Two players from Northwestern Ontario can’t wait for the Manitoba Junior Hockey League season to start.

Thunder Bay defenceman Cole Mackenzie and Rainy River forward Jackson Arpin are anxious to get a full campaign in after having the 2020/2021 season cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Arpin, who is entering his last season of junior hockey is not taking anything for granted.

“Who knows what could happen again, you gotta play every game like it’s your last because you never know when it can be taken from you again,” stressed Arpin.

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Arpin, who lives near Brandon, played his high school hockey in the United States and was discovered by the Winkler Flyers at an MJHL camp in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

“The league is not making it mandatory to get the vaccine, but it’s strongly encouraged,” Arpin added. “I’m hoping that if we’re all vaccinated, we won’t have to quarantine before going back to Winkler so hopefully it’ll be a smooth transition.”

Cole Mackenzie has a pair of seasons left in junior hockey and will have to make the cross border trip when training camp opens up.

“If I’m double vaccinated, when I’m over there, the restrictions won’t be a stringent as if I didn’t have any vaccines,” said Mackenzie.

Mackenzie played four seasons with the Thunder Bay Kings and was first recruited by the Flyers in the summer of 2019.

Both men have had their first dose of the vaccine and are waiting to get their second.

The Winkler Flyers will open the 2021/2022 season Saturday, September 18 against the Portage Terriers.