Ex-hockey player loving life in the saddle

It’s been nearly three years since Connor Hamilton traded in his hockey skates for a pair of cowboy boots, and it’s been one of the most rewarding decisions the 21-year-old Calgarian has made.

However, as for his most recent life-changing decision — leaving a full-ride rodeo scholarship to the Southwestern Oklahoma State University to turn professional and bareback — for real? Time will tell. But after competing at the Calgary Stampede last week and winning his second novice bareback championship, he’s on the right track.

“I decided I wanted to take a year off and try pro rodeoing this year, so I’ve been on the road a lot and been all over the U.S. and Canada,” said Hamilton, who last won the novice bareback title in 2015, his first year in the sport. “I’ve been trying to go to as many rodeos as I can.”

Hamilton played 71 games from 2013 to 2015 for the Calgary Mustangs of the Alberta Junior Hockey League before deciding to chase another dream. When he had time off the ice, he’d head to Olds College north of the city to try his hand at bareback riding during open nights.

A quick study, Hamilton started travelling to rodeos in Alberta and Saskatchewan, where he soon discovered that road trips as a cowboy are not the same as road trips as a hockey player.

“It’s a lot different,” Hamilton said with a chuckle.

“Rodeo is such an individual sport. You’ve got all your buddies that you travel with and you’re driving yourselves and booking your own rodeos. You’re doing all your own hotels, food — everything is by yourself.

“With hockey, you’re travelling on a bus and everyone’s organizing your games and practices and you’re really on a strict schedule. It’s a little different, but I really enjoy it.”

He ditched his Calgary buddies last week — those who wanted to participate in the extracurricular activities of Stampede — to concentrate on competing and helping his rodeo pals behind the chutes.

“They still think I’m a bit of a wild guy,” Hamilton said.

“They never saw it coming, for sure — but they love it too. They are like, ‘Why aren’t you coming out with us during the day?’ or at night and enjoying the midway part of the Stampede.

“They don’t understand that for me now, it’s all about the rodeo.”