For second-year UPEI Panther defenceman and Charlottetown native Matt Boyle, the decision to play university hockey in his hometown wasn’t a difficult one.
Boyle, who grew up playing minor hockey in the city, can remember his days with the Charlottetown Islanders major midget team and how it had a dressing room just down the hall from the Panthers at MacLauchlan Arena.
“I always saw that (team) growing up and wanted to be a part of it someday,” Boyle told The Guardian.
He was drafted by the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for his first three years of junior hockey and later played for the Lewiston Maineiacs (QMJHL) and Texas Brahmas (Central Hockey League).
But he never forgot about returning home to play for the Panthers.
“I love P.E.I. and I love the community here.”
He said friends and family were among the biggest things that drew him back home.
While players choose their university team for many different reasons, Boyle isn’t the only Island hockey player who opted to return or stay in his home province.
He’ll be one of eight Islanders wearing Panthers jersey during the team’s game Friday night at MacLauchlan Arena against archrivals Moncton Blue Eagles.
The highly anticipated game, which starts at 7 p.m., will be the team’s final before Christmas break and is expected to draw a large crowd after UPEI’s 5-3 comeback win against the Blue Eagles last Saturday in Moncton.
While UPEI’s roster has always had a strong Island influence, head coach Forbes MacPherson, who is also from P.E.I., said he feels the number is now at the high end of the spectrum.
And while a player’s home province isn’t a top factor in recruiting, it doesn’t seem to hurt either.
“Our primary focus as a coaching staff is to build a winning team,” said MacPherson. “But if we can do that with Island players, it’s a no-brainer.”
Boyle added that MacPherson’s coaching style had a major impact on his return to Charlottetown.
During the 2010 QMJHL playoffs, Boyle had mentioned to MacPherson that he’d be disappointed if his season got cut short.
Sure enough, Lewiston was knocked out of the playoffs in the first round, but that same night, Boyle got a call from MacPherson and he was on a plane the next morning to play for the Brahmas, where MacPherson had been an assistant coach.
“Without even giving Forbes any kind of commitment to play for UPEI, he showed me how well he treated his players,” said Boyle. “I just said, ‘geez, this guy is good.’”
MacPherson said there are never hard feelings when a player decides to play for another school.
Our primary focus as a coaching staff is to build a winning team. But if we can do that with Island players, it’s a no-brainer. - Forbes MacPherson, UPEI men’s hockey head coach
In fact, the Panthers coach said he encourages players to look at all of their available options.
“Then we know that if they make the decision to come to UPEI, it’s a decision that they’re happy with,” he said. “There are no questions left on the table.”
Uigg native and first-year winger Travis McIsaac said he had explored other options before committing to UPEI.
After captaining the P.E.I. Rocket during his final year of junior, McIsaac wanted to stay in his home province.
“I got a taste of playing at home last year and I liked it,” said McIsaac, who played for Victoriaville Tigers during his first three years in the QMJHL. “I enjoyed playing in front of my family and friends.
“And I liked the direction that he (MacPherson) was taking the program in.”
Third-year forward Jordan Knox of Skinner’s Pond said friends and family connections played a key role for his decision to stay at UPEI.
“It’s pretty welcoming,” said Knox, who added he liked the appeal of playing in a smaller city. “Being able to go around town, you know everyone and are able to talk about hockey.”
He also pointed to the business school at UPEI as a factor for choosing the university.
MacPherson, who played with the Panthers from 1994 to 1996, said the reasons for choosing a university are personal to each player.
He said the Islanders who play hockey at UPEI and eventually settle in the province often don’t think much of it at the time.
While sometimes overlooked, MacPherson said the connection becomes a benefit later in life.
It’s evident at the crowded annual alumni events, golf outings and in the number of former players who still go to the games.
“It ends up becoming a lifelong membership, not just four years.”
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UPEI Men’s Hockey
Players From P.E.I.
u Matt Boyle, defence, second year, Charlottetown.
u Ryan Taylor, defence, first year, Charlottetown.
u Jordan Knox, forward, third year, Skinner’s Pond.
u Harrison McIver, forward, first year, Newton.
u Mike MacIsaac, forward, third year, O’Leary.
u Travis McIsaac, forward, first year, Uigg.
u Devin Praught, forward, fifth year, Summerside.
u Nathan McQuaid, forward, second year, Charlottetown
