Hockey is life. Life is hockey.
It’s a catchphrase that’s probably been used by a few hockey equipment companies over the years, maybe even a couple of beer ads. But for Victoria Royals star centre Brandon Magee, it’s been a personal mantra since he was three years old.
Magee’s enjoying a banner year in the Western Hockey League (WHL) and has been key in the Royals’ successful second season in Victoria. He knew he wanted to play professional hockey soon after he picked up a stick and hit the backyard rink that his dad made him when he was growing up in Edmonton.
“Right from the day I first started playing hockey I always watched NHL games with my parents and I just loved the game,” says Magee, currently second in scoring on the Royals with 54 points in 59 games this season. “It’s all I’ve really thought about to do with my life: play hockey. I’ve never really thought anything past that.”
The 19-year-old is currently in his third year in the WHL. His strength on the puck and his impressive vision on the ice has done him well in his almost 200 games in the west’s premier junior hockey league.
But without a formal backup plan beyond eventually playing in the National Hockey League (NHL), the 5’8” centre has a lot riding on making the big leagues.
“To be honest, I really don’t worry about it, not right now,” says Magee. “I’ve made hockey my number one priority in life and that’s the only thing I really know, and that’s the only thing I really want to do with my life.”
Royals head coach and former NHL player Dave Lowry thinks Magee has a solid chance at making the big leagues, as long as he sticks to what has brought him success so far in his hockey career.
“He’s a heart and soul guy. He plays hard every night and competes hard. He’s got skill and he can finish,” says Lowry. “He has pro aspirations and he just has to make sure he continues to work at the pace that he plays at and wants to improve every day.”
The Edmonton Oilers organization agrees with Lowry. They invited Magee to their development camp over the summer and gave the skilled center a hard look.
“He’s not a big guy in stature, but he’s kind of hefty in the way he plays on the ice,” says Stu MacGregor, head amateur scout of the Edmonton Oilers, “and that combined with his will and desire to compete makes him a very unique player.”
The development camp experience was extra special for a kid who spent his formative years smack in the middle of an Oilers dynasty (the NHL team won the Stanley Cup five times between 1983Đ1990).
“It was amazing to play on the same ice as those guys; guys like Nail Yakupov who already has five NHL goals,” says Magee of the development camp, “and it doesn’t seem that far away to hopefully one day be there.”
He wasn’t chosen in last year’s NHL entry draft, but MacGregor says Magee has a good chance of getting drafted this year.
“He’s certainly a player everyone will be considering for the draft and he’s obviously improving,” says the Oilers scout, “and everyone’s looking for players that are doing that.”
If Magee doesn’t get picked in the NHL draft, which takes place in New Jersey on June 30, he says another option would be if a team signed him as an un-drafted free agent.
“A lot of guys do that,” says Magee. “My agent and I talk, but we haven’t really touched on the draft too much; we’re just taking it game by game and focusing on helping the Royals win. The draft is there, obviously, but it’s not a huge deal.”
But talking to Magee about his future in hockey, it’s clear that playing in the NHL is monumental for him and pressures are high for him to succeed, especially when it’s common to see pro scouts at Royals games checking out young talent on the rapidly improving WHL team. (The Royals currently sit tied at eighth overall in the WHL, versus an 18th place finish last season).
“Even if you have one off night, that could put an X beside your name for that scout,” says Magee, “even though you want to bring it every night and play your heart out every game and hope they notice you.”
Coach Lowry appreciates Magee’s attitude and perseverance. Magee is a coach’s dream: a hard worker who doesn’t hesitate to block a shot in the last minute of a close game, but with the talent to speed down the ice and pot the game winner.
“He’s a great kid,” says Lowry. “He’s very coach-able and he’s got a great personality and he wants to win. That’s the kind of player you want on your hockey team.”
As for that dream to someday turn hockey into an NHL career, Magee claims it doesn’t occupy his thoughts too much. It’s pretty evident, however, that nothing would please him more than donning an NHL sweater. And if that sweater were an Edmonton Oilers one, wouldn’t that be a dream come true?
Still, when answering questions about his potential NHL future, Magee downplays his hopes and dreams for what the Royals organization would agree is the smart and safe answer: the success of his current team is paramount right now.
“I haven’t really thought about my chances of making the NHL too much. I just keep playing day by day here and I want to be successful with the Royals first,” he says. “Team success brings a lot of personal success. I’ve learned that. Our team’s been winning lately and it’s been fantastic.”
Magee is by far the most exciting Royals player to watch. I agree with the author of this story when he says that this guy is giving it all every time he’s on the ice. I really hope he can make the jump to the pros, hopefully his size won’t hold him back.
Thanks for the great article.
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