Ottawa native Colby Hunter is one of few dual sport athletes competing in universities across Canada.
At just 18 years old, Colby Hunter entered his first year at the University of Ottawa. It may sound normal, but what is unusual is that he is a dual sport athlete competing within the university and outside.
Hunter is a member of the Men’s Lacrosse team at the University of Ottawa, plays hockey at the Junior B level in the East Ontario Junior Hockey League for the Perth Blue Wings and plays Junior B Lacrosse with the Gloucester Griffins during the summer months.
In the fall, Hunter played midfield for the Gee-Gees on both the defensive and offensive side of the ball. In his freshman season he tallied two goals and an assist in eleven games played. He also was named to the Rookie All Star Game East Roster for the Baggataway Cup Championship weekend.
In the summer, Hunter plays box lacrosse with the Gloucester Griffins. Last year he made the team as a 17-year-old, strictly playing defense for the Griffins. He ended up tallying three goals and three assists in 21 games played with two of those goals coming on special teams.
In the winter months, Hunter plays hockey and is in his first season with the Blue Wings, and an assistant captain. He originally planned on playing Junior A but couldn’t, due to the lacrosse season at the University of Ottawa. This season he’s buried 15 goals and 31 assists in 42 games played. Unfortunately, the Blue Wings missed the playoffs by eight points to the Athen Aeros
With this many sports being played, it’s not always easy, Hunter explained.
“I had a little conflict at the start of the season for lacrosse going from one team to another basically right off the get go. I said, ‘hey, I’m going to be at every practice, but sometimes I might miss a game for these first two months’, to my hockey coach and they were fine with it. I ended up missing one game, so it was good,” Hunter said.
Best friend of Hunter, Darius Ritchie is a teammate at the University of Ottawa and the Gloucester Griffins. They grew up playing minor lacrosse together for six years and playing four years of high school lacrosse together at St. Francis Xavier High School. Ritchie is impressed that Hunter continued with both sports through post-secondary education.
“The most impressive thing about it is him being able to find a balance between his two sports. He still manages to attend almost every Gee-Gee related event and practices two times a week. He also still finds time between all that for his friends and family while still getting good grades in school,” Ritchie said.
Hunter plans on playing junior hockey and lacrosse while representing the University of Ottawa for as long as he can. As the second half of the school year is almost over, Hunter looks to prepare for his second season with the Griffins, hoping to finally defeat the Nepean Knights and push past the first round of playoffs.