Generals get their man, taking Jenner in first round and fourth overall in draft
The Oshawa Generals got the player they wanted in the Ontario Hockey League’s Priority Selection on Saturday.
That player is centre Boone Jenner, as the Generals used their first round pick and fourth overall selection at the draft on Saturday morning to take the Mossley, Ontario native who has a good scoring touch.
As far as Jenner is concerned, the feeling is mutual – he’s with the team he wants to be with too.
“This is where I wanted to be,” Jenner said after donning a Generals jersey with his name on the back for the first time Saturday afternoon. “I’ve talked to the coaches here. I like the atmosphere here, I like the team and I think it’s the kind of team where I can model my game and make a big impact.”
Like the rest of his draft class, Jenner spent the morning waiting to hear his name called, but he didn’t have to wait very long.
“I talked to pretty much every team and I didn’t know where I was going, it’s always up in the air until you get drafted,” Jenner said. “This is a great facility and it’s just awesome to be here.”
Oshawa General Manager/Coach Chris DePiero was delighted to welcome Jenner and his family into the Generals organization.
“Our scouts identified him early and determined he was an all-round, two-way centreman, a guy we’re going to be proud to wear that Generals uniform,” DePiero said. “Our values here are based around commitment, belief, trust and excellence and we believe he exemplifies that better than any player we saw.
“We feel he can bring it on the ice and encompass those four core values. He’s the right guy.”
Jenner was one of the top rated players available in this year’s draft, as the 6-foot-1, 190-pound centre is considered a skilled, highly competitive player with great offensive ability.
Jenner had 49 goals and had 54 assists for 103 points with the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs last season.
With their second round selection in the draft and 39th overall pick, the Generals selected Tyler Biggs of the Toronto Junior Canadiens. Biggs is the son of former Generals star Don Biggs, who played with the Generals from 1982 to 1985.
Biggs is a 6-foot-3, 205-pound right winger who can also score. He had 40 goals and 46 assists for 86 points in 72 games with the Junior Canadiens last season.
“Tyler arguably could have been a top 10 pick, but he’s committed to the U.S. Under-17 program and we knew that going in,” DePiero said. “He’s no stranger to the Generals organization with his father having played here and he can play the game, he’s a big power forward type of guy.”
The Generals then had two picks back-to-back in the third round, the 44th and 45th overall selections.
With the 44th pick the Generals took Colin Suellentrop, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound defenceman from the Detroit Compuware Under-16s. He had 20 points in 54 games last season.
Oshawa used the next pick to select defenceman Kyle Hope of Chatham-Kent Cyclones. Hope is 6-foot-2, 165-pounds and had 17 points in 27 games last season.
All four players are well over six feet, and bringing size onto the roster was a priority, according to DePiero.
“That’s the biggest need I wanted to address, both Mike Kelly (Chief Scout) and I, we wanted to get a little bigger in both the front end and the back end. We’ve addressed that. “We also want players who are committed to our values and we feel we have both needs addressed with the players we took
Petes select right winger in second round
The Peterborough Petes are proud to select Right winger Luke Hietkamp from the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs Minor Midgets in the second round of the 2009 OHL Priority Selection. Hietkamp is a big right winger who skate well. He was the Assistant Captain for the Chiefs this past season scoring 26 goals and 55 points in 50 games.
The 6'2" winger says "It feels great to be selected by the Petes. I have worked very hard the past 3 years. Peterborough is a good organization and I am excited to get started."
Worrad can't wait to make short drive to the JLC & Knights D
Jake Worrad’s hometown is pretty small. “There’s no stop light, not even a stop sign,” the 16-year-old Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs minor midget defenceman said. “It’s just three streets, a collection of houses put together and called Birr. If you need directions, you probably have to pull off at the nearest farm.” Worrad won’t need a map for his new OHL address. It’s the John Labatt Centre — just 15 minutes from home — after the London Knights made the talented Elgin blueliner a second-round pick following first-round gamble Scott Harrington of Kingston. “It’s a great honour to be drafted by the London Knights and I’m excited to get started,” the five-foot-10, 180-pounder said. “I can’t wait. It’s going to be a thrill to stay at home and play.” London traded up on Friday to the No. 35 spot in the second round of the draft by sending a second-round next year and a fourth-rounder in 2011 to the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors. They had Worrad, who also played four games with the St. Marys Lincolns, in mind. “He had a very good second half of the season,” London GM Mark Hunter said. It’s the highest the Knights have taken a local product since grabbing speedy former captain Robbie Drummond with the 28th overall pick in 2002. Worrad’s a winner. His Chiefs made it to the OHL Cup final. “We had a great group of guys with Elgin,” Worrad said. “We weren’t the most talented but the reason we were able to beat teams like the (Toronto) Junior Canadiens and the Junior Knights was because we worked hard and played as a team. We weren’t individuals.” Worrad was also pursued by the United States national development program. He possesses dual citizenship. “He had some options,” Hunter said. “My dad Brian lived in New York for a while,” Worrad added. “He’s an Islanders fan so that’s a problem right there.” The Islanders could pick Knights sniper John Tavares with the first selection in next month’s NHL draft.
The Barrie Colts have selected Ryan Wells 4th round 62th overall
Level: Min. Midget-ON
Team: Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs
Position: LD
Shoots: Left
Height: 5.11
Weight: 195
Birthdate: 01/01/1993
Selected: Barrie Colts's 4th round pick, 62th overall.
Petes take big d-man in fourth
The Peterborough Petes are proud to select Derek Mathers from the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs Minor Midgets. The 6'3" 210 pound blueliner was a teammate of Petes second round pick Luke Hietkamp.
"It is awesome to be drafted by the Petes. I have been waiting all morning watching the draft on the internet and can't explain how excited I was when I saw my name come up" says Mathers.
Mathers is a hard hitting big right defenceman who moves the puck well
Milner selected by London Knights
Greg Milner
Level: Min. Midget-ON Team: Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs
Position: LC Shoots:
Left Height: 5.10
Weight: 165
Birthdate: 02/24/1993
Selected: London Knights's 12th round pick, 239th overall.
Halloran selected by Erie Otters
Matt Halloran
Level: Min. Midget-ON
Team: Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs
Position: LD
Shoots: Left
Height: 5.10
Weight: 160
Birthdate: 09/11/1993
Selected: Erie Otters's 14th round pick, 270th overall
Speed selected by London Knights
Taylor Speed
Level: Min. Midget-ON
Team: Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs
Position: G
: Height: 5.09
Weight: 155
Birthdate: 05/02/1993
Selected: London Knights's 15th round pick, 286th overall.
2009 OHL Priority Selection Preview and Media Guide
The 2009 OHL Priority Selection takes place Saturday May 2, 2009. Stay tuned to www.ontariohockeyleague.com for the live draft show.
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2009 OHL Priority Selection
The 2009 OHL Priority Selection will take place live online on Saturday May 2, 2009 beginning at 9:00am.
The Sault Ste. Marie Greyounds have the first overall pick in the 2009 Priority Selection and will announce their pick on the afternoon of Friday May 1, 2009.
Be sure to watch the live draft show beginning at 9:00 am on Saturday May 2, 2009, complete with live selection announcements, player previews, team overviews, as well as live and phone interviews with both players and team personnel.
Click here to watch the 2009 OHL Priority Selection Preview Show
Watch host Terry Doyle speak with the OHL's Director of Central Scouting and Player Development Rob Kitamura as they recap the 2009 OHL Cup and take a look at some of the players that will be selected by OHL teams on Saturday.
The 2009 OHL Priority Selection Draft Order:
First Round:
1. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
2. Kingston Frontenacs
3. Kitchener Rangers
4. Oshawa Generals
5. Sudbury Wolves
6. Peterborough Petes
7. Niagara IceDogs
8. Barrie Colts
9. Owen Sound Attack
10. Erie Otters
11. Guelph Storm
12. Sarnia Sting
13. Plymouth Whalers
14. Saginaw Spirit
15. Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
16. Ottawa 67's
17. Brampton Battalion
18. Belleville Bulls
19. London Knights
20. Windsor Spitfires
The draft order is based on reverse order of the overall regular season standings beginning with non-playoff teams.
