Budzy hanging up his skates
As Telford Tigers prepare to face Slough Jets today (5.30pm) for the penultimate home game of the year, assistant captain Daniel MacKriel has decided to hang up his skates to spend more time with his family.
The 30-year-old is getting married next week to partner Fran and said that the commitment of a 50+ game season, as well as working shifts as a leisure centre manager, had meant he wasn’t seeing as much of his daughter as he wanted.
“I have enjoyed every moment of my hockey career and have offered to help the team next year off the ice,” said MacKriel, “but I think the time is right to stop playing at the end of this season.
“I would like to end while people still think ‘he is not a bad player’ rather than going on too long. Whether it was because of taking last year out I don’t know, but I don’t feel I have performed as well as I would want to this year. I wanted to see the season out, and I’m pleased to have done so, but now I need to spend more time at home.”
MacKriel came through the Telford junior ranks and, from an early age, was one to watch for goalscoring ability. He earned the nickname ‘Little Budzy’ in honour of former Tigers import Mark Budz, as MacKriel wore the same number 19 shirt and put the puck in the net as often as the Canadian. The two will be reunited for the Tigers 25th anniversary game on April 16.
He broke through into the Tigers squad in the mid-90s and spent most of his career at Telford, taking a spell at Blackburn while at university and a year each at Solihull and Romford. He also joined Slough at the end of the 2006-7 season to help the Jets in their play-off campaign.
He opted not to play last season, while the Tigers were in mothballs, but was one of the first to sign with player-coach Tom Watkins after the team was re-launched as a supporters’ trust.
This season, he has shown he still has a deft touch in front of the net, adding ten goals and 18 assists.
“It has been a tough year,” said MacKriel. “I think Tom has done a brilliant job within the constraints of Tigers’ budgets. I’ve been pleased to be a part of it and I will be sad not to take to the ice next year – but I wish him and the team all the very best for it.”
MacKriel will line up with Tigers for their home game against Slough today (5.30pm), but misses next Saturday’s trip to Guildford as that is his wedding day. However, Fran will be waiting for a honeymoon as MacKriel plays his last league game on Sunday March 27 at home to Guildford.