RHA NATIONALS
And I really liked
the league. The competition
is unbelievable. Every
single game, you’re
fighting for the win.
I thought it was a very
good league. Very well
organized, too
er parents do and I appreciate that. My dad did a lot, too. He’s the
one who got me into hockey. But he passed away from cancer when I
was 12. That’s something that’s motivated me. Playing for him. It was
pretty hard, but I just had to get over it.”
Cyle’s mom Rosy knows her boy better than anyone. And it seems
as if he gets more impressive every day.
“He’s done a lot to turn the corner,” she said. “You know, he does a
big fundraiser every year and he’s raised almost $90,000 for Cancer
Care.
“His dad was hugely into hockey. But when his dad passed away it
was a game-changer for me in many ways. One of them was taking
Cyle to the rink. It’s different when your dad talks to you about your
game and gives you tips and tells you where you went wrong. Sud-
denly, I just couldn’t go to the rink, have a coffee and hang out. I had
to get serious and pay attention.
“But we’ve had a lot of fun together. And I’m impressed with him.
He’s had a real struggle but it’s made him stronger and I think, more
aware of everything. Both of my boys have had to grow up quickly.
But he still wakes up with a smile every morning. He’s risen above it.”
This past summer, Cyle and his mom sat down to discuss his im-
mediate future. After playing a year with the City Midget Monarchs,
would he go out with the Wild or would he try the new RHA Nation-
als program. It was a decision Rosy and Cyle made together and it’s
turned out to be the right one. Undrafted as a 14-year-old by the
Western Hockey League, he was eventually protected by the Giants
and after a season in which he had nine goals and 25 points in 29
games with the Nationals, the Giants signed him.
“This program not only helped me develop on the ice but also off
the ice,” he said. “The schedule is very similar to the next level so I
56 GAME ON
2017 CHAMPIONS EDITION
thought it was very good for me to help me make it to the next step.
“And I’m doing pretty well in school. Even though we miss a lot of
school, we have a lot of study halls so it’s easy to stay caught up
while we’re on the road. Because my goal is to make it to the WHL
this year, I’m looking to take some courses on line this summer just
to get some of Grade 12 out of the way.
“And I really liked the league. The competition is unbelievable. Ev-
ery single game, you’re fighting for the win. I thought it was a very
good league. Very well organized, too.”
Coach Smith thought the Nationals -- a Prep School hockey pro-
gram out of The Rink, Southdale Arena and Shaftesbury High School
– worked wonders for McNabb, as well.
“He’s an RHA success story,” Smith said. “We’ve had a few of them.
It’s been a positive year in that regard. But he’s one of those kids who
has blossomed and really become a success story in this program. I
believe it’s been important for him to be part of this program and I
think he would tell you the same thing.”
He also says that while “he plays” for his late father, the fact he
went undrafted as a 14-year-old has also motivated him.
“I’m excited about going to Vancouver,” he said. “Especially after
being undrafted. I’m excited to go out there and prove everyone
wrong. Being undrafted motivated me. Everyone doubted me and I
used that to work extra hard and prove everyone wrong.”
All of this motivation suggest one very important thing: The power
of hockey burns in Cyle McNabb.
“After he lost his dad, hockey became even a bigger part of his life,”
said his mom. “He went out the door every day and he couldn’t skate
long enough or fast enough or hard enough.
“At the end of the day, thank God for hockey.” n