Bad break doesn’t stop Roma midfielder
Blake McGowan’s promising athletic career was nearly derailed just as it was taking off.
The 19-year-old St. Catharines resident was a standout athlete, playing AAA hockey for the Niagara North Stars in the winter and rep soccer for Empire Niagara in the summer, when he incurred a serious injury on the ice which could have sidelined him for good.
“I was in a tournament in Peterborough and broke my femur,” McGowan recalled. “It was pretty bad.”
McGowan was faced with a 16-month recovery and at least one surgery which saw doctors insert a plate and eight screws into his leg.
“I was pretty positive the entire time,” McGowan said. “I was overly positive and rejected those thoughts (of never playing again) and thought, ‘Let’s get back and see what happens.’ ”
Initially, doctors told McGowan he may need a second surgery a year after the first depending on how the leg was healing.
“There was a time when I thought it might be a few years before I get back to it,” he said.
Fortunately, a second surgery wasn’t needed and after about 16 months of rehabbing, McGowan was ready to resume playing.
“I knew eventually I was going to have to pick a sport — you can’t play both at the elite level through university — so I chose soccer. It kind of made the decision easy for me,” he said. “Originally I was a little bit scared to get back on skates but I love soccer anyway. It was my draft year (in hockey) the following year and I wasn’t going to be able to get drafted so I looked at what was next.”
McGowan’s choice paid off. He committed to the University of Western Ontario last year where he is studying engineering and is member of the men’s soccer team.
He is also a key member for the St. Catharines Club Roma Wolves new entry in the League1 Ontario Men’s Premier Division this summer, although, he wasn’t sure he would be able to fit the time commitment into his busy schedule.
“There are a lot of good players,” McGowan said. “For a while I didn’t think I was going to (play) because I work a lot —50-60 hours a week — and I didn’t think I could make the time commitment but they make it really good. I usually work 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. and nap and then come to practice.”
Wolves coach Davide Massafra also coached McGowan at Empire United and loves what the midfielder brings to the table.
“He’s an extremely talented player,” Massafra said. “Blake is famous for his ability to never give up. He is a hard worker who does exactly what the coaches ask of him. He is a classic North American athlete. Every university in the States would have loved him.”
McGowan, a graduate of St. Francis, is happy to contribute in any manner he can.
“I started out going to practice and working hard and the first game I got the start. We’re playing a little bit of a different formation so it took a little bit of adjusting,” he said. “I wouldn’t necessarily say I’ve taken on a leadership role because I’m one of the younger guys but I’m just contributing every game, putting in some good minutes.”
The Wolves, 2-3, take on Whitecaps London SC, 0-2-1, Friday at Club Roma at 8:45 p.m.
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