Desjardins’ academy celebrating

By Sean Rooney on December 12, 2018.

srooney@medicinehatnews.com @MHNRooney

A whirlwind first semester is about to come to a close for the Willie Desjardins South Alberta Hockey Academy, and as usual not a minute’s going to waste.

The academy is hosting a 3-on-3 tournament and symposium next Tuesday, Dec. 18 at the Irvine Sports Complex during the school day, noting that members of the public are free to come and watch.

“I think the general idea that we’re going to do is really celebrate what we’ve done in a short amount of time,” said Eagle Butte High School teacher Darren MacMillan, who helps run the academy. “How vast it is, how far apart everybody is, it’s a neat opportunity to bring Foremost, Redcliff, Irvine, Eagle Butte, all our academies together.”

With 63 academy students spread out between the aforementioned locations, getting them together at the same time doesn’t happen that often. They’ll be split up into teams and while the on-ice component is geared towards fun, there are always learning opportunities.

That’s where the off-ice side of the day comes in. Groups who aren’t playing will get a chance to engage with and hear from Medicine Hat Tigers coach and general manager Shaun Clouston, ex-WHLer and now University of Lethbridge Pronghorn Torrin White, and accomplished chiropractor Ryan Comeau.

“I know what they’ve got going there with this (academy) is something really good,” said White, who’s MacMillan’s nephew. “If I can contribute in any way to it, I’m more than happy to.”

The panel will will present a few times during the day, which begins at 9:30 a.m. and wraps up at 2 p.m.

Clouston’s Tigers will be on their holiday break by then, and White finishes his last exam of the semester today. MacMillan said White’s brother Jaeger — now with the Kootenay Ice — and Tigers defenceman Dylan MacPherson are being recruited to help out as well.

White, now in his third year with the Pronghorns after five years with the Moose Jaw Warriors, plans to talk about what hockey has given him: A lot.

“If my kids ever had the opportunity to have five years of free school, I’d be pretty happy with it,” said the 23-year-old Hat product. “I want them to understand that the experience, I won’t talk too much about the actual hockey but you get some great coaches, all my best friends are guys I played in Moose Jaw with.

“You go in as a 16, 17-year-old kid and come out, you’re 21 and basically a man. It’s a pretty crazy experience, one I’ll always kind of cherish.”

In 10 games the right winger has a team-high five goals to go with three assists this season, despite missing time due to injury. His team will host the U Sports national championships in 2019 but he’s still taking a full course load, double-majoring in business and education.

Hearing from experts and leaders can only benefit the students, said MacMillan.

“Knowledge is power, and the more knowledge they can get, anecdotals from guys that have been there and know what it’s about, I think it’s just valuable,” he said.

MacMillan didn’t figure he’d be putting together an event like this six months ago, however. He remembers talking to Desjardins in August thinking things would start up in 2019. Nope. It was full steam ahead.

“It’s been a crazy whirlwind,” he said.

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