Hockey has played an enormous role in men's hockey second-year forward Geordie Keane's life. Given his family's background in the sport, that isn't too surprising.

His dad, Billy Keane, played for the U of M from 1986-89 and also left a permanent mark on the Manitoba Junior Hockey League's (MJHL) Winnipeg Blues, where he was a former team MVP and, later on, head coach and general manager. Additionally, his uncle Mike Keane is a three-time Stanley Cup champion who was also the captain of the AHL's Manitoba Moose.

"Honestly, the sport in my family is absolutely everything. Especially with my uncle playing, growing up it was hockey, hockey, hockey all the time," Geordie says.

"It has made me life-long friends and taught me values and how to act and represent yourself. It's been for sure the biggest aspect of my life that has groomed me into who I am and I'm thankful for it. My uncle is a really good guy and everyone respects him. He's one of those guys that doesn't always get the recognition but was just the favourite teammate. Hockey is always on in our household and it's in my life all over."

As Geordie got older, he also had the chance to link up with Mike's son Jackson, now in his second year playing NCAA Division 1 hockey with the University of North Dakota.

The pair played one season of AAA midget together with the Winnipeg Wild in 2012-13 before embarking on a two-year journey as members of the Blues.

Their first MJHL season together was nothing short of memorable, as the team won the league title, upsetting a Selkirk squad that had won 49 games in the process.

There were plenty of Bisons on the roster as well, including alum Kamerin Nault, Brett Brooks, Warren Callis, Liam Bilton, Joel Schreyer, Channing Bresciani and Byron Spriggs, as well as Keane's current teammate Lucas Skrumeda.

Keane – who was also the team captain for the Blues in 2016-17 – was quick to mention the impact former head coach Don MacGillivray had on him both in the 2013-14 season and overall in his hockey career.  

"Up until [Bisons head coach] Mike [Sirant], he was the best coach that I've ever had. He knew everything and would get the most out of his players. He was hard on guys and if you weren't going he would give it to you, so that was nice. The thing I learned with him was just being consistent every night. The junior season is pretty long and he would get the most out of his players for sure."

Given his dad's background at the U of M, it wasn't too surprising that Keane landed with the brown and gold.

His first season in 2017-18 was filled with growth as he learned from an experienced roster that included former New York Rangers draft pick Michael St. Croix and current ECHL star Zach Franko.

"I didn't really play a whole lot. I think I only played four or five games my first year, but practicing every day with those guys, the St. Croixs, the Frankos, it makes you better just practicing with them."

In the offseason however, Keane made a very difficult choice.

With lingering injuries, a desire to make a bit more money and to focus on school, he chose to step away from the program.

"I thought about it for pretty much all summer. I was still there skating until they went Europe and then I kind of said okay, it's not for me. It was hard to leave the guys because they were such good guys and it was kind of late too and I didn't really handle it the best.

It was a hard decision. I thought about it for honestly weeks on end. The biggest thing was that I felt like I was always beat up. My wrist was bugging me and I wasn't feeling right all the time, so I said okay, let's take a step back and see how I feel."

The Bisons staff was reassuring throughout the entire process.

Sirant told him to call if he ever felt like coming back, while assistant coach Ryan Bonni – an NHL alum – offered his support when he saw Keane at a AAA hockey game in December of 2018.

"It actually did mean a lot," the forward says of the conversation he had with Bonni.

"That honestly might have been the tipping point, because it was right around that time at Christmas that I really started to miss it and I got it in the back of my brain that okay, maybe I could try and make this thing happen again next year."

With renewed vigour, Keane called Sirant this spring to see if he might be able to return to the program. The head coach welcomed him back with open arms, but also reminded the versatile player that he would have to work his way back on the team.

Keane did just that, putting in some serious work at the RINK Training Centre throughout the month of August to get prepped. The first week of training camp was a grind, however he made it through and has been a critical part of a Bisons roster that currently sits in a playoff position heading into the Christmas break.

Manitoba handed a loss to top seeded Alberta and second seeded Calgary in the first half of the year, with Keane contributing a point in both series. He tallied six points through his first seven games but has been just as valuable as a shot blocker and overall energy player for the team.

"I was kind of on a good offensive pace to start the season and was thinking wow, maybe I can contribute to these guys offensively," he added.

"I've slowed down a bit recently, but then my defensive game has been a lot better. If I'm not producing offensively then you need to be contributing in other ways. The role I'm playing is being a reliable guy that is going to do the right things. Maybe not the most flashy stuff but just doing the right things."