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By:  Jacob Younan

Since Brad Boyes, left Hazel McCallion as a graduate in 1994, the road to his future has taken some dramatic twists and turns. Fortunately, they have all been positive ones, especially in the world of ice hockey. A French Immersion student, Brad walked the halls of McCallion for two years and distinguished himself as a good student and athlete. An honour roll student for those two years, Brad’s commitment to excellence began in the classroom and blossomed on the athletic scene. Brad was always a top physical education student, but he also excelled in the classroom in a variety of areas and especially in Math, a pursuit he enjoyed.  As for sports, Brad represented Hazel by being part of the school’s soccer team, where he starred for two seasons. A tireless worker who possessed good vision and skills, no one really knew at the time the heights he was going to achieve in the hockey world.

When he graduated from Hazel, he set off to Clarkson Secondary School. He lasted only three years there because in 1998, the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League made a surprise choice by drafting Brad as the 12th overall pick in the first round of the draft.

After discussing the opportunity with family, Brad decided to go to Erie. The opportunity meant some sacrifices though. To play in Erie, he had to leave a comfortable family existence. Living full time in Erie meant billeting with an Erie family full time, enrolling in an American high school, and enduring the rigours of a 65 game schedule in the OHL. Erie, being 2 hours from Pittsburgh, meant the team faced a demanding travel schedule and therefore caused Brad to become even more self-disciplined than he could possibly imagine.

But during his time in Erie, his hockey skills blossomed. After a rookie season which saw him rack up 62 points, he grew, matured and became one of Erie’s greatest weapon. By his 3rd and 4 th years in the OHL, he was a force. During these years, he was in the top ten in scoring, captured the Red Tillson (the most outstanding player in the OHL) trophy twice, and represented Canada at the World championships in successive seasons. Only two other players have ever achieved the distinction of winning the Red Tillson trophy in successive years. Those players were Alan Macaulay (formerly of the Leafs) and the legendary Frank Mahovlich.

Despite these accolades and achievements, Brad’s most outstanding achievement may have been being awarded the Bobby Smith trophy, an award that is customarily given to the OHL player with the highest academic average in school. Brad’s average that year was a modest 92%, showing that, not only does he possess outstanding skills as a hockey player, he also has achieved a balance in his life to recognize the importance of education. Brad’s father, a principal in Peel and his mother, a teacher in Peel, obviously helped to instill this commitment to excellence.

Brad is one of 4 Boyes, children to attend Hazel. His older brother Jeff, his younger sisters Jackie and Jen, all distinguished themselves as outstanding citizens of Hazel.

As his junior career was coming to a close, the Toronto Maple Leafs saw enough value in Brad to select him with their first overall pick (24th overall) in the 2001 draft. Brad nearly made the club his first year, but the Leafs felt another season of junior would help to build his confidence and to develop some deficiencies he had in his game. During his second pro camp however, his performance was not his best and the Leafs chose to send him to their farm team, their AHL affiliate in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Despite the disappointment of not making the Leafs, Brad set off to Newfoundland and posted some decent statistics (see the Table of statistics). He led the baby Leafs in scoring, finished 5th among AHL rookies and was selected to the AHL All star game, where he recorded 2 assists.

Perhaps, the notoriety he got from the Leafs during his tenure at St. John’s, was not the type he was looking for. To bolster their team for the playoffs this year, the Leafs sent Brad and Alan Macaulay to the San Jose Sharks for Owen Nolan in March. Shocked and a little surprised by the deal, Brad packed his bags and was off to California.

Despite the fact that the Sharks were not going to make the playoffs, Dean Lombardi, the general manager of San Jose felt that Brad should go to San Jose’s farm team in Cleveland to finish off the season. Even though it would have been a great opportunity for Brad to see his first NHL action, Lombardi had been heavily criticized for trading Owen Nolan and he did not want Brad to face a backlash from the angry fans for being part of that trade. Brad finished out the year in Cleveland.

This summer, he will leave for Los Angeles, to work out with a personal trainer in the hopes of cracking the San Jose line up. Those of us that know him at Hazel wish him luck…but knowing Brad, we know that luck won’t be needed. He should be in a Sharks sweater next year.

Brad has never forgotten his Hazel roots. Every off season, he drops in for a visit to see some of his former teachers, takes lots of time to talk with the kids and is a willing signer of autographs. Just this April, he dropped into Hazel and Emad Raza, sports reporter for the Quest sat him down and asked him some questions. Below is the interview in its entirety.

Quest Interview with Brad Boyes

Quest asks- Brad, if we look at your career accomplishments since you left Hazel McCallion, you’ve accomplished a lot. But, so far, what has been the highlight of your career so far?

Brad says- I’d say that the highlight of my career has been playing with the World Junior teams and also being a part of a championship team in Erie.
 

Quest asks- Brad, what was it like to represent your country at the World Juniors, and to be around so many other talented future stars?

Brad says- To be able to play for your country, especially when the sport is hockey, and the country is Canada, there's no better feeling.  It was a definite honour and, to play with the talent that was there, was also fun.  It makes it easier to play with guys that have such great talent.

