Volleyball won’t get lost in translation
Niagara College newcomer Hurtubise will be studying exclusively in English for the first time
Before Max Hurtubise starts earning a living in professional sports in a supporting role away from the action, he wants to achieve success in amateur sports in the thick of it.
Hurtubise, who hopes the sport management program at Niagara College will lead to a career in pro sports, is looking forward to playing on the men’s volleyball team at the region’s community college.
While the Niagara Falls native and École secondaire Jean Vanier graduate spent a semester studying human kinetics at the University of Ottawa, he will have the full five years of eligibility when he takes the court for the Knights.
That doesn’t mean the past year was a waste in terms of developing in a sport Hurtubise only picked up in his final year of high school, however. Ottawa didn’t have a varsity team, but it did have a club program, so he isn’t worried about being rusty.
“I’m hoping not. We were competing at the club level, but it was a competitive club,” Hurtubise said. “We would play teams and tournaments and Niagara College would be present. It was not like our level was extremely below. We were at par.”
He decided against continuing his post-secondary education at Ottawa because his heart wasn’t in it.
“I wasn’t passionate about what I was doing, and I’m all about what I’m passionate about. If I’m not passionate, it’s hard for me to excel at something,” the 18-year-old Toronto native said. “It was a difficult transition for me, not being passionate about what I was doing there.”
Homesickness wasn’t an overriding factor in his decision to further his education at Niagara.
“It was more I didn’t like what I was doing, and I didn’t like the university mindset,” he said. “It wasn’t as hands-on as I figured it would be. “Colleges are more hands-on.” Hurtubise won’t only be getting used to a new school when classes resume, hopefully, in the fall. He also will be taught exclusively in English for the first time in his formal education.
“It’s definitely going to be a transition. I’ve been studying in French since I was four years old,” he conceded with a chuckle in a phone interview. “It’s going to be a little bit difficult for me, but I’m sure I’ll figure it out. There are great resources there.
“It won’t be that bad.”
The bilingual Hurtubise’s prowess in both of Canada’s official languages might even give Knights head coach Tommy Sloan an ace in a hole.
“Sometimes you’ll face teams like College Boreal or other teams and they speak French,” Hurtubise said. “They’re trying to devise their strategy on the other side of the court, but you know everything they’re saying and you just tell it to your teammates.
“They don’t have a strategy anymore because you know it.”
Hurtubise, who moved to Niagara Falls from Toronto for his first year of high school, excelled in tennis and played basketball before volleyball became his sport of choice.
He played tennis at a national level until he was 13 and tore his shoulder in four different places. “That ended tennis,” he said. He then played basketball at a provincial level for two years.
“I just wasn’t big enough for the sport. I didn’t have enough weight to push people around and stuff,” he said. “I started playing volleyball, and I’ve loved it ever since.”
He only started playing volleyball in his final year in high school.
“I tried out for the (Niagara) Rapids team and they liked how I could jump high, but I didn’t really have much knowledge of anything else, to be honest.”
Hurtubise will commute from Niagara’s Glendale campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, where the course is taught, to the main campus in Welland where practices and games will be held.
He doesn’t mind the extra travel because athletics have always been an important factor in his life.
“It’s always been a huge part of my life,” he said. “It’s a place where I can just go play and compete, and forget about everything else that is going on in my life. It really gives you that nice escape time, whether (or not) you’re studying for a midterm.”
Sloan said the six-foot-four middle/right-sider has a huge upside.
“Max brings excellent size and athleticism to our program, with an incredible amount of potential in addition to being able to compete at this level right away,” the third-year head coach said.
“We are thrilled to be able to add some very talented local players this season and we look forward to what Max will be able to do at the OCAA (Ontario Colleges Athletic Association) level.”
Tiernan Currie, a six-foot-six leftside/right-side from Carleton Place, Ont., west of Ottawa, and Carter Thurman, a six-foot-two setter from Balgonie, Sask., near Regina, also will add height to a team that went 12-6 in league play last season.
“Tiernan brings size, athleticism and versatility to our roster,” Sloan said. “His ability to play at multiple positions on the court is a huge asset.”
Thurman, who spent a few summers with Team Saskatchewan’s provincial program, has been on Niagara’s recruiting radar for a while.
“Carter has experienced a ton of success with both his high school team, the Greenall Griffins, as well as the Regina Volleyball Club,” Sloan said. “Carter should be able to jump in and have an immediate impact on our team.”
“Max brings excellent size and athleticism to our program with an incredible amount of potential in addition to being able to compete at this level right away.” TOMMY SLOAN NIAGARA COLLEGE MEN’S VOLLEYBALL HEAD COACH