For Iowa Heartlanders forward Max Patterson, motivation to play hockey wasn’t just environmental but familial. Growing up in Kamloops, British Columbia, hockey was ubiquitous, but Patterson only had to look as far as his father. Ed Patterson, who played professional hockey for the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins during Patterson’s youth, served not just as an inspiration but also as a guide.
“My dad is my best friend and my role model, so it’s been helpful to lean on a guy like that,” Patterson said. “If I ever have any questions, he’s been through it, so it makes life a lot easier when it comes to hockey.”
Patterson began his hockey career with the Kamloops Blazers in an under-15 league, where he not only made plays on the ice but also made valuable friendships.
“Most of my really good friends grew up playing youth hockey with me,” Patterson said. “Everyone takes hockey pretty seriously in Canada, and most kids do end up picking hockey.”
After youth hockey in Canada, Patterson got his start in the Western Hockey League, or WHL, a major junior league in Canada and the northwest U.S. that focuses on player development for potential professional careers. Yet for Patterson, his maturation as a player occurred across multiple different settings.
After two years with the Kootenay Ice, Patterson was traded to the Swift Current Broncos. From there, Patterson was traded to the Everett Silvertips, where he was an alternate captain. Patterson ended his WHL career with the Seattle Thunderbirds. The 25-year-old forward said he is grateful for all the people he met during his experience in the WHL.
“I got to meet a lot of players and coaches and play in different systems,” Patterson said. “I was able to meet a lot of my good friends today through those different teams and even play with some guys I knew through my youth hockey days, so that definitely helped with
the transitions.”
After traveling around the WHL, Patterson opted for the collegiate route rather than going directly to the pros. The forward felt he didn’t have the size just yet.
One of his best friends from his junior league days went to the University of Calgary, and he convinced Patterson to commit to the school.
Patterson and the Dinos won the Canada West Championship in 2023, but the Kamloops native said he learned more about relationships than anything else during his time in Calgary.
“The closer you are as a team, the easier it is to win,” Patterson said. “I picked up on daily habits that are important to my overall life and not just hockey.”
Patterson started his ECHL career with the Fort Wayne Komets before being traded to the Heartlanders. No stranger to swapping teams and altering his scenery, Patterson took the change in stride.
“I was only in Fort Wayne for a couple of games before luckily being traded to Iowa,” Patterson said. “I’ve loved every second here in Iowa, and the transition has been pretty seamless.”
With the season still young, Patterson has recorded three goals and said he has been learning a lot from the veterans and captains in the locker room like Yuki Miura and Jonny Sorenson.
“You realize just how good of people they are — they take care of the guys first and themselves after,” Patterson said. “You can see why they’re in the leadership positions, and they definitely got the right decision with those two guys.”
Choosing to play collegiately technically delayed Patterson’s professional hockey career, but so far, his journey is off to an impressive start. Patterson thanked his Heartlanders coaches and teammates for getting him back into the swing of things. While still a long way from reaching the level of his father, Patterson hasn’t lost sight of his progress.
“My game has gotten better as the season’s gone on, and that’s thanks to all the guys in the locker room,” Patterson said. “It’s been good to get myself familiar with the physical play of the ECHL, and I’ve been having fun doing it.”