Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Five members of the MacEwan Griffins men's hockey team are heading into the final regular season weekend of their university careers.
Nic Correale, Merritt Oszytko, Cameron Reagan, Curtis Roach, and Cameron Trott will be honoured in a special Senior Night ceremony prior to Friday's game vs. Calgary (7 p.m., Downtown Community Arena, Canada West TV).
The final game of the regular season for the Griffins happens on Saturday in Calgary against the Dinos (6 p.m., Canada West TV).
MacEwan (9-16-1) is currently tied with Regina (8-15-3) for the final playoff spot in Canada West but will need to finish at least a point ahead of them to make it because the Cougars hold the first tiebreaker (3-1 head-to-head record).
The Cougars are playing at UBC (18-6-2) on the same nights.
The Griffins' senior group will be key in their post-season aspirations. Interim head coach Zack Dailey sums up what defines their contributions to the program.
"I think just maturity and professionalism is the over-arching message for this group of fifth-years," he said. "They did things the correct way all the time, were leaders in the gym, in the classroom, on the ice.
'As a collective, just the professionalism and maturity is the biggest takeaway from this group of graduating players."
Nic Correale (Joel Kingston photo).
Nicolas Correale
Zack Dailey's coach's quote:
"Obviously, he won a championship with us in his first year – he was a big part of that. He's a laid-back calming presence. He's a very big teammate favourite – everybody loves him on the team. He's always positive and is someone you can rely on to lighten the room. On the ice, when he first started in the ACAC he had an offensive role and did a very good job in that role. As we transitioned to U SPORTS, he sacrificed some of his offensive roles for a more defensive and penalty killing role.
"Also, he's just one of the guys who is a very smart hockey player. He understands all of our systems, they sometime go to him before they ask the coaches because he understands exactly what's going on all the time. He's a very intelligent hockey player and has definitely represented the Griffins in a positive way. He's the epitome of a Griffin – a great person on and off the ice."
Graduating with …
Bachelor of Arts with a major in English and minor in Psychology
Do you have a career goal in mind?
"My plan is to go to Concordia in the fall and do the after-education degree program to become a teacher."
Do you have any plans to keep playing hockey?
"Nothing too serious. Maybe some beer league with my friends, but probably no competitive hockey for a few years."
What are some of your favourite memories of your time as a Griffin?
"It's been a lot of memories over the year. Winning the ACAC Championship my first year stands out. And a lot of fun trips over the last two years. Getting on the airplane and flying to Vancouver is pretty fun."
You were on the ice when Ryan Baskerville scored the overtime series winner (in the 2019 ACAC Championship series). What do you remember most about that moment?
"It was four years ago now, but it was definitely desperation. I remember how tired everyone was. It was overtime and we just kept getting put out there. It was a long season; long game and we just came away with it. It was a good feeling."
What do you think your legacy is with the program?
"I will maybe just be remembered for being a team guy and just a good part of the team – an unselfish player."
Is there anything else you'd like to say about your time as a Griffin?
"I guess just thanks to the coaches and all my teammates. It goes by pretty quick, so everyone should just enjoy their time in university and their time playing hockey as much as they can."
Merritt Oszytko (Joel Kingston photo).
Merritt Oszytko
Zack Dailey coach's quote:
"He's currently leading the team in points, so he definitely brought confidence offensively. He's someone who's played for us in every single situation. If we're down a goal, up a goal, powerplay, penalty kill – he's kind of done it all for us. He just bought in. It's hard to buy into a new program when it's your first year (after he spent the previous four seasons at RIT in the NCAA). He came in and bought in right away. His message to the coaching staff was 'I'm here to win, I'm here to help. Whatever role you want me to play, I'm willing to do that.' It takes a special person to do that, and we definitely appreciate his contributions this year."
Graduating with …
"I got my Global Business Management degree when I was at RIT."
Do you have a career goal in mind?
"I'm not too sure yet. Obviously, I want to use that degree towards something, but for the next couple of years, I think I want to try and play pro somewhere."
You've only been here a year, but what have some of your favourite memories been with the Griffins?
"It's tough because it's only been a year. This season's been filled with lots of ups and downs. I don't think I have one specific memory but beating some of these top teams and being able to push for the playoffs has been really fun and obviously exciting for our group."
Any personal highlights stand out to you?
"I just think we've been in playoff mode for the whole second half. It's just been really fun hockey to be in the mix and try to make the playoffs. It's been fun adding to the group and seeing the growth from last year to this year."
Obviously, you have a little bit of a different perspective coming from the NCAA and transferring here. What are your overall thoughts on that transition?
