Every team at every level wants a player like Matthew Struthers. It’s not just his production on the ice that stand out, but his leadership and commitment to making those around him better; including his time away from the rink.
This summer, the North Bay Battalion’s top centre is not only preparing for his final year in the Ontario Hockey League on the ice but embracing all there is to life as a Major Junior Hockey player by giving back to those who have been supporting him throughout his journey.
Struthers was in North Bay last week to visit his billet family and also say "hi" to some of his biggest fans. One of those is Jack Lyons, who has become Struthers honourary little brother.
“I’ve been over to Jack's house a couple of times now and he means a lot to me,” Struthers says.
Jack has autism and Struthers says when he’s able to see Jack and his parents at Battalion games, there’s a little extra motivation.
“What he goes through and how strong he is, it’s really like he’s a role model for me because he always has a big smile on his face and it’s so fun to be around him and I know he enjoys being around me.”
Struthers does all the things with Jack that a big brother is supposed to do.
“We went on the boat, went swimming, and played hockey on the lawn.”
It’s a friendship that began last year and Jack’s parents admire the connection.
“When we said Matt Struthers was in town (last week) he sat in the boat and waited to go. He has a way with Jack and a bond that is amazing. From jumping on the trampoline to getting pushed off the dock to playing football he is genuine,” said Mark Lyons, Jack's father.
The other fan is Bob McIntyre, who is a season ticket holder and unofficial biggest cheerleader for the Troops.
Since the Battalion moved to North Bay, at some point in the third period, you would see “Bobby Mac” walk around the concourse of the rink, stopping at every section of seats, and yell his infamous chant into his megaphone; “when I say Battalion, you say Go!” sporting an army helmet provided by the team.
No matter the score or how good or bad the team happened to be playing, McIntyre was ready to give them a little extra from beyond the boards. Unfortunately, illness has sidelined him for the last several months and Struthers paid him a visit last week.
“Before I went home, I had heard that Bob was sick and he’s obviously been a huge fan of the team for a long time now and so. It was easy for me to drop by and see him and check in.
"We’re all hoping he can get back in time for the games in September.”
“When you have that much influence in the community, it’s nice to get around and give back,” he added.
Struthers says he’s always had an idea that being an OHL player is more than just putting on a pair of skates and getting to play the game you love.
“Coming into the league at 15 years old in Owen Sound, even then I knew that I was going to want to be a big part of the community. North Bay and Owen Sound are smaller communities and everyone rally’s around the team so getting to contribute by doing little things really go a long way. It’s something I really enjoy doing and it’s the fans that make the team, so anytime I can give back, I’m going to jump all over that.”
Ever since Struthers became a member of the North Bay Battalion, he has been a fan favourite. No one was really sure what to expect from the London, Ontario native who was dealt for the first-ever North Bay Battalion draft pick, Brett McKenzie who was in the middle of his overage season with North Bay.
Struthers made an immediate impact by slotting onto the top line between Justin Brazeau and Luke Burghardt. In his first weekend of action, Struthers had a goal and three assists in three games in which North Bay beat London 6-3, Hamilton 3-2 and took Oshawa too a shootout before the Generals edge the Troops 6-5.
Now with both Burghardt and Brazeau moving on after their overage season, Struthers says there’s no reason the team can’t find similar production with the roster that’s being put together for the 2019-20 season.
“It was great playing with those two,” says Struthers of Brazeau and Burghardt. “I think we’ve got lots of good options for players who can step into those roles. I’m excited to see what happens because now I’m the oldest one. And I can be the one to take control.”
Struthers has gotten better every year he has spent in the OHL. His 81 points last season was ranked in the top 20 players of the league. Struthers also had great stretches of consistent production. He had a nine-game point streak (from September 30th through November 1st in which he produced a stats line of 9-13-22 (after missing three games during that stretch in the middle of October) including a six-point (2-4-6) game against Kingston on October 21 and a hat trick against Erie on October 27.
Equally impressive as the point streaks were, it was rare to not see Struthers name in the box score. He didn’t record a point on back to back nights on November 15 and 16 and then was out of action until November 29 and didn’t record a point that night either. It was the only time all season in which he went three games played without getting one point. After the November 29 contest, he would only be held pointless in back to back games twice for the rest of the regular season.
Going into the season, Struthers had put up 37 goals and 77 points in his entire OHL career, meaning he surpassed his three-year point production in his fourth year alone and fell just six goals shy of doubling his career goals total.
Following the Troops first-round playoff exit to the Niagara IceDogs, Struthers had a five-game stint with the Laval Rockets of the American Hockey League, and to his credit was able to score a goal during that brief call up.
There is a chance someone calls Struthers between now and the regular season and offers him a spot within their minor league affiliate and that could mean his 2019-20 season would not be spent in a pickle green jersey, and his home games would not be played at Memorial Gardens.
Although, if any fans know anything about deserving players who have to wait patiently for their chance at the next level, it’s Battalion fans who are coming off a year of week by week speculation on the contract signing status of Brazeau. It took until after a record-setting 61 goal season for the New Liskeard native to ink a deal with the Toronto Marlies. Struthers says seeing his friend and linemate go through that process gives him some perspective on what could be coming down the road.
“I think every player's goal when they come into the league is to get drafted, it was mine as well,” he says.
“But just like (Battalion Assistant Coach Adam) Dennis says there is a different path for everyone so, if I’m back in North Bay, which is where I plan to be, I’m going to give it my all just like Braz did.”
No matter what happens this year though, Struthers says it all comes down to having a positive influence on those who are supporting your dreams.
“At the end of the day, it’s about being a good human being,” says Struthers. “We’re living out our dream right now and we get to do the fun part, we play hockey for a living right now. If we can just take the time to give a kid a puck or visit someone in the hospital, it really goes a long way.”
Regardless of his on-ice skill or production, Struthers embodies the heart and passion any team at any level would want in their locker room and this season there will be more than a handful of fans who are hoping that Struthers hockey career still has a long way to go.
