For many hockey fans in Quinte West the Duncan McDonald Memorial Community Gardens holds many memories. Thomas Kuipers is no exception.
It’s the arena where the Carrying Place native began playing in his youth with the Quinte West Minor Hockey Association and proudly hoisted an OMHA championship trophy.
A photo from that championship moment, featuring a young Kuipers and his Novice teammates still hangs in the arena lobby.
Now, as a key member of the Trenton Golden Hawks, Kuipers credits his early experiences with helping shape his passion for the game and setting him on a path to success.
"I'm just taking it day-by-day, enjoying all the moments, he said. "I'm having so much fun just being at the rink every day with my friends and all my brothers. I don't want to take anything for granted."
The hard-working forward has tallied seven goals and 12 assists in 25 games this season, building on his impressive rookie campaign. Last year, he recorded 33 points in 51 regular-season games before helping the Golden Hawks reach the OJHL finals.
"I’m getting more comfortable each and every game," Kuipers said. "I think I said this last year every game that goes by, it slows down a little bit. I’m learning how to play, what spots to be in, and my teammates deserve a lot of credit. We’re a good team, so they help me. As the systems develop and we move toward playoffs, it just gets easier."
Kuipers attributes much of his growth to the mentorship of head coach Derek Smith and assistant coach Tyler Longo.
"I’ve known them my whole life. It’s pretty cool to play for some local heroes who have made it to the next level," he said. "Just looking up to them and listening to any advice they have for me as a player and a person has been huge."
Reflecting on his offseason, Kuipers emphasized the importance of his relationship with Derek Smith.
"It was a big summer for me," he said. "Talking with him throughout the summer and early in the season, we’ve had a lot of conversations. He puts a lot of trust in me, which is really good. I think my experience as a first-year player last year helped me a lot."
With a 22-3-1-0 record and a league-best .865 winning percentage, the nationally ranked Golden Hawks and Kuipers have their sights set on bringing a championship back to Trenton.
"I just want to win a championship. I remember back in 2016, when they won the Buckland Cup," he said. "I want to do that. I want to spend all four of my years here because I don’t want to play anywhere else. This is the best organization in Junior A hockey."
His development has also been furthered by training at the World Elite Performance Centre in Belleville, a program he credits for elevating his game.
"It’s the best facility you can get," he said. "I went to school there last year, and I trained there through the summer, so it was great. It means a lot for my development as a player and a person."
Kuipers also takes pride in inspiring the next generation of fans in his community.
"It’s pretty cool because that was me back in the day," he said. "I was one of those fans asking for sticks or autographs, being at the Dunk every Friday night. So it’s really cool to actually be playing now."
Looking to the future, Kuipers has set his sights on playing NCAA hockey, an opportunity he’s working hard to achieve.
"There’s always schools watching every game," he said. "I’m in talks with some schools, so it’s pretty exciting to try and move on to the next level. My goal is to play NCAA hockey, so I bring my A-game to the rink every single day. You never know who’s watching."
Kuipers has already accomplished much at the Duncan McDonald Memorial Community Gardens. The same beloved rink may see the dedicated and intensely proud local product earn playoff success and an NCAA scholarship in short order.
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