It didn’t matter if a Foothills Composite High School graduate was working on his family farm, welding in the school’s shop or scoring the winning goal for the SAIT Trojans, Jon Malin always liked working with his hands.
So you know he had a solid grip on the trophy when he was named the SAIT Trojan of the Year at the college’s athletic banquet on March 30 in Calgary.
It’s an award given to the SAIT athlete who best exemplifies being a Trojan by showing courage, determination, dedication and spirit.
“It was a tremendous honour to win that award,” said Malin, a six-foot-five Trojan defenceman. “It’s an award that is built more around character and more around the heart of the individual rather than an individual skill set.”
He could have included academics in that list as well. Malin is an honour student in the Bachelor of Applied Petroleum Technology program.
“I am really happy with how I have done with my schooling,” said Malin, who will graduate in just a
few weeks.
Malin had to balance the rigors of a tough Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference men’s hockey schedule with the grind of the classroom. This year he’s taken 15 classes in two semesters.
“It takes a lot of time-management skills for sure,” the 24-year-old Malin said. “I had to juggle a lot of balls at one time, but I was able to pull it off. Hard work has always been important for me to make it in hockey. I was able use that discipline in the classroom.”
Malin is a graduate of the Okotoks Minor Hockey Association. He was a late cut by the UFA AAA Midget Bisons as a 17-year-old, but was more than happy to play for the Okotoks AA Midget Oilers.
He then went on to play defence for the Calgary Junior A Royals before joining the Trojans four years ago.
“My first year with SAIT, I scored the only goal in a 1-0 game to beat Mount Royal in Game 5 of the finals to give us the (ACAC) championship,” Malin said. “That was really a thrill as a rookie.”
The Trojans would win the championship again in 2010. They lost in the final in 2011 and were knocked out in the ACAC semifinals earlier this year.
Malin was named the Trojans captain for the 2011-12 season. He was an obvious choice said Trojans head coach Ken Babey.
“I had watched Jonny a lot with the Calgary Royals and I thought he was a player that had a lot of abilities that needed to be developed,” Babey said. “Jonny is an excellent role model. He exceeded all of our expectations on and off the ice… He is a good character person and a good student.”
He showed leadership even during tough times this season.
Malin went through the past season with an illness in the family, but he did not let it affect his performance on the ice.
“He was at practice and every game and supported his family as well,” Babey said. “To me that shows true leadership to lead while facing so much adversity.”
Malin said SAIT was an ideal choice for him.
“Growing up on a farm outside of Okotoks I got a chance to work with my hands and I was able to work with my hands with welding, and working with compressors,” Malin said.
“At SAIT, I’m able to get the practical stuff and the knowledge from the classroom behind it.”
