Dean Kennedy's journey from a farm in rural Saskatchewan to the National Hockey League (NHL) and back is a story of dedication, hard work, and the pursuit of dreams. This is the story of Dean Kennedy and his hockey career.
Early Years and Junior Hockey
Kennedy's hockey journey began with a clear set of goals. “When I left the farm I had four steps that I wanted to make,” Kennedy said. “First was making the midgets. The second step was making the Red Wings. The third step was making the Wheat Kings.
Kennedy's connection to hockey deepened when he participated in Bill Lesuk’s hockey school in Weyburn for two consecutive years, where he met Weyburn coach Dwight McMillan. “Dwight was really the reason that I ever played pro,” Kennedy said of his former coach, who had a 44-year relationship with the Red Wings. “Everybody was very well meaning in Redvers but you basically didn’t learn much. It was old-time hockey; you threw the puck out and whoever got the puck got it. There was really no system. Going to Weyburn for that first year, Dwight was a tremendous coach and teacher and had tremendous discipline.
He made the Junior A Red Wings as a 16-year-old in the 1979-80 season, choosing to play there instead of with Brandon so that he could get his Grade 11 year done at school. Kennedy returned to the midgets in protest, later agreeing to play with the Red Wings if they promised to get him on the ice. Another of the talented players made his transition to Brandon easier. “Kenny and I were great pals in Weyburn and still are,” Kennedy said. “I don’t talk to him that often but when I do talk to him, it’s like we haven’t missed a beat.
Brandon Wheat Kings and the Road to the NHL
The farm kid didn’t take long to make his mark. Kennedy noted that he also killed penalties and, beginning mostly in his second season, also played on the power play. Kennedy hurt his knee near the end of January in his 18-year-old season and didn’t play again.
Read also: Features of Custom Hockey Gloves
“It was interesting,” Kennedy said. “Todd Lumbard was our number one, and Hexy was there. He was a tall, stringy kid. I remember Hexy would grab somebody’s gloves and stick and skate around after practice shooting the puck harder than most of the guys on the team. I remember during skating drills, down and backs and stuff, with all the equipment on he would beat half the guys down and back, and not just once. He would do all the skating.
In his 19-year-old season, Kennedy went to camp in L.A., and stayed there until the middle of November before he was sent back to Brandon. In the middle of December, the Kings called him back up to the NHL under emergency recall, and he stayed there until the season ended.
“There were a lot of better players than me who deserved an opportunity to go to a higher level,” Kennedy said. “I was very lucky.
NHL Career and Encounters
“One of Tiger Williams’ favourite sayings when I played with him in L.A. was that you either show up or disappear,” Kennedy said, noting that it was a different era of hockey. “I played hard and I tried hard and I knew that I had to fight because I was a big guy.
Dean Kennedy vs Mike Keane Dec 17, 1988
Life Beyond Hockey
Kennedy met his future wife Tammy, who hails from Deloraine, when they were introduced by his Wheat King teammate Dietrich at his cabin at Lake Metigoshe. “When I talked about the four steps and getting drafted was the impossible step, to play one NHL game was the impossible dream,” Kennedy said.
Read also: The story of Craig Needham
The end came quickly. Kennedy’s time to step away from the game was utterly reminiscent of his gateway into the NHL. “It was full circle,” Kennedy said. “I was a 19-year-old placed on a team by (L.A. GM) George Maguire, who was on the hot seat, and 13 years later I’m 32 and I’m on the other end. It was full circle.
Kennedy was offered a chance to go to the minors and essentially serve as a player-coach, but he declined. After no offers came in during the next two weeks, Kennedy told his agent on Oct.
Impact and Reflection
The impact of Kennedy’s NHL career became apparent when he asked his young son Matt if he wanted to play hockey. “Tammy finally got it out of him,” Kennedy said. “He said ‘I don’t want to play because I don’t want to leave home.’ There he is in Grade 2, and he thinks he has to leave home because that’s what he saw with me. I wasn’t around, I was gone because of hockey.
Kennedy said he had some bad concussions, a rebuilt knee and had lots of smaller injuries. His hands and his neck and shoulders are usually stiff, but he said he has a lot of miles on his body. Still, he’s able to enjoy what he does, which is to look after his cow-calf operation with 300 cattle.
“It never seemed real that I had an opportunity to play pro hockey,” Kennedy said. “That was always the dream and something to reach for but it wasn’t the reality. The farm was reality.
Read also: Inside Aaron Ness's Career
“I’ve always done what I wanted to do,” Kennedy said. “Farming turned into ranching, but farming and hockey are the two things that I always wanted to do.