(Golden Sheaf profile written by Jamie Neugebauer/SJHL Co-Director of Media)
The parallels between his characteristics as a hockey player and the lessons learned on Drew Molde’s grandfather’s farm are crystal clear.
Weyburn’s veteran forward brings the same attitude regardless of the circumstances, and he gives his all to whatever role his coach, Cody Mapes, needs him for.
Just like on the farm, you need to get whatever job needs to be done accomplished.
That mindset has been evident to Mapes since Molde first arrived in Weyburn as a teenager.
“Drew leads by his work ethic on the ice. He’s always driven to get better every day we step on the ice,” Mapes says. “Ever since he was an 18-year-old rookie, he has been impactful in games and practices. It’s been great to see his growth off the ice, though. He has become a great leader for our guys. He’s truly a ‘glue guy’ that drives the culture we want off the ice.”
“The biggest thing I’ve taken from farming is that you have to show up every single day,” Molde says.
“That translates perfectly into hockey. A lot of other stuff doesn’t matter — you have to show up and work every day, no matter what. It’s an uphill battle, but it’s something I love doing. Having a support system around you — community, family, neighbours — that plays a huge role and ties in nicely with hockey. It probably plays into my physical, tough, gritty game.”
Molde, 20, has played in 118 regular-season and 23 playoff games, all with the Red Wings, and posted 44 points over that time.
The Moose Jaw, SK native also represented Team SJHL at the recently concluded 2026 Viking Cup in Camrose, AB, helping the club bring home the championship in an epic Gold Medal Game on Jan. 3, 2026.
Along with fellow Red Wing Josh Sale, they were put on a line with Noah Asmundson from the Estevan Bruins, their intense rivals in league play. Yet the three Highway 39 rivals (as the Red Wings-Bruins matchup is called) quickly found chemistry. They produced a combined 11 points in the five contests, and were as reliable in the defensive zone as any unit the team’s Coach Drew Kocur – Estevan’s coach by the way – could muster.
“It’s pretty hard to describe (the Viking Cup experience) with just words, but it was nothing short of spectacular. It was amazing,” he says.
“From the moment we got there, everybody came together right away. How we gelled instantly was pretty remarkable. I don’t think I could have asked for a better experience, or a better gold medal game.”
That championship run included one of the most dramatic finishes imaginable — a last-minute tying goal followed by an overtime winner — moments Molde describes as unforgettable. He also found the scoresheet himself during the tournament, a personal highlight in a pressure-filled environment.
“I got a goal in the tournament, and that felt pretty good for me,” he says. “But the whole experience was amazing. It’s something I’ll never forget.”
Molde’s grandfather works the lands about 70 kilometres west of Moose Jaw, SK, near the small hamlet of Parkbeg. He, with Molde’s uncle and cousins, balances grain farming with tending to 150 head of a variety of cattle, and it is up to the whole family to help out whenever they are around.
“Being around that has taught me a lot about values, ethics, respect, community, and hard work,” Molde adds.
“It’s something not everyone gets to experience, and I’m very grateful for it.”
The Viking Cup success was built on lessons learned during Weyburn’s playoff run last season, when the Red Wings advanced to the Canterra Seeds Cup Final against the Melfort Mustangs. It was a demanding, physical series that tested Weyburn’s depth and resilience, leaving a lasting impact on Molde and the team’s returning core.
“We were outbattled in that final, and they wore us down,” Molde says. “That experience taught us a lot about what it takes in the playoffs.”
Rather than dwell on the disappointment, Molde approached the setback the same way he would a tough stretch on the farm — by learning from it and committing to improvement. Preparation, recovery, and belief became points of emphasis, lessons he carried into the following season.
“Playoffs are hard,” he says. “It’s a lot of games in a short amount of time. You need belief in yourself and in the guys beside you, and you need to use adversity as an opportunity to get better.”
Farming also instilled in Molde a deep appreciation for community and support systems, something he believes is just as important in hockey.
“Hockey’s the same way (as farming),” he says. You need the guy beside you every shift.”
Now a key piece of Weyburn’s leadership group, Molde brings a steady, grounded presence shaped by early mornings, hard work, and rural Saskatchewan values. Whether representing the league on a championship stage or helping the Red Wings pursue another Canterra Seeds Cup run, his approach remains unchanged.
“It’s an uphill battle, but it’s something I love doing,” Molde says. “I have fun every single day.”
In Drew Molde, the connection between agriculture and hockey is clear. His game reflects the same principles that define life on the farm — resilience, accountability, and pride in the work — proving that some of the strongest foundations in junior hockey are built far beyond the rink.
