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Oilers captain Connor McDavid’s off-ice character praised by Muskoka coach

Photo credit: @mentalhealthhockey / Instagram

By Woz

Aug 31, 2026, 19:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 31, 2026, 17:26 EDT

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Muskoka, Ont., has become known for its lush forests, pristine waters, and, in recent years, for serving as a training hub for the NHL’s best, including Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid.

As he always does, however, Connor McDavid is the one capturing all the attention out of all the stars who attend. Brady Leavold, a mental health advocate in the hockey space and a skills coach with Muskoka, shared a photo of him with McDavid on Instagram, along with a heartfelt message about him and how he is away from the ice.

Special week. One I’ll never forget. 🙏
It’s one thing to be the best hockey player in the world and truly world class at your craft. It’s another thing to carry everything that comes with being Connor McDavid and still have the humility to give people your time, make them feel valued and just be a genuinely good human being.
That’s what stood out to me most this week.
We all see the player. The talent, the work ethic and everything he does on the ice speaks for itself. But getting the opportunity to spend some time around Davo and see the person behind all of it meant more to me than I can probably put into words.
I’ll cherish the signed stick, but even more than that, I’ll remember how he treated me and everyone around him.
Hockey has taken me on one hell of a journey, and there were years where I never could have imagined being in moments like this again. I don’t take any of it for granted.
Just incredibly grateful. For the week, for the memories, and for the people this game continues to bring into my life.
Thank you Davo. Best of luck this season.

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More often than not, fans are quick to praise Connor McDavid for his jaw-dropping ability on the ice. Or, on the other side of the coin, criticize him for what he hasn’t been able to accomplish, which is lifting the Stanley Cup and captaining his team to the ultimate prize in hockey. One narrative that comes up in hockey circles for why he’s yet to experience that crowning achievement is his lack of leadership.

Which, of course, is subjective, as leadership can be perceived differently by anyone. And in McDavid’s case, it’s hard to judge, considering fans of the sport or the Edmonton Oilers don’t always get to see what happens behind closed doors. Only what’s been captured on camera. This was seen when Amazon showcased behind-the-scenes footage of the Oilers’ trip to the Stanley Cup final in 2024; the most viral moment was McDavid snapping at his teammates after they were being dominated by the Florida Panthers.

It was an intense moment, and a version of Connor McDavid that many were surprised to witness, and a debate was sparked online over whether that was a good example of leadership or not.

But a good example of quality leadership is how one treats those around them. McDavid’s humility and how he carries himself off the ice are key, as Leavold describes, sharing his experience and peeling back the curtain on what it’s like to be around the Oilers superstar. It’s a reminder to many of why the Oilers chose him as captain and why his teammates only rave about him as their leader.

As August comes to a close, summer skates in Muskoka will wrap up, and the captain’s skates in Edmonton will begin, with Connor McDavid front and centre once again as he approaches his 12th NHL season.

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