A BIG CHIEFS THANK YOU
WEBSITE MAGICIAN/SWEATER CAPTAIN!
Thanks also must go to Ben Prokes for his years of service as both sweater captain and in the past few years as web site developer and manager. The boys always looked and smelled good in their jerseys thanks to you, and your work with the website has been fantastic. You always kept it up to date and splashed it up with both sound and pictures. Thanks Ben!
THE WATERBOY!
You know him as Henry Roefs, but his real name is "THE WATERBOY". Thanks to Michael Roefs as well, between them they have lugged those bottles all over the province and into the United States!
PUCKMASTERS!
Thanks also to the "puckmasters", Bill and Taylor Speed. They were responsible for always getting game and warm up pucks to the rink. Taylor not only had to stop pucks but had to carry them around too. The life of a goaltender!
NATIONAL TREASURE!
And of course, the money lady. Hana Prokes has to live with Ben and be the treasurer for the team! She made sure all the bills were paid, sponsor receipts made out, checked to see the ledger was balanced and had to live Ben. Great job Hana, you deserve a lot of credit!
And to everyone who has performed a "job" in an effort to help the team, we say thanks to you too. Whether it be keeping stats, videotaping, or running to the grocery store for fruit, your efforts have not gone unnoticed
TIME IS ON OUR SIDE!
Thanks to the Worrad Family (and Linda), for being the managers of the clock, announcements, game sheets, and the music at all home games. You always handled the task with professionalism and we rarely heard people yelling, "STOP THE CLOCK!" which is a testament to a job well done
On behalf of the Elgin Middlesex Board,
On behalf of the Elgin Middlesex Board, Parents and Players I would like to congratulate you the Minor Midgets on an excellent OHL cup. A great accomplishment not only to get to the tournament but to play in the finals. We are all very proud of the team and all its players, coaches and staff. It was on the radio, TV and paper. Great coverage for your team and our organization. It was the talk in all the arena's and by everyone who know's hockey. Good luck to all as you continue on your journey with the U17 camp and OHL draft. Enjoy the ride. Kevin Crowley
WHAT A RIDE!
This team went from being one loss away from elimination at the hands of the Lambton Jr Sting in the opening round of the Alliance playoffs, to being one win away from winning the OHL Cup! I think the phrase "what a ride" sums it up. This team took us on a journey that none of us will soon forget and has formed friendships that will probably last a lifetime. The OHL Cup was a great success for this group. I think they will realise that winning a silver medal is a great accomplishment, and one the whole team and organisation will be proud of. To finish your season, and AAA career, in a tournament of this calibre with victories in every game but one is phenomenal. And, not to use excuses, to do it considering the various "conditions" that some of our players were playing with is even more remarkable and speaks volumes about the character and heart of the players that make up this team. These boys came into this tournament with a goal and a mission in mind and nothing was going to get in their way. To see their desire and effort at achieving this goal first hand was incredible. These guys had absolutely nothing left to give when the final buzzer sounded and should be commended on the class and character they showed right until the end. They represented the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs and the Alliance with pride and showed exactly what is required to play "Chiefs Hockey".
WITH THANKS!
It takes much hard work, time, and dedication to run a team such as this both on and off the ice. Matt Jenner and Mike McCauley filled those roles perfectly. Mike made sure all the "behind the scenes" tasks where taken care of so Matt could concentrate on the product he was putting on the ice. These two did a remarkable job in not only moulding the boys as hockey players but helping them turn into respectable young men who will never forget the experiences they had under Matt and Mikes' guidance.
Bob Gardner came on board this year as trainer. Bob always showed passion and concern when it came to looking after the boys. He took on the responsibility seriously and it was reflected in the care and support he always showed when called upon to help the players.
The parents of this team were nothing short of amazing. The commitment of the team was matched by that of the parents. Everyone was on board and pulling in the same direction in order for the kids to obtain the successes they did. From early morning practices, to late nights on the road, (and really late nights at tournaments), they always made sure everyone was where they had to be and ready to play.
The fundraisers! What a job! Thanks to the "Chicken Lady" as we liked to call her, Marriane Janicek. She once again took on the role of organising the chicken orders and was directly responsible for contributing a large sum of money towards the boys for meals, drinks etc. at tournaments this year. To Les and Joanne Drury and all the parents who helped out at the various functions that they allowed us to take part in. They too helped offset many of the costs for the boys while away on the road.
To our sponsors. We had many this year, both team and individual, and as always we are grateful for the support. You helped take some of the financial burden off the parents while at the same time allowing for certain "perks" that we otherwise might not have been able to obtain. Please see and support all of our sponsors by visiting http://www.elginmiddlesexchiefs.com/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=38
To our fans. You are the best. It didn't matter where we were playing, the time of day, the weather conditions, you were always there. Win or lose you always displayed a touch of class that is rarely seen these days. Some were "regulars" and were at every game, some only made it to the odd game or maybe just a tournament that was close to home for them. We seemed to gain new ones as the year went along and at the OHL Cup we had a huge following, some of who had never seen the boys play before and that was awesome as they helped and supported the team through their march through the tournament.
In closing, I want to say congratulations to everyone involved; players, coaches, parents, fans, sponsors. It has been a remarkable run, not only this year but up to 6 years for some of you. Best of luck to everyone as they move forward in hockey and in life. I'm sure our paths will cross often, looking forward to when they do! See you at the rink!
Toronto Marlboros Win 2009 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament
Toronto Marlboros captain and player of the game Michael Curtis scored the game-winning goal early in the second period to lead the Marlies to a 5-1 win over the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs in the championship game at the 2009 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament on Sunday evening at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga.
The Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs entered the tournament as ALLIANCE Hockey Champions and the third-ranked team in the tournament. They beat the Mississauga Senators 3-2 in double overtime in their quarter-final game on Saturday before beating the Quinte Red Devils 2-1 in semi-final action on Sunday. Boone Jenner led the Chiefs in tournament scoring with 11 points including six goals and five assists in seven games. He was second behind tournament leader Nick Cousins of the Quinte Red Devils who led the way with 13 points including five goals and eight assists in six games
INSIDE THE 2009 OHL CUP: SUNDAY EDITION
At early afternoon Sunday, 46 games are complete at the 2009 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament with one more outcome to be determined. Regardless of which team floods the ice in celebration following the final buzzer, either the Toronto Marlboros or the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs, the event has undoubtedly proved successful in bringing together the top 20 Minor Midget teams from across Ontario and the United States.
“Without question the week has lived up to all expectations” said the OHL’s Director of Central Scouting and Player Development Rob Kitamura. “There were great team and individual performances in every division with lots of close and exciting results” added Kitamura. In fact, it took until the final minutes of round-robin regulation time to determine the playoff round matchups.
Moving through the playoff round, the OHL Cup top-10 rankings held true with the top four ranked teams (Toronto Marlboros, York Simcoe Express, Elgin Middlesex Chiefs, Quinte Red Devils) all advancing to the semi-finals. “The four teams in the final all had great tournaments and definitely played the best hockey this week, but each of them faced their share of obstacles which just goes to show the depth of talent this tournament offers from top to bottom” added Kitamura.
Outside of the playoff round, players still walk away from this event better equipped for high performance hockey at the OHL level. “The competition here is excellent and is a great opportunity for our guys to face top notch players since the GTHL and this area have the strongest minor hockey leagues in North America” said TPH Thunder coach Uwe Krupp. Krupp is also the Head Coach of the German Men’s National Team. For the third year in a row Krupp has brought this Atlanta based team, which combines a base roster with some highly touted imported regional players, to the OHL Cup. “The players and parents are always excited to come, they really appreciate the opportunity” said Krupp. “It is important for players at this age to know and understand all of their options and that there are many doors available including the OHL and Canadian University hockey to pursue different careers.”
Many players, including defenceman Dougie Hamilton of the St. Catharines Falcons, walk away from the event better understanding the key components of player development and player education that are prioritized by the OHL. “I have grown up watching this tournament through my older brother (Freddie)” says Hamilton. Freddie plays with the OHL’s Niagara IceDogs as a rookie, drafted after competing at the 2008 OHL Cup. “You know you have to work hard and have fun with hockey, but education is also really important to me and my family so I want to keep following that. It takes lots of time management but the league makes it possible and it would be a dream to play in the OHL with my brother.”
