Ben Chomolok spent one season with the Holland Hurricanes after coming from the Okanagan Sun of the Canadian Junior Football League. He made an immediate impact this season as the team’s starting quarterback.
By Noel Arnason
My Hometown
I’m from a small town just outside of Nanaimo called Parksville, B.C.
My Football Story
Growing up I was too scared to play baseball, so I started playing football instead.
Why I Pursued Football
I was pretty good when I first played, but I was a big kid to start.
That’s probably what started it and then the team aspect about it is huge for me too.
I love being a part of something that’s much bigger than one person.
My Childhood
My childhood was pretty fun. I had a big family on both my dad’s and mom’s side.
I got to go do lots of cool things, lots of cool trips to stuff like the aquarium and zoo in Vancouver.
We got to go snowboarding a lot so it’s pretty cool.
Why Holland College Became A Fit For Me
Holland College offered trades, which is really cool.
So I took that opportunity to play football, and they were the only ones that offered me to continue playing after the Sun.
Role Models In My Life
My dad was my biggest role model growing up as well as my grandpa.
They really always pushed me a lot in football and in life in general too.
They have a very strong opinion and it’s helped me a lot.
But Deion Sanders and Peyton Manning as well. I was a big football guy.
My Favourite Hurricane Memory
Our last game when we were in the fourth quarter the offence felt like we couldn’t be stopped.
It was a really cool feeling to be a part of. Just every drive we were scoring a touchdown or getting points on the board.
Leaders On The Team Beside Me
I always felt like Boots (Aaron McArdle) was a really big leader and Keiler Purcell. He was a really good leader too.
I’m not sure about the defence, I can’t speak for them but I think it would be Apple Cuts (Sam Ampleman Couture).
I didn’t know much about him, but it seemed like the boys just got fired up around him even though the boys couldn’t really understand what he was saying.
What Being a Hurricane Means
To me being a Hurricane is doing everything to the best of your ability.
It’s about never taking any plays off and letting it show on the scoreboard.
In school as well giving your best effort because what you are learning now is what you are going to be using once your athletic career is over.
Charlottetown As A Home Away From Home
I think it's a lot like Vancouver Island and Nanaimo, but it's a lot like my hometown Parksville.
It’s pretty cool being close to the ocean again.
I have found it very similar, but it's just older and has a lot more history.
It has a lot less mountains though. Miss the mountains for sure.
My Future
The next step for me is probably gonna be coaching, and I’m gonna pursue my career in a wind turbine technician field.
I’m not sure where that will be. I’m looking for jobs everywhere because there’s not a whole lot of wind turbine jobs.
There’ll be opportunities all over Canada, so I’m not sure where I’ll end up.
Hopefully somewhere on the west coast or east coast. Not in the middle, I don’t like it there. I think I like the ocean, so I'm gonna stay near the ocean. That's the idea.
140 Weymouth Street, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada C1A 4Z1
Tel: 1-800-446-5265 | Fax: 902-629-4239
