sekundiak dressed alongside his older brother Nolan while tearing up the Platinum Division of the Winnipeg High School Hockey League en route to a first-place finish and a city championship banner. Back then, the first- year forward put up an astonishing 41 points in the regular season, and another 10 points in the playoffs – including two goals in the city championship clinching game. Game On Magazine identified Sekundiak as an up- and-coming ‘spotlight player’ back in 2016. It was at that time in which the 15-year- old high-scoring winger produced this goal: “I am hoping that within the next three years I will be playing with the Brandon Wheat Kings,” Sekundiak said. “If that doesn’t happen, I wouldn’t mind lacing up in the MJHL.” Lofty words for a Grade 10 student who hadn’t played a single game of Midget AAA hockey in his lifetime. Fast forward a year-and-a- half and 17-year-old Marcus Sekundiak is now comfortable in his role with the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings. It is, indeed, quite a story. “Looking back on that prediction, it definitely seemed a little far away for sure,” the 5-foot-11, 175-pound winger reflected. “But it’s really nice to have accomplished that goal. It’s a goal I set a while ago and really put my mind to it. Earlier this season I obviously wasn’t playing every game as a rookie, but lately I’ve been doing well and have been finding my place in the lineup.” P L AY OF F E DI TI ON 20 1 8 | G AM E O N | 2 5