Former Kimberley Dynamiter and resident Caige Sterzer has taken the next major step in his hockey career, signing a one-year standard American Hockey League (AHL) player contract with the Hartford Wolf Pack, the affiliate team of the New York Rangers.

READ MORE: Former Dynamiter Caige Sterzer commits to NCAA Lindenwood Lions

When Sterzer last spoke with the Bulletin, he had just signed with the NCAA Lindenwood Lions, where he spent three years, two at Division 1.

From there Sterzer said he wanted an upgrade; to go to a team in a conference with the opportunity to win a championship.

Right when he went into the transfer portal, he was almost immediately picked up by the NCAA St. Thomas Tommies, where he played for two seasons.

He said he had other options on the horizon, but something told him St. Thomas was the place he needed to be, and it wound up being an amazing experience. The team just moved into the brand new $170-million Lee and Penny Anderson Arena, which Sterzer said was “top notch … the best thing you could ever imagine in a college arena.”

During his time at St. Thomas, the Tommies made it to the Mason Cup Championship finals both years, falling just short each time.

”But just being able to play in that sort of game and having that opportunity was amazing,” Sterzer said. “And I think that was a big reason why I was able to gain interest from the NHL level and why I’m here now.”

To say reaching this level represents a lot of work would be a major understatement.

Sterzer, 25, played college hockey for five years and before that played junior hockey every year until he was 20. His time playing with the Dynamiters is already nearly a decade ago. He said the news he’d been signed to the Wolf Pack was amazing and met with a lot of emotions.

“It’s always been a goal of mine to play professional hockey,” Sterzer said. “And I wouldn’t say the the AHL is my ultimate goal — I think my ultimate goal is the NHL, and I hope one day I can prove myself at this level that I can make it there.

“But now that I’m one step closer and literally one step away. That feeling is just unbelievable, especially all the adversity I’ve gone through my whole career. A lot of people could tell you, it’s never been an easy road for me. I’ve always had to prove myself and, and earn every single position my whole life.”

Sterzer said finally getting this recognition at the professional level is amazing, and he can’t put into words what it means to him and to his family.

“We are extremely proud of the resilience and perseverance Caige has shown to get one step away from the goal he has had for many years,” said his father Craig Sterzer. “He has never had anything handed over to him and most years he has had to start on the fourth line, or third at best and scratch and claw his way up. He is certainly not a quitter, or he would’ve had done that many years ago.”

Reflecting on everything he’s gone through, Sterzer said it’s all worth it considering what he’s achieved in his career today.

“I think I appreciate those things I’ve gone through because it’s made me stronger,” he said. “And it has, it’s made me into the person I am today. I think it’s just plain out helped me to get to where I am. I think you’ve got to go through failures. You’ve got to go through things that are uncomfortable to really get you to your ultimate goal.”

After playing minor hockey with the Cranbrook Hornets and Kootenay Ice U18 AAA program, Sterzer played one season with the Kimberley Dynamiters in 2016/17, his only season in the KIJHL, before moving on to play two seasons with the Surrey Eagles in the BCHL.

He said that as a kid growing up in Kimberley, the goal was always to play with the Dynamiters.

“When you grow up in a small town like that you see those players as the best thing ever,” he said. “I wanted to play there, I wanted to play in front of my friends and family. I think it really helped me as a young junior player to grow into my size because I was definitely a late bloomer.”

Sterzer, who now stands 6’5” and 227 pounds, said playing with the Dynamiters also helped him to learn the physical side of the game, and he gives a lot of credit to the staff, including Derek Stuart, Jeff Keiver, Carson Loftsgard and Jerry Bancks before them, for the many lessons they taught him when he was a young player.

“It’s been a long time, but Caige was always eager to learn and get better,” said Dynamiters head coach, general manager Derek Stuart, who coached Sterzer in his first year with the organization. “He was very raw here as a 16-year-old rookie, but he obviously developed into a great player.

“We couldn’t be happier for Caige, I really enjoyed coaching him.”

Now, after all these years of grinding, Sterzer is officially a professional hockey player and one step away from the NHL.

He said his time playing at the NCAA level, especially considering recent rule changes that allow major junior players to play in the league, has prepared him for this next step up.

He also knows, however, that it is a big step up, as the AHL is made up of all the best players from Div 1 hockey at the NCAA level.

“They’re all bigger, stronger, faster,” he said. “I definitely I knew I had to expect that and I’ve already seen it a bit with the practices I’ve been at and the two games I watched as well. And then throughout my time here so far, it’s a different transition because now it’s my job.

“In college, I still had school and I had hockey, but now it’s just hockey and that’s all I’m getting paid to do is that. It’s my job, to show up every day and be ready to work and being dialed in to do whatever the coaches want you to do.”

He said it’s been a lot to learn to figure out how everything’s run, what the systems and daily schedules are, but fortunately they have a lot of great people that have made the transition easy, with the expectation that he comes in and acts responsibly, know what level you’re at and what you’re getting yourself into.

Sterzer thanked his family for everything they’ve done to support him in achieving this next major milestone in his hockey life, and helping him get through all the difficult times along the way.

“All the sacrifices they made to help me get to this level, I just want to thank them so much and they know that, but you can never thank your mom and your dad and your sister and all your other family members that have been there to to support you enough.

“And also the people that have always believed in me and always saw that I could get to this level. I really appreciate those people as well.”