The Complete Backstory of Isau DaMoose

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The Complete Backstory of Isau DaMoose

 

Allow me to preface this article with the following:  I had already started on this effort before I realized that a biography was no longer a career task.  So, it has been “converted” into a Media Spot.  The intention is to fill in the holes that my series of “Moose Tracks/Droppings” missed. I very much enjoyed creating this piece of mostly fiction.  From the point of view of literary integrity and authenticity all of the places and their history mentioned are real.  In fact, I have visited each and every one of them.  Nikki Starr is a real person whose name I have changed to protect the innocent.  Gail  Force is totally a fictional character. Hope you enjoy the read.

Sioux Lookout and Gargantua

 

 

Isau Damoose was born May 24, 2004 in Sioux Lookout.  He was blessed with a loving mother and a hard-working father both of whom worked very hard to make life a pleasant place for little Isau.  In 2007 the DaMoose family expanded with the birth of Isau’s brother Charon.  Judging from his name it was widely believed that Fred and Doris DaMoose secretly wanted a baby girl.  Work became scarce in Sioux Lookout and so, in 2012, Fred decided to move his family to the remote settlement of Gargantua on the shores of Lake Superior where he would fish during the milder months and trap beaver during the winter.  Growing up in a remote area of Northern Ontario has its own special set of challenges.  Fortunately Doris took education seriously and managed to keep the boys inside long enough to provide them with a sound foundation in literacy and numeracy.  Isau and his brother listened to various hockey broadcasts on the radio.  As well, Hockey News was delivered on a regular basis.  After a particularly good fishing season skates and hockey sticks arrived for Christmas.  Isau, Charon and a few friends cleared off the snow on a section of a local beaver pond and began to play hockey. 

Bummer’s Roost

 

 

Fred was always looking to the future and for more lucrative work and,so,  in 2014 he moved his family to another small hamlet called Bummer’s Roost where he went to work on a forestry project for the provincial government.  At this point in his life Isau had not played on a real hockey team.  Nor had he played on a rink.  There were enough boys and girls in the area to assemble a hockey team, the Bummer’s Roost Smugglers.  The Smugglers played a series of exhibition games with the other small hamlets in the general area.  The play consisted mostly of a group of children chasing and hacking at a puck with a considerable amount of falling and crashing into the boards.  Even at this rudimentary level Isau enjoyed the game and tried to improve each and every time he went on the ice.

 

Fire River

 

 

As the provincial government changed, the funds which paid Fred disappeared.  He subsequently found work trapping beaver for the CNR.  The Damoose family moved to the hamlet of Fire River where Isau began to play for the Fire River Dragons.  Here he had the opportunity of playing for Coach GG, an elderly European gentleman who favoured skill development.  This was quite different from the typical Northern Ontario philosophy of crunching opposing players against the boards in hopes that they would not get back to their skates. Isau’s skills in skating, shooting and teamwork increased at a rapid rate.  There were definite challenges in playing hockey in such a remote area.  The “local” teams were situated kilometers apart and were only accessible by rail.  During the long trips to Oba (The Warriors), Peterbell (The Tinkerbells) and Jogues (The Jokes) Isau worked at developing his academic skills which his family held in high regard.  Education was delivered on a weekly basis when the CNR’s “Education Car”, staffed by an itinerant teacher, was dropped off on the siding.  Students below the age of 16 were required to attend and get their weekly assignments.  For most this was a highlight of the week.

 

It was during this time that Isau developed a love for the outdoors.  Hunting and fishing were amongst his favourite activities.  The Fire River location provided ample opportunity for both.  Fred, being a lifelong outdoorsman, carefully taught his sons the intricacies of fly-fishing and deer hunting.  He stressed conservancy at all times.  Any game taken should not be wasted as it would help fill the DaMoose pantry.

 

Swords

 

 

Fred had been trapping beaver for the CNR so that the water trapped behind their prodigious dams would not wash out the railbed.  Fred was too efficient.  There were too few beaver to pay a trapper and so he was released by the company.  Fred found work with a lumber company that was operating south of Lake Nipissing. So he, moved his family to the ghost town of Swords which amazingly was able to field a Bantam/Midget hockey team.  The Swords Slashers!  Unfortunately many of the players on this team lived up (or down) to the team’s name and spent more time in the penalty box than on the player’s bench.  This was a difficult time for youthful Isau.  He wanted to be accepted by his peers and, yet, he wanted to play a skilled game.  Self-discipline was the key and he learned the lesson well.  

 

 

This was a momentous time for Isau as it was here that he met the love of his life.  Due to his upbringing Isau enjoyed outdoor activities.  So, when he saw Nikki Starr on the banks of a rushing trout stream it was love at first sight.  Nikki enjoyed Isau’s company and appreciated his kind, respectful demeanor.  They became fast friends.  Later, Nikki, when she was a bit older and had learned some rudimentary Spanish, would go to Mexico City to join Isau as he pursued his VHL career.  They remain partners and best friends to this day.

 

It was at this time as well that Isau became acquainted with Gail Force.  Gail was a high school friend who later became an independent freelance sports journalist.  She was destined to become the only journalist who Isau would allow to interview him and subsequently Nikki Starr.  Her fireside chat style and attention to personal matters became synonymous with Isau’s interviews.

 

Being located just north of the Muskoka region and close to the tourist trade of Lake Ahmic, Isau found work in the service industry. One day, after work, Isau and a few of his friends decided to play some shinny on the frozen surface of Maple Lake.  This is when the Gods of Hockey spoke for Isau.  Fortuitously an ice fisherman, Press Isobar, had noticed the boys playing shinny.  Press was a hockey fanatic and was drawn to the shinny game like a moth to a candle.   What he saw took his breath away.  There was a young man swooping, dashing and gliding effortlessly over the ice. The puck bulged the twine convincing when he shot the puck.  Press immediately recruited Isau to The VHLM where after just a few days joined the Mexico Kings. 

 

 

The next season, S75,  found Isau playing for the Philadelphia Reapers.  Although not a prolific point producer, he helped his team mates win the Founder’s cup that year.

 

 

After his brief career in the VHLM, Isau was drafted by the Riga Reign 38th overall.  His first two seasons with Riga were less than memorable in terms of production.  In fact, during his second season, although Isau was playing second line minutes, his Time On Ice was sometimes less than that of a fourth line player.  But enough of that rant. 

 

 

Isau is currently in his third season with the Reign and has developed his skillset to near elite levels.  This is reflected in a greatly improved rate of production.  

 

 

Season	GP	G	A	P	+/-	SHT	PIM	HIT	SB	GW	PPG	SHG
78 (RIG)	58	32	34	66	-12	320	93	222	20	4	12	0

 

 

Of note as well is that he is leading his team in hits the closest being Matt Thunder with 168.  Addy McLaren had 181 hits before he was traded to Toronto.  In terms of point production, if Isau continues at this rate, he is on track for an 82 point season.  A far cry for his 52 point effort the previous season.

 

Given a recent trade Riga appears to be making a playoff run.  It would be good for Isau’s career to experience some playoff action.

 

Having just mentioned Isau’s personal stats, it is important to note that Isau firmly believes in what Sidney Crosby once said: “I play for the name on the front of my jersey, not the one on the back.”  Isau is all in with regards to team concept.  He has stated that he will do whatever it takes for the team to win.  That, of course, does not preclude the occasional whine and a few rants with regard to STHS sim engine.  Actions speak more loudly than words.

 

Word Count = 1511

Claiming:  June 27, July 4, July 11

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