Marc Mackenzie is a 6’2”, 180 pound sixteen-year-old right wing playing for the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL.
Unhappy Hockey Dad Tells His Son To Take Stick, Go Home
Well, scratch that. Mackenzie was playing for the Raiders until last weekend, when he left the team and returned home to Kelowna, British Columbia. He wasn’t injured and it wasn’t a case of homesickness -- rather, he returned home because his dad was angry with Prince Albert coach Bruno Campese.
The Prince Albert Daily Herald reports that Mackenzie’s family and his agent, Chris Turnbull, had an agreement with Campese. From Turnbull in the Daily Herald:
“Bruno made promises of where he would play and how many games he would have to sit, which is none. He only had four or five shifts the first night and then got sat (Saturday) night. His dad wasn’t very happy.”
Rather than talk to the coach about the healthy scratch or work harder in practice, Mackenzie, acting on the advice of his father, took his stick and went home.
Again, from Turnbull:
“His dad just got upset and said, ‘That’s it. If you’re not going to keep your word, we’re out of here.’ So, basically, that’s where it sits.”
Hockey Dad got his wish. The Raiders traded Mackenzie to the Chiliwack Bruins for a 12th round pick in next year’s WHL entry draft, and his son learned a lesson about hard work and learning the ropes. Or, his son learned none of that, and Mackenzie’s father damaged his son’s reputation with each of his future employers.
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