It’s pond hockey for now for Petes top draft pick
Donovan McCoy expected to be skating at the Peterborough Memorial Centre this month, not his neighbourhood pond.
Alas, that’s what it’s come to for the Petes 2020 first-round draft pick following the latest provincial shutdown caused by COVID-19.
In November and December, the 16-year-old Belleville native got into six competitive scrimmages joining the OJHL’s Cobourg Cougars for five-on-five against the Whitby Wildcats.
“When I got drafted it was a dream come true like any other kid who wanted to be drafted and has dreamed about playing,” said the six-foot, 177pound defenceman.
“It was really exciting for me and my family and everyone. A couple of days after it sunk in we had to sit back and think about what was actually about to happen. My whole life was about to change. I went from being with my minor hockey team in Quinte to now I’m going to move away and playing hockey somewhere else to try to make a living out of it.”
As the months passed, it became clear the OHL season, and his move to Peterborough, were going to be put on hold. A focus on preparing for a September training camp was shifted by the league’s announcement of a Dec. 1 start. In early November, it was postponed to Feb. 4.
“It was frustrating because we were getting close to training camp,” McCoy said. “You’re working with trainers and really pushing yourself to be ready for camp to do the best you can. When you get pushed back you wonder, why did I do all that?”
Discussions began between Cobourg, the Petes and McCoy’s agent about getting him ice-time.
“It was a perfect chance for me to get on the ice and get some experience playing with older guys and getting used to that so I’m not just waiting around,” McCoy said.
“I’m thankful to Cobourg for that opportunity. I’m going to take every chance I can get to skate just because I know not everyone has that chance.
“It’s keeping me fresh and helping me get ready for what’s to come. It was good to know I could keep up with the older kids, too. That was a real confidence booster.”
His first time playing Whitby was his first game since his Quinte Red Devils won the OMHA minor midget championship in March.
“I was really excited to finally be able to play a game again and not just practice,” he said.
“When things shut down again it was tough because we were just getting into the swing of things and we were pretty set on the OHL start date. We were ramping up my training again.”
Then the OHL changed its Feb. 4 start to indefinite.
“It’s a bit frustrating that it keeps happening but eventually it will start up again,” he said.
“I hope we can go back to normal but I don’t think that’s going to happen for a while. Maybe the league will try to do a bubble situation like we’ve seen with the world juniors or NHL. I know it would be a lot harder but something like that so we can get playing.”
Junior hockey is a short three to five year window in a player’s life so it would be tough to lose one of them, he said.
“This would have been my rookie year, my first kick at the can to see what the league is all about,” he said.
But McCoy feels even worse for last year players or those who had their final season in 2019-20 cut short. “Peterborough had a really good team and they were going for it and then everything got shut down. I feel bad for those guys. I know it sucks for me being my first year but I still have more years to play, unlike those guys. This was their last year to impress for the upcoming NHL draft and now they’ve lost that. I really feel for those guys,” he said.
Prior to joining the Cougars McCoy was skating with ex-Pete Chris Longo who runs skills development sessions in Belleville. McCoy has been skating with Longo since he was a youngster.
“Chris has really helped me how to change my mindset and thinking of the game especially moving from minor midget to OHL,” he said.
“It’s a big jump. You’re playing against the best kids from all over the place and previous years because they are older, bigger and stronger.
“He talked to me about having a good mindset and being able to overcome adversity, to not get down and work on the small things like edge work and shifting weight. How that can help me and take some of the stress off during a game and help me save my body and energy during a game,” McCoy added.