There’s plenty of excitement these days at The Shadowbox in Lacombe, with two young boxers currently competing at the Canada Winter Games in Charlottetown.
Brody Andrie and Joey Bayliss - both 16 - are there as part of Team Alberta, explained Trevor MacKinnon, who owns and manages the boxing studio with his wife Dana.
The Games run through March 5.
Trevor is also heading down this week to cheer the duo on, and it will also be something of a nostalgic experience for him as he took part in the Games there back in 1991 and landed a bronze medal.
His passion for boxing was sparked when he was about 10, and over the years, he worked hard at perfecting his own skills.
“I joined the local boxing club, and basically never left,” he explained.
“I love the community, and it’s a challenge,” he said, referring to what keeps him so connected to the sport. “It’s like a chess game - what is the other guy going to do? And how are you going to de-throne the ‘king’.”
There’s also a tremendous sense of camaraderie amongst the athletes as well, noted Dana.
Today, owning and running The Shadowbox is indeed a dream come true for the MacKinnons.
They opened the studio in 2019. They had been coaching in Red Deer when it was suggested to them they launch a similar venture in Lacombe.
Meanwhile, the couple is excited to see their young boxers grow not only in their boxing skills but also in their level of confidence. And it takes plenty of commitment.
Those prepping for upcoming competitions train at The Shadowbox four nights a week plus spend time there on the weekends.
“They carry themselves differently,” noted Dana. “The sport itself and the training changes them physically but there is so much mental and emotional strength that goes into it as well,” she said.
“There is a big ‘inner’ change as well as a physical change.”
Meanwhile, Trevor noted that there are some misconceptions about boxing.
It offers much more in the way of discipline and focus than some folks may think. “There is an art and a style to it,” said Dana, adding that athletes in the boxing community in general are supportive of each other across the board.
“We are friends with other clubs, we cheer for other athletes, and we show them all the respect in the world even when they are our (direct) opposition,” she said.
Meanwhile, there is a full roster of competitions coming up soon including provincials at the end of March and the Alberta Golden Gloves in April.
Hosted by Boxing Alberta, the Golden Gloves - set to run in Calgary - are designed to promote and foster the development of the sport of amateur boxing throughout the province.
Looking further down the road is the YYC Cup Boxing Tournament in May and then nationals in which several of the young boxers at The Shadowbox will be competing including Brody Andrie, Joey Bayliss, Logan MacKinnon, and Jaden Neilsen.
“We also just came back from Brampton last month and came back with two golds, two silvers, and two bronze medals,” said Trevor.
Ultimately, the rewards of being a part of the boxing world are plentiful - for the trainees and for the MacKinnons, they said.
“On a personal note, we’ve made so many friends and so many memories - and it’s taken us to places where we’ve met people across Canada who are supporters and friends - and we support them, too,” said Dana.
“As much as it’s an individual sport, it’s very team-oriented as well,” she added. “It gets in your blood.”
