COLE HARBOUR – The small community of Cole Harbour is celebrating after native Nathan MacKinnon, 17, was picked first overall at the 2013 NHL draft.
MacKinnon is now the highest picked Mooseheads player ever in a NHL draft, but it’s not surprising to those who coached MacKinnon.
“It’s satisfying to see somebody you know have that kind of success to the level that he’s had,” said Keifer House, who coached MacKinnon for two years.
He says the teen is proof that hard work pays off.
“He had really good attention to detail,” House said. “He was always trying to tweak things a little bit to try to make himself good at everything he was doing.”
He adds that MacKinnon’s success is inspiring for aspiring hockey players.
“I think it just reinforces that it possible for people to achieve big things, even if you’re from a small community like Cole Harbour,” he said. “I think the combination of both Natha MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby being from here, I think it’s really enabled kids to have a vision for what they may want to accomplish.”
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Mooseheads General Manager Cam Russell spoke to Global News shortly after the announcement that MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin had been picked first and third, respectively, in the draft.
“To have a player selected from your own team first overall and third overall is incredible,” Russell said. “Both Nathan and Jonathan have definitely earned this. They’ve been incredible for this organization, the Hal Mooseheads. We’re so proud of them and so happy for them.”
The achievement is making those in the Cole Harbour hockey community beam with pride.
“I think any time you live in a small community like Cole Harbour and you have a young person who can step into the spotlight, it all makes us very proud and very excited,” said Jim Bungay, president of the Cole Harbour Minor Hockey Association.
At Cleve’s Source for Sports in Cole Harbour, that pride is turning into retail dollars.
Jerseys, t-shirts and other sports attire with MacKinnon’s name are selling quickly. In fact the store has sold about 30 items featuring MacKinnon in the last two days alone.
“The excitement of the community in Cole Harbour is going to increase even more and the pride of Cole Harbour will definitely be strong,” said manager Kevin Moore.
Young hockey players are also now looking up to MacKinnon as their role model.
“I think that’s pretty cool considering he’s from Cole Harbour,” said William Bungay,10, who wants to play in the NHL.
“I think it will inspire a lot of kids to try and do the same thing because they’re thinking, if Sidney and Nathan can do it, why can’t I?” said Niko House, 13.
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