CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Kameron Kielly keeps improving.
The Charlottetown native capped off his sophomore season with the UPEI Panthers with one more point than his rookie campaign and the university’s male athlete of the year award.
“It’s really something to be proud of, but it's something I can credit my teammates for,” he said.
After finishing up his five-year major junior career with the Charlottetown Islanders in 2017, Kielly attended the Winnipeg Jets camp. He decided to focus on school and committed to the Forbes MacPherson-coached Panthers.
“Forbie has given me an opportunity to run with things,” Kielly said. “He’s given me a bit of leeway to play my game.”
The 22-year-old had 15 goals and 28 assists this season for 43 points in 30 games, making him one of top scorers in the Atlantic University Sport (AUS), widely considered the best university conference in the country.
“He’s had two very high-end seasons for us individually, and I think he’s starting to get recognized both within our program, within our department and within our league,” MacPherson said. “It’s nice to see him get rewarded.”
Kielly, who was named an AUS second team all-star, teamed with Gabe Guertler to form a dynamic duo in 2018-19. Veteran Sam Aulie completed the line at the end of the season.
“Gabe is a great player,” Kielly said. “The biggest thing was if I got down, he’d be there to pick me up, and if he was struggling, I’d try to get him in gear and get him moving.
“Sam complemented us well. He’s one of the best puck hunters in the league . . . and his work ethic is second to none.”
It is the second year in a row the male athlete of the year award went to a player from the men’s hockey team. Summerside native Ryan MacKinnon earned the recognition in 2018. Their names are now engraved next to one another on the front of the trophy.
“It’s an honour to follow in Ryan’s footsteps, one of the guys I look up to and (I am) kind of trying to follow the same path,” Kielly said.
MacKinnon has played 68 games this season with the Worcester Railers of the ECHL after turning pro following his third season as a Panther.
“Both of them are athletically very driven guys,” MacPherson said. “Kam is very ambitious, and he has goals for his future.”
Kielly said he has received contract offers from teams in Europe, but his focus is to get to an NHL camp in September and see what happens from there. He has five courses left to complete his business degree and is committed to his education while open to explore possibilities that may be presented to him.
MacPherson said he saw growth in Kielly’s game down the stretch and during the playoffs.
“That really gets me excited for possibilities for Kam for, not only next year for us, but in the future for him,” he said.
By the numbers
A look at Kameron Kielly’s statistics from his final two years of junior hockey and first two seasons of university hockey.
Season GP G A Pts. Pts./G
Major junior
2015-16 48 15 27 42 .875
2016-17 65 34 40 74 1.14
University
2017-18 30 13 29 42 1.4
2018-19 30 15 28 43 1.43
Looking back
A look at some of the recent male and female athletes of the year at UPEI.
2018
Female – Bailey Smith, track, and Alysha Corrigan, rugby.
Male – Ryan MacKinnon, hockey.
2017
Female – Marie-Soleil Deschenes, hockey.
Male – Mark Ashlee, soccer.
2016
Female – Katie Donahoe, basketball, and Alysha Corrigan, rugby.
Male – Tyler Scott, basketball, and Cole MacMillan, soccer and hockey.
2015
Female – Amy Gough, basketball.
Male – Tyler Scott, basketball, and Cole MacMillan, soccer and hockey.
2014
Female – Sarah Stanley, soccer.
Male – Reggie Traccitto, hockey.
2013
Female – Marina MacAulay, field hockey.
Male – Jimmie Mayaleh, soccer.
2012
Female – Janet Gamble, swimming.
Male – Manock Lual, basketball.
2011
Female – Sara Stewart, soccer.
Male – Matt Carter, hockey.
