Nathan Weibe, in his second year with the Clipper hockey team, is a seasoned player with more than 14 years of experience. But so far, nothing beats the experience he's had as a Clipper.

The 6'1" defenseman, from Abbotsford, B.C., came to Briercrest because he "couldn’t say no to the opportunity to play hockey with a group of Christian guys and attend Bible school."

“It’s something my cousin had done, and he always told me that his experience here was life-changing.”

Wiebe couldn't have asked for a better start to his ACAC career. He earned player of the game honours in his first ACAC regular season weekend and scored his first ACAC goal in his second regular season game against the NAIT Ooks.

It's moments like those that stand out for Wiebe in his career so far, but it is the overall experience with Briercrest hockey that he really cherishes:

“I love the atmosphere that I step into when I go to the rink ... To be comfortable being myself around a group of people that share the same faith as me is something I’ve learned not to take for granted. It has made hockey fun again ... when I played junior it felt like a job, but being in this place has definitely been a breath of fresh air.”

Wiebe also loves the atmosphere at Briercrest outside of his hockey team: “The thing I enjoy most is the fellowship and networking that happens with the students here. I know that I will come out of this place with great friends that will be friends for the rest of my life.”

Before coming to Briercrest in 2009, Wiebe played Junior A with the Beausejour Blades of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League when he was 19. Nathan had a successful season in his year with the Blades, which was something he takes satisfaction in.

Playing Junior A was a goal that Wiebe had growing up, and he worked really hard to make that happen during his time playing Junior B in Mission, B.C.

From the ages of 16 to 18, Wiebe competed for the Mission Icebreakers, where he developed his skills and prepared himself for a shot at Junior A, which he eventually got with Beausejour.

Wiebe has plans to go into nursing when he finishes  at Briercrest.

Wiebe grew up with his parents, Ed and Joan, and one sister, Natasha. He graduated from Mennonite Educational Institute.

He enjoys wakeboarding, golfing, and eating hot buffalo wings. He says he “can eat 30 hot buffalo wings in one sitting – on a full stomach,” and dares anyone to take him on in a hot wing eating contest.

Weibe's favourite athletic moment so far was playing his first game as a Clipper. But he hopes that changes soon to a new memory of “a great playoff run with the Clippers.”