Hudson Wozney’s hockey journey started with a large gift under the
Christmas tree.
At age three
his grandparents decided it was time for him to try the sport and
outfitted him with all the equipment and gear a toddler could need.
Since then, hockey has had
a profound impact on Hudson. He isn’t the person—or potential Ontario Hockey
League draft pick—he is today without his skates and stick.
"It’s shaped me as a
man honestly,” the 16-year-old said in an interview. “I don’t know where I
would be without hockey.”
Right now, Wozney
plays for the U16 AAA Guelph Jr. Gryphons and finished the season tied with the second most points on his
team with 13 goals and 14 assists in 30 games played.
He hopes to hear his name
called this year at the OHL draft on April 12-13, but more than that, he is
thankful for what the last 13 years of hockey have taught him.
“I’m just looking to go
wherever it takes me,” Wozney said. “I love this game. I love
everything in it. I love everything about it. If I get drafted, it would be a
huge pleasure to go.”
Wozney’s dad, Chad, is
equally as impressed with the impact this sport has had on his son even though
he didn’t plan for him to play hockey.
“Hockey has allowed him to
be around some high-quality kids and some high-quality people who he spends his
spare time with, and that’s what we’re most happy about,” Chad said.
“It’s provided him with a
framework on his way to adulthood, first of all. Hockey teaches him fairness
and right and wrong, and you kind of get out of it what you put in.”
However, hockey
and Wozney didn’t always get along.
At age four, dressed in
his brand-new gear, he stepped onto the ice for his first ever hockey
practice.
He was an excellent skater
and had been begging to join a team even as a toddler, but when Wozney got on
the ice and found no sticks or pucks he started to wail. He didn’t want to be
out there doing skating drills, he was ready to play.
Three practices and a
coach’s coaxing later, Wozney put away the tears and picked up a stick.
Since then, he’s barely put it down.
“We had no choice at that
point, but to let him play hockey,” Chad said. “Once he was up and going there
was no holding him back.”
Wozney now gets on
ice almost every day with the Gryphons. At the AAA level he finds
himself learning just as much about how to have good character, as he learns
about how to play good hockey.
“I’m really humbled and
honoured to get this opportunity to get to play with the Guelph Gryphons this
year,” Wozney said.
“I like how (the coaches)
keep us disciplined, we have… rules we stand by.”
One of their main rules
has to do with the team’s behaviour off the ice. At the end of each game or
practice the players take turns being the last one out of the dressing room so
that they can clean it and ensure the arena hands have less work to do.
“It lights up my day when
I see an arena man smile just because we’ve done that," Wozney said.
As he prepares for what
hockey could look like in the next year, he focuses on how he can show up as
the best teammate and person just as much as he focuses on the stat sheet.
“I love the way he carries
himself out there. I love the fact that he’s a true sportsman and a good
teammate. That’s what we’re most proud of,” Chad said.
“The dreams and hopes are
… make the next team and then succeed as a good teammate and good player on
that team.”
About the author: Sarah Matt is a student in the Sport Journalism post-grad program at Centennial College.