Back on the ice, game 47 of the 2009 OHL Cup takes centre stage Sunday afternoon and both the Toronto Marlboros and Elgin Middlesex Chiefs will be hoping to walk away from the Hershey Centre with an OHL Cup Championship.
OHL Cup Playoffs: 4 Spots Clinched, 4 Spots Open March 21, 2009
Heading into Saturday and the final round-robin games there are still four playoff spots up for grabs, one in each of the four divisions.
The Toronto Marlies, Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs, Quinte Red Devils, and York Simcoe Express are all teams that have ensured they will advance to the quarter finals Saturday afternoon.
Meanwhile, nine other teams still have a shot at the four remaining spots. Teams still with playoff hopes include Rochester, the GNML Wolves, Burlington Eagles, Toronto Young Nats, Mississauga Senators, Mississauga Reps, TPH Thunder, Brantford 99'ers, and Toronto Jr. Canadiens.
Here are the various playoff scenarios that exist.
Division 1:
· The Toronto Marlies have clinched first place with 7 points.
· Rochester must win or tie to finish second, or will advance with a GNML Wolves loss.
· GNML Wolves can advance with a win and a Rochester loss.
Division 2:
· The Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs have clinched first place with 8 points.
· The winner of Burlington Eagles vs. Toronto Nationals advances, Young Nats advance if they tie.
Division 3:
· The Quinte Red Devils have clinched first place based on wins and head-to-head vs. their division.
· Mississauga Senators finish second with a win or a tie against TPH.
· If TPH wins there is a three way tie between Senators, Reps, and TPH
· Using the tie-break scenario (GF / GF+GA) in games against each other, Reps have a 0.60 figure which is impossible for the Senators to beat. Thus, Reps advance unless TPH wins by 5 or more.
Division 4:
· The winner of York Simcoe and Brantford finishes first in the pool.
· If York Simcoe loses they will still finish second and advance because they have three wins.
· Brantford must win or tie to advance otherwise they lose the head-to-head against Jr. Canadiens
Vaughan Kings 1 (1-3-0) vs. Elgin Middlesex Chiefs 6 (4-0-0)
Three goals in three minutes late in the first period set the tone and let the Chiefs cruise to the win and a perfect round-robin record. Boone Jenner opened the scoring with his fourth goal of the tournament, later adding two assists to give him eight points as the leading scorer after day three. Bryan McCauley and Ryan Wells each had two points for the Chiefs. The team stayed disciplined despite many second and third period penalties against the Kings who could not find a good rhythm all game. They netted one third period goal off the stick of forward Michael Vallescuro with Christian Elsborg and Ryan Sproul drawing assists.
Elgin Middlesex Chiefs Player of the Game - Ryan Wells (2 Goals)
Vaughan Kings Player of the Game - Michael Vallescuro (1 Goal)
Inside the 2009 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament March 20, 2009
Two days and 26 games are complete at the 2009 OHL Cup and the field of 20 teams still have many things in common. Although the competitiveness of the games and the races for playoff contention are quickly differentiating the pack, hockey players at this event still share many of the same goals, opinions, and perspectives when it comes to high performance hockey at this level and the next.
There is no question that the OHL Cup is circled on the calendars of all Minor Midget AAA teams when the season begins. “Throughout the year we talked about this tournament and its importance, winning here is just as important as winning our league playoffs” said Mississauga Senators forward Reid Jackman. “This tournament is great and has the highest caliber players and the games are extremely fast, guys are a lot quicker than most of our other games” said Elgin-Middlesex captain Boone Jenner.
For Jenner and his Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs, they were fortunate enough to enter the tournament through the front door as ALLIANCE Champions, but for teams like the Mississauga Senators, it is about finding the right motivation to take advantage of the unique opportunity that an invitation to the tournament presents. “It was disappointing to be out of the playoffs so quick” Jackman said. “We need to start over and play simple hockey and increase our pace as the games go on. Now we are here and want to show people that we belong” Jackman added.
Getting lots of exposure is another opportunity this tournament presents, in particular to some of the well-travelled team invites that now get a closer look at a potential future in the OHL. “We are thankful to be one of only two American teams in the tournament” says TPH Thunder forward Jordan Cosby. “When you think about the OHL you think about pro hockey, it is a great league, very fast paced, if I get drafted it will be a great opportunity” added Cosby.
The OHL Priority Selection is a realistic goal for so many players at this event and this concept enters the minds of many when they step onto the ice. “It is amazing to play in such a great tournament when you look into the stands and see a bunch of scouts” said Cosby. Although the thought of playing in front of scouts can be exciting, Jenner says “you can’t think too much about the draft and the scouts while you are on the ice. You need to think about the team, pass the puck as a team, and keep everybody focused on the team.”
The challenges of high performance hockey bring forward a demanding schedule and routines that most athletes can relate to. “Always stick to the regimen, chicken pasta salad and stay nutritious” says Carter Sandlak of the London Jr. Knights. Balancing many priorities is important for players that want to succeed at the next level. “School comes first, when I get home I do homework and after hockey I come home and do more homework.”
Yet two days and 26 games into the tournament, the most consistent thing players have in common is their desire to win. “In order to win at this tournament you can’t sit back, you need to compete each and every shift” says Jenner. Entering Friday at 3-0 Jenner, who is tied for the tournament lead with five points, and the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs are on the right track.
CHIEFS ROLLING AT OHL CUP!
The Elgin Middlesex Chiefs are 3-0 after day 2 of the OHL Cup in Missisauga.
3-1 over the Toronto Nationals
,The Toronto Young Nats missed an opportunity to jump ahead of the pack in the standings this evening looking for their second win of the day facing the Chiefs despite taking the early lead on a goal by Justin Nice. Elgin-Middlesex spoiled their chances with soid goaltending and a come-from-behind victory sparked by a last second goal by Boone Jenner to end the first period. The Chiefs' Jonathan Sims scored a shorthanded marker in the second and Bryan McCauley netted a power play insurance goal early in the third. The Nats battled hard and came close to scoring several times in a late third period power play rattling the puck off the iron.
Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs Player of the Game - Taylor Speed (Goaltender)
Toronto Young Nationals Player of the Game - Justin Nice (1 Goal)
3-0 versus the Burlington Eagles
The Chiefs grabbed the lead in the Division 2 standings improving to 2-0 with their win over the Eagles who now fall to 0-2 early on. The Chiefs found all of their scoring in the second period starting with forward Ryan Field with a shorthanded goal followed quickly by an unassisted tally from Boone Jenner, his second of the tournament. Luke Heitkamp capped off a two-point game when he scored midway through the second period. Michael Roefs earned the shutout between the pipes while on the other side Alex Murray was kept busy in goal for the Eagles and made some big saves.
Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs Player of the Game - Luke Heitkamp (1 Goal and 1 Assist)
Burlington Eagles Player of the Game - Andrew Bontempo
4-0 against the Ottawa Senators
Taylor Speed shut the door in net and the offence did the rest, leading the Chiefs to a 3-0 at the top of the tournament standings. Bryan McCauley scored the first goal and quickly assisted on Johnathan Sims' goal thirty seconds later in the first period. "It was great to pull off the win, it brings us lots of confidence and puts in great shape tomorrow where we don't necessarily need to win (to advance to the playoffs)" said McCauley. "But it's always fun to win, it's what we came here to do" added McCauley. Mitch Berzins and Boone Jenner each scored in the third.
Elgin Middlesex Chiefs Player of the Game - Bryan McCauley (1 Goal and 1 Assist)
Ottawa Senators Player of the Game - Anthony McVeigh
the Chiefs find themselves atop their division with one game remaining in their round robin portion of the tournament. They will play Vaughan tomorrow afternoon and will look to go undefeated with a victory over the Kings. This will put them through to a quarter final game Saturday. Please see the OHL Cup page found at www.ontariohockeyleague.com for scoring and scheduling updates. See you at the rink!
