Shawn Degagne makes a kick save while playing for the Amarillo Gorillas of the CHL.
Almost a full decade after Callander, Ontario native Shawn Degagne’s name was called in the 6th round, 154th overall by the New York Rangers in the NHL entry draft, he’s decided to hang up his pads and start life after competitive hockey.
“My parents, agent and I went down there (Pittsburgh), it’s one of those feelings that you can’t really describe, you’re sitting in the stands and they call your name, it’s a dream of a lifetime come true,” Degagne said of the draft day experience, Thursday at Pete Palangio arena.
Injuries have taken their toll on Degagne. They were the major factors in his dreaded decision, but he hopes he can still contribute to the game in some level of capacity.
“I’m 28 years old and had three or four surgeries, so I’m getting to the point where I’d like to maybe settle down here in North Bay and get into some coaching or something like that,” Degagne said at Pete Palangio arena on Thursday.
Shawn discovered goaltending and the game of hockey at a young age and like a kid with candy, he embraced it and held on for dear life as it was his love and passion.
“I was a goalie from when I was three years old, so I learned a lot from my dad and from watching T.V and stuff like that, it’s just something that I seemed to pick up” he said. “I can’t even remember one time when I wanted to switch to play out, goalie was always so much fun to me so I just stuck with it, and it seemed to work out”.
Hockey just wasn’t handed to Degagne on a silver platter based on talent alone. He had to work extremely hard to get to where he was and where he wanted to go. Not only did he practice with his team and whatever other training was required from them, he also spent countless hours at his local outdoor rink, located on Tillicum Bay Road, Callander, earlier in his career.
“I was probably in town playing three to four nights a week, but I just loved it so much that I’d go out there and play with my buddies. It was good because when we came to North Bay to play we had to get serious, so we had some great times going to that rink and I still went a couple times this winter,” he explained.
Degagne gives his parents and grandparents credit for helping out financially and supporting his dream of making it to the NHL while he was growing up, saying he couldn’t have done it without them.
“They paid for me playing hockey all the way up, my dad was the coach. Once you get into pro it’s kind of on your own shoulders, you have to do it yourself or else you’re not going to play,” Degagne said.
Besides getting drafted to the NHL in which Degagne claims is the biggest highlight of his career, stopping one of his idols, Wayne Gretzky on a breakaway in a Rangers inter-squad game at training camp undoubtedly comes a close second.
“I was playing against Gretzky’s team and he got a break away on me and I ended up stopping him, the ref came to grab the puck from me and I said no way your getting this puck and I put it in my pants and kept it, so they went to get a new puck,” Degagne said with a laugh. “I was kind of embarrassed for doing it, but it’s on my wall at home now so it’s kind of a big thing”.
From the 1995-1996 season, to the present 2006-2007 campaign, Degagne spent time in five different leagues, spending four years in both the OHL and CHL, while also putting in two seasons in the ECHL, as well as a single year in the CIAU and most recently the UHL. With his extensive hockey resume and variety of leagues he’s played in, Degagne has plenty of experiences to go with his travels. Degagne says he enjoyed his playing time most when he suited up for the Amarillo Gorillas of the Central Hockey League from 2002-2003 to 2005-2006, which also happens to be where he put up his best numbers statistically.
“I think Amarillo was my best times just because of the guys on the team. If you have a great core of guys it just makes it worth it and it’s a lot of fun playing with guys you like,” Degagne said of his former team in Texas, where he enjoyed his finest seasons statistically. “It was a good town, everyone treated us well, we got lots of deals at the restaurants and the fans were great to us”.
Degagne also spent a year in North Bay during 1998-1999, playing for the now extinct Centennials. During his short stint with the club where he started 42 games, he suffered through one of his worst years statistically, posting a mediocre record of 13-20-5 with a dismal .894 save percentage. Despite his struggles here Degagne thinks the chance to play in front of his hometown and stay with family was priceless.
“It was nice to come home here to play my overage year. I lived with my aunt and that was fun in itself, just being able to be home and live with a family member instead of living with a billet and being out of your environment,” Degagne said. “It’s a shame we lost the team here, but hopefully we get one back and hopefully we’ll support it well this time,” he added.
