It’s been more than four seasons since Craig McCallum played for the Prince Albert Raiders.
However, his impact on the community and among his people is still being felt today.
The Canoe Lake native is in his fifth season with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies a program that has had a big influence on his life.
“I have nothing but love and appreciation this program.” said McCallum.
The former Beardys Blackhawk who played three seasons in the WHL is starting to feel nostalgic about his Huskie experience even with eight months to go before graduation.
“Being a fifth year, it’s special but at the same time there is pressure on me to take more of a leadership role. I have done enough developing to embrace the opportunity and challenge and look forward to it.”
In 84 games over the past four seasons, McCallum has 23 goals and 41 assists and scored the overtime winner last Friday during a two game sweep of the UBC Thunderbirds at Rutherford arena.
McCallum believes his development as a student in the Education program and on the ice are parts of the bigger picture. The 25 year old born on New Year’s Day remembers a lack of male role models in his community as a child and that has had a tremendous influence on his young adult life.
“It’s something I hadn’t really thought about or appreciated until I got to Edmonton (Oil Kings) and P.A.” said McCallum.
“I look back at my own childhood and my own youth and I looked around my community and the First Nations community in general, when I decided to turn my life around and make some changes and live a lot heathier, I decided maybe I could be one of those male role models that kids can look up to and aspire to. I think I set a good example and it’s something take pride in now.”
A big part of McCallum’s life changing experience came in his one year as a Raider when he had a career high 27 goals and 72 points following a trade from the Oil Kings. Craig still thinks fondly of his 2009-10 season.
“I think about the boys (players) all the time and I keep in touch and check on line and see how they are going all the time and unfortunately school has kept me too busy to make it to as many games as I would like, but P.A. is always going to hold a special place in my heart because it was one of my favourite places to play.”
The Huskies are ranked fourth in the country and McCallum says he would be thrilled to finally bring a national CIS title back to the Huskies.
“It would be a dream come true because we have been on the cusp, three years in a row we went to the national championships and had a chance, we competed and played well, you know for whatever reason it (the championship) just never happened, it wasn’t in the stars, but to have it happen in your last year to end your career would be a surreal experience.”
But what about life after school? Aside from joking about becoming a functioning member of society, McCallum hasn’t given up on the idea of playing pro hockey.
“Our coaches have some good connections overseas and they know a lot of people and if we wanted an opportunity (to play pro hockey) they would help us do that.”
McCallum and the Huskies put their 4-0 record on the line this weekend at home against the University of Manitoba.
dwilson@panow.com
On Twitter: @RaidersVoice
