Gaining attention
Zack MacEwen having a strong final season of junior hockey
Zack MacEwen is making the most of his opportunities.
The 20-year-old Stratford native already has more goals and points this season with the Gatineau Olympiques than he did a year ago with the Moncton Wildcats, despite having played 23 fewer games in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
“In Moncton, I was more of a versatile, utility player,” MacEwen said Wednesday. “Here, I’ve been given the opportunity, and put in situations, where I can put up points.”
Twice in the past three weeks, MacEwen has been named the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s second star of the week.
“The team has been doing pretty good, and I’m having some success as well,” said the six-foot-four, 215-pound centre. “I’ve been putting in the work, so getting recognized for some success is a really good feeling.”
His play this season hasn’t gone unnoticed from NHL teams. MacEwen said he received some attention last season, but it has picked up in his final year of junior hockey.
“It’s definitely helping my odds for a chance to play pro after junior,” he said.
MacEwen, who attended the Anaheim Ducks camp in 2016, said he allows his agent to handle that side of the sport while he concentrates on improving his game.
“You just have to play hockey. Everything will fall into place if it’s going to happen.”
MacEwen played minor hockey in Pownal before joining the Charlottetown Islanders for a season of major midget in 2012-13. After two seasons of junior A with the Amherst Ramblers, MacEwen played last season with the Wildcats.
He was traded to Gatineau a week before training camp.
“I was expecting something but really wasn’t sure where,” he said. “They had a lot of 20-year-olds, and I kind of knew who they were going with.”
When he became available, Olympiques general manager Marcel Patenaude pounced. He saw MacEwen play while living in Halifax last season and saw growth potential in his game. Zack MacEwen is an assistant captain with the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
a Stratford native who plays hockey for the Gatineau Olympiques in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Six-foot-four, 215-pound centre. MacEwen has received the league’s second star of the week twice in the past three weeks. During the last week of December, he had three goals and four assists in three games while winning 64 per cent of his faceoffs. Last week, he scored three times and set up four more in two games. . . teams are looking at signing him as a free agent.”
Patenaude said the assistant has been a good example of how hard work and commitment can pay off.
MacEwen is centering a line with former Charlottetown Islander Shawn Boudrias and former Saint John Sea Dog Daniel Del Paggio. The trio quickly developed chemistry.
“Since Shawn has got here, he’s been fitting in nicely with our lineup. He’s a big body that hits a lot (and has good) hands, so he can finish,” MacEwen said. “Dan has been in the league for years too, so we fit well together. He’s a good playmaker. He sees the ice well.” The Kings County Kings showed no mercy on the winless Sherwood Drug Mart Falcons, thumping the squad 11-3 in P.E.I. Midget AAA Hockey League action Thursday at Cody Banks Arena. Kings County moved to 8-13-1 while Sherwood dropped to 0-25. Eddie Jenkins and Tyson McInnis each scored three times. Jenkins added three assists. Other goals went to Alex Chapman (2-2), Ben MacIsaac (1-1), Ty Peardon (1-1) and Matthew MacLaren. Multiple assists went to Jacob MacEachern (4), Brodie McCarthy (2) and Riley Jamieson (2). Kings County led 3-2 after the first period and 8-3 at the second intermission, and went 4-for-10 on the power play. Emmett Lyons netted Sherwood’s markers. Ben Bruce recorded the win over Parker McCabe. The Holland College Hurricanes badminton team is in Truro, N.S., this weekend to compete in the fourth Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association badminton event of the season. In the three previous events the ’Canes have finished third twice and second in Charlottetown. Females Emma Hughes, Maggie Renouf, Kristyn Visser, Rachel Wang, and males David Cozens, Josh Watkins, Jonah Wilton, Jordan Wisener, and Larry Liang will compete for the ‘Canes at the event this weekend at the Dal AC Rams-hosted event. Mount Allison, Université de Sainte-Anne, Dal AC and UKC are expected to compete. Competition began Friday night and continues today.