NEWS

A series of stories on the team captains in the Ontario Junior Hockey League during the 2017-18 season:

By Ron Valentine

The 2017 'last-gasp' RBC Cup win by the COBOURG COUGARS is still fresh in junior hockey fans' minds – as it is for one of this season's assistant captains, MAC LOWRY (Photo by Shawn Muir / OJHL Images). The Cobourg product was one of only three members of that team (excluding affiliates) who returned for the 2017-2018 campaign – the other two are Connor MacEachern, named to the Canada East team at the World Jr. A. Challenge, and Matthew Bumstead.

Mac is very happy to be handed the opportunity to be a 'letter' on this team – a first for him in his hockey career. Now with that extra responsibility he is looking forward to a successful season for the club who are mostly young and experienced.

Mac was concussed during Game 3 of the RBC Cup tournament in Cobourg and he was unable to be a participant in that nailbiter of a final. Now fully fit and ready to go Mac is looking for the club to continue to surprise many with its strong work ethic and determination. He points out that the new coaching staff have put a game plan in place and now it's up to him and the team’s other "A"s to go out and set the example on and off the ice. He looks forward to continue working with the rookies on the team and helping in their development. After a shaky start the club has showed positive signs of coming together and Mac points out that hard, strong practices and attention to detail will set this young squad in good stead. He sees the Eastern Division as an more even playing field this season.

Though he has two years remaining at the junior level Mac is setting his long-term sights on NCAA or U Sports hockey in his future and this young man who plays a strong two-way game and can work on the power play or in shorthanded situations has the right attitude to do just that.