Players honour grandparents
Associate coach discusses family support
“She was pretty much on her death bed at one point and told she wasn’t going to make it through the night, to the point where I flew home. It’s been motivation for me and shown what perseverance and battling is. She still struggles through, but God Bless her, she is still with us.” Caps forward Morgan MacDonald
It’s a phone call Jacob Levesque misses.
The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals defenceman has dedicated this year’s MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League) playoff run to his grandfather, Yvon Levesque, who passed away from cancer in 2015.
“I used to call him after every game because after a while he couldn’t come to my games anymore,” said Levesque. “It meant a lot, and I would call him with my dad when he drove me home. We still think of him a lot.”
Sophomore forward Hunter McIntyre is playing for his grandfather, Alden Gordon. “He’s a strong man,” said McIntyre. “He’s been sick for a while now, but he’s pushing through and it really motivates me.
“He’s been with me since Day 1 of my hockey career. He’s watched me all the way up through, and I’m really banking on winning this championship for him.”
Associate coach Thomas Waugh recognized his parents, Kenny and Marilyn Waugh. “They are the ones who supported me when I was playing hockey growing up, taking me everywhere for minor hockey, paying for everything,” said Waugh. “Our family vacations were usually trips to hockey; we didn’t go down south or nothing like that because we were spending our money on hockey trips.
“I still chat with my dad after every game . . . They are still very involved and supportive.” Forward Morgan MacDonald addressed the inspiring health battles of his grandmother, Marian Lavers, the past two years.
“She was pretty much on her death bed at one point and told she wasn’t going to make it through the night, to the point where I flew home,” said MacDonald. “It’s been motivation for me, and shown what perseverance and battling is.
“She still struggles, but God Bless her, she is still with us.”