The Kam River Fighting Walleye now features four players with two different last names.
On the blueline there are Brydon Bell, hailing from Moose Jaw, Sask., and Saskatoon's Liam Bell, and now the Superior International Junior Hockey League franchise features the Sargent brothers from Thunder Bay.
Defenceman Jacob joins younger brother Sam for his final year of junior hockey after being picked up from the Winkler Flyers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League last week in exchange for a player development fee.
Getting to play with his brother was a big reason for the homecoming, Jacob Sargent said.
"It's pretty cool to see him having success here," Jacob Sargent said after the Walleye's 6-2 win over the Fort Frances Lakers on Saturday.
“I [also] believe in this group to win another [Bill Salonen Cup].”
The deal was unveiled last week and Jacob Sargent was able to make his way back to Thunder Bay by the next day and make his Walleye debut this past Saturday.
The older brother collected a pair of assists in four games for the Thunder Bay Kings during the 2020-2021 SIJHL guest season.
Meanwhile, Sam Sargent has scored in back-to-back games, picking up his first SIJHL goal on Nov. 22 at the Fort William Gardens against the Thunder Bay North Stars.
The younger Sargent was happy to help on the scoreboard.
“I don't think I've gone that long without scoring in a couple of years, so it felt good to get one. I've missed [Jacob] at home a lot. I am happy to have him back, he is a big part of my life [and] someone who I look up to a lot,” he said.
When it comes to Jacob, he said that there was a chance for him to stay closer to home and play for the Walleye franchise when they began play in the SIJHL in 2020 but the elder Sargent wanted to see what the experience would be like out of town.
“Winkler had reached out for me to come and I made the team out of camp. I have been there for the past two and a half years and it was a great experience,” Jacob noted. “I like to [think that I am] a pretty big leader. I think that my influence on the younger guys [helps them, and I feel that I contribute to] the good culture here [that will hopefully help the Walleye win another league championship].”
Sam is one of those younger players in the room.
“All the guys are more physical, and you realize that there's a lot of solid players in this league. You have to work as a team at all moments of the game to succeed.”
Despite this being his last year of junior hockey, Jacob admits that the game has been a part of his life for a long time and has no desire for that to change.
