1 on 1 with Nathan MacKinnonMar. 2, 2010
MHA recently caught up with former student
Nathan MacKinnon who is in his first year at Shattuck St. Mary’s boarding school in Faribault, Minnesota. SSM is one of the most well known private schools in all of North America and is home to a very highly respected hockey program. The school’s alumni includes: Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks, and Zach Parise of the New Jersey Devils. Nathan is in 9th grade this year.
1. What has been the biggest adjustment for you this year attending SSM?
My biggest adjustment would have to be living away from home and not being with my family. It's sometimes tough to not get to talk to them especially not being with my dad to talk about hockey.
2. Describe a typical day in the life of a student athlete at SSM.
I have 5 classes each day: Composition and Literature, French II, Foundations of Science, Ancient World History, and Algebra 1. There are 9 periods in a day so I have 3 periods off and one period for lunch. Our team practices every day from 4:30-6:00pm, then we have supper at 7:30pm. I also have between one and two hours of homework each night. It’s very busy.
3. What places have you travelled to with the team this year?
We have travelled to Chicago Illinois, Detroit Michigan, and Port Huron Michigan.
4. What is your favourite part of going to SSM?
My favourite part of going to Shattuck this year would have to be getting on the ice every day. It's fun to work on different skills through the week since I have so much time to do so. Also, it's great to play against different players that I have never played against before.
5. How do you think your time at Maritime Hockey Academy prepared you for your transition to SSM?
I think what prepared me the most is a lot of the homework I got in specific classes because there is lots of homework here. I got in a routine of working hard at my studies when I got home each day.
6. What was your favourite part about attending MHA for two years?
My favourite thing about MHA is the small kind of atmosphere at school.
Everyone knew each other well, and it was nice to create a bond with teachers that you probably would not get at a larger school.
7. What would your advice be to any younger students on how they could someday get to a place like SSM when they are your age?
My advice to younger students would be to prioritize your daily routine which means to focus more on academics and hockey opposed to other distractions that could hurt you in these things. If you develop your skills in the classroom and in the rink it will open up many opportunities for you.
