Page 21 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 80

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #80 July 2019 21

presents Then and Now:

Cornwall Colts’ Edition…Ryan MacDonald

By Carrie Seguin run.”
MacDonald’s first season with the
yan MacDonald grew up in
Jr. Red Wings was the last season
RNorth Glengarry and began
for the team as it was relocated to
playing with the Cornwall Colts at Plymouth, Michigan and became the
just 15 years of age. “I was playing
Detroit Whalers. MacDonald stayed
Minor Bantam for Seaway Valley on with the Whalers for part of a
and attended a Colts’ camp as a 15-
second season and then he was traded
yr. old, just for the experience. Mid-
to the North Bay Centennials where
way through the season I got a call to he played for the rest of his second
move up and join the Colts.”
OHL season and part of his third.
As a young teenager, moving from Part way through his 96-97 season,
home to play hockey is not an easy MacDonald was sent to the Ottawa
feat, but MacDonald had family in 67s where he ended his OHL career.
Cornwall to support him. “I was “I was burnt out,” states
able to billet with my aunt and uncle.
MacDonald. “I wasn’t even sure if I
That definitely made the transition wanted to continue playing hockey
easier for me.”
at all. I was considering a school
In total, MacDonald played two package, was more or less committed
seasons with the Junior A Colts to a university in Nova Scotia; but
(1992-1994). “The Colts’ team had a I had a change of heart at the last
very solid fan base. This was special minute and packed my bags for Waco
because it wasn’t really the case Texas.”
in a lot of the other arenas across MacDonald signed on with the Photo Submitted
the league at that time,” explains
WPHL, a minor professional league
MacDonald.
with teams based in the southern
Following his time with the United States. “For the first time in
Cornwall Colts, MacDonald played as long as I could remember, I was minors. The effects of those injuries would be that if it [playing hockey
Junior A in the MetJHL, a junior having fun playing hockey again. and that situation never really went at a higher level] is something you

league based out of Southern Ontario. For the most part the fans had no clue away.” really want, put everything into it
From there, MacDonald was drafted about hockey, but they loved it and and take things seriously. Respect
MacDonald played for one season
into the OHL by the Detroit Jr. Red went crazy.” the golden opportunities that are in
Wings in the 1994 draft. in the WPHL, spending time with front of you.”
Time spent playing in the WPHL three different squads: the Waco
These days, MacDonald takes the
“Starting out my OHL career in is described by MacDonald as having Wizards, Monroe Moccasins, and
opportunity to enjoy other sports and
Detroit with the Jr. Red Wings was had its ups and downs. “Things were Amarillo Rattlers.
hobbies. “In the winter, you will
extraordinary. I was a Red Wings’ fan really going well on the ice for the
Today, hockey is about as far away find me snowboarding the slopes
growing up, and there I was playing first half of that season. It was a
from MacDonald’s life as possible. at Beaver Valley Ski Club with my
in the Joe Louis Arena and using new experience and was just what I
“I’ll check out the odd highlight from wife, Sam, our daughters (Olivia
the Wings’ training facilities. The needed. And then I suffered a few
time to time, but that’s about it.” and Adelaide), and friends. In the
Jr. Wings’ team was top notch from serious concussions - that spelled out
the coaching staff of Paul Maurice, the end for me. The fun was gone Looking back on his hockey days, summer, I enjoy riding motorcycles,
Peter DeBoer, and Greg Stephan and and the reality of ‘you’re only as there seems to be is a regretful tone skateboarding, and spending time by
all the way down the line. We ended good as your last game’ set back in. in MacDonald’s reminiscing. “I’m the water with family and friends.”
up winning the OHL championship The toughest part about that whole very grateful for the hockey life I Ryan MacDonald was drafted in
that year and then losing out in the situation was that back then there lived, but it’s all in the rear-view 1994, 79th overall by the Detroit
Memorial Cup final to the Kamloops was no protocol or solid treatment mirror. I did have a lot of fun. My Jr. Red Wings in the OHL Priority
Blazers - but it was definitely a fun for head injuries, especially in the advice for today’s young players Selection.
FPO