Chiefs with one goal left
Andrew Carnegie defines teamwork as the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.
The 2009 Minor Midget Elgin Middlesex Chiefs are certainly a team that embodies the attitudes, dedication and hard work that it takes to be included in the talk with the elite teams in their age group. Their ability to play as a true team is what has made this year so successful.
Are they a skilled group? Of course they are. With 10-12 players expected to be selected in the OHL priority draft in May, no one can question the team’s talent level. However sometimes there is more to a team then simple talent.
Team Captain and leader, Boone Jenner, has taken his game to the next level this season with 92 points in 48 games in alliance play. He has improved his draft stock to the point that he is now considered one of the best 1993 aged players in the loop. Hearing his name called early on May 2nd should not be a surprise to anyone who follows the OHL draft. The Captain talked about his teams goals this season. "Compete and work hard game in game out, we were looking for success in all our tournaments. Also a big goal was win the ohl cup and the Alliance Championship"
Coach Matt Jenner explains his team’s success this way, “A key to our success this year has been two things, competing hard, with discipline. Looking at our league play, the team proved throughout the season and in the playoffs that they were the best team and they were the best team because they had the best players, team chemistry and leadership.
” This team certainly is one that does not suffer from a lack of chemistry. ”It’s been a great experience and I have made some life-long friendships; a great bunch of guys who are allot of fun to be around.” Ryan Wells explains. Wells is a highly thought of defenseman who shows a good mix of physical play and offensive flair. When describing his long term goals Wells said, “I’d love to play hockey at highest level possible and continuing my education, while keeping in mind my end goal- playing in the NHL”
Defenseman Tom Prokes echoes his teammate’s statement, “It was a great experience for me to play with this group of players. I made a lot of great friends for life.” Prokes is another player who should hear his name called come May. He has set his goal to play for the Strathroy Rockets next season and has high expectations of himself, “I would like to do well at the highest level possible and would love to have an opportunity to play in either the ohl or in the US College System.
” Forward Bryan McCauley explains his team’s goals heading into the OHL Cup. “Our goal in the OHL Cup would be to win, but more importantly it would be to play the way we can and give it 100 percent every shift”. This hard work attitude, one in which McCauley brings to every shift, is the reason why this team is one to watch come the OHL Cup. McCauley hopes to eventually play in either the OHL or in the United States College system.
“This has been my best year of hockey so far. Every player is a team player and committed to winning” Says Goaltender Taylor Speed. Speed looks forward to challenging for the OHL Cup and winning a championship again next year, be it in Major Junior or Junior A.
Coach Jenner will continue to instill his hard work theme in his players, “Looking forward to the OHL Cup, a key for us will be to compete hard, with discipline, as a team, as we did all year in league play. I believe we are a better team than we were a month ago. I believe we can be a better team yet.”
A better Elgin Middlesex Chiefs team is one that would make life hard for anyone facing them. Considering what they have accomplished already, loosing only 3 times in regular season play that could be a sobering thought to their competition come the OHL Cup.
Sean Lafortune The Scout.ca
PARTICIPATING TEAMS AND SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED FOR 2009 OHL CUP SHOWCASE TOURNAMENT
Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League and Greater Toronto Hockey League today announced the 20 teams that will compete at the 2009 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament hosted by the GTHL. The tournament begins this Wednesday at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga.
The 20 teams representing the 2009 field include clubs from across Ontario and the United States. The champions and finalists from minor hockey associations in Ontario, including the GTHL, OMHA, ODHA, ALLIANCE, and an NOHA representative qualify for the tournament with additional teams receiving invitations by the Tournament Selection Committee.
Participating Teams (final top-10 ranking also in brackets):
Team League Qualifier Rank
Division 1
Toronto Marlboros GTHL GTHL Champions 1
St Catharines Falcons OMHA OMHA Invite 5
Rochester Alliance USA USA Invite NA
Eastern Ontario Wild OEMHL OEMHL Finalist NA
GNML Wolves NOHA NOHA Invite NA
Division 2
Vaughn Kings GTHL GTHL Invite NA
Burlington Eagles OMHA OMHA Invite 8
Elgin Middlesex Chiefs MHAO MHAO Champions 3
Ottawa Senators OEMHL OEMHL Champions NA
Toronto Young Nationals GTHL GTHL Invite 10
Division 3
Quinte Red Devils OMHA OMHA Champions 4
TPH Thunder USA USA Invite NA
Thunder Bay Kings HNO HNO Invite NA
Mississauga Reps GTHL GTHL Finalist 6
Mississauga Senators GTHL GTHL Invite 7
Division 4
London Jr Knights MHAO MHAO Finalist 9
York Simcoe Express OMHA OMHA Finalist 2
Barrie Colts OMHA OMHA Invite NA
Toronto Jr Canadiens GTHL GTHL Invite NA
Brantford 99ers MHAO MHAO Invite NA
“I am really excited for the start of the 2009 OHL Cup” commented Rob Kitamura, OHL Director of Central Scouting and Player Development. “I truly believe that this season’s edition could be the most competitive one to date. There are a large number of talented teams, many of which have each won Major Tournaments this season. I really believe that the team that comes together and performs the best this week will come out on top” continued Kitamura. “It should make for a great week of hockey.” The tournament schedule was also announced today with the first face-off set for Wednesday March 18, 2009, at 1:15 pm between the York Simcoe Express and the Toronto Jr. Canadiens. Round-robin play continues Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning. The playoff round commences Saturday afternoon, March 21, 2009, at 5:00 pm with Quarter-Final games. The Semi-Finals are slated for Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 9:00 am and 11:00 am with the Championship Final set for 5:00 pm. All games will take place at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario. Select tournament games will be broadcast on Rogers Television. Last March, the Toronto Jr. Canadiens defeated the Toronto Marlies 5-2 in the championship game led by tournament MVP and first overall pick in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection, John McFarland (Sudbury Wolves). Many other OHL rookies including Tyler Seguin (Plymouth Whalers), Jeff Skinner (Kitchener Rangers), Tyler Toffoli (Ottawa 67’s), Ryan Spooner (Peterborough Petes), and Cody McNaughton (Guelph Storm) were all first round selections at the 2008 OHL Priority Selection after competing at the 2008 OHL Cup. John Tavares of the London Knights, Taylor Hall of the Windsor Spitfires, Matt Duchene of the Brampton Battalion, Ryan Ellis of the Windsor Spitfires, and P.K Subban of the Belleville Bulls are among current OHL Cup graduates playing as stars in the OHL. For more information including tournament news, scores, standings, and statistics please visit http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/ohl-cup-news-s10858 Full Tournament Schedule:
Wednesday March 18, 2009 All Round Robin Games
Rink Visitors Home Time
2 York Simcoe Express Toronto Jr Canadiens 1:15 pm
1 Toronto Marlboros St. Catharines Falcons 1:45 pm
2 Toronto Young Nationals Ottawa Senators 3:00 pm
1 Thunder Bay Kings Mississauga Senators 3:30 pm
2 Burlington Eagles Vaughn Kings 4:45 pm
1 Mississauga Reps Quinte Red Devils 5:15 pm
2 London Jr Knights Barrie Colts 6:30 pm
1 Jr. Canadiens Brantford 99ers 7:00 pm
2 GNML Wolves Toronto Marlboros 8:15 pm
1 Elgin Middlesex Chiefs Toronto Young Nationals 8:45 pm
Thursday March 19, 2009
All Round Robin Games Rink Visitors Home Time
2 Rochester Alliance Eastern Ontario Wild 8:30 am
1 TPH Thunder Mississauga Reps 9:00 am
2 Ottawa Senators Vaughn Kings 10:15 am
1 GNML Wolves St. Catharines Falcons 10:45 am
2 Mississauga Senators Quinte Red Devils 12:00 pm
1 Burlington Eagles Elgin Middlesex Chiefs 12:30 pm
2 London Jr Knights York Simcoe Express 1:45 pm
1 Barrie Colts Brantford 99ers 2:15 pm
2 TPH Thunder Thunder Bay Kings 3:30 pm
1 Toronto Marlboros Rochester Alliance 4:00 pm
2 St. Catharines Falcons Eastern Ontario Wild 5:15 pm
1 Vaughn Kings Toronto Young Nationals 5:45 pm
2 Elgin Middlesex Chiefs Ottawa Senators 7:00 pm
1 Mississauga Reps Mississauga Senators 7:30 pm
2 Brantford 99ers London Jr Knights 8:45 pm
1 Barrie Colts Toronto Jr. Canadiens 9:15 pm
Friday March 20, 2009 All Round Robin Games
Rink Visitors Home Time
1 Rochester Alliance GNML Wolves 9:00 am
2 Thunder Bay Kings Mississauga Reps 9:30 am
1 Quinte Red Devils TPH Thunder 10:45 am
2 Eastern Ontario Wild Toronto Marlboros 11:15 am
1 Ottawa Senators Burlington Eagles 12:30 pm
2 York Simcoe Express Barrie Colts 1:00 pm
1 Toronto Jr Canadiens London Jr Knights 2:15 pm
2 Vaughn Kings Elgin Middlesex Chiefs 2:45 pm
Saturday March 21, 2009 Round Robin & Quarter Final Games
Rink Visitors Home Time
2 Mississauga Senators TPH Thunder 9:30 am
1 Quinte Red Devils Thunder Bay Kings 10:00 am
2 Toronto Young Nationals Burlington Eagles 11:15 am
1 Brantford 99ers York Simcoe Express 11:45 am
2 St. Catharines Falcons Rochester Alliance 1:00 pm
1 Eastern Ontario Wild GNML Wolves 1:30 pm
2 1st Place Div 3 2nd Place Div 2 5:00 pm 1
1st Place Div 2 2nd Place Div 3 5:30 pm 2
1st Palce Div 4 2nd Place Div 1 7:00 pm 1
1st Place Div 1 2nd Place Div 4 7:30 pm
Sunday March 22, 2009 Semi-Finals and Final
Rink Visitor Home Time
1 Winner Quarter Final 1 Winner Quarter Final 2 9:00 am
1 Winner Quarter Final 3 Winner Quarter Final 4 11:00 am
1 Championship Game 5:00 pm
Minor Midget Stars Ready for OHL Cup Showcase Tournament
Written by Rob Andrusevich, OHL Prospects News Edition Contributor
The tension started long before the first official faceoff for the 2009 OHL Cup showcase tournament.
