(Article Courtesy of Sonya Ewan) It’s December 29 and snow is coming down like a typical winter evening in Calgary, or maybe Boston, as Orr and MacInnis dress for the game. Wait a minute – Bobby Orr hasn’t played professional hockey in decades and Al MacInnis is retired. Not to mention this game is taking place in the high desert city of Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Nonetheless, the snow is creating a winter wonderland and the Arizona Sundogs are relieved to have made the road trip earlier, ahead of the storm.
The Sundogs are also pleased to have Kyle Orr on their roster. Mature despite his youth and a quality puck handler, he and Aaron MacInnis, defenseman for the New Mexico Scorpions, are in fact the nephews of the two National Hockey League greats and play against each other often as Southwest Division rivals. Both have likely endured family-themed smack talk on the ice. Orr chuckles, “I think [MacInnis] probably gets the same thing that I do, with his uncle and everything. But I think we want to try to make a name for ourselves as well, so we try to forget about that. We don’t take it for granted, but we want to be our own players as well. It’s a cool thing though, I guess.”
You could say it was all but inevitable that the younger Orr would pursue a career in hockey. He did complete a couple years of college in Ontario, but decided to go the professional hockey route. A voice for most athletes, Orr says, “I think every player wants to do their best and move to the highest level that they can. So that’s pretty much what’s been in my head – playing hockey obviously, having fun, pushing myself at all levels to get higher and higher.”
Now at the dawn of his journey, Orr is facing a challenge. “When you get into a new league, you obviously want to work as hard as you can on and off the ice. In the summer train hard, do what your program set out for you, work on the things that are going to make you the best you can be. You have to work hard or guys are going to take your job or you’re not going to have a spot. And if you don’t work hard, you’re not going to make it to the next level.”
Orr has witnessed first-hand the hard work it takes to gain athletic prowess. While Uncle Bobby was tearing it up in the NHL, Kyle’s mother, Teresa, was an Olympic gymnast in the late 1960s and 1970s (she still coaches). It would be a reasonable guess that the Orr family is ferociously competitive. In fact, they have more of a respect of athletics. “Our parents always enjoyed hockey and my family is a very athletic family but there was no pressure, and I think that’s a very good thing,” shares Orr. “There was a lot of support. Not saying that they didn’t help us out – they did. But it was the support that they gave us. It was, ‘You can do what you want. But whatever you’re going to do, work hard at it.’”
Inevitably, being a rookie is a learning experience. It sure improves the experience to have a willing comrade imparting guidance. “There’re a couple guys on our team who have experience at very high levels,” says Orr. “Dan Laperriere played in the NHL and overseas. Chris Bartolone played overseas all his life. Those two guys, especially being defensemen, are teaching me and helping me along, so hopefully I can take things from them. The guys who are more experienced know that in order for the team to be the best it can, they have to help the younger guys. And they’ve been around. They know little tricks, little things here and there.”
Asked what’s been difficult to adapt to this season, Orr admits, “I think there’re a few things, stepping up a level. It’s tough because everything’s a bit faster and it’s hard to get used to. I’ve been in this situation before and it’s frustrating sometimes because you might be a step behind or still getting used to the pace. The travel is tough if you have a long road trip. And I haven’t been away from home, so you miss your family.”
Unlike many players who leave home in their teens to play Junior hockey, Orr played close to home until now. On the plus side, Orr says, “Living by myself is good too. I like it. Prescott Valley is a very nice place. You get to know a new group of guys and make friends. It’s just fun hanging around with the guys and being a part of a team, the team chemistry, team atmosphere.”
In an arguably “friendlier” world since his uncle was a rookie, presumably Orr has it a little easier being the new kid (at least, until his teammates read this). Despite the continuous heckling he endured during this interview, Orr won’t claim any injustice suffered as a rookie, but admits to “little jokes here and there.” No doubt he’s using the same charm that earned him Most Popular last season while he captained the Ontario Junior A Newmarket Hurricanes. And Orr’s attitude can’t hurt. “I know I’m here to learn. I know mistakes are going to happen. Mistakes happen to everybody so I just try my best to learn from them.”
So while Orr and MacInnis share opposite ends of the same sheet of ice, they focus much more on their personal roles in the moment than the historical thread they weave.
Article by Sonya Ewan
sewan26@comcast.net
