By Levi Fraser

Mark MacKinnon, Defense #2- Briercrest Clippers Hockey

Briercrest freshman Mark MacKinnon is excited to join the Briercrest hockey team this season. The sturdy defenseman is currently studying in the Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration program.

MacKinnon felt Briercrest was the right fit for him.

“My mom had been talking to the previous coach about the hockey program and he invited me to come out to the spring evaluation camp,” MacKinnon explained. “However, I was also invited to the Winnipeg Blues Junior A spring camp and both of these camps occurred on the same weekend. I prayed all week and came to the decision that God was calling me to Briercrest. I played really well at the camp and the coach said that he had a spot for me on the team. It was then that I knew that God was calling me to Briercrest this year.”

Mark’s impeccable work ethic on and off the ice is hard to miss as he strives to do his best at whatever he does.

“As a student, I want to get the highest mark I can possibly get and as an athlete I want to play my best every time I step onto that ice,” Mark said.

He used 1 Corinthians 10:31 which says, “whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God,” to describe this work ethic.

“I try to use this verse to motivate myself (not only at school or at the rink) but in life. He has given me my unique set of gifts and I want to make sure he gets 100% of the credit and glory. I can never be disappointed in myself if I can look at God and tell Him that I did my very best and made sure I praised Him for it.”

For MacKinnon Briercrest Hockey stands apart from the rest of the teams because of the atmosphere in which they study/play in.

“On most junior teams, you are just a player; nothing more, nothing less,” MacKinnon explained. “You’re easily disposed of and the general morality isn’t the greatest either. Here at Briercrest, you’re more than an athlete. You are a student, roommate, friend, and a brother/sister in Christ with everyone. And it’s even closer on the hockey team. To me, they feel like my second family.”

When describing his favourite moment at Briercrest so far he spoke of a special moment with his dorm.

“One time my floor (Whittaker 2) went out for a burger run about two weeks into school and while we were in Burger King, a guy in a real flashy sports car came through the drive-thru and started spinning his tires,” MacKinon said. “Of course we loved it and started cheering him on. The smoke from the burning of his tires covered the entire window pane and then my friend David Charach said, ‘IT’S WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT!!!’ at which point I lost it and was on the floor laughing. I don’t think I have ever laughed that hard in my life.”

After MacKinnon is done at Briercrest he could see himself training to go into emergency services but clearly places his plans in God’s hands.

Mark said, “If God says that He has other plans for me then I’ll do what He wants me to do.”

Briercrest wishes Mark MacKinnon the best of luck this season!