The field of teams competing everyone from the teams to the scouts making the final decision were on edge.
“This year could be the most wide-open OHL Cup we’ve ever had,” said Rob Kitamura, the OHL’s Director of Central Scouting and Player Development. “We’ve gone down to the wire picking the 20 teams this year. This year there isn’t as much high end talent, but more teams have a lot of depth. There isn’t a powerhouse team this year.”
The tournament gives automatic entry to about half the teams, the finalists from five Ontario leagues. Other clubs are selected at large based on the analysis of scouts. The top candidates are reflected in the top 10 minor midget rankings announced weekly by the OHL.
Featuring Ontario’s best minor midget teams and OHL draft eligible players, and the top teams from the U.S., the tournament gives OHL scouts one final chance to review and evaluate the top players in head-to-head competition prior to the league’s Priority Selection in May.
Teams boast great depth this year, and Kitamura expects many of the participants to be selected on draft day. The first name to be announced could be that of Daniel Catenacci, a forward with the York Simcoe Express. “He’s a highly competitive, offensively dynamic player,” said Kitamura. “He could follow in the lines of Steven Stamkos, Taylor Hall or John McFarland.” Catenacci entertains as he leads a club that is built around the attack and is always moving the puck. Supporting the attack is puck-moving rearguard Ryan Murphy, who produces about as much offense as some of the top-rated forwards in this draft, and draws comparisons to Windsor Spitfire Ryan Ellis. York Simcoe was the bronze medalist at the 2008 Ontario bantam championships last year, with the Toronto Marlies winning gold and Elgin-Middlesex the silver.
“From top to bottom the Marlies are a great team,” Kitamura said of the club that led the top-10 rankings for much of the season. “They have great team play, a lot of skill, are well coached (by Ken Strong), and they haven’t had many roster changes over the years.” The Marlies are led by two gifted forwards, Ryan Strome who is a talented playmaker and Lucas Lessio, and strong skilled winger. Both elevate the play of their mates around them.
Elgin Middlesex has great team size, balance and chemistry according to Kitamura. They rely heavily on team play to excel and have a strong defensive corps. A player to watch is Boone Jenner, a highly skilled forward with a great shot. He’s the younger brother of Plymouth Whaler Leo Jenner. A tough competitor, Boone gets room to move courtesy linemate Luke Heightcamp, who throws his weight around in between taking shots.
Atlanta’s TPH Thunder return for another run at the tournament, and the highly rated Detroit Compuware led by gritty forward Stefan Noesen could also join the field. Other names to watch include: Carter Sandlak, a tough but gifted forward and his London Junior Knights coached by his dad, former NHLer Jim, a London Knight grad; and, the smooth puck-moving Ben Fanelli, a great playmaker who quarterbacks the Mississauga Senator powerplay.
BACK TO BACK BABY!
The Elgin Middlesex Chiefs 93 team has done it again! For the second year in a row they have captured an Alliance AAA Championship. Following last years triumph at the Bantam level, the boys completed the double by once again defeating the London Jr Knights in the final, this time 8 points to 4 in this years Minor Midget Championship series. This series win has given them a berth in the prestigious OHL CUP next week in Mississauga. The 2009 OHL Showcase for the OHL Cup will be played at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, from March 18, 2009 through March 22, 2009. The tournament will include 20 participating teams from across Ontario and the United States. The champions and finalists from minor hockey associations in Ontario, including the GTHL, OMHA, ODMHA, ALLIANCE, and an NOHA representative will participate in the tournament with additional teams identified by the Tournament Selection Committee. Last March, the Toronto Jr. Canadiens defeated the Toronto Marlies 3-2 in the championship game. First overall pick in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection John McFarland (Sudbury Wolves) was named Tournament MVP playing for the Jr. Canadiens. Tyler Toffoli (Ottawa 67’s) of the Jr. Canadiens was named MVP of the championship final. JP Anderson (Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors) played goal for the Marlies squad. Other first round draft picks in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection that competed in the OHL Showcase included Steven Shipley (Owen Sound Attack) who competed with the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs, and Stephen Silas (Belleville Bulls) who played for the Halton Hurricanes.
Several current OHL players are graduates of the OHL Cup, including John Tavares of the Oshawa Generals, Taylor Hall of the Windsor Spitfires, Matt Duchene of the Brampton Battalion, Ryan Ellis of the Windsor Spitfires, and Jared Staal of the Sudbury Wolves.
We would like to congratulate the boys on an excellent season and wish them continued success as they pursue the OHL CUP. We would also like to thank our tremendous fans, the best in the league, and hope they follow us as we head into the final leg of our journey. Great job boys, best of luck in Mississauga! See you all at the rink!
COMEBACK FALLS JUST SHORT!
After trailing 5-1 in the third period to the London Jr Knights in game 5 of their 8 point series, the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs were able to fight back to tie the score at 5 and send the game to overtime, which in the end solved nothing, and the game ended 5-5 with each team receiving a point. The series now stands at 7 points to 3 in favor of the Chiefs. The Chiefs will look to continue their play from the third period of yesterdays game, and will attempt to close out this series with the Knights. They can accomplish this by defeating or tying London in game six, which goes tonight at Western Fair. Game time is 8:00. See you at the rink
SEA OF WHITE!
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING REQUEST AS SUBMITTED BY ONE OF OUR DEDICATED PARENTS!
Hi everyone,
I was thinking of wearing the black Chiefs jersey Friday night at the
London game (thinking we were on the big rink), but considering the small
cold rink we will be at (wearing our parkas), I am now thinking a sea of
white Chiefs Jersey colors would be nice on Sunday at Gemini.
If possible, wear white and orange for Sunday in the stands when we bring
home the Alliance championship...
Go Chiefs GO!!
CHIEFS SHUT DOWN KNIGHTS!
