Creignish Ironman Colby MacEachern looks back on Major Midget run

CREIGNISH- He missed a practice, once, but that was three years and 130 Major Midget games ago.
It sounds like the punchline to a joke about Chuck Norris, but there is nothing about the performance of Colby MacEachern, graduating Cape Breton West Major Midget Islander, to leave a hockey fan snickering. Indeed, in the opinion of Islander president Brian MacInnis and coach Sean Tyler, MacEachern’s three years with the local squad is nothing less than the template of what it means to be a team player.
“He’s kind of the Creignish Ironman,” said MacInnis, noting the blueliner never missed a game in his days with the team.
“I think he’s a great Major Midget success story. He proves that it doesn’t matter at what level you played: if you work hard, success will come your way.”
The Creignish native came to the Major Midget camp as a 15-year-old, after serving with the Strait-Richmond Bantam AA Pirates. He made the team, worked hard during the 2010-11 season and trained very hard over the summer break.
“As a 16-year-old, his role increased,” said MacInnis. “As a 17-year-old, he played a big role on the team. He was one of the top parings, tough down low, tough on the power play and during the penalty kill. He’s a great lesson for kids in the area who someday want to play Major Midget.
“People develop at different stages of their life. He kept working hard, and he got there.”
MacInnis said that the jump from Bantam AA straight into Major Midget can be a tough one, but players like MacEachern prove it’s possible to make that transition.
Coach Sean Donovan, who led the Islanders for the last two seasons, also said he was more than pleased with how MacEachern developed. Indeed, said the coach, ‘development’ is the word to keep in mind when considering a guy like MacEachern.
“He’s a prime example of how our league and team is a development process,” the bench boss said. “The one thing we stress to players and parents coming up the first year is never to be someone you aren’t. If you’re a goal scorer, come here and try to score goals; if you’re a defensive guy, make sure you’re not getting scored on. Be who you are.
“Colby was the definition of a role player. He didn’t try to stray from his role; he just excelled at what he did – being a steady presence on our blueline. A lot of our success goes to guys like Colby.”
Like MacInnis, Donovan said MacEachern is exactly the sort of young man who can serve as an example for players wanting to perform on the Major Midget level.
Not only did MacEachern join the team even though he wasn’t coming from the Major Bantam system – the traditional feeder system for the Major Midget level – but his work ethic once making the cut gave him a locker room reputation that was all about respect.
“He’s an example to kids who are coming up,” Donovan said. “A lot of kids get it in their mind they have to play at the AAA level to get to ours, but the thing we stress is that a team is made up of different individuals who all bring something to the table.
“Colby became one of the top penalty killers in the league and found himself at home in front of the net on the first unit of the power play. It was a great progression for me to see over the last two years.”
Due to the steady improvements from MacEachern, the Major Midget club presented him with the Most Improved Player award at the team’s recent banquet.
“We made a point that it wasn’t most improved on the year but over his three year career,” said Donovan.
“Our league is so demanding with practice schedules and game schedules, with limited time off, that for a guy who plays a physical style to never miss one game – regular season, tournament, or playoff – over three years, it goes to show the type of player he is,” Donovan said.
“It goes to show his work ethic, his determination, and the level of respect he gained because of it.”
Winning the award came as a surprise for MacEachern, a very nice surprise, who said he realized he was in line for the award only when the presenters started talking.
“I didn’t know until they said ‘this player never missed a game’,” he said.
MacEachern was in tough this year, as the Islander defensive core was reduced to four players down the stretch. With that, he was called upon to be solid during the team’s playoff run that saw them force the powerhouse Valley Wildcats – eventual league champs – to seven games in the semifinals.
It was an incredible journey the team went on this year and, when thinking about it, MacEachern’s journey over the last three years was just as incredible.
“The players were a lot bigger and stronger when I moved from Bantam AA — and faster,” he said. “That was the big thing that first year, the speed. It was a challenge for sure.
“The first year was tough; I wasn’t used to practicing twice a week. That was a big change. In my second year, I had a little more size.
“At the end of this year, we were going with only four defense, so I was getting a lot of ice time.”
If there’s any advice MacEachern can give to players wanting to get the Major Midget level, the key word to keep in mind is a simple one:
“Train,” he said
“Make sure you’re in shape for tryouts. It’ll make the year a lot easier.”
All told, MacEachern missed only one practice in his three years, and that came in his rookie season. Since then, he’s played at least 125 if not over 130 consecutive games.
Now, with a number of entry drafts coming up, the Creignish Ironman is waiting to see where his streak will continue on the Junior level.