Each week we’ll talk with the members of the 2016-17 Powell River Kings to get a glimpse at what their off seasons and summers look like. This week we focus on long-time King Curtis McCarrick.
In today’s junior hockey it’s a rarity is when a player sticks with the same team for their entire career, but that’s exactly what Curtis McCarrick did with the Powell River Kings.
“It puts a smile on my face just hearing you say that,” McCarrick said about his number of games played in a Kings uniform. “Looking back on it, it was pretty incredible. Not many people get to play their whole junior hockey career in one organization and I’ll cherish it for the rest of my life.”
McCarrick played 205 regular season games with Powell River, racking up 35 goals and 62 assists. He added six goals and four assists in 37 playoff games, including scoring the lone goal in his final career game; the 2-1 game seven loss to Victoria.
While McCarrick is no longer eligible to return to the Kings, that doesn’t mean he’s throwing in the towel when it comes to being a hockey player.
“It’s different now since in the last few years you had the same routine getting ready to return to Powell River,” McCarrick said from his home in Nanaimo. “I went back to Port Hardy and visited my family for a few weeks. Hockey wise I’m not too sure what the future holds.”
McCarrick admitted he is mulling over some options for next season between NCAA hockey in the United States or playing university hockey on Vancouver Island. In the immediate future, McCarrick is living with his brother in Nanaimo and currently doing some painting for work.
While his future may not be clear at the moment, his memories of Powell River certainly are.
“The bonds you make in Powell River are just incredible,” he gushed. “The coaching staff, the town of Powell River, the passion. Each of my four years there I made life-long friends and that’s the type of experience that will last for the rest of my life.”
McCarrick believes the future of the Kings is bright, stating year in and year out the team is a contender for a BCHL championship.
Even though fans won’t get to see McCarrick on the ice for the Kings again, they’ll definitely be able to see him in the stands when the team plays on the Island as he’ll be there supporting his former club.
