As we get into the time of year where the NHL post-season would normally be starting, lots of people are missing sports. But when sports are what you do, the impact feels that much harder.
Brant King, an 18-year-old defenceman, just completed his first season of junior A hockey, playing with the Valley Wildcats of the Maritime Hockey League. Rather than his usual off-season training routines, King is now social distancing, like hockey players across the country.
The Lower Sackville, N.S., resident says going from hockey all the time to hanging out at home has been a pretty big adjustment.
“You get pretty bored, but you do what you can. You work out, you keep yourself busy.”
In a way, King and his Wildcats teammates were lucky. The team failed to qualify for the MHL playoffs, so they were able to wrap up their entire season and hold end-of-the-year receptions and dinners before Hockey Canada shut down leagues across the country.
King was one of eight rookies on the Valley roster this season as they began to rebuild the squad under new head coach and general manager Brandon Benedict. King says he was excited to come to Berwick and play for the former Halifax Mooseheads captain.
“Talking to Brandon over the summer, I knew what I was getting into,” says King.
“We were going to be building something starting this year. New coaching staff, a lot of new, young players, so it was pretty exciting going in and the season didn't disappoint. It's about getting that culture, doing things the right way with the right mindset, and you go from there.”
King certainly knows a thing or two about a winning culture. He played two seasons with the Halifax McDonalds Major Midget program, including netting an Atlantic championship and a trip to the Telus Cup National Championships in 2019. He was drafted into junior A hockey by the Edmundston Blizzard in 2018 but was traded to Valley just prior to the 2019-2020 season. King says the trade was perfect for his hockey career as well as education.
“At this point, school's a pretty big part of my life, so I wanted to go to Acadia, and Valley's a junior A team that's right here next to Acadia. So the chance to go to school and play hockey is just one you can't pass up.”
Routines of hockey and university have now been turned upside down by COVID-19, and the social distancing and isolation measures put in place by the provincial and federal governments, but King and his teammates still find ways to support one another.
“We've got our team chat going on, so I keep in touch with all my teammates and coaches," he said.
“This wasn't something you can plan for so you don't have all the sets of weights and everything you need for your normal workout. You just have to switch things up and keep it entertaining for yourself.”
Always smiling on and off the ice, King keeps a positive outlook on the situation.
“You don't want to get caught up too much in the habit of watching the news. It can just get rough. You watch a lot of Netflix, play video games, just be with your family.”
The Maritime Hockey League, like most leagues, won't have a champion crowned for 2019-2020. Teams, players, coaches and staff just have to look forward to getting back on the ice in August and September for training camp and a new season.
King, like everyone, hopes to see the world return to normal as soon as possible.
“If it's not back to normal by then, what can you do? You just have to keep looking forward. People have dealt with a lot worse over time. As bad as it may seem now, it's not the end of the world. It's been hard, but it's nothing we can't overcome.”