"It's been awesome. The coaching staff – Zack, Sean (Ringrose), Ryan (Benn) and Nolan (Yaremchuk) – they've been lots of help. My teammates, too. They've been awesome, they've welcomed me with open arms and made the transition very easy for me. It's just a great group of people that we have in the program."
What do you feel is the legacy you're leaving to the program?
"Being a good teammate. Everywhere I've played, I've also prided myself on being a good teammate whether things are going my way or not. Obviously, being a fifth-year guy and having that NCAA experience, it's trying to lead the rookies on the right path and hopefully they learn a thing or two from me."
Anything else you'd like to say about your time as a Griffin?
"Once again, I just want to thank Zack, Sean, Ryan, and Nolan for all their help and putting their trust in me to do a job here. Again, my teammates for being the great teammates that they are and having open arms for me – just being supportive and battling every day in practice and in games. It's just exciting to go into this last weekend of the regular season here."
Cam Reagan (Joel Kingston photo).
Cameron Reagan
Zack Dailey coach's quote:
"He's another guy who won a championship with Nic in his first year and he's been a huge part of our program for years. On defence, I'd classify him as a puck-moving defenceman with offensive skill. He makes some plays that some of our other D don't make. He's just very creative, very patient with the puck. He's also someone who cares about school and did very well in the classroom. When young guys see a guy who came back from a pro tryout (in the ECHL in fall 2022) and cares about school, works hard every day, I think that's something to look up to – just embracing the grind. It's hard to be a student-athlete, but he did it with grace and made it look very easy."
Graduating with …
Bachelor of Commerce with a management major
Do you have a career goal in mind?
"I don't have a specific career goal. I'm thinking about playing pro in Europe or just seeing what happens after school."
What are some of your favourite memories of your time as a Griffin?
"For sure, my favourite memory is winning the championship my first year. That's something I will never forget and just the whole year with everything that happened and how special that moment was, winning it for Nakehko (Lamothe). Just another memory, too, is going to Vancouver my second year with the team and just experiencing that road trip, being around all the guys and hanging out."
Do you have a personal highlight that sticks out to you?
"My favourite moment was when we scored that winning goal. I was on the ice. Just when Basky (Ryan Baskerville) scored, that's something I'll never forget. That was a pretty special moment."
There were gloves flying and a stick that flew 20 feet, I think?
"Yeah, and then the slip – my D partner (Andrew) Kartusch (who fell on a stick in the celebration). That was amazing. Scoring on that end of the ice in front of the whole student section and all the fans – it's a picture-perfect moment I'll never forget."
You were pursuing a pro opportunity this past fall. What did you see in the program when you came back?
"The culture that is MacEwan is at the pro level, too. Just coming in with that mindset of every day getting better. It's definitely something you see at the next level. Every single player is there for a reason. I think that Mike (Ringrose, head coach currently on leave) and Dales definitely instilled that into players that come to MacEwan – just being a good person and working hard and bettering yourself every day, not only on the ice but academically, as well."
What is your legacy with the program?
"I think in general when guys think about MacEwan and what we stand for is just the culture that's in the locker-room. Not only myself, but every single guy I've played with at MacEwan has just been an amazing person – an amazing player on the ice, but better off the ice in the community and at school. Just taking school serious and really being diligent in both hockey and off the ice. I think if anything, leaving the program is just instilling that work ethic and being a great human being first and foremost is the most important thing."
Do you have anything else you'd like to say about your time as a Griffin?
"It was a great five years. I had a couple weird years there with the whole pandemic, but I'm super happy I came back and was able to be a part of this team this year. I got to meet some new faces and gel with these guys. I'm just super grateful for the five years at MacEwan and the things it taught me off and on the ice."
Curtis Roach (Joel Kingston photo).
Curtis Roach
Zack Dailey coach's quote:
"Any time you come in from a different program, it takes time to adjust to the new atmosphere and systems. But he bought in from Day 1 (after transferring from NAIT). One of the biggest things you notice about him is just his work ethic. He's a guy who comes into camp in very good shape and throughout the year, he was one of the leaders in the gym – always there, doing the right thing. Even when we were doing conditioning and skating drills, he's always leading that way. I would say he's a guy who leads by example. His teammates voted him as an assistant captain, which says a lot about his character.
"On the ice, just the offensive skill that he has – his poise with the puck, stickhandling ability, and he's able to make something out of nothing. He has been a big part of our powerplay and has been a leader off the ice with his work ethic. Surprisingly, usually when you have an offensive guy, their defence struggles a bit. But he has been one of our leaders in blocked shots, as well. He's willing to sacrifice his body on the defensive end and made really good plays for us on the offensive end."
