Powers plays forward for Havoc

MADISON – Christian Powers, forward for the Huntsville Havoc of Southern Professional League, started playing hockey when he was three years old.

“I’ll always remember the story my dad told me when he first brought me out on the ice. He put me on and turned around to grab a chair that he could push me on and I could push. But, as soon as he turned back, I was grabbing the boards and skating down the ice,” Powers said.

Growing up, Powers wanted to play any contact sport — hockey, lacrosse and football. “But hockey was always my no. 1 sport because of the skill and speed that the game offers. I’ve always loved the challenge that it gives me. Hockey also gives me the opportunity to gain friendships that will last forever,” he said.

He played for the Waterdown Warriors in Waterdown High School “just down the road from my hometown of Carlisle Ontario, Canada,” Powers said. After playing four years of junior hockey in Ontario, he received a Division 1 scholarship to Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y.

He graduated from Clarkson in May 2016. “Huntsville is my first professional team,” he said.

Carlisle, approximately 45 minutes west of Toronto, is somewhat similar to Madison. “Both are in the country areas, outside of the city,” Powers said.

Support for his hockey career from his longtime girlfriend has been incredible, he said.

Q & A

Q: What restaurants are your favorites?
A: Humphrey’s is top choice, followed by Chipotle and Farm Burger.

Q: What are your favorite sports teams?
A: Toronto Maple Leafs. “Although it can be hard to cheer for them at times, I gotta stick by them,” he said.

Q: What is your favorite sports memory?
A: “When I was playing my last year of junior hockey, we were in the playoffs and up in the series. It was game 5 and were down 3-1 with 2 minutes left. We made it 3-2, and, then with 11 seconds left in the third period, I tied the game up. We ended up winning in overtime to win the league championship,” Powers said.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: Golf and just ‘hanging out.’ “In the summer, my dad, brothers and I are really into fly fishing. We try and get out as much as possible,” Powers said.