Mason Kelly (left) shares a laugh with twin brother Brady (right) with the Peninsula Panthers. (Submitted Photo/Christian J. Stewart)

By Rob Mahon

Kelly Twin Goaltenders

‘A dream come true’: Twin goaltenders from Prince Albert end junior careers together in B.C.

May 12, 2023 | 12:00 PM

The hockey story of Mason and Brady Kelly is an unlikely one on several levels. Twin brothers from Prince Albert playing their final season of junior hockey together on Vancouver Island, in a league where 20-year-old spots are limited, is far fetched enough. It gets even less likely when you consider this: both young men are goaltenders.

The Prince Albert-born twins both played for the VIJHL’s Peninsula Panthers last season. They split the goaltending duties almost exactly, with Brady appearing in 25 regular season games and Mason appearing in 26.

“As you get older and to higher levels of hockey, the chances of playing with a sibling, any sibling, are pretty slim,” said Brady Kelly. “For two twins that somehow both ended up being goalies and playing on the same team as 20-year-olds because 20-year-old spots are limited, it’s absolutely crazy. I’m super grateful.”

“It was a dream come true,” said Mason Kelly. “We got to do it our first year of junior hockey, but then we spent the time away our second year of junior and that was hard because me and Brady have always done everything together. To be able to get one last kick at the can and do it with him was a lot of fun.”

The two brothers have put a lot of miles on in their hockey journey. After finishing up their minor hockey careers with the Beardy’s Blackhawks, they went to Alberta to play in the Greater Metro Junior A League for the Fox Creek Ice Kings, in a town almost three hours northwest of Edmonton. The following season, Brady went west to play for the Panthers, while Mason went southeast to the USPHL Premier.

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“I was in Detroit, Michigan the year before, so you can imagine Vancouver Island is a little nicer,” said Mason. “The weather was great. Good people, and it’s a nice place. It’s the place to be.”

The weather was a big change for both brothers, accustomed as they were to the cold prairie winters. On Vancouver Island, winter doesn’t have quite the same kick.

“It’s definitely been a huge change being from Prince Albert,” Brady said. “I think it snows maybe for a week here out of the entire year, and other than that it’s sunny. A little bit of rain, of course, but that’s to be expected.”

“If I wanted to, I could show up to the rink in shorts,” said Mason, “but I chose my jeans and cowboy boots.”

Both young men found a pleasant surprise in the calibre of hockey as well. The Junior B ranks in B.C. are often a training ground for future Junior A stars, and even WHL prospects who want to get used to playing against older competition.

“I have nothing but good things to say about hockey in B.C.,” said Brady. “Specifically, with my experience, Junior B in general here on the island, it’s highly competitive and I’d definitely recommend it.”

Both Mason and Brady thanked the Panthers organization for giving them a chance to play their final year of junior hockey together. The plan is for them to reunite on the island for their education as they attend the University of Victoria.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP