Joel Ward played four seasons with the UPEI Panthers, but his impact goes much deeper.
The university and men’s hockey team honoured the NHL veteran Thursday with an inspiring young alumni award and by raising a banner with his No. 22 to the rafters at MacLauchlan Arena.
“I never thought something like this could ever occur,” said Ward, holding back the emotions of the night. “I’m really appreciative of where I came from. I’m a very proud alumni of the UPEI Panthers.”
Ward was accompanied to Charlottetown by his mother and girlfriend. Looking out from the stage Thursday night, he also saw plenty of familiar faces he once called teammates and now calls lifelong friends.
Ward’s journey from the Ontario Hockey League to UPEI to playing nine seasons and counting in the NHL is not the norm.
And it didn’t come without some struggles along the way. He said there were cold winter nights he thought about packing it in as he balanced completing his course requirements with performing at a high level on the ice.
“I think one of the biggest accomplishments I have in hockey was getting my degree,” said Ward, who earned his sociology degree at UPEI.
Doug Currie was coaching the Panthers when Ward was finishing up his junior career in Owen Sound. Ward was exploring pro opportunities, and Currie didn’t anticipate he’d be able to recruit him to university hockey.
Ward went to a couple of camps, but never signed with a pro team.
Currie noticed in The Guardian the Detroit Red Wings had released Ward. He decided to check in.
“I was at the Civic Centre and I went out to the truck and got my recruiting notes. I walked to the payphone, dropped a quarter in. He picked up the phone,” Currie explained. “I said, ‘hey, sorry things didn’t work out.’ He goes, ‘I’ll be there tomorrow.’ ”
Ward had known some of the Panthers from his days in the OHL and decided to come east.
His impact was immediate. He was the team’s rookie of the year, a three-time team MVP and in his final season was named the Atlantic conference MVP.
He was a dominant power forward with skill, who was hard to play against.
“He was an athlete that was clearly head and shoulders ahead of the pack,” Currie said.
He had a dream to play professional hockey and he made it.
While he is not in the Panthers dressing room anymore, he still has a big impact on the program.
Head coach Forbes MacPherson said UPEI is one of 37 university programs calling the same players annually trying to interest them in joining their team.
Some don’t know what UPEI is.
Some don’t know where Prince Edward Island is.
Some don’t know much about Atlantic Canada.
But they know Joel Ward.
“There’s an instant connection and they can instantly identify with your program,” MacPherson said. “When they see a player has accomplished what they still dream about, it adds instant credibility to the opportunity.”
He said it inspired Chris Desousa, who was in the crowd Thursday. He played an NHL exhibition game this season and has a year of AHL experience under his belt.
Ward’s banner will hang proudly from the rafters as a reminder of what is possible with hard work and belief. He becomes only the second Panther to receive the honour, joining Wilf MacDonald. Saint Dunstan’s alum who have received the honour include Mike Kelly, George Trainor, Dennis Clough, Mike O’Brien and Billy Mulligan.
Banners have been raised, but the numbers aren’t officially retired.
“So far, the pattern has been more of honouring the number,” MacPherson said.
He said there is room for more with Panthers with NHL connections, including Dave Cameron, Gerry Fleming, Al MacAdam, Shane MacEachern and Doug MacLean.
“We have an amazing history of NHLers that have played at UPEI,” MacPherson said. “There’s an amazing history there that we need to celebrate and show the CIS world there’s a strong connection.”
Joel Ward played four seasons with the UPEI Panthers, but his impact goes much deeper.
The university and men’s hockey team honoured the NHL veteran Thursday with an inspiring young alumni award and by raising a banner with his No. 22 to the rafters at MacLauchlan Arena.
“I never thought something like this could ever occur,” said Ward, holding back the emotions of the night. “I’m really appreciative of where I came from. I’m a very proud alumni of the UPEI Panthers.”
Ward was accompanied to Charlottetown by his mother and girlfriend. Looking out from the stage Thursday night, he also saw plenty of familiar faces he once called teammates and now calls lifelong friends.
Ward’s journey from the Ontario Hockey League to UPEI to playing nine seasons and counting in the NHL is not the norm.
And it didn’t come without some struggles along the way. He said there were cold winter nights he thought about packing it in as he balanced completing his course requirements with performing at a high level on the ice.
“I think one of the biggest accomplishments I have in hockey was getting my degree,” said Ward, who earned his sociology degree at UPEI.
Doug Currie was coaching the Panthers when Ward was finishing up his junior career in Owen Sound. Ward was exploring pro opportunities, and Currie didn’t anticipate he’d be able to recruit him to university hockey.
Ward went to a couple of camps, but never signed with a pro team.
Currie noticed in The Guardian the Detroit Red Wings had released Ward. He decided to check in.
“I was at the Civic Centre and I went out to the truck and got my recruiting notes. I walked to the payphone, dropped a quarter in. He picked up the phone,” Currie explained. “I said, ‘hey, sorry things didn’t work out.’ He goes, ‘I’ll be there tomorrow.’ ”
Ward had known some of the Panthers from his days in the OHL and decided to come east.
His impact was immediate. He was the team’s rookie of the year, a three-time team MVP and in his final season was named the Atlantic conference MVP.
He was a dominant power forward with skill, who was hard to play against.
“He was an athlete that was clearly head and shoulders ahead of the pack,” Currie said.
He had a dream to play professional hockey and he made it.
While he is not in the Panthers dressing room anymore, he still has a big impact on the program.
Head coach Forbes MacPherson said UPEI is one of 37 university programs calling the same players annually trying to interest them in joining their team.
Some don’t know what UPEI is.
Some don’t know where Prince Edward Island is.
Some don’t know much about Atlantic Canada.
But they know Joel Ward.
“There’s an instant connection and they can instantly identify with your program,” MacPherson said. “When they see a player has accomplished what they still dream about, it adds instant credibility to the opportunity.”
He said it inspired Chris Desousa, who was in the crowd Thursday. He played an NHL exhibition game this season and has a year of AHL experience under his belt.
Ward’s banner will hang proudly from the rafters as a reminder of what is possible with hard work and belief. He becomes only the second Panther to receive the honour, joining Wilf MacDonald. Saint Dunstan’s alum who have received the honour include Mike Kelly, George Trainor, Dennis Clough, Mike O’Brien and Billy Mulligan.
Banners have been raised, but the numbers aren’t officially retired.
“So far, the pattern has been more of honouring the number,” MacPherson said.
He said there is room for more with Panthers with NHL connections, including Dave Cameron, Gerry Fleming, Al MacAdam, Shane MacEachern and Doug MacLean.
“We have an amazing history of NHLers that have played at UPEI,” MacPherson said. “There’s an amazing history there that we need to celebrate and show the CIS world there’s a strong connection.”
Joel Ward
Who – A former UPEI Panthers hockey player.
Hometown – North York, Ont.
Age – 35.
NHL teams – Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, Washington Capitals and San Jose Sharks.
Did you know? In his final season at UPEI, Ward was named the Atlantic University Sport men’s hockey MVP and shared the university’s male athlete of the year award with basketball player Sherone Edwards.
University statistics
Season GP G A Pts.
2001-02 22 13 14 27
2002-03 19 11 15 26
2003-04 27 14 24 38
2004-05 28 16 28 44*
Career 96 54 81 135
*Led the AUS in scoring.
