If you’re looking for what Ethan Bear is, he’s a very good Western Hockey League defenceman for the Seattle Thunderbirds, who has played for Canada at the world under 18 championship in Switzerland this past spring and at last summer’s Ivan Hlinka tournament, also wearing the maple leaf.
But if you want to know who Ethan Bear is, he’s the fifth-round Edmonton Oilers’ draft pick who is attending the Oilers prospects camp. He’s also a kid carrying the torch for other aboriginal hockey players, growing up on the Ochapowace First Nation in Whitewood, Sask.
“There’s a great deal of pride in that,” said Bear, who turned 18 the first day of the NHL draft when Connor McDavid was the first name called by the Oilers.