[Atom Thususka scoring in the OJHL]
Where It All Began…
[Atom Thususka born with a hockey stick in his hands]
In Sudbury, hockey never occurred to me as something that would eventually take me away from home, enable me to play junior hockey, or open up opportunities for my education; it was simply what my friends and I used to do.
The cold winters in Sudbury meant that the outdoor rinks were an important part of my childhood. I used to play hockey with a number of the same boys that I went to school with, travelling all over Ontario for tournaments and spending our weekends in hotels. When I was that age, the long journeys for hockey seemed to make it appear as if it were the most important thing in the world. A few of those teammates later became some of my best friends.
My brother, who is seven years older than me, was someone I always looked up to, and whenever he did something, I wanted to do it too. My father was also a major influence since he helped me with coaching, took me to the rink and was always supportive of me. In retrospect, I realize how much time and energy my whole family had spent in order to let me play.
At that age I wasn’t considering scholarships, junior hockey or the kind of path the game could take me.
I just loved playing.
A Blessing in Disguise
[Atom Thususka U14 Minor Hockey AA Sudbury Wolves]
As I got older, hockey became more competitive—and eventually I experienced my first real setback.
When Sudbury’s teams merged to create a AAA team, I expected to make it.
I got cut.
It was a huge eye-opener. When you’re young, and hockey feels like everything, getting cut can make you question yourself. I had played at a high level throughout minor hockey, and suddenly I was being told I wasn’t going to be part of that team.
Looking back, though, “it was kind of a blessing in disguise.”
I returned to my previous team, had one of the most fun and enjoyable seasons I’d played and continued getting better. More importantly, I learned that one decision wasn’t going to determine where hockey could take me.
There were definitely moments where I wondered what I was doing or whether I was actually going anywhere with hockey. But I kept coming back to the same thing, the reason I started playing in the first place.
I loved the game.
Leaving Sudbury
[Atom Thususka with Upper Canada College]
My U16 year was when things really started to change.
I began understanding that hockey could create opportunities beyond simply playing the game. There were different levels to pursue, opportunities to continue my education and paths I hadn’t really considered before.
After that season, I made one of the biggest decisions of my life and left Sudbury for Upper Canada College in Toronto.
Moving away from home at 16 wasn’t easy.
My first year, I didn’t love it. I missed my friends and family, and there were times when I felt alone. I lived in a boarding house, went to a new school, and played hockey in a completely different environment.
But I had made the decision, and I knew I had to give it a chance.
Eventually, I found the right people, became more comfortable and started to understand why I had made the move. Over three years at UCC, I developed as both a hockey player and a person. I eventually had the opportunity to captain the team, we found success, and I started speaking with junior teams about what could come next.
Stepping outside my comfort zone helped me realize hockey could take me further than I had originally thought.
Becoming a Collingwood Blue
[Atom Thususka in his first season with the Collingwood Blues]
Near the end of my final season at UCC, I started talking with the general manager of the Collingwood Blues.
I visited Collingwood, skated with the team, met the players and coaches and watched a game. Right away, something felt different. The organization was welcoming, the players were great to me, and the atmosphere inside the arena was electric.
I had other opportunities, including teams in Ottawa and out west, but I never felt the same connection with their coaches or management that I did with Collingwood.
In the end, the decision was pretty easy.
Reaching the OJHL was exciting, but I was nervous too. It was another step up and another reminder that I had come a long way from playing hockey with my friends in Sudbury.
Now, entering my final year of junior hockey, I’m trying to soak it all in. We have a really good team, and we’re working toward competing for a championship. I’m also looking at potential school opportunities for next year and seeing where hockey might take me next.
[Atom Thususka OJHL highlight real goal]
More Than Hockey
[Atom Thususka and Ethan Neller with billet families and fans]
One of the biggest changes I’ve noticed in myself is that I’ve learned to slow down.
When I was younger, I was always moving and reacting quickly to everything. Now, both in hockey and in life, I’ve learned to take my time, look at my options and make smarter decisions.
Hockey has also taught me how important relationships are. When you’re around the same teammates every day, you’ll disagree sometimes. I’ve learned that one argument isn’t worth ruining an important relationship.
More than anything, I’ve learned to enjoy what’s happening while it’s happening.
These years go by fast.
Looking Back at the Kid From Sudbury
[Atom Thususka playing Sudbury Minor Hockey]
Sometimes I think about the kid who used to attend Sudbury Wolves games and look up to the players on the ice.
Back then, those guys seemed so much older. They were the players I watched and thought were so cool.
Now, I’m their age.
I don’t think the younger version of myself would have expected me to still be playing competitive hockey at this point. But I think he’d be pretty happy knowing that I am.
Every outdoor rink, road trip, setback, teammate, coach and sacrifice helped me get here.
If I could give one message to a young player in Sudbury chasing the same dream, it would be simple:
“Take it seriously, but not too seriously.”
Have fun. Enjoy the moment. But show up every day willing to work.
If I had understood when I was younger how many opportunities hockey could create, I would have worked even harder. I’ve learned that a lot of those opportunities come down to how hard you’re willing to work and how much you care.
I’m still not sure exactly where hockey will take me next.
But that’s part of what makes the journey worth it.
The opportunities are out there.
You just have to give yourself the chance to find them.
[Atom Thususka and the UCC Blues after winning the CPSHA 2025]
