GLACE BAY — Making the transition from under-15 to under-18 hockey can come with its challenges for young players, but that hasn’t been the case for Luke Sinclair.

The Glace Bay product earned his spot on the Sydney Mitsubishi Rush early in training camp, signing with the team in June following the hiring of head coach Joey Haddad. 

Knowing he’d be part of the team and would spend the 2022-23 season in the Nova Scotia Under-18 Major Hockey League, Sinclair was able to prepare for his rookie campaign with a clear mind and focus on the things he could control off the ice. 

When it came time for the 15-year-old to step on the ice for the club’s preseason, he had lots of confidence and was able to work on certain aspects of his game but admits there was some adjustment early on. 

“The first couple of games were obviously a shock for me personally and it took quite a few shifts to get used to, but overall I was happy with where my game was,” said Sinclair. 

“It was more about getting used to the speed and the physicality and once I saw what I was dealing with, I was able to quickly adjust on the fly and now I feel comfortable in the league.” 

It’s been just over a month since the regular season began and already Sinclair is making an impact on the scoresheet for the young Rush team. In seven games, he has three goals and seven points. 

“It was the start I was hoping to have in the league,” said Sinclair. “I had two three-point nights so far and hopefully I can keep that offensive production going.” 

While Sinclair strives to be the best player he can be every game, and likes to have individual success, helping the Rush find the win column is even more important to him. 

“I like scoring goals and I like getting points, but I like wins more,” said Sinclair. “I just hope that the team can keep finding ways to win and that I can help make this team successful with my teammates.” 

In his father's footsteps

For local hockey fans who have followed the under-18 league dating back to the 1990s, the name Sinclair should ring a bell. 

Luke's father Robbie Sinclair played two seasons in the under-18 league with the then Cape Breton Colonels from 1992 to 1994. 

During his time with the Colonels, Sinclair won the league scoring title both seasons, notching 29 goals and 70 points in 1992-93 as well as 40 goals and 93 points in 1993-94. 

He was drafted by the Ontario Hockey League’s Niagara Falls Thunder – who today are the Erie Otters – No. 277 overall at the 1993 draft. 

Instead of playing in the Canadian Hockey League, Sinclair went on to play four seasons at Princeton University in the NCAA before playing professionally in the Central Hockey League, American Hockey League, and ECHL. 

Sinclair is third all-time in points (163) in the under-18 major league only behind Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby (193) and Andrew Gordon (164). 

Luke Sinclair had offers to play for teams off-island this season but ultimately decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and play at home with his local under-18 team.

“The biggest thing for me was coaches Joey Haddad and Ryan Sparling coming in,” said Sinclair. “I think they’re the best you can have in Cape Breton and they were a main reason I decided to stay home and play with the Rush.”