At the tender age of 12, Keegan Smolin of Penetanguishene, already has eight years experience playing both ice hockey and ball hockey.
"He's very competitive. He works hard and he's quick," says Niki Smolin, Keegan's mother.
Keegan is currently training for the provincial ball hockey championships in Mississauga from July 5 to 7.
He was selected for U12 Blazers team with the Penetang-Midland Minor Ball Hockey League's (PMMBHL) from a field of 80 youth.
So how did he feel about making the team?
"Happy," Keegan says, before a game with his U12 house league team at the Penetanguishene Memorial Community Centre Arena.
This is the third year Keegan has been selected for the provincials. He did "pretty good" last year. This year he has a goal.
"To try to win the whole tournament," he says.
Jamie Robillard, president and administrator of the league, and a Penetanguishene Sports Hall of Famer, has his eye on Keegan as an athlete that will "go far."
“Keegan works really hard on the floor," says Robillard. "He plays hard and he plays the right way. You have players who go out there, play hard and take penalties. Keegan doesn’t do that. He just plays a really solid game. He’s smart. He passes when he should pass and he shoots when he should.
“And believe me, I watch a lot of ball hockey,” says Robillard, who started the league in 1976.
The PMMBHL is sending nine teams to the provincials this year, six boys teams and three girls teams.
Robilliard says Keegan's success has to do with the coaching and the parenting he's received and his life experiences.
Keegan plays left wing for both ice hockey and ball hockey. He also plays defence for his house league team.
"I'm good at positioning the plays. I try to make the plays in my head and then try to make it happen," he says.
Niki says that Keegan gets compliments for his back-checking skills because he's so fast.
Keegan likes being fit and enjoys sports overall. At his school, Canadian Martyrs' Catholic School in Penetanguishene, he plays on the basketball team and competes in track and field sprints and long jump.
In his free time, he likes riding his bike.
Keegan said while he likes ball hockey, he prefers ice hockey because more of his friends are on his Penetang Flames U13 Rep team. He will be re-joining the team for his second year in the division in September.
For both sports, he likes seeing new places, staying in hotels with pools and eating out at restaurants.
For more information about the League visit its website.