Graduating with …
Bachelor of Commerce major in marketing, minor in finance
Do you have a career goal in mind?
"It would be nice to have my own digital marketing agency."
Do you plan to continue to play hockey?
"Yes. I'm going to try and pursue a professional career. My brother Josh is currently in Ireland in the EIHL, so it would be nice to reconnect with him and play with him there. He's five years older, so it would be the first time we've been able to play together and potentially be D partners together."
What are some of your favourite memories as a Griffin?
"A lot of it would be off the ice, just hanging out with the boys and being accepted from NAIT – no hard feelings with anything (he transferred to MacEwan after playing against them in the 2019 ACAC Championship final). To be honest, last year wasn't the best, so this year the best memory has been pushing for the last playoff spot. We're in the hunt on the last weekend here. That's probably been the best part besides the boys."
Are there any personal highlights that stand out to you?
"Scoring against U of A was pretty cool, getting our first win in U SPORTS against them in the OT game. Then, I guess just the two records I hold for Griffins hockey – most points in a game (4) and best plus minus (in a game: +4). Other than that, making it to the U SPORTS level and showing I can play at this level and still be a top-end guy, that was good."
What would be your legacy you're leaving to the program?
"I think my legacy would be just coming to the rink every day and working hard. We're trying to build a culture that will continue to move forward and continue to get better and better. I tried to bring a good attitude, despite how things were going on the ice and just be there for the boys. I was an older guy coming in, so just being there for the younger guys if they needed help with school or had questions. It's a lot take on your first couple years, so just trying to be a good teammate and better person."
Do you have anything else you'd like to say about your time as a Griffin?
"I guess my closing comment would be although Mike wasn't here this year, I appreciate him seeing my talent and giving me an opportunity to play at this level. I'll be graduating with a good degree, and I got to play high-end hockey while doing it, so there's not much more I could ask for out of university and my time as a Griffin."
Cam Trott (Joel Kingston photo).
Cam Trott
Zack Dailey's coach's quote:
"He's brought experience. With a new group going into Canada West, we didn't have a ton of experience and we needed someone who'd been there for two years with Lethbridge. So, he understood the commitment it took to be successful. He's another guy who led by example. He was one of the first on the ice, last off the ice and works hard in the gym, does really good in the classroom. When I talk about professionalism, he's the definition of being a professional. He showed up early, did the right thing all the time. It's something his teammates really looked up to and that the coaching staff really appreciated about him as well."
Graduating with …
Bachelor of Commerce Management major
Do you have a career goal in mind?
"I haven't really figured that out yet. I'm not sure if hockey's done right away here of if I want to keep playing for a little bit, maybe somewhere in Europe. The only job I've really worked is for my parents at their small business in the summers. But in the future, I'd like to utilize my degree. I'm trying to make the most of school."
What are some of your favourite memories of your time as a Griffin?
"It's really just getting together with the guys, being around the rink and seeing a team evolve from the beginning of the year when new guys come in and get more comfortable. Making strong friendships with guys I've played with. I've only been here for two years, but there's a lot of guys here that I'll for sure stay in contact with when I leave."
You transferred from the University of Lethbridge. Can you offer just a thought on the whole breadth of your career and finishing it at MacEwan?
"I played hockey for three universities now. I started in Alaska when I was 20 and ended up Lethbridge after that. Pretty interesting. It wasn't the way I was intending university to go coming out of junior, but I've enjoyed it. That's the way I've gotten through it is staying positive and making sure I'm enjoying going to the rink, going to practice and games. I was planning on being in Lethbridge for four years, but that kind of just got dropped on me after finals (the cancellation of their hockey programs). MacEwan was a nice transition, especially school-wise, going to a school in Alberta already. All of that was an easier process than going elsewhere. I've enjoyed my time here and have no complaints that I ended up here."
What will you be remembered for in this program?
"I think just being a part of that first year of U SPORTS for MacEwan. That goes a long way. Obviously, last year wasn't the best, but just seeing a year later we've made a bunch of steps. I'd say just being a part of that first-year team was a pretty big deal. I'm happy I was able to be a part of that."
Anything else you'd like to say about your time with the Griffins?
"It seems like most of the teams are made of great groups of athletes. I've enjoyed meeting other people through Athletics. It would be nice if we could do a few more athlete things, getting all the teams together earlier in the year. My time with the hockey team has been a good experience. It's nice it's all coming together here with graduation. I just get to really enjoy my last semester."
