LIVING THE DREAM
Two Wildcats hockey players aiming for Canada Games
After completing a summer selection camp in July, Valley Wildcats players Cam Whynot and Colin Parker are advancing to the next stage of tryouts for the 2019 Canada Games.
The tryouts, which began in May with about 50 players, consist of four stages and will result in 20 players getting the chance to take the ice for Team Nova Scotia.
The summer selection camp in Antigonish consisted of four practices and four games, with strength and conditioning sessions and fitness testing in between.
While both players describe the competitive selection process as challenging, they agree that the benefit of participating outweighs the hard work that goes into it.
“Of course it’s tough, but you have to push through it,” said Whynot.
“They make it a tough camp just to see who the character players are because the Canada Games is a long event, and they want to see who can dig deep and still play hard when they’re tired.”
“My experience so far in the Canada Games tryouts has been exciting,” Parker added. “Everything is done in a very professional manner and we are treated like professional hockey players. It’s just a fantastic atmosphere.”
Holding nothing back
The duo freely admits that the exciting opportunity comes with its fair share of stressful moments, but say that learning to deal with the pressure is all part of the game.
“Going into the tryouts I was nervous, and I am still nervous,” said Parker.
“But I know I have to give everything I have, leave it all on the ice, and hold nothing back ”
“I think everyone’s a bit nervous. You don’t know if you’re going to be cut or if you’re going to make the team,” Whynot concurred.
“But once camp got going I just relaxed started playing my game showed the coaches what I can do on the ice. I just play to my style, and just don’t try to do too much, because if you do too much you’re just going to complicate everything and it won’t look good.”
Whynot added that he’s looking forward to the next camp, not only because it puts him that much closer to Canada Games, but because he sees the camps as being great building blocks in his hockey career.
“I’m really looking forward to the next camp, because they’re great coaches and I’m looking forward to learning a lot,” said Whynot.
“I’ve had an interview with them and they gave me a few pointers, and that’s good because when I go to these camps it’s not just for tryouts, it’s also a learning experience for me.”
Passionate about hockey
Both Valley-based players train five days a week to prepare themselves between camps.
“I train with Mark Tremaine and Jeff Kirchew at TrainSmart Athletics in Dartmouth,” said Parker.
“I’m training five days a week over at Acadia with the strength coach there, and I’m jumping on the ice two or three times a week with Darren Burns - the coach at Acadia - and guys from the city,” said Whynot.
“That’s really helped me and pushed me to get better and stay fit during the off season to improve my hockey.”
The high-level athletes say dedication to constant growth and improvement stems from a passion for the game.
“I’m definitely passionate about playing hockey, it’s basically been the only sport I’ve played my whole life, and it’s been a sport I just really fell in love with so it means everything to me,” said Whynot.
Competing in the Canada Games has been a goal of Whynot’s since attending a Hockey Nova Scotia camp at the age of 12.
“They mentioned it and I thought it was pretty cool, and ever since then I’ve just been looking up to it and trying to get better,” said Whynot.
Aiming high
For the upcoming Valley Wildcats season, Whynot is confident in his team and excited for his draft year into the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
“This year’s my draft year into the Q and I’m really looking forward to that and I’m trying to have a good year and see how high I can go,” said Whynot.
“It’s going to be a tough year, but I think we have a great club coming back, and I feel like we can end up finishing Top 3 in the league if we have the year we want to have. We have a great coach, great group of guys, and I feel like we’ll really gel together and be a team to watch out for by the time playoffs hit.”
As for Parker’s passion for hockey and desire to make it to Canada Games, he says it comes from years of watching his older brother and mentor, Makail Parker, work hard and get to play for Team Canada east at the world Junior A challenge in 2015.
“Trying out for the Canada Games is something I’ve always wanted to do. I watched my older brother play for Team Nova Scotia and it certainly made me want to follow that route,” said Parker.
“He is an extremely hard working, give it everything you have kind of hockey player and person, and like him, I give 110 per cent every time I step on the ice.”
The next stage of tryouts for the Canada Games will take place in Dartmouth from Sept 27-30
“It’s going to be a tough year, but I think we have a great club coming back, and I feel like we can end up finishing Top 3 in the league if we have the year we want to have. We have a great coach, great group of guys, and I feel like we’ll really gel together and be a team to watch out for by the time playoffs hit.” — Cam Whynot, Valley Wildcats player