Third-generation P.E.I. Canada Games baseball player not letting diabetes halt his sporting dreams
Behind every athlete’s journey is a story, and a Prince Edward Islander penned an inspirational story at the 2022 Canada Summer Games.
Jakob MacEwen from Cornwall deals with a serious health issue on a daily basis and has followed in the footsteps of his grandfather Bill Conohan, great uncle John Conohan and uncle Craig Conohan who play for the Team PEI baseball team. This week, Jakob is part of the PEI delegation competing in Ontario’s Niagara region.
Bill, who watches all of Jakob’s games and calls him after every practice session, and John played at the very first Summer Games in 1969. Bill scored two pitching wins at this tournament. Craig, who was team captain, watched every game in 1993.
“I was pretty excited to get the opportunity (to play for Team PEI),” Jakob said. “Ever since I was a kid, baseball has been something everyone in my family does.
“It’s in my blood and I just love hearing the stories about the Canada Games and the experiences that went through them and I look forward to carrying the torch on. Maybe there is a fourth generation? You never know.”
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The family connection of Thane and Colette (Conohan) MacEwen’s 16-year-old son is perhaps not even the most intriguing part of Jacob’s story. Jakob was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of seven, but he refused to let it affect his dreams.
“The first thing he asked the doctor the day he was diagnosed was, ‘Can I still exercise?’ said Colette, who is Bill’s daughter and Craig’s sister.
When the diagnosis was made, Jakob’s parents researched professional athletes he could look up to. One of them was NHL player Max Domi. Jakob read Domi’s book No Days Off and said it put things into perspective about discipline and creating good habits.
“The first thing he asked the doctor the day he was diagnosed was, ‘Can I still exercise?'” – Colette MacEwen
One year for Christmas, Domi gave Jakob a signed photo that said he could do anything he set his mind to.
“That really inspired me,” Jakob said.
When asked what advice he would give young people with diabetes, Jakob said he would advise them to look for other people who have managed to reach a high level and follow their stories.
routine
Jakob said managing the diabetes has become second nature to him now that he has lived with the disease for more than half his life. Regardless of what he was dealing with, Jakob said he always had a strong support system.
“I was never told there was something I couldn’t do because of my diabetes,” Jakob told the SaltWire Network in a phone interview. “I know a lot of people who have had type 1 diabetes and who have been able to play at a high level and have good careers.
“I never really thought it would be something that would stop me from doing that.”
February marks the ninth anniversary of Jakob receiving an insulin pump. He recently received a new one that incorporates the latest technology available.
Colette described it as an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) integration system.
“Basically how it works is the continuous glucose meter that he usually wears in his arm and monitors his blood sugar,” Colette explained. “The pump he also wears delivers an adaptive and personalized insulin dose based on the real-time glucose data it gets from the CGM.”
The new system has an app with real-time data. If Jakob’s blood sugar drops below a certain level, his parents will receive a notification.
There is no better example of Jakob’s ability to manage his diabetes through sport than on April 20, 2022. Jakob’s Mid-Isle Matrix and Charlottetown’s Central Attack played seven periods and just under 117 minutes of hockey, and he was able to oversee and hold Things governed by PEI Under-18 AAA Male Hockey League playoff game.
Support
Jakob said his coaches and teammates have always been supportive of his condition.
Colette briefed head coach Rob McCormack and his housemates at the Canada Games on what could happen and what to do if there is an emergency with Jakob’s diabetes.
“They were very understanding and said, ‘Don’t worry about us; we have your back’”, Jakob said.
McCormack coached Jakob with the Canada Games program for three years. McCormack said he knew about Jakob’s diabetes and met with his parents at an early age. McCormack checks in with him regularly, especially on hot doubleheader days. McCormack described Jakob as very independent and mature, noting that he knows to tell a coach if something is bothering him.
“I think[the diabetes]pushed him to be really responsible and grow up a lot quicker than other kids per se because of his diabetes,” McCormack said. “For three years I’ve never had to worry about Jake, although I do. …
“As far as an athlete goes, you would never know that they need to self-regulate and make sure their blood sugar is good. He is very responsible, one of the hardest workers on our team, a likeable boy to train with and always eager to learn.”
McCormack described Jakob, who plays at left field for PEI, as a powerful hitter and outfielder with a speed that allows him to spot flying balls and close the gaps as well as anyone.
McCormack said Jakob, being left-handed, could be brought in for some work outside of the bullpen as well.
“When Jakob started showing that he was going to be left-handed, my grandfather, who was Jake’s great-grandfather Walter (Conohan), who was also left-handed, was very excited when he saw that he was going to be left-handed,” said Colette. “There was no question that he had to play ball at that point. Every time we saw (Walter) he said, ‘You play ball, right, young man?’ ”
family ties
Jakob MacEwen’s family connections to Team PEI at the Canada Games:
- Grandfather Bill Conohan and great-uncle John Conohan played on PEI’s baseball team in the very first Summer Canadian Games in 1969.
- Great-uncles Preston and Reg Conohan were members of PEI’s baseball team in 1985. Preston pitched and Reg was the head coach.
- Aunt Crystal (Conohan) Creighan (a sister of Jacob’s mother Colette) played softball at the 1987 Canada Games.
- Aunt Lisa MacEwen (a sister of Jacob’s father, Thane) played on PEI’s 1991 racquetball team.
- Uncle Craig Conohan was PEI baseball team captain in 1993.
- “Baseball is an integral part of our family life,” said Colette MacEwen. “Nanna and Grampy’s Sunday dinners usually end with some kind of ball game or batting practice. It was the same growing up for us and the same growing up for my dad.”
international experience
A multi-athlete, Jaycob has attended three international hockey camps for athletes with diabetes. Colette said Jakob learned a lot about dealing with diabetes through these camps.
Jakob’s efforts were recently recognized when he received a True Grit Award at a fundraising golf tournament for Philadelphia Flyers forward Zack MacEwen’s My Biggest Fan Foundation. The Matrix nominated Jakob.
“Jakob goes all out and his diabetes management is certainly no exception,” said Colette. “When he was diagnosed, we promised Jakob that we would do everything in our power to live the same life he always lived before diabetes. …
“Whether he’s playing hockey or baseball, he scores and gives 100 percent to make it happen. He is our hero for sure.”
Jason Simmonds is Sports Editor at the SaltWire Network in Prince Edward Island. He can be reached by email at [email protected] and followed on Twitter @JpsportsJason.