BUFFALO | The summer of 2023 was full of promise for Michael Hage. He was preparing for the most important season of his young career, his draft season, where he was considered a top prospect. Then, on a beautiful July day, the trajectory of a year that promised nothing but good changed completely when his father, Alain, tragically died in a swimming incident.
You won’t find a 2024 draft-eligible prospect who has experienced as much adversity as Hage, a 6’1, 187 lb. right-handed center. Her father was not only her biggest supporter, but also her harshest critic.
Born in Montreal, he had lived in Ontario for several years but still retained with him two heritages from the Quebec metropolis: French and his love for the Canadian.
Young Michael therefore grew up as a great supporter of Sainte-Flanelle and learned French, which he speaks very fluently. He also tries to practice it with his grandparents, who still live in Montreal.
“It’s thanks to my father that I’m here. He was always hard on me but I understand now that it was because he saw something in me. Looking back, I’m so grateful to him.”
Do well for him
After the tragic death of his father, Hage could very well have decided to take a break from hockey, to grieve with his family.
Instead, he chose the opposite. A few days later, he was back in the gym.
“I never really thought about stopping. Playing hockey is what I love to do, it’s my passion and it’s what my father saw me doing with my life. He gave me everything to succeed and there was no way I wasn’t going to play. It allowed me to take my mind off things.”
But things weren’t easy for him at the start of the season with the Chicago Steel in the USHL, the United States junior league.
“It was very difficult at the beginning. I still tried to show up and help my team but I was having difficulty. It’s a void I can never fill in my life and at some point I decided to use it as motivation. I tried to play for him every night to make him proud.”
He subsequently took off and was one of the best players in the USHL late in the season. He finally finished with 75 points in 54 games, fourth in the circuit, thus confirming his status as a possible first-round pick in the next draft.
“I’m really proud of myself,” he assured with humility. This season really allowed me to approach adversity differently. I learned to stop being influenced by the little things. Before, I could get distracted by certain things but I realize that there is so much more to life and that there are much worse things than problems in hockey. I tried to enjoy this season and it’s when I’m having fun that I’m at my best.”
Good memories
Little by little, the pain of his departure transforms into gratitude for the moments spent with his father.
And it all comes back to hockey.
Among these: the journey of Alain Hage’s beloved club, the Canadian, to the Stanley Cup final in 2021.
“My dad, my brother and I were so excited. These are memories I will never forget.”
