Cole MacKay is a prime example of an athlete who believes in giving back.
The 24-year-old Sault native - a right winger who played for the University of New Brunswick Reds hockey club - was recently named as the recipient of the 2025 Cameron Bulger Memorial Award by Hockey Gives Blood.
The award is named in honour of a nine-year-old from Surrey, B.C. who died in 2020 following a three-year battle with brain cancer. It goes to an individual who has raised awareness of the importance of donating blood.
Bulger needed many donations of blood throughout his treatment to prolong his life.
In partnership with Canadian Blood Services, Hockey Gives Blood consists of current and former hockey players - such as MacKay - who act as ambassadors in raising awareness of the importance of donating blood.
“It’s an incredible honour to receive the Cameron Bulger Memorial Award. I’ve been an ambassador for Hockey Gives Blood for five years," MacKay told SooToday in a phone interview from Fredericton.
"Donating blood is an easy way to help people in such a large impactful way. Donating blood only takes 30 to 45 minutes. It's quick, painless and it can really change somebody's life. That’s at the root of why I donate.”
MacKay is urging others to roll up their sleeves and donate blood.
“It's so easy to book an appointment with Canadian Blood Services. You show up, they screen you and do their due diligence. Then it’s super easy to sit there and donate blood. It’s good to know you're making such an impact.
"It’s so fulfilling and I definitely encourage everyone to go out and donate blood and really change somebody's life. You see the impact it has on people. You get to play a role in the grand scheme of things,” MacKay said.
MacKay’s giving spirit doesn’t stop at donating blood.
He wants to treat people who suffer from pain in their spine.
A recent graduate of the University of New Brunswick’s Bachelor of Business Administration program, MacKay has decided against the suit and briefcase and instead become a chiropractor, ready to begin four years of study at Toronto’s Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College beginning in the fall.
“My dad, Dr. Michael McKay, is a chiropractor in the Sault, and I always thought it was a very cool profession and a way I can help others. Helping people is at the root of what I want to do for a career. Just being able to help people is the biggest thing for me.”
As a university level hockey player, Cole played three seasons with the UNB Reds.
Throughout that period, the team won back-to-back Canadian university level national hockey championships in 2023 and 2024.
Cole was joined at the Bulger Award presentation by teammate and fellow Saultite Camaryn Baber.
The two have known each other for many years and have an extensive hockey background.
Cole is a former Soo Greyhound while Baber played for the Saginaw Spirit and the London Knights.
“I considered professional hockey for sure, but at the end of the day I knew I wanted to be a chiropractor. I still love hockey and I'm always going to try and play as much as I can wherever I can.”