Trenton Golden Hawks defenceman Candon O’Neill has a clear goal this season – to win it all.
After an impressive 2023-24 campaign with the Soo Thunderbirds in which he tallied five goals, and 26 assists in 39 games, and earned second-team all-rookie honours, he joined Trenton with his sights set on a championship.
"One of the reasons I came here is to win," he said. "I love winning. I believe that with this team, the coaching staff we have, and the knowledge they have, we could go really far. By the end of the year, I'm looking to win a championship and nationals, so I'm really excited."
With a 24-3-1-0 record and a league-best .875 winning percentage, the Golden Hawks currently hold the top spot in the national rankings. Trenton is also enjoying an impressive 13-game winning streak, the longest in the OJHL, and has not lost since October 18.
Known for his strong two-way play and ability to contribute offensively, O'Neill has registered 17 points, including four goals, in 28 games this season.
"Offence is great, but at the end of the day, my goal is defence," he said. "If I can keep the puck out of our net. Defence is the best offence. Derek [Smith, head coach and general manager] has been a great coach and role model for me. He allows us the freedom to jump up in the rush or play offence if needed, but defence is my priority, and it's what I like to do."
A native of Sault Ste. Marie, O’Neill has already committed to playing NCAA hockey at Lake Superior State University. Following in his coach’s footsteps. Smith is an alumnus of the same program.
"I had a couple of talks with them, and I'm still getting a couple of stories and all that, but everything he has to say about college and Lake State has been great," he said. "I’m really excited. I just can't wait to get there. I'm not going to rush it, but I know the coaching staff is top of the line, so I’m really looking forward to getting there."
O'Neill is thinking about studying Fire Science or Kinesiology, inspired by trainers from his hometown who became firefighters.
"I have a couple of trainers back home in Sault Ste. Marie who went to Lake State and took the fire science program," he said. "They always say how good it was, so it might definitely be an option for me."
Adjusting to life in Trenton has been easy for the 17-year-old as Quinte West feels a lot like home to him.
"Trenton's not a very big town, so it’s not like moving from a small town to a big city," he said. "It kind of reminds me of the Soo a little bit. Obviously staying in contact with my parents has been a big part of this, just connecting with them on a daily basis and checking in on how they're doing."
He also acknowledges his support system for helping him settle in, crediting his parents, Jamie-Lynn and Michael, along with his billets, Heidi and Eric, for helping his transition to Trenton.
Despite the distance from home, O’Neill remains focused on his goals with the Golden Hawks.
"It’s a bit of a ways away, but I came here to play hockey," he said. "I came here to win, so I’m willing to take that risk, and come here and travel if we’re going to win."
In spite of his successes, O’Neill, like many of his teammates, focuses on staying in the moment.
"Taking it day by day, having a good mindset, not thinking too far into the future," he said. "We practice every day, so just working on getting better every day. When the games come, just be ready with the boys. Every day is a chance to get better."
With his sights set on a championship in Trenton, and a promising future at Lake Superior State, O’Neill has been a major asset for the Golden Hawks as they seek an other chance at the Buckland Cup.
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