When something involving minor hockey goes on in Fort McMurray, it’s a sure bet that Tom Keca isn’t too far away.
From leading his students at the Father Mercredi Hockey Academy to taking in early Sunday morning games at Frank Lacroix Arena, Keca has been making the most of his chance to give back to the minor hockey scene in the region.
“We were obviously a lot smaller community back then,” said Keca of his days growing up in the Fort McMurray Minor Hockey Association.
“Minor hockey was a great experience — the friends that you made and the guys that you played with. There’s even a lot of guys now that are still staying here in Fort McMurray, which is great.”
A product of the minor hockey system and the Fort McMurray Oil Barons, Keca played his way across two continents, suiting up in Europe briefly before returning to Alberta to attend the University of Lethbridge in the 1990s where he obtained his Bachelor of Education degree.
Following the conclusion of his playing career, Keca ventured into an assistant coaching role with the MOB.
His passion for the game eventually led him away from Fort McMurray as Keca took the head coaching role with the Lloydminster Bobcats.
Missing home, Keca eventually returned to the town where he was born and raised, settling into his current roles as an assistant coach with the MOB and the lead instructor at the Father Mercredi Hockey Academy.
Full Story from the Fort McMurray Today