COVID-19 restrictions in Manitoba have started to ease and when it comes to sports, golf courses have opened across the Parkland and the province which is exciting. However, that's not the case everywhere.
In Great Barrington, Massachusetts, restrictions are still heavily intact and that includes golf courses being closed. If golf courses do open in Massachusetts, the course will at minimum, lose their liquor license. Although this doesn't affect any of us, it does pose a problem for a former Swan Valley Stampeder goaltender.
Parker Rey lives in Great Barrington with his family and Rey happens to be a massive golfer, so big that he usually hits the links five or six times a week on a normal year. This summer; however, is all but normal, especially in Great Barrington.
In a normal year, he would have likely had about a dozen rounds in already, but at this time, he's still waiting for his chance to drive it down the centre, followed by hitting his approach shot tight and then, his first birdie of the year will follow.
"It's a pretty unfortunate thing to be going through. But I know so many people are going through the same thing right now and so many people have it so much worse, so I can't feel bad for myself," said Rey. "I just know that when the courses do open up, I'll be out there every day, that's a guarantee."
Before the pandemic:
It was set to be another year in the hockey journey for Rey. Albeit it, his first in a new country. After playing all of his hockey in the United States, Rey made the move to the Battlefords as he joined the North Stars of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. Battlefords is a team that was by far the best points-wise in the SJHL and they were a top 3 team in all of Canada.
They racked up 45 wins in the regular season, nine more than the Flin Flon Bombers who had the second most with 36, and Battlefords 92 points were 13 points more than the Bombers. In the playoffs, they were one win away from advancing to the second round.
When it comes to Rey, he went 9-3-1 with them and he sported a 2.4.4 goals-against average to go along with a .913 save percentage. However, Rey didn't see any playoff action with the North Stars, in fact, he didn't suit up for the team in the final two months of the regular season.
That's because, on trade deadline day, Rey was dealt to the MJHL's Swan Valley Stampeders, one of two Parkland teams in the league. Earlier in the season with Battlefords, Rey suffered a concussion that sidelined him for about a week.
In his first game with Swan Valley which was on January 11, Parker posted a 28 save shutout as Swan Valley beat Neepawa, 2-0. Rey was the odd man out in Battlefords which is why the SJHL powerhouse traded him. All he did to show Battlefords that was the wrong move was a 28 save shutout in his MJHL debut.
"I really wanted to prove to Battlefords that they made the wrong decision, it wasn't a great feeling to find out I was the odd man out when I thought I was having a pretty solid season," continued Rey. "I also wanted to prove to coach Wolff that signing me was the right decision and I wanted to show my new teammates that I could help this team win games."
Leaving Battlefords wasn't easy for the man who is now living in Great Barrington. But, the goaltender knew he was going to a great organization, one that had a goal of getting one step further than last season and winning a title.
"Swan Valley was a great place. I really got the sense that the community loved this team and really supported it," added Rey. "The atmosphere in the arena was also great and what else could I ask for. All of us 16-20-year-olds live for playing in front of lively crowds."
Next in Rey's tenure with Swan Valley was a start just four days later against the OCN Blizzard; however, he didn't finish the game. He suffered his second concussion of the season and this time, he missed two weeks.
In all, Rey suited up in seven games with the Stampeders.
"I don't really think I ever got back to my form after that second concussion," said Rey.
Next chapter:
He may not be able to golf and Parker Rey can't do other things that he's used to and loves to do right now. However, he can certainly get excited about what the future is set to bring. He still has one year left of junior eligibility and that may be an option for next season.
Or, Rey will begin his college career in September. That's because he has committed to play with the Ohio University Bobcats men's hockey team who play Division 1 in the American Collegiate Hockey Association. Rey isn't 100 percent sure what he will do next year. As mentioned above, he still has one year left of junior eligibility and if he gets the right offer, he may go down that route.
If he doesn't, he'll play against some of the best college hockey players south of the border for the next few years of his career.
The process of committing to college hockey began when a former teammate of his on the U18 Cleveland Barons asked him if he was interested because the Bobcats were looking for a goalie.
"I'm really excited to play with the Bobcats, there's no doubt about that," concluded Rey. "I'm not sure if it'll be next season or the season after, but whenever it is, I can't wait and I know it's going to be an amazing experience."
Whenever Rey does join the Division 1 team, he knows he'll be joining a program that wins a lot. They went 24-8-4 in the regular season this past season.
Rey's stop in the Parkland may have been a short one if he doesn't come back for the 2020-2021 season, but it was one that he very much enjoyed and he won't forget about his time in the Swan River playing on a team that had title aspirations.
"I have nothing but great things to say about my time with Swan Valley, I loved it all," concluded Rey.
For now, Rey will patiently wait to hit the tee box and when he does, he plays to a four handicap so not only does he know his way around the crease, he knows his way around the golf course as well.
