Cumby eyes advanced role in preparation for WHL season

Ashton Cumby is gunning for a bigger role this upcoming hockey season.

The large, rangy defenceman got his first real taste of the Western Hockey League last year with the Winnipeg Ice, a skilled club that had a deep playoff run.

Now, Cumby with a bit more experience is hoping to use that to the advantage.

“For my first year, just being able to be on a team like that with the amount of skill we had, the amount of veteran players, it was a really good experience for sure,” Cumby told Lakeland Connect.

“You don’t really expect to go that far or have that good of a year for the first time. But it was sure a fun experience just throughout the whole year.”

The Bonnyville product turned 18 just a month ago and now has 57 WHL games under his belt, plus another 10 postseason contests.

The Ice went all the way to the championship round, before being ousted by the Seattle Thunderbirds in five games.

Cumby rubbed shoulders with elite talents, including the likes of Matthew Savoie (drafted 9th overall in the NHL entry draft in 2022), Zach Benson (drafted 13th overall in 2023), and Connor Geekie (drafted 11th overall in 2022).

However, his environment will be changing.

During the offseason, the Winnipeg Ice were sold and relocated to Wenatchee, Washington, which replaces that community’s BCHL club.

It’ll be that city’s first taste of major junior hockey and means Cumby will be playing mostly south of the border.

The lanky 6’5″ defenceman hopes to continue the progress that team had last year.

“You just got put in the work. You just got to make sure you stay focused, stay focused on your body, what you eat. You just got to make sure you’re prepared to just be ready at all — anything you never know,” he said.

“I’m hoping to get a bigger role this year going into it and just hope for the best going into the season.”

In 2020, he was drafted in the 4th round, 80th overall to Winnipeg, and as time went along decided to pursue the WHL route.

Cumby is a product of the Lakeland Panthers U15AA program, before he graduated to U15AAA and then after a COVID shutdown, got a full season of U18AAA in 2021-22.

He also played in his first two WHL games as the Winnipeg Ice had an extended road trip.

Wenatchee will play in the US division against the likes of Everett, Seattle, Tri-City, Spokane, and Portland.

It won’t be long before the season gets going.

The Wild play their first regular season game on September 22 at home against the Portland Winterhawks.