Curve Lake First Nation member playing key role with Port Hope Panthers

By Sam Laskaris

PORT HOPE – Sidney Wakely is making his mark in hockey, much like his older brother.

The 18-year-old Curve Lake First Nation member is doing his best to move up the hockey ladder.

Wakely is currently toiling with the Port Hope Panthers, a Junior C squad that competes in the Provincial Junior Hockey League.

As for Wakely’s 19-year-old brother Dalyn, he’s one of the top performers in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) this season, starring with the North Bay Battalion.

Sidney Wakely is in his second season with the Panthers. He began the 2022-23 campaign as a forward but shortly thereafter, returned to play defence.

Wakely has also spent the majority of this season as a defenceman, but he was moved up to play left wing in the Panthers’ Dec. 17 home contest versus the Campbellford Rebels.

He scored once and added a pair of assists in that match, which Port Hope handily won 14-1.

“It’s kind of hard switching from forward to D and from D to forward,” Wakely said. “But I feel like I just try to keep it simple and see what happens.”

Wakely is also in a wait-and-see mode for his future. He’d love to play at a higher level than Junior C.

Earlier this season, he did sign on as an affiliated player with the Cobourg Cougars, a Junior A franchise that participates in the Ontario Junior Hockey League.

He had yet to suit up for a game with the Cougars though as of mid-December.

“I’ve been going to their skates quite a bit,” Wakely said. “The intensity is a lot different. And their passes are a lot faster, but I feel it’s something I’m used to and something I can definitely adapt to. Moving forward, it’s just getting on the ice more with them and improving my game.”

Wakely has been a key member of the Panthers this season, having earned 19 points (five goals and 14 assists) in his first 23 matches.

“Sid brings a lot of offence to us,” said P.J. Michael, who is Port Hope’s general manager and assistant coach. “He brings maturity and a calmness on the back end that has been really useful in the last year-and-a-half.”

Michael said the club has been utilizing Wakely in all situations.

“He’s proven to be one of our pivotal players on the powerplay, penalty kill, and regular shift,” he said.

Though he aspires to play at higher levels, Wakely is doing his best to help his current squad.

“Right now, I’m just focused on Port Hope and hopefully we can get a lot of success, so we’ll see what happens moving forward,” he said.

Wakely is hoping he can eventually play for either a Canadian or American college or university team.

“For defencemen, they usually mature at a later age,” Michael said. “And I think Sid is just coming into his own now. He does have a lot of offence. He’s like a fourth forward out there on the ice.”

Though his brother is now playing in Northern Ontario, Sidney Wakely said he frequently talks to him.

“He’s helped me a lot with my game, especially over the summer,” he said.