You won't find it too difficult locating Ben
MacLean.
Just look for the tall guy.
MacLean stands near the seven foot mark, which makes him just the
kind of towering guy you might want to take along to pick some
apples at this time of the year.
And on Halloween, when he plays his first volleyball game for
Toronto's George Brown College, there will likely be more tricking
than treating from this Scarborough native.
But the 19-year old, who tips the scales at about 290 pounds, has
more in mind these days.
He is determined to expand on the volleyball knowledge that he
gained a few years ago as a student at Sir Oliver Mowat
Collegiate.
And George Brown might be just the place.
Volleyball Canada picked the College as Toronto's only
post-secondary school to house a Centre for Excellence. The master
plan for the National Sport Organization is to post various centres
across the country and try to fix Canada's slumbering status
against world competition.
In other words, build the country's future international
stars.
Not so sure MacLean wants to be part of that initiative just yet -
but it is tempting and he has lots of work ahead of him.
Not so sure he's accustomed to the volleyball jargon and his
interpretation of the term "crepe" might be different from what is
it: when a player digs the ball by extending his leg with the foot
flat on the floor, letting the ball bounce off the top of the
foot.
Even some slang volleyball terms could prompt a strange glance
from MacLean.
Not advisable calling out "Stuff Turkey" and looking at him.
The term is used to describe a stuff block. That's when the volley
ball hits the floor of the opposing team before the blocker does.
When that happens, a player is said to have had his turkey
stuffed.
MacLean has tried basketball and while he may have the height, he
does admit his lack of speed running down the court is an issue. He
also took a pass on baseball and hockey, sports he played as a
youngster.
But when his career interests leaned towards a different kind of
energy, and working with systems that would benefit the
environment, MacLean decided on a two-year diploma program studying
Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning at the College's Castle
Loma campus.
Aware of his physical prominence and the need to try get in some
daily exercise, MacLean signed on for a chance to play with the
Huskies volleyball team that competes in the Ontario Colleges
Athletic Association.
Looking for statistics, MacLean is not concerned right now about
his quota of digs, kills or aces.
"I'm still learning the game - but I also won't be this tall guy
standing around and watching," he said. "When it gets down to
playing sports, I know you have to think about doing what's best
for your team. Every day I am learn something new and opposing
teams will know when I am playing."
While he may still lack certain fundamentals of the sport, MacLean
has plenty of determination and is out to elevate his game.
"Just learned the sport a few years ago - in high school," he
said. "I think my size could be a huge advantage and there's also
less running around."
MacLean is an inquisitive kind of person, eager for knowledge and
finding a career. He's tried baking pastries on a high school co-op
and also found servicing gas fireplaces to be intriguing.
When others get a glimpse of the towering MacLean on the
competitive court, they tend to look twice and then contemplate how
to find a way to beat him. When he combines his giant size with
power and hitting the volleyball, look out.
George Brown coach Josh Nichol might need some
time to decipher if MacLean's combination of touch and instinctive
improvisation will pay off in the months to come. Then again, it's
hard to imagine not gaining in some way with a huge guy needing
only to lift his hands.
MacLean also knows George Brown missed out on a spot in the OCAA
playoffs last year and while his being in the lineup is no
assurance of a league championship - he sees it as more than a few
hours of fun.
"I am beginning to enjoy (volleyball) a great deal and my height
helps - especially once I get my hands high in the air to block a
shot," he added. "There are some strengths being tall, but I am
also aware that improvements are needed in other areas."
Source: George Brown College
Photo Credit: Michael Stefancic