Reign Alum Trades in His Skates for Scrubs
Catching up with Dusty Collins
Laura Hendrick, Ontario Reign PR
Dusty Collins, 27, played for the Ontario Reign during their inaugural season earning 14 points (6g, 8a) in 24 games, and returned to the Reign lineup for the 2010-11 season where he played in 49 games tallying 26 points (9g, 17a).
 Collins made his professional debut right out of Northern Michigan University with the AHL’s Springfield Falcons in 2006-07 appearing in 11 games. The forward would continue to play professionally between the CHL, ECHL and AHL for the next five years appearing in a total of 289 games earning 53 points (23g, 30a) in the CHL, 19 points (14g, 5a) in the AHL, and 40 points (15g, 25a) in the ECHL.
The Gilbert, Arizona native knew it was time to hang up the skates as his 2010-11 season came to an end. "I was up and down between the American Hockey League and the ECHL. I realized I wasn't getting any younger and knew that I had to start making plans for the future. I was getting married to my fiancé Samantha that summer and with the uncertainty of my hockey career I decided to start considering other passions. One of those passions was to continue my education. I had always been intrigued in the mechanics of the human body which sparked interest to go back to school and pursue medicine. There was also the option to continue playing hockey overseas, but I knew that option would only last so long and I would be right back at this fork in the road. With a lot of patience, faith, and support from my family I decided to start pursuing a new dream which lead me to medicine."
Collins, just finished his first year of post-bac at Northern Michigan University, the same school he attended for his undergraduate degree in Political Science, with a minor in Marketing, while playing for their NCAA Division I team. 
He has one more year of post-bac work, and will be taking the MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test) exam at the end of this winter semester to continue on to medical school.
"I still have yet to take the MCAT. I plan on taking it at the end of the winter semester. Right now I am taking things one day at time - studying, working hard, volunteering, shadowing doctors and most importantly keeping my faith in check. Hockey has helped me in knowing the type of dedication and commitment I will need to put forth in order to be successful with this new career path," Collins said.
Collins knew early he was interested in getting into the medical field. "I have always had a great respect for the team doctors I would see on a regular basis while I was playing, it reminded me that I too wanted to help people, it reinforced my passion for medicine," he said.
Though he has no intentions of returning to hockey, Collins had nothing but nice things to say about Ontario. “I loved it [with the Reign]. It was great! Honestly, for the ECHL it’s as good as it gets in terms of location, the facilities, the staff, the fans, I really, really enjoyed my time at Ontario. It’s as good as it gets there.”
Here is the full interview:
Laura Hendrick: Hi Dusty, first, congratulations on pursuing medical school! That’s very exciting. So, where are you living right now?
Dusty Collins: I’m in Marquette, MI
LH: You said you’re running a hockey school right now, tell me a bit about that.
DC: Yeah, I’ve just been helping out through Northern Michigan University’s hockey school this past week nothing too big.
LH: I know you attended and played there a few years ago, what was your degree in?
DC: I graduated with a degree in political science and a minor in marketing. I always liked poli sci and I always liked sports medicine. And knew I wanted to get involved in sports medicine. It’s hard to keep those kind of grades up while playing hockey. I’m kind of a history nerd so that’s the reason behind that [poli sci]. Kind of came easy for me writing papers and that kind of thing, and took advantage of what I had [scholarship].
LH: How did you end up back in Northern Michigan:
DC: I played with the US National team out of Ann Arbor in my junior and senior year of high school, and was recruited there by college and Northern Michigan’s hockey team. So then I played in Marquette for four years. Which is where my wife, Samantha is from and we just decided Marquette would be the place for us.
LH: Where are you doing your post-bac?
DC: I’m at Northern Michigan now.
LH: What med school are you planning or hoping to go to?
DC: I still have yet to take the MCAT. I plan on taking it at the end of the winter semester. Right now I am taking things one day at time - studying, working hard, volunteering, shadowing doctors and most importantly keeping my faith in check. Hockey has helped me in knowing the type of dedication and commitment I will need to put forth in order to be successful with this new career path
LH: When did you know you were done playing hockey and ready to pursue med school?
DC: "I was up and down between the American Hockey League and the East Coast Hockey League. I realized I wasn't getting any younger and knew that I had to start making plans for the future. I was getting married to my fiancé Samantha that summer and with the uncertainty of my hockey career I decided to start considering other passions. One of those passions was to continue my education. I had always been intrigued in the mechanics of the human body which sparked interest to go back to school and pursue medicine. There was also the option to continue playing hockey overseas but I knew that option would only last so long and I would be right back at this fork in the road. With a lot of patience, faith, and support from my family I decided to start pursuing a new dream which lead me to medicine.
LH: Did you always want to get into the medical field?
DC: I have always had a great respect for the team doctors I would see on a regular basis while I was playing, it reminded me that I too wanted to help people, it reinforced my passion for medicine.
LH: How was your experience with the Reign during the time you were with us?
DC: Loved it. It was great honestly for the ECHL its as good as it gets in terms of location, the facilities, the staff, the fans, I really, really enjoyed my time at Ontario its about as good as it gets there.
LH: Well that’s about it for me. Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me. We all wish you the best of luck and will be following up to see how you’re doing!
DC: Thanks so much Laura. Wish everyone in Ontario good luck for me and thanks again!
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