
Dave Leaderhouse, Herald Staff
WARNING: Some countries really are still third world!
This life lesson was learned the hard way by 21-year-old Matthew Canaday of Saskatoon. Having finished his junior hockey career a year ago with the Saskatoon Westley’s of the Prairie Junior Hockey League, Canaday wanted to see the world while still playing hockey.
“I wanted to get out, I wanted to travel,” says Canaday. “I think I found out about it (playing in New Zealand) on the Internet. I could go there and get paid to travel the country. Pretty cool.”
Canaday first headed to Christchurch, New Zealand, and played for a semi-pro team there. When not tending goal, he was working as a labourer as part of the clean up crew for the massive earthquake that hit that country weeks before he arrived.
One night while playing hockey, Canaday was tending net for the Canterbury Red Devils in New Zealand when he turned in a brilliant 54-save shutout performance. In the stands was a man who recruited players for the Kazakhstan Premier League, a feeder league for the Kontinental
Hockey League. The man, who would later become his agent, approached Canaday with an offer to play for a team in Atyrau. The New Zealand hockey season was winding down, so Canaday decided to continue with his travels and headed to Kazakhstan.
“There were guys from all over the world playing in the league,” said Canaday. “I think I was the first Canadian to play in the league and I was backing up one of the Latvia national team goalies.
“We were in first place and it was awesome until the ending,” added Canaday.
Having been away from home for 10 months and missing the passing of his grandfather, Canaday decided he wanted to be home for Christmas. There was a break in the schedule, so he told his team he was going home for a family emergency.
His plane left Atyrau as planned, but when he got to Almaty, where he was to change planes, that is where everything unravelled.
“They asked to look at my immigration papers and they just shook their heads and said I could be going to jail for 20 days,” explained
Canaday. “The team was supposed to register the paper, but never did.”
Canaday called his team owner, who came over and dealt with customs and everything looked like it was in place when suddenly the customs officer took Canaday into a side room and handcuffed him.
“They took me to a hotel and told me to stay there,” laughed Canaday. “Where was I going to go?”
Not sure what was going on, Canaday called his agent, who immediately told him to get on Facebook and update his status. “He
said people have to know where you are, because in that country you could get lost and never be found again.”
Canaday got a hold of his parents back in Saskatoon and his father Mike, who grew up in Prince Albert, knew someone who knew an aide in Premier Brad Wall’s office and they got in touch with the Canadian Embassy and things started to move forward for Canaday.
“My owner told the cops it was his fault yet I still had to stay a week in that hotel,” said Canaday.
“It was a bit scary because I never knew what was going on. Apparently I was an illegal immigrant (and didn’t know it.)”
Canaday finally got home to Saskatoon, but his goaltending equipment is still over in Kazakhstan. He isn’t sure if he will ever see it.
“I was still planning on going back, because we had a good team, but I don’t think I will now,” said Canaday. “I would recommend the hockey to anyone, but the country is way behind in the times.”
Canaday isn’t sure what his future plans are, but he does hope hockey is a part of them.
“My agent says that now that I have played over there, my name is out there,” notes Canaday. “Maybe in France, or Hungary. I should be good to go next year.
“It’s a totally different world,” adds Canaday. “I played hockey in eight or nine countries and saw 14 countries combined. And, it was all paid for through hockey.”
For a young man just cutting his teeth with travel, Canaday certainly got an introduction to what the world looks like. Maybe his second tour will be more enjoyable.