Steelers Media
Oliver Read grew up a Toronto Maple Leafs fan and looked up to talented goalies James Reimer and Jonathan Bernier as his role models.
Since the first time he put on the pads at 5 years old – the pads being a big reason why he wanted to stand between the pipes – he knew he had found his place. “What got me started was the gear and the fact that each time you start, you have the chance to win the game for your team,” he claimed.
His junior hockey career spanned two leagues and 38 games. “I started with the Sockeyes – spending a year and a half there. Then I went up to Quesnel and spent a couple of months there,” he explained.
Read’s first game in the PJHL was against the Steelers in Burnaby – he finished his career in Burnaby against Richmond.
It was a solid PJHL debut for the Vancouver native, who backstopped his team to a 5-2 victory and stopped 21 of 23 shots, good for the second star of the night. His first shutout came against the Port Moody Panthers later on during that 2023-24 season.
The over-age goaltender played an additional 13 games with the Sockeyes, where he registered one more shutout before being dealt to the Quesnel River Rush.
His time spent in the KIJHL was limited to just three games, but it was capped off with a victory against the Chase Heat. He would have to wait 323 days for his next junior hockey game. “This year, I had some rough patches off the ice and ended up signing here late in the season. I was happy to end up here,” he said.
With Read ending his career in the Lower Mainland, his family was able to attend many of his remaining junior games.
Throughout the ups and downs of his junior hockey career, one thing remained constant: his love for them. “My family means everything to me. They sacrificed a lot, from 6 am to late nights, driving me to the rink and doing all the little things. They are a big reason why I was able to play junior hockey,” he explained.
Read played in 13 games with the Steelers and gave his team a chance to win night in and night out – just as he had always wanted to as a young kid. “At the end of the day, everybody’s career can go in many different ways, and I think the most important part is the experiences and friendships you make along the way. I’m really fortunate to make a lot of great friendships everywhere I went,” he shared.
It’s not the wins or the big saves he will remember most, but the friendships made along the way. “Hanging out with the boys. Coming to the rink every day and going to battle,” he added.
As for how he wants to be remembered, “hopefully as a great teammate – that’s all you can really ask for.”
