Blame Swift Current Blades sniper Clarke Caswell on Ethan McMullan being a D-man

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This article was published 21/02/2024 (575 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

By JULES XAVIER

Imagine Ethan McMullan stopping pucks for the Parkland Rangers in the Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League.

That scenario might have come to fruition if not for a sniper in the Western Hockey League playing for the Swift Current Broncos.

Clarke Caswell is the reason why McMullan is a D-man instead wearing goalie skates and the equipment which goes with the position.

“In novice I was playing center, and finding myself when it came to playing positions,” the Brandon-born Rangers defenceman recalled. “So, I tried being a goalie and remember Clarke Caswell coming down on me and scored bar down on me. I went to the bench afterwards and that was the end of my aspirations of being a goalie.”

Instead, the Crocus Grade 12 student is enjoying his final year of minor hockey patrolling the blue-line for the 11th-place Rangers (13-25-2).

Standing five-foot-11 and tipping the scales at 165 pounds, McMullan is second among his defensive partners after 41 games with a goal and a team-high 19 assists. He has 62 minutes in penalties (PIM) playing a physical game for the Dauphin-based U18 AAA team.

Involved in Hockey Brandon’s program since starting to skate playing Timbits, McMullan went through the system, finally making the U15 AAA team. Unfortunately, his season of four exhibition and six league games was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He then joined the U17 team playing out of a Winnipeg league.

How did he find himself travelling north on Highway 10 to play for the Rangers?

“After U17 I was looking to play U18 so I reached out to Parkland was told the team only had five defencemen, so was invited to attend to two practices to see if I liked them and if they liked me … after seeing me on the ice they asked me to stay,” he said.

While disappointed with his team’s 11th-place spot in the league, well back of the near perfect first-place Brandon Wheat Kings (40-0-1), McMullan has no regrets about leaving him initially and being billeted in Dauphin.

For the first part of the season he lived and went to school in Dauphin but has since moved back home and enrolled at Crocus.

Having not grown up and played with his current teammates in Dauphin, McMullan said the transition to his new environment required some adjustments.

“The first couple of games and practices it was nerve-racking for me because I had to get to know guys I did not grow up with, and build new friendships … I think by the fifth game I was finally comfortable with my new teammates.”

Not having a regular D-man partner also requires McMullan to adapt each game to who he’s skating alongside.

While he’s more of a stay-at-home defenceman, McMullan uses that base to be more physical versus taking chances rushing the puck.

“When I was growing up I would move the puck up, but now I stay outside the crease where I play my game,” he said.

Playing physically against opposing forwards and causing them to be distracted by his close proximity does not go unnoticed by his mom.

“I enjoy playing physical and before games my mom tells me to hit a few (players),” he chuckled.

When it comes to his strength as a D-man, McMullan points to his edge work and skating ability.

“Because I can skate, I can move the puck quicker, it gives me room to move the puck, and get that first pass (to the breaking forwards),” he explained. “When it comes to the weaknesses I’m working on in my game, it would be my shot power.

“I’ve come to the conclusion it’s not the stick but me when it comes to my shot.”

Looking back on his season with the Rangers prior to the post-season, McMullan said his highlight reel would include some big hits he laid out on opposing forwards. He’s seen a few of them which were recorded on friends’ iPhones, which he’s saved to his own phone to share with friends and family.

Another highlight came against the Wheat Kings when his team pushed the high-powered offence during a game in Dauphin.

“It was an exciting game when we were winning it, especially when you know good of a team the Wheat Kings have this season. They ended up coming back and beat us 4-2.”

While he’s looking to earn his Level 1 welding certificate while going to Crocus, McMullan’s not sure about what’s next when it comes to post-secondary hockey. He was drafted by the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Swan Valley Stampeders, so he has that option this fall.

He’s also had some interest from a team in the USPHL’s National Collegiate Development Conference, the Utah Outliers are a U.S. Junior A team.

“I’m not sure what’s going to happen this fall,” he said. “I’ll attend the Stampeders’ camp and see what happens.”

Until then, he’ll finish off his season with the Rangers, enjoying the drive north on Hwy 10 and passing through the national park where he spends his summers at the family cottage on Clear Lake.

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