This year’s recipients of the John Reid Memorial Scholarship share the same characteristics as the individual it’s named after.
Contributing members of society, academically inspired, volunteer driven and a passion for hockey brought Steven Canduro and Brady Reid together on Thursday night for the presentation of the $1,000 Reid scholarships during the opening ceremonies at the John Reid Memorial Tournament.
“It’s a very prestigious scholarship and to receive it alongside John’s son, Brady, it basically makes it more special. He is an excellent character guy,” Canduro said. “The scholarship exemplifies what a great man John was and also the sport that I love too.”
Brady was honoured to be selected by the John Reid Memorial Scholarship Society.
“It’s huge. My dad died when I was in Grade 7 and ever since then the community kind of took our whole family in and treated us like just a family and mentored us,” said the former junior B St. Albert Merchants forward. “This scholarship is mainly about giving back to the community. As the community has given so much to our family it’s kind of my duty to give back to the community.”
Previous winners were Liam Liston, Ryan Harrison, Brady McCorriston, Steven Woolger, Joshua Maeda and Justin Kueber – all former bantam AAA Sabres as per the application criteria.
The Reid scholarship was established by the parent group of the 2004/05 St. Albert Gregg Distributors Sabres to challenge players to make an impact in the St. Albert community as Reid did as a coach and mentor while displaying a positive attitude.
Reid was a high-scoring forward with the St. Albert Saints and Sherwood Park Crusaders in the AJHL and the Alberta Golden Bears. His dedication in coaching the youth of St. Albert in hockey and lacrosse influenced countless individuals.
Reid died of leukemia at age 41 on Nov. 6, 2003. The next year the St. Albert bantam AAA tournament was renamed in his honour.
Brady is in awe of how it has grown since it became the John Reid tournament.
“It’s awesome. I remembered when I played in it, it was at Akinsdale and Troy Murray and Mark Messier (arenas) and now it’s basically in just one rink (at Servus Credit Union Place) so everyone comes in to watch teams from the states and even the Czech Republic (HC Kometa Brno in 2014). Cam Weitzel and his whole committee, how they scout and get all the best teams in, is really unreal,” Brady said. “My dad would be honoured just to be tied with this kind of tournament.”
Brady has come full circle as an assistant coach with the Sabres after playing for the team in 2006.
“It’s totally different. It’s a lot better team I’m coaching now than when I was a part of it,” said bachelor of commerce student majoring in marketing at MacEwan University. “I love coaching and giving back. It keeps me involved in the game so it’s good.”
The highlight of Canduro’s minor hockey career was making the 2010/11 Sabres.
“To be selected for the team the very first thought that goes through your mind is that you get to play in the John Reid tournament and represent John Reid, who was a great man,” said the Bellerose Composite High School graduate. “Probably the funnest day of my hockey career was the opening ceremonies and going out on the ice with the entire city watching you for warm-up. It was excellent.”
But it almost didn’t happen for the right winger.
“I remember we went to a tournament in Abbotsford about two months before the start of this tournament and I broke my arm there. The first thing that crossed my mind was whether or not I would be able to play in this and thank God I was able to,” said the bachelor of physical education student at the University of Alberta. “It’s just an awesome tournament to play in.”
Canduro wrapped up his final season in St. Albert with the midget AA Blues in 2013/14 and in 27 games registered 17 goals and 38 points.
“Hockey is a great game. It’s the best.”
