Growing up with solid family values like honesty, respect and hard work, 19-year-old twin brothers and Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs forwards Levi and Dallas Ansell have found success in many of the endeavours they undertake, while limiting most trouble along the way.
In fact, the twins from Cold Lake had built such a reputation as young gentlemen during their school years, when they took advantage of their likeness by switching classes for a entire day, not only were they not caught, but their admission of the folly was not even taken seriously by the teachers in charge and they were let off without as much as a warning.
First impressions of the twins might be that they are kind, modest and level headed. However, digging a little deeper reveals that though this is true, they are also two fiercely competitive brothers who maintain a bond that is closer than most could even comprehend.
Since the age of five, Levi and Dallas have always played on the same hockey team, until last year. For the first time in 13 hockey seasons, the brothers were separated as Levi played for the Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs, while Dallas skated for the Cold Lake Jr. B Ice.
The separation didn't last long, however, as the twins were reunited this fall as members of the Jr. A Pontiacs.
"I think last year, not making the Pontiacs, was kind of a kick in the teeth, sort of a wake up call," explains Dallas. "I needed to go down and work on parts of my game ... I did that and came back this year better for it."
Levi said, though the time away from his brother was strange at first, the season showed both of them they're able to have success together as well as apart.
"From an emotional standpoint, it's tough not to want your brother and best friend on your team," Levi explained. "But (playing on separate teams is) definitely something we know we can do."
"I think if you work hard and work with your teammates you can always find success," added Dallas.
That was especially true for Dallas during his 2010-11 season with the Jr. B Ice. There he took his game to another level, scoring 51 goals and racking up 91 points in 30 regular season games. He also put up 31 points in 11 playoff games, as the Ice went on to win the Northeastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League championship. Dallas was also named the league's 2010-11 rookie of the year.
Levi said he saw the results of hard work and focus during his first season with the Pontiacs, having a slow start to the 2010-11 season before bearing down and picking up 19 points in a 21-game streak.
This season, back together on the same team, the brothers have got back to competing with each other and pushing each other to be the best the players they can be, all the while contributing to the team's success.
"We both hate to lose, whether it's hockey, badminton, ping pong, soccer. Pretty much anything we do on the same team or against each other, we're in it to win," said Levi.
"We are always competing against each other," he added, "but we never let our competitiveness come ahead of the team."
The twins both learned to put the team ahead of individual success playing for the Pontiacs.
"With this team, we're all there for each other. You have to contribute in all areas of the game," explained Dallas. "When we play as a team that's when we're at our best."
The brothers have similar stats lines this season. Dallas leads the twins in scoring with 15 points (4 goals, 11 assists) in 37 games, while Levi, playing three less games, has one less point (8 goals, 6 assists). And the brothers have really been coming into form of late, with Levi picking up eight points in his last 10 games and Dallas adding five points in his last seven games.
Though they would like to have put a few more points on the board so far this season, the brothers feel they have found a home with the Pontiacs and plan to return to the team next season.
They explained they have plans to attend a post secondary-institution following their final season of junior hockey. However, should a scholarship offer arise in which a spot on a university hockey team is offered, both Levi and Dallas admit they would take the opportunity if and when it came.
Dallas said it's not really a matter of if he goes attends post-secondary, but when.
"It's been nice to have these few years to think about things and make a good decision about my future in hockey and education," Dallas explained. "I'm not sure exactly what I will take in university yet, we were always strong in science and math and we've finished calculus, so there are a lot of options to consider."
Levi seems a little more certain about his post secondary path, though he maintains things could change.
"I would definitely do my bachelor of science," he said. "Then I think my next step would be medical school and from there I'd specialize in medicine, maybe radiology."
Though the twins have gained a reputation among the Pontiacs as intelligent young men, there are times when even the brightest of the lot do something a little strange. And being that these are twins we're talking about, there is bound to be some confusion and misidentification involved in the strange situations that arise.
Take, for example, the time Dallas decided to go for a jog and was spotted by former Pontiac Devon Kalinski near Riverhurst on Highway 55.
It started out as a short jaunt from his home in Cold Lake South out to 4 Wing Cold Lake - about five kilometres - but for some reason Dallas decided that evening he would keep going.
Dallas recalled the run. "I ended up at (4 Wing's) back gate and thought, well,I might as well make this a round trip," eventually ending up on Highway 55 about 20 kilometres northwest of Cold Lake South.
Then, out of nowhere, Levi, sitting comfortably back at home, received a text from Devon Kalinski, still his teammate at the time, reading, "Levi, is that you running down the Highway? I almost ran you over."
"I had no clue what he was talking about until it clued in that Dallas was still out running," Levi recalled. "But I didn't know why he'd run to Highway 55."
Though he had faith in Dallas eventually returning, darkness was setting in, so Levi jumped in a vehicle and went in search of his brother.
He picked him up after nearly two hours of running and more than 23 kilometres travelled.
Dallas maintains he could have finished the trip had it not been for one piece of technology failing him.
"I know I could have made it back, I had the energy to run, but my iPod died. What could I do but sit down and wait for a ride?" he joked.
Being the competitive twins they are, I asked Levi and Dallas for their opinions on each other ...
Older: Levi, by three minutes. To this day, Dallas remains a little jealous.
Smarter: The twins agree, Levi does a bit better in school, but Dallas reads more books.
Tougher: Dallas claims this title. Levi agrees, admitting he usually starts the fights while Dallas usually finishes them.
Stronger: Dallas claims to weigh more and be able to lift more weight.
Faster: "I haven't lost too many races to Dallas, we'll just put it that way," Levi says.
Better endurance: Dallas says Levi is faster but cannot pace himself, then refers to his jog from Cold Lake to Highway 55 as evidence of his endurance.
More serious: Levi graciously offers this title to Dallas, saying, "Dallas is definitely more serious. You can't talk to the guy before noon." Dallas defends himself, "I need time to wake up first."
Better with girls: Though he doesn't believe it is warranted, Dallas admits being called a "player" and not in the hockey player kind of way, but more in the Rico Suavé sense. "If that wins me this category, I'll take it," he adds.
Harder working: Call this one a draw.
Better shape: Levi claims this title, having played midfield in soccer. He attributes his physical fitness in part to running up and down the pitch, while Dallas was the goalkeeper, staying relatively stationary.
Better at hockey: The twins went academic with this one. "You might have to dissect the question," Levi says. Dallas breaks it down, "Our shooting is pretty close. Skating is similar. I'm a centerman so I might be better at draws; Levi's a winger so he is probably quicker from a stand still. But we're pretty close in most categories I'd say." Though Levi concedes one category to his brother, "I've heard Dallas hits harder."
Funnier: "We're not really that funny," Levi alleges. Dallas agrees, "We don't aim to be funny, but people tend to laugh at us. I'm not really sure why."
