Spending summers on the diamond has helped Virden Oil Capitals defenceman Nathan McInnis succeed on the ice.
The Swift Current product has played baseball since he was five and said he has won a few provincial championships in that sport. McInnis competed in U18 AAA baseball in his home province. This past summer he helped the Cabri River Rats senior team win the Sask-Alta Baseball League championship.
“Playing baseball has helped me in hockey to build my mental strength,” McInnis said. “A good baseball player is only successful one-third of the time, so this has helped me bounce back and play harder when things aren’t as successful as I would want on the ice.”
This winter the 20-year-old is playing an important role for the Oil Caps in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.
“He takes a lot of pride in his team and teammates,” Virden head coach Tyson Ramsey said. “We are lucky to have him, and he is a great role model for our younger guys.”
The 6-foot, 172-pound McInnis has two assists through 11 games this season. In his third year with the club, he is counted on for his play and leadership.
“Nathan works extremely hard and is a leader on and off the ice,” Ramsey said. “He defends hard and is a consistent with his game.”
The Oil Caps acquired the blue liner in 2019 from the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Nipawin Hawks in the Dalton Dosch deal. Since then, the team has witnessed McInnis’ development.
“He has really worked hard off the ice to get stronger, and his skating has certainly improved as well as his ability to make a good first pass,” Ramsey said.
McInnis said he has enjoyed his time with the Oil Caps for many reasons.
“The support we receive from the community is surreal,” he said. “It is also pretty crazy to think about all the lifelong relationships I have built throughout my years in Virden and, of course, it doesn’t get much better than playing in a facility like the Tundra Oil and Gas Place.”
McInnis emphasized that he has had two awesome billet families in Virden. In his first season, he was with Daren and Roanne Bryant, who he said welcomed him and, along with their family, were very supportive. Now he is in his second year with Doug and Kathi Gatey.
“The entire family has been incredibly supportive and it’s definitely my home away from home. … They have been awesome and very welcoming ever since I arrived in Virden,” said McInnis, who noted that even though the couple’s daughter Laura does not live with them she is like a big sister to him.
Next fall McInnis plans to head to the University of Saskatchewan. Not yet decided upon a field of study, McInnis is considering agriculture, finance, and dentistry.