The Chiefs played an almost carbon copy of game two in this series, when they shut out the Jr Knights 5-0, last night in London once again shutting out the Knights 4-0. They benefited from an outstanding performance in goal combined with a team commitment to defence that saw London receive very few good scoring chances, and when they did, strong goaltending closed the door. They will look to close out the series tomorrow in Strathroy as they host the Knights in game five of the series. Game time at Gemini is 1:30. Thanks to all our fans for their support and we look forward to seeing you there tomorrow as the boys attempt to close out the series and once again celebrate an Alliance Championship. See you at the rink!
Please see "Sea of White" write up regarding request for Sundays game
KNIGHTS TAKE GAME THREE!
The London Jr Knights defeated the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs 4-3 in Aylmer on Wednesday night, placing their best of seven series at 2 games to 1 in favour of the Chiefs. A hard fought game right to the final buzzer saw London score on the power play with 1 minute left in the third to escape with the win. Game 4 goes Friday night in London, Western Fair Porkys' pad, at 8:30. The Chiefs will look to get back to the win column with the type of performance they showed in game 2 when they beat the Knights 5-0. See you at the rink!
TEAM EFFORT SINKS KNIGHTS!
The Elgin Middlesex Chiefs are up 2-0 in their best of seven Alliance Pavilion AAA Final series with London after defeating the Jr Knights 5-0 in London on Monday night. With 3 goals from a power play that was firing on all cylinders, and stifling team defense combined with a strong performance in goal, the Chiefs put together a solid game from start to finish. Every player contributed in their own special way and together as a unit they put forth possibly one of their best efforts of the year. But this is a seven game series and that was only game two. The boys will look to build off that effort as they must now prepare for game three, which will see them host London in Aylmer on Wednesday night at 8:00. A large crowd was on hand last night in London so tell your friends, neighbors and relatives so that we can attempt to match or exceed that turnout in our rink on Wednesday night. Thanks again to all our loyal followers and our new fans we have picked up along the way. As always, we appreciate your support. See you at the rink!
CHIEFS TAKE OPENER!
Game one of Pavilion AAA Minor Midget final went to the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs as they defeated the London Jr Knights 1-0 in the opening game of their best of seven series. An intense battle between these two rivals saw both goaltenders put in stellar performances. A tight checking, hard hitting affair saw a few penalties to both sides but overall the referee let the two teams play and the fans were rewarded with a fast paced game that was very entertaining to watch. However, that is only one game and it is now history and the focus must shift to game two which will take place Monday in London. Game time at Western Fair is 8:00. Thanks for the support last night as a good crowd was on hand and we look forward to seeing you in London Monday night. See you at the rink!
CHIEFS MOVIN' ON!
What a difference a few weeks makes. From being down 2 games to 1 versus the Sting in their quarter final series and fighting for their playoff lives, with game 4 back in Sarnia, to finishing off the Kitchener Jr Rangers in 4 games and advancing to the Alliance Pavilion AAA finals versus either London or Brantford. It is said that every good team must endure some adversity on their way to greater things and the series with the Sting may have been just that. Rebounding to defeat the Sting in dominating fashion then putting away a stingy Rangers team has got the boys to the position they have worked for all season, a shot at another Alliance Championship. Whether it be the Knights or the 99ers the boys will be ready, willing, and able to defeat either one of these rivals. We will keep you posted of any upcoming games as soon as that info is available. Thanks for all the support and hang on, its going to be an exciting ride ahead. See you at the rink!
CHIEFS ONE WIN AWAY!
The Elgin Middlesex Chiefs are one win away from a berth in the Alliance Pavilion AAA finals. The Chiefs will need to beat the Kitchener Jr Rangers Friday night in Kitchener to finish the series with the Jr Rangers. They are in this position because of a 6-3 win Tuesday night in Aylmer that sees the boys up 5 points to 1 in this six point series. Game time at Activa Friday night is 8:30. Hope to see you there Friday as we attempt to move one step closer to a shot at playing for yet another Alliance Championship. See you at the rink!
CHIEFS STORM BACK!
After an uncharacteristic performance in Kitchener Saturday evening which resulted in a 2-2 tie, the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs bounced back Sunday in Strathroy with a convincing 6-1 victory over the Kitchener Jr Rangers. An all around improved performance Sunday has allowed them to take a 3 points to 1 lead over the Jr Rangers with game 3 scheduled for 8:00 in Aylmer on Tuesday night. Game 4 is Friday in Kitchener at 8:30, Activa rink. Hope to see you at the rink Tuesday in Aylmer!
COMEBACK COMPLETED!
It is said that good teams find a way to battle through adversity on their way to bigger and better things. Well, the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs Minor Midgets did just that last night in Aylmer with a convincing 10-0 thrashing of the Lambton Jr Sting. This win, after being down 2 games to 1 in the series, allowed the Chiefs to eliminate the Sting 3 games to 2 and move on to the semi-final round where they will face the Kitchener Jr Rangers. The Chiefs used a high powered offense combined with a stingy defensive game to completely dominate both ends of the rink. With a first period lead of 3-0 and 7-0 after two, the outcome of the game was never in doubt. The boys did an excellent job in the third period of keeping their composure as Lambton had quit playing hockey long before then and were simply headhunting at every opportunity. The boys showed class in how they handled the entire situation, but never backed down from any of the challenges. However, the Sting series is now in the past and they must now prepare for the Rangers who are coming off a sweep of the Huron Perth Lakers. We will post the schedule here as soon as it is released. Thanks again for all the support throughout this series and the season for that matter, a lot of "new" faces were seen at the arena last night. See you at the rink!
CHIEFS FORCE GAME FIVE!
Here we go folks, the ultimate game in a series, game seven. Well in this case it is game five. Oh yeah, and a tie would see them play a game six since it is actually a six point series. But you get the idea, this is a very big game! Tuesday night will see the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs take on the Lambton Jr Sting in what will most likely be the deciding game of their best of five quarter final series. The Chiefs forced a game five with their 4-1 victory Sunday in Sarnia and will see them host the Sting in Aylmer this Tuesday at 8:00 pm. The Chiefs were able to put a lot of pressure on the Sting in their own end and were rewarded with four "blue collar" type goals. . The boys played solid team defence giving up very few good scoring chances against them and once again received solid goaltending throughout the game. They will be looking to play the same type of game on Tuesday as they attempt to finish off the pesky Sting. Thanks to all who made the trip to Sarnia on Sunday, your support is appreciated and we hope to see you on Tuesday. See you at the rink!
BREAK OUT THE CLICHÉS!
"WE JUST HAVE TO TAKE IT ONE GAME AT A TIME", "OUR BACKS ARE AGAINST THE WALL", "THE PRESSURE IS ALL ON THEM NOW" You have heard them all before but the reality is the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs minor midgets must win game 4 in Sarnia Sunday evening to avoid an early exit from the 2009 Alliance Pavilion AAA playdowns. A 1-0 loss in Sarnia on Thursday has put the boys in their present situation. A hard fought game that possessed stellar goaltending at both ends of the rink saw both teams stymied time and time again until Lambton was able to bulge the twine about half way through the third period. The Chiefs fought hard for the equaliser, but even with the goalie pulled for a sixth attacker they were not able to break through and tie the game up. They must now win two in row in order to win this series, something that they were able to do numerous times throughout the season so it is an accomplishment that is well within their grasp. Game four is at the SSEC 1, Sunday evening at 5:00. Game five is Tuesday night in Aylmer at 8:00. Hope to see you all in Sarnia on Sunday night as we will be looking for as much support as possible. See you at the rink!
CHIEFS STUNG BY LAMBTON!
The Elgin Middlesex Chiefs minor midgets dropped a 2-1 decision to the Lambton Jr Sting Wednesday night in Aylmer. The loss evens the best of five series at one game apiece with game three going tonight in Sarnia at 7:30. The boys had a less than stellar performance in the first two periods and found themselves down 2-0 heading to the third. Their effort in the third was greatly improved and they were able to pull within a goal, however they weren't able to pot the equalizer and now must play the next two games in the series on the road. Lets hope the team that showed up in the third period is there from the outset tonight and the boys can once again gain the upper hand in the series. See you at the rink!
