‘It’s surreal’: University of Alberta hockey coach inducted into the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame

The University of Alberta Pandas head coach, Howie Draper, has been inducted into the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame. CTV News Edmonton's Evan Kenny has more.

The University of Alberta Pandas hockey coach is solidifying himself among hockey legends in the province.

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Howie Draper has been inducted into the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame after leading the women’s hockey team for nearly three decades. The coach says it’s a tremendous honour and he couldn’t believe it.

“It’s surreal, I think is probably the best way to put it and I’d be lying if I said that there wasn’t a little bit of imposter syndrome going on there,” Draper told CTV News Edmonton.

His resume proves otherwise. He’s picked up eight national championships, the most in U-sports women’s hockey history. Draper has also been named coach of the year four times with U SPORTS and has won multiple gold medals with Team Canada.

Most recently, he led the Pandas to victory this past March with the Canada West title.

“I’ve just been blessed with all sorts of opportunities and there’ve been a lot of people that have kind of been on my side that have helped me find those opportunities and encourage me to take them,” he said.

Draper was inducted alongside six other people, including long-time Edmonton Oiler Ryan Smyth and three time Stanley Cup champion Joe Nieuwendyk.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Evan Kenny