D-man is dedicated to improvement

Chris McDonald is a product of the Sooke Minor Hockey system, beginning at the novice level. He has played on various rep teams for the past five years as a defenceman, most recently for the midget rep team last season. Hockey has always been his favourite sport although he has also played soccer and baseball.

Now 16-years-old, Chris is a member of the Saanich Braves junior “B” club in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.

He had a number of potential options begin to materialize over the past while. His play had attracted attention from the BCHL’s Cowichan Capitals and Victoria Grizzlies as well as the major junior Kamloops Blazers.

“I coached Chris for three years - last year of pee wee and two years in bantam,” said Paul Chandler, current coach of the Sooke midget rep team. Chandler was responding via email to a number of submitted questions. “During that period I watched him mature from a short, roundish built, medium skilled player to a tall, lean highly skilled defenseman.”

In Chandler’s opinion, “Chris’s strengths are his ability to read a play and deliver a great first pass out of the defensive zone.  He doesn’t back down from the physical stuff either. He’s always ready to stick up for a teammate. Part of his success is due to his dedication to physical training.

“His natural gift, focus on conditioning and ability to take instruction have led to him taking the next step to Junior B as a 16-year-old.”

Chris got in practice time this past summer with the Victoria Cougars and attended tryouts for the South Island Major Midget squad who he was being considered by when he got an invitation from the Saanich Team. He’s now one of only two 16-year-olds on the Braves’ roster and it’s a place he seems happy with.

“I just like how all their coaches were defencemen that played at a high level before,” said McDonald ahead of a team practice last Wednesday. Braves’ head coach Brad Cook, for example, has junior “A,” major junior and professional service listed on his resumé. The experience along with his ability as a communicator commands McDonald’s respect.

Three appearances at provincial championships rate at the top of Chris’ personal highlights, and it was a few years ago he first had the inkling that his hockey future just might turn out to be a long one.

“Probably around bantam,” he recalled, “when we first started playing against better teams, like from the Mainland.”

It was during these earlier times when McDonald played a more offensive game, these days he is a more stay-at-home kind of player, taking care to focus first on defensive responsibilities. That being mentioned, however, he does not plan to shy away from offensive opportunities when they present themselves.

On team stats he is currently listed below the mid point in both points, and penalty minutes.

He values the lessons learned thus far from coach Cook:

“I’ve learned that attention to detail is really important,” said Chris, “and that being committed to something really pays off.”

Brad Cook, who coached the Sooke Stingers a couple of years back, was keen on McDonald getting a shot with the Braves.

“I first had a look at Chris about half way through our training camp and was impressed with his skill set immediately, also knowing well that he was going to be a project, which can be fun and challenging as a coach. At the junior B level that is ultimately what we are here for.”

Fully aware of the time frame involved with development, Cook sees value in the young player.

“The skill and eagerness are there,” he said. “As long as Chris starts to learn from his mistakes and can get a lot more intense and gritty on the ice then I think he has great potential to take his game to the next level, whether it be only to JR “A” or maybe even NCAA one day. We are hopeful that by January Chris is a totally different player in terms of his maturity and physicality and can be a big part of our playoff run and team success.”

Chris says “working out, golf and some foosball,” help him take care of any spare time he comes across. Asked about role models, he first mentioned his dad, then Dion Phaneuf of the Calgary Flames – not a bad template for a young player.

McDonald’s long term goals include making it to higher levels of hockey and earning a collegiate scholarship along the way.

More within his immediate sights is to help the Braves in every way he can.

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