It allowed him to reconnect with family members.
“It’s been nothing but an amazing experience,” beamed Osborne, 21.
The slick-skating forward explained his grandfather, Herman MacLean, is originally from Tyne Valley. He left his homestead as a teenager to work in Powell River, B.C.
“He ended up meeting his wife, which is my grandma (Pat), and raised a family out there,” explained Osborne, who added it was his grandfather, a former senior player in Powell River, “who got me into hockey.”
Herman and Pat’s daughter, Darcie, married Tom Osborne, and David is their son. Darcie and David’s girlfriend, Marijke Campbell, recently visited Osborne and family members on P.E.I.
Lives with relatives
“On top of junior hockey, it’s been a whole family reunion, getting everybody back together,” said Osborne, who lives with his great-aunt and uncle, Esther and Claude MacLean, in Summerside. He’s also spent a lot of time with another great-aunt and uncle, Wanda and Willis MacLean.
“I’ve become very close to them, which is something that would not have been able to happen if I never came to Summerside,” continued the five-foot-nine and 170-pound Osborne.
He was playing with Iroquois Falls of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, before asking for a trade to a playoff contender. Iroquois Falls granted that wish, and ultimately left the decision up to Osborne.
“When Summerside came up it was an obvious choice,” said Osborne, who recalled a visit to Credit Union Place during a 2009 summer trip to P.E.I.
“I actually remember going to the arena and I was like, ‘Wow, this would be an amazing place to play junior,’” said Osborne. “When the trade came about, that is all I could picture.”
It allowed him to reconnect with family members.
“It’s been nothing but an amazing experience,” beamed Osborne, 21.
The slick-skating forward explained his grandfather, Herman MacLean, is originally from Tyne Valley. He left his homestead as a teenager to work in Powell River, B.C.
“He ended up meeting his wife, which is my grandma (Pat), and raised a family out there,” explained Osborne, who added it was his grandfather, a former senior player in Powell River, “who got me into hockey.”
Herman and Pat’s daughter, Darcie, married Tom Osborne, and David is their son. Darcie and David’s girlfriend, Marijke Campbell, recently visited Osborne and family members on P.E.I.
Lives with relatives
“On top of junior hockey, it’s been a whole family reunion, getting everybody back together,” said Osborne, who lives with his great-aunt and uncle, Esther and Claude MacLean, in Summerside. He’s also spent a lot of time with another great-aunt and uncle, Wanda and Willis MacLean.
“I’ve become very close to them, which is something that would not have been able to happen if I never came to Summerside,” continued the five-foot-nine and 170-pound Osborne.
He was playing with Iroquois Falls of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, before asking for a trade to a playoff contender. Iroquois Falls granted that wish, and ultimately left the decision up to Osborne.
“When Summerside came up it was an obvious choice,” said Osborne, who recalled a visit to Credit Union Place during a 2009 summer trip to P.E.I.
“I actually remember going to the arena and I was like, ‘Wow, this would be an amazing place to play junior,’” said Osborne. “When the trade came about, that is all I could picture.”
One highlight for Osborne was playing in front of full house of 3,600 fans during Credit Union Place’s 10th anniversary celebrations on March 4. Before that, the biggest crowd he played before was 1,300.
“It was the type of experience you dream about as a kid,” said Osborne. “It’s the type of thing that motivates you during summer training – to be able to skate onto the ice in front of that many people. It was honestly a dream come true.”
As the Capitals take a 2-1 lead into Game 4 of the best-of-seven Eastlink North Division semifinal series against Dieppe in Summerside on Tuesday at 7 p.m., Osborne likes the Caps’ attitude.
“Everyone wants to win, everyone is here for the same reason – to win a championship,” emphasized Osborne. “Having that atmosphere in your dressing room is contagious, so it’s been everything I have wanted when I asked for a trade.
“I wanted to come to a team that wanted to win and thrive off success, and that’s what we have here. Summerside is the type of place every junior A player wants to play in. You have amazing fans, an amazing arena and what more could a player ask for?”
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Numbers
David Osborne’s stats with Western Capitals:
Regular Season
Games: 27.
Goals: 8.
Assists: 14.
Points: 22.
Penalty minutes: 24
Playoffs
Games: 3.
Goals: 2.
Assists: 1.
Points: 3.
Penalty minutes: 2.