Quest asks- Brad, it must have been a thrill to get drafted by the Maple Leafs. But, if you could have chosen another NHL team to play for, other than the Leafs, who would you most want to play for and why?

Brad says- Well as it turned out, it was exciting being drafted by the Leafs, unfortunately I got traded last March so as of now the team I would like to play for would be the San Jose Sharks.  Despite what Mr. Riddell likes to think...I did not want to go to the Boston Bruins, they're not that good!)

Quest says- We at Hazel McCallion were all a little shocked when the Leafs traded you to San Jose for Owen Nolan. How did you feel when you got the news? Would you have liked to stay here to play in Toronto?

Brad says- It would have been nice to play in Toronto, but getting traded was probably a good thing for me.  Hopefully now I'll be able to to get opportunity.  I had mixed feelings when I was traded.  Both happy and unsettling, but hopefully it will work out. 

Quest asks- What is it like to go from being just a regular kid, to being an important part in a trade, for a big name player like Owen Nolan?

Brad says- It's pretty cool.  The good thing about being traded for an elite player is that everyone knows about the trade because Owen Nolan was involved.  It also makes you feel good that a team gave up a solid player for you and a couple of other guys.

Quest asks- Brad, now that you are a part of the San Jose Sharks organization, do you feel you can crack their lineup next year and make it to the NHL?

Brad says-  I hope so.  I've got a summer program that I'll be working on and then we'll see in training camp.

Quest asks- I know it seems like a long time ago, but what are some of your fondest memories of your time at Hazel (teachers, school teams, special achievements, etc.)? Do you still stay in touch with any of the students and teachers from McCallion?

Brad says- I do still keep in touch with some students and teachers.  Every year or so I'll come by and see Mr. Riddell and Mr. Koruna.  It's always fun to see those guys and I still have some close friends from Hazel.  My best friend Graeme Lindsay went there and we're still close.

Quest asks- What were some of your best classes (subjects) at Hazel and who were some of your favourite teachers?

Brad says- Well some of the most fun classes were English and Phys. Ed.  I've always liked gym, and always enjoyed sports so it was easy to have fun there.  But I was never a big fan of English but with Mr. Riddell and Mr. Taggart there, doing the newspaper and other activities made it a lot better.   Math was also a subject that I enjoyed and that I tried to do well at.
 
Quest asks- One of the things which most people don’t know is that you won the academic achievement award (highest mark average of all the players) in the OHL twice while you played for Erie Otters. So, tell us Brad, how hard is it to play hockey at such a high level, and still keep up with schoolwork and do as well as you did academically?

Brad says-  At times it was difficult, but our team was pretty dedicated on making sure the players did well in school.  At the same time I had some good teachers that always helped me out when I needed it.

Quest asks- If you were not as skilled a hockey player as you are, what profession do you think you would have chosen and why?

Brad says- A lot of people ask me that question, and to be truthful, I'm not sure what I'm doing now is something that something that I've always wanted to do and there's nothing else that I want to do.
 

Quest asks- There are a lot of kids in our school that dream of becoming NHL stars. What advice would you have for a young person who was also aspiring to become a professional athlete?

Brad says- I'd say that if you really want to make it, you've got to work hard.  But you've also got to make sure that you have have to have fun too.  Hockey, like any other professional sport, is not for everyone, so you've got to make sure that you have something to fall back on too.  That's why it's important to do well in school.

Quest asks- Who are your idols, either hockey related or otherwise, and why do you see these people as being special?

Brad says- One person that I've always liked watching was Wayne Gretzky.  He's a person who has exceptional skills and was just fun to watch.  There's also my brother, Jeff, whom I look up to alot.  He's someone who is doing very well for himself outside of the hockey world.  He always helps me out though went it comes to the game, as he's someone who loves hockey so much, but he realized that he wasn't going to go anywhere with it and therefore he concentrated on doing well in school.  However, in saying that, he still plays with his buddies and has a lot of fun.

Quest asks-   Is there anyone that has helped you along the way to becoming the person you are today?

Brad says- Definitely my parents are the ones who raised me to be whom I am.  I think I'm pretty lucky to have them for parents.
 

Quest asks- Brad, did you graduate from high school, and if you did, are you still taking any courses or are you just focusing on making it to the NHL? Do you feel your schooling is just as important as playing professional hockey?

Brad says- Since both of my parents are involved in education, my Mom being a teacher and my father being a principal, they have always been on me to do well with school.  I did graduate from high school in Erie in 2000, and I am taking a couple of university courses every year.

Quest asks- If you could change one important decision you made so far in your career, what would it be?

Brad says- I don't think that I would.  I believe everything happens for a reason, and as of now, I'm happy with everything that has happened in my life.  I wouldn't change a thing.

Quest asks- OK Brad, last question…if you had a chance to speak to Hazel students at an assembly, what advice would you give them?

Brad says- The advice I would give them would give them would just to enjoy what you do and to work hard at school  It is important to realize that they shouldn't give up on school because it's essential.  also, I'd tell them to have fun.  Everyone should enjoy being young.  I can still remember my time at Hazel and I had so much fun while I was there.