CHIEFS STING LAMBTON!
The Elgin Middlesex Chiefs Minor Midgets opened up their playoff series with Lambton Sunday afternoon in Strathroy with 4-1 decision over the Sting. Strong defensive play combined with a solid performance between the pipes enabled the Chiefs to limit good scoring opportunities against, while the offence clicked on the power play on more than one occasion. The boys looked a little rusty due to their layoff as a result of their first round bye, however they were able to chip off the rust and put forth the type of effort required in order to secure the victory. Game two in the series has not yet been finalised. Time and location will be posted here as soon as dates are set
THE QUEST BEGINS!
The Elgin Middlesex Chiefs Minor Midget team begin their journey towards a second straight Alliance Championship when they will host the Lambton Jr. Sting in game one of their best of five series Sunday in Strathroy. Game time at Gemini is 3:00 pm. Other game times and locations will be posted here as soon as they are available. See you at the rink!
CHICKEN UPDATE!
Thanks to everyone who either sold or purchased chicken through the last fundraiser. A total of $325 was made and will once again be used to offset some of the cost for the "team" as they begin their playoff run. And special thanks as always to Marianne Janicek for her hard work and diligence in running this fundraiser once again!
REGULAR SEASON OVER!
With victories Thursday in Hamilton and Sunday at home versus Sun County, the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs Minor Midget team completed their regular season with a 27-3-2 record and secured first place overall in the Alliance Pavilion AAA standings. Now theirs and everyone else's records will read 0-0-0 as playoffs begin, with 10 wins standing between them and the Alliance Championship and a berth in the OHL Cup Minor Midget Showcase Tournament. The team has a bye in the first round and do not know who their opponent will be in round two. In the meantime they will be getting ready for whoever their opponent may be as they will practice three times this week as they stay sharp and focused in preparation for their first playoff series of the year. Thanks to all who supported the team throughout the year thus far and we look forward to seeing you at the rink as the boys begin their quest for a second straight Alliance championship!
REGULAR SEASON COMING TO AN END!
With two games remaining in their regular season the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs Minor Midget team find themselves on top of the Alliance Pavilion West Division standings. This had assured them a first place finish and with that a bye in the opening round of the Alliance Playoffs. Also, with their 4-1 victory Monday on the road over the east Division leading Brantford 99ers they have secured home ice advantage throughout their playoff run. The team is to be congratulated on their achievements thus far, however, the real work will soon start as they begin their journey towards a second straight Alliance Championship. Their ultimate goal will be to enter the prestigious OHL Cup Minor Midget Showcase Tournament as the "Champions" representative from the Alliance. The OHL Cup will be held March 18-22 at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga. A lot of hard work and sacrifice will be required in order to attain these goals and this team has shown they are capable of such a commitment. They must first attempt to finish the regular season on a winning note as they head to Hamilton Thursday evening for a game with the Reps. Game time at Chedoke is 8:00. This will be followed with their regular season finale versus Sun County. Game time at Strathroy Gemini on Sunday against the Panthers is 11:30 am. See you at the rink!
CANADA DEFEATS SWEDEN TO WIN FIFTH STRAIGHT WJHC GOLD
Canada captured its fifth straight World Junior Hockey Championship gold with a 5-1 victory over Team Sweden in front of a record crowd on Monday night.
Canadian netminder Dustin Tokarski saved his best performance of the championship for the final, turning aside 39 shots in the win. While he was shaky at times during the tournament, the native of Watson, SK was sharp against Sweden.
Tokarski's play coupled with steady pressure from Canada on Sweden's goaltender, Jacob Markstrom, were the difference. Markstrom looked rattled during the game and there were several run-ins with Canadian players.
Head coach Pat Quinn's decision to go with Tokarski in the final was met with some skepticism following rough starts against the United States and then Russia in the semifinal game.
"I knew I had to come out better tonight and I think I did that," Tokarski told TSN after making the game.
"Pat Quinn was smart. Dustin Tokarski's pedigree is phenomenal," said TSN's Pierre McGuire. "You think about being the Memorial Cup MVP and when he needed to be at his best, he was in the gold medal game."
Debates over Canada's starting goaltender are nothing new.
"Canada went through this last year too," explained McGuire. "Craig Hartsburg had to make a decision in the Czech Republic, go with Steve Bernier or go with Steve Mason. He ended up going with Mason. He picked right and Pat Quinn picked right tonight."
Following the win, Tokarski was asked about his knack of coming up big in high-pressure games.
"It's all about battling, people can put you down and say you're not good enough but if you believe in yourself you can do anything," said the 2008 Memorial Cup MVP.
The attendance for the game was announced at 20,380, a single game record for the WJHC and the five straight gold medals equals a Canadian record for the tournament (1993-97).
"There's nothing like this," John Tavares told TSN before the medal presentation. "There's nothing like it at all. Listen to these fans. That's five, Canada."
Tavares was named most valuable player and top forward for the tournament and made a strong case to be the top pick in the 2009 NHL Entry draft with his performance in Ottawa.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper attended the game and offered praise Team Canada.
"Throughout the tournament, Canadian players not only produced world-class hockey on the ice, they also represented our country with tremendous dignity and pride off the ice," said the Prime Minister in a statement. "I want to commend all of the players, coaches, volunteers, families and staff who contributed to this successful tournament."
Canada will go looking for a record setting sixth straight gold in the 2010 tournament to be held in Saskatoon and Regina.
The Canadians had a scare in the semifinal, narrowly defeating bronze medalist Russia in 6-5 in a shootout, but went undefeated in the tournament. Canada has won 29 of their last 30 games at the World Junior Championship. Their last loss came against Sweden in the Preliminary Round of the 2008 tournament.
"It feels unbelievable," P.K. Subban said. "The first thing I want to do is thank God. I mean we've been blessed since Day 1."
The action started very early in the first period. Team Sweden's Mikael Backlund took a penalty for roughing and on the ensuing power-play Subban beat Markstrom to give Canada the early advantage after only 38 seconds. Subban took several cracks at the puck during a scrum in front of the Sweden net before putting it past Markstrom. Jordan Eberle and Cody Hodgson drew the assists.
Subban ended the tournament with three goals and six assists and TSN's Bob McKenzie praised the defenceman's contributions to Canada.
"He's got a dynamic presence on offence and in this tournament he really started to buckle down and play some solid defence," explained McKenzie.
Canada scored what would be the game-winner in the second. Angelo Esposito came up with a slick move to get out of the corner, before flipping the puck over Markstrom to put Canada up 2-0. Chris DiDomenico and Tavares had the assists.
Scoring a goal and helping to capture gold was especially sweet for Esposito, who had been cut on three separate occasions at Team Canada's evaluation camp. He joined Dan Cleary as the only players to be cut three times before last year's tournament.
"I've been waiting for this all my life, since I was a little kid, watching the World Juniors," Esposito told TSN following the game. "Being here tonight in front of this crowd in Ottawa it was unbelievable to finally get this gold medal."
Esposito's goal came minutes after he made slight contact with Markstrom while going for the puck in Sweden's zone. The netminder went down and Victor Hedman grabbed Esposito in a headlock. No penalties were called.
Tempers began to flare again later in the period. Stefan Della Rovere collided with Markstrom while the goalie was skating to his bench to give Sweden an extra attacker. Following the scrum after the hit, Della Rovere and Patrice Cormier were assessed interference penalties and Markstrom was called for roughing. The Cormier penalty occurred prior to the contact between Della Rovere and Markstrom.
The penalties continued for Canada as Keith Aulie was given one for a cross-check moments later and just before the end of the Sweden power-play, Canada was hit with another penalty as Subban was sent off for hooking.
Tokarski and the Canadian penalty killers were up the challenge.
Over the course of the game, Canada's penalty killing units kept Team Sweden's power-play in check on every chance with the man-advantage.
TSN's McGuire explained it was Canada's communication that made them so effective while short-handed.
"That was the difference-maker for Canada here in the gold medal game because Tokarski communicated with the defence. They did a tremendous job between defence and forward and their rotation was absolutely awesome," said McGuire.
