Sid McNeill dreamed of the day when he might have the chance to represent his country and wear the Team Canada jersey.

But three years ago, after a third heart operation, that dream seemed far away.

The 18-year-old hockey player, originally from Summerside, PEI, recovered and carries the maple leaf for Canada East at the World Junior A Challenge in Cornwall, Ontario today.

“When I was little, I saw Team Canada and dreamed of putting on the uniform,” McNeill said. It’s fantastic to be able to make that dream come true now after everything I’ve been through. »

The 5-foot-7, 140-pound defenseman, who plays in the Maritime Hockey League (MHL) with the Summerside Western Capitals, is grateful for the opportunity to represent not only his home province but his country as well.

“This tournament is on another level! This is a great opportunity for me that I want to take advantage of. »

For months in 2020, McNeill wondered if he could ever play hockey again. During a training camp in Michigan he attended with Oakland’s Jr. Grizzlies AAA, medical staff diagnosed an arrhythmia and suggested seeing him at the hospital for further evaluation.

“During a routine physical exam, I noticed that I had an irregular pulse. It turned out I had heart problems. The strangest thing is that I felt good. We had a tough training camp and I thought I’d hold my own, my heart seemed fine. I have never had any problems before and there is no history in my family. »

McNeill undergoes a battery of tests in Michigan: electrocardiogram, ultrasound, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and stress tests. A week later, he will have an electrophysiological evaluation to determine if an ablation is needed. This procedure aims to treat atrial fibrillation through small burns that heal inside the heart and help neutralize the electrical connections at the origin of the arrhythmia.

The youngster will return to Toronto for a second medical opinion and will then be flown to Halifax for the September 2020 procedure.

“The first time they ablated, they went through the arteries and burned part of my heart. I went back for more tests and they told me it didn’t work. I underwent a similar procedure but with a camera to try and get a picture. The third attempt was successful. »

Repeated hospitalizations hurt McNeill’s morale as he contemplates what life would be like without hockey.

“I didn’t know what the future of hockey held for me. At some point I could have given up ice hockey and forgotten, looked for another way. But at the end of the 2019/2020 season, I got the green light to return to the sport. What a relief to be able to return to the sport I love after everything I’ve been through! »

The experience served as a lesson in perseverance for McNeill.

“I’ve learned never to give up. I realized that everyone had to deal with adversity. Once that’s behind us things will look a lot better. »

McNeill still sees his cardiologist in Halifax every year to make sure his heartbeat is normal, but he doesn’t take his positive health check for granted. The player decided to stay on Prince Edward Island and play for the Western Capitals in his hometown. Last spring his team won the MHL title and an appearance in the Centennial Cup presented by Tim Hortons, Canada’s Junior A National Championship.

“I love playing at home. After such a scare, I decided that the next time I would play hockey, it would be in front of my family. »

And with his family. In fact, he and his older brother Ed have been playing together on the blue line for two seasons.

“We have been duo partners for two years. It’s special that not many people can play as a family, especially at such a high level of hockey. We work well together. »

Western Capitals head coach Billy McGuigan, who also coaches Canada East behind the bench in Cornwall, has no trouble describing McNeill’s influence on his teammates.

“He’s an extraordinary young man,” said McGuigan. He is constantly striving to perfect, learn and improve his knowledge of hockey. His work ethic is admirable. He is a valuable asset within a team. His importance to Team Canada East is the same as it was to Summerside. »

As he ponders his future in hockey, McNeill knows there may be other opportunities if he keeps working hard. He would like to play college hockey in the United States.

“Since I’m small and not very imposing, I’ve often thought about playing in the NCAA,” explains the defense attorney. I hope to play good hockey here and get noticed. »