麻豆传媒入口

Like most Canadians, hockey became a big part of Wyatt Jones life early on. Jones started playing hockey when he was four years old, skating on the backyard rink his dad built in Headingley, MB.

Jones would play his minor hockey in the Winnipeg, MB area, posting 22 points in 33 games with the Winnipeg Wild during the 2022/23 season. In 2023/24, he would join RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg of the 麻豆传媒入口 (CSSHL).

On the outside, things seemed to be trending in the right direction for Jones. In his first season in the CSSHL he recorded 31 points in 27 U15 Prep games as RHA Winnipeg made the semi-finals of the 2024 CSSHL Western Championships. Jones looked like a player with the potential of achieving his goals of playing junior hockey, before graduating to a college or university team.

What those watching didn鈥檛 know, nor did Jones initially, was the RHA Winnipeg forward was struggling with Keratoconus, an eye disease that affects the structure of the cornea, resulting in loss of vision. Keratoconus occurs in approximately one in 2,000 individuals, typically beginning in puberty and progressing into the mid-30s.

鈥淎round nine months to a year ago I started to notice I was seeing halos, blurriness and some light sensitivity,鈥� said Jones. 鈥淚 noticed when I was at the cabin one day someone pointed something out and I couldn鈥檛 actually see it. I thought it was nothing, and that maybe I just needed glasses or contacts.鈥�

His eye disease would begin to impact his play on the ice, noting the light caused a fog like effect. The puck would appear to be in roughly two inches of fog, with the greatest impact anytime he was near the boards.

鈥淚t was very scary at first. You鈥檙e very vulnerable and you start to appreciate your vision and thing鈥檚 you didn鈥檛 before,鈥� said Jones.

Despite the diagnosis, Jones would finish the season and begin another with RHA Winnipeg, this time in the CSSHL U17 Prep division.

鈥淚t鈥檚 admirable to see how he has carried himself around his teammates on a day-to-day basis since being diagnosed. He is still the Jonesy we all know, having fun, being positive and bringing consistent energy, push himself and his teammates to get better each day,鈥� said RHA Winnipeg U17 Prep head coach Ian Duval. 鈥淗is actions during this difficult period speak volumes to his character and who Wyatt is as a person. From an outside perspective, you wouldn鈥檛 know the adversity he has faced the past seasons.鈥�

Near the end of October 2024 Jones would undergo surgery to stop the eye disease from progressing. Once his eyes heal, Jones will get glasses in January, and contacts in March, which should give him 20/20 vision.

After the surgery it took about a week and a half for Jones to get back on the ice with his teammates, who wanted him out there with them, but understood the importance of putting his health first.

There has been an adjustment period for Jones since the surgery. Jones has had to put eye drops in every few hours to keep his eyes hydrated, he can鈥檛 get water in his eyes when showering, and even had to switch from a cage to a full-face shield to ensure no snow or ice got into his eyes.

鈥淛onesy is hardworking, mature, funny, outgoing and just an all-around good person to be around,鈥� added Duval, who was also an assistant with the U15 Prep team last season. 鈥淗e loves being with his teammates and coaches at the rink and shows up every day with a positive attitude. As a coach, I am grateful to have the opportunity to get to know Wyatt and help with his development on and off the ice the past two seasons.鈥�

When asked what the future might hold, Jones, with his upbeat demeanor, will continue on his and his RHA Winnipeg teammates quest to capture a 2025 CSSHL Western Championship.

鈥淲hen it first happened, I kept thinking how is this happening to me,鈥� said Jones. 鈥淏ut I look back at it and it could always be worse. There are worse injuries out there and it鈥檚 just a bump in the road I鈥檒l get over.鈥