Height: 5’11”
Weight: 180 lbs
Jersey #91
Birthday: November 16, 1998
Previous Team: North Vancouver Wolf Pack (PJHL)
Hometown: North Vancouver, BC
Year: First

Few players get to send off their junior careers in such a fashion.

As captain and a third year player on his hometown team, the North Vancouver Wolf Pack, forward Justin Lee led his team to a PJHL Championship, going 12-2 in the playoffs, a perfect ending to a season that saw them earn first place honours in the regular season with 34 wins.

“We had a really good team last year, deep top to bottom,” Lee says. “It was such a fun run.

“I had just an awesome time winning with all my buddies.”

It’s the kind of ending Lee wants to work towards in his first year with SFU — to help earn SFU’s first BCIHL title since the 2010/11 season.

“I want to help bring one back,” he notes as his goal for the season.

An over a point-per-game player in the PJHL — 21 goals, 37 assists, and 58 points in 36 games last season, with an added 20 points during the PJHL Championship run — he’ll have a chance to be a key part of the SFU offence to get there.

Head coach Mark Coletta likes what he’s seen so far.

“He looks really good. Justin’s definitely a dynamic skater, he handles the puck well, and his vision is very good, so we’re looking at him to play and maybe some penalty killing roles, and give him some opportunities on the [power play],” explains Coletta.

“I’m a pretty fast, skilled player, I like to use my speed to my advantage whenever I’m out there. Not the biggest out there, but I’ll try to get to pucks as fast as I can, and use my teammates well,” Lee says of his own game. “I’m just going to try to use my speed and make an impact whenever I’m out there.”

From an academic standpoint, Lee was excited to go to a “great school academically,” that was also close to home and had a high level hockey program.

“It was an easy choice for me.”

While the transition to playing hockey and studying can be difficult for some, Lee, who intends to join the business program at SFU, already has some experience with that — while he was having the best season of his career with the Wolf Pack, he was also taking courses at Capilano University.

“It’s prepared me pretty well for this,” he shares. “Just knowing how to balance when assignments and tests are coming up, and then playing hockey at the same time, every single day.”

And as the regular season approaches, the former Wolf Pack captain is fitting in well with his new team.

“I’m really excited,” he says. “We have a really good group of guys.

“We’re all excited about the way things are going here.”

When SFU opens the regular season at home on Friday, October 11 versus Vancouver Island University, the game will honour the North Vancouver Wolf Pack. Lee is one of many Wolf Pack alumni to suit up for the SFU red and white, a group that includes current teammate Mitch Ledyard. Puck drop is at 7 pm.

FUN FACTS:
Favorite sport other than hockey? “I like to watch football a lot.”
Favorite hockey player? “I think it’s gotta be McDavid, he’s so skilled and so fast out there.”
Favorite hockey team? Vancouver Canucks
Favorite football team? Seattle Seahawks
Favorite movie? Step Brothers
Favorite food? Steak