The two goaltenders, Tokarski and Markstrom, had been a study in contrasts through the tournament. Tokarski had his struggles while Markstrom shined but in the final the roles became reversed. Markstrom jawed repeatedly with Canadian forwards during the game. He made 26 saves.
Canada's third goal came when Cody Hodgson snapped a shot past Markstrom on the power-play early in the final period. The assist went to Ryan Ellis.
Joakim Andersson finally found a way past Tokarski to make the score 3-1 and give Sweden some hope but that was as close as the score would get.
Empty net goals from Eberle and Hodgson in the final two minutes put the game out of reach.
Hodgson ended the tournament with the scoring lead at 16 points. Canada had the top three scores in Hodgson, Tavares (15 points) and Eberle (13).
CHIEFS GAIN 3 OF 4 ON WEEKEND! 04/01/09
The Elgin Middlesex Chiefs were able to secure 3 of 4 points this past weekend with a tie in Windsor on Friday night and a 4-1 win on home ice in Strathroy Sunday afternoon versus the Huron Perth Lakers. The boys will attempt to keep this unbeaten streak alive when they travel to London for a meeting with the Knights on Monday night. Game time at Western Fair is 8:00 pm. We would love to see you at the rink, however,................................
GO CANADA GO!
TOP FOUR FINISH! 02/01/09
The Elgin Middlesex Chiefs Minor Midget hockey club secured a top four finish in the prestigious Toronto Marlies Holiday Classic hockey tournament over the Christmas holidays. A perfect round robin saw the team post victories over the Toronto Titans 5-0, Ajax Pickering Raiders 2-1, Welland Tigers 5-3, and the A/C Avalanche out of Alberta 5-0. This secured top spot in their division and placed them third in their conference due to goal differential heading into the playoff round. Their conference quarter final saw them hook up with the sixth seeded Burlington Eagles. The boys had not faced this opponent since the semi-finals of last years International Silver Stick Finals in Port Huron where they were victorious over the Eagles 6-3 en route to their first ever Silver Stick championship. But that was then and this was now and Burlington was a very formidable foe who would give the boys all they could handle and more. The team got off to a slow start and quickly found themselves in a 2-0 hole that for a time didn't look like they would recover from. They managed to climb back into the game with two goals before the break at the end of the second period and were able to head to the dressing room all even with the opportunity of turning things around in the third, as this team has been known to do. And they didn't disappoint, scoring once in the third and tightening up on the defensive end in order to secure a 3-2 win.
Next up was a Conference semi-final with Alliance East Division leaders and familiar rivals, the Brantford 99ers. This proved to be a hard hitting affair with a very quick pace and looked early that it might be a high scoring game. Things settled down, however, and the Chiefs were able to break the game open in the third period and come away with a 5-2 win that would set up a Conference final with the host Toronto Marlboros.
If the boys were to play for the championship of the tourney the were going to need their best effort in this Conference final with the Marlies. The Chiefs opened the scoring in the first, something that was important in their game plan with the Marlies. The Marlies tied the game and were really putting the pressure on in an attempt to get the go-ahead goal. The Chiefs played strong defensively in their own end and some spectacular goaltending kept the score knotted at one. The Marlies were able to break through on the power play and take a 2-1 lead. The Chiefs kept the Marlies off the score board while they attempted to mount an attack of their own that would see them even the score. With a power play in the last two minutes of the third the Chiefs pulled the goalie in an attempt to gain the equaliser. To coin an old phrase they "threw everything but the kitchen sink" at the Marlies in that last two minutes and honestly no one is sure how the puck never found its way to the back of the net. Numerous scrambles saw the puck spend most of the time in or around the Marlies crease but it was to no avail and the Marlies came away with a hard fought 2-1 win.
We would like to congratulate the team on a very hard fought tournament. They were able to finish in the top four of sixty-four teams and lost in the Conference final to to the eventual Tournament Champions, the Toronto Marlboros. From what we saw and heard it was also the toughest game of the tournament for the Marlies so there is some consolation in that. The team also finished with a 3.71 goals for average and an impressive 1.42 goals against average in seven games at the tournament. Good job guys, keep up the hard work and you are sure to be rewarded!
Thanks to all of our devoted fans, old and new, who made the journey from various parts of the province. We appreciate your support and hope to see you all at the rink!
Happy Holidays! GO CHIEFS GO!
Elgin Middlesex Chiefs Minor Midget AAA wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
This week in Minor Midget Chiefs Hockey week of Dec 22nd – 31st
PRACTICE TUES DEC 23RD 6:30 – 8PM ST THOMAS
TORONTO MARLIES TOURNAMENT
HOME SAT DEC 27TH 5:25PM CANLAN ETOBICOKE (TO TITANS)
AWAY SUN DEC 28TH 8:15AM WESTWOOD (AJAX PICKERING)
AWAY SUN DEC 28TH 2:20PM CANLAN ETOBICOKE (WELLAND)
HOME MON DEC 29TH 8:15AM CANLAN YORK (A/C AVALANCHE)
NOTES
- Game with Sun County will be rescheduled. It may be during the week but that is the trade off I guess. Will let you know as soon as I hear.
- I have a practice schedule for the first week of Jan 09 but I am trying to change 3 practices so I will hold off for a bit don’t want any confusion. Games can be found on Point Streak.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE !!!!!!
GO CHIEFS GO !!!!!
Mike McCauley
Davis & McCauley Fuels Ltd.
519-453-6960 fax: 519-659-3612
[email protected]
CHIEFS ATTACK OWEN SOUND 22.12.08
The Elgin Middlesex Chiefs Minor Midget team experienced a once in a lifetime oppurtunity this past Wednesday when they were invited, on behalf of the OHL, to visit the City of Owen Sound and their OHL representative, The Owen Sound Attack. The day would include transportation by luxury coach to and from Owen Sound, a tour of the Harry Lumely Bayshore Community Centre including the dressing room of the Attack, a practice at the Bayshore with coaches from the Attack, dinner at a fine downtown establishment and tickets to see the Attack take on the Plymouth Whalers. Upon arriving at the Bayshore the team was greeted by Dale DeGray, the general manager of the Attack, who gave the boys a brief history lesson on the team, the city, the arena, and a bit of background information about himself. Dale also answered many questions that were thrown at him on a range of topics that included school, homework, billeting, fitness, and transporting the kids to and from school. He was very knowledgeable and honest when answering questions and tried to explain to the parents that the Attack do everything possible to make the players feel at home but they also have set rules and curfews that the players are expected to follow. We then proceeded into the Attack dressing room. Here we toured the main dressing room which contained stalls for each of the players on the Attack including all of their personal and protective gear, all supplied by the team. A demonstration of their video system complete with teleprompter was given that was very impressive. It was also explained to the boys that the "Attack" logo on the carpeted floor was NEVER to be stepped on and their jerseys were never to be thrown on the floor as this was considered disrespectful to the organisation. A tour of the trainers and equipment managers rooms followed which included skate sharpening machine, skate blade holders and blades, massage tables and mini whirlpool. The boys found the "stick rack" to be very impressive, as did the parents due to the fact that they too are supplied by the team! An on-ice session followed with Attack head coach Mark Reeds and assistant coach Jeff Reid putting the boys through their paces. Mark and Jeff used some very interesting and useful drills that are sure to find their way into some of our practices. Following practice we headed off to Shortys in downtown Owen Sound where everyone enjoyed a very tasty meal which was followed by a short presentation by Joe Birch of the OHL. Joe touched on the importatnce of education in the OHL and the structuring of scholarships for all players. It was then back to the rink for a divisional tilt between the Attack and the visiting Plymouth Whalers. Allegiances were split as Coach Jenners son Leo, a Chiefs alumni, is a member of the Whalers and has assisted with on ice sessions with this Chiefs team on many occasions. Steven Shipley, also a Chiefs alumni, is a 16 year old rookie who plays for the Attack. So you can see how it was tough to cheer against either team. A very tight and low scoring game, however, saw the Whalers come away with a hard fought 2-1 victory much to the delight of the Jenner clan. It was then back on the bus for the snowy ride back to London.
A trip of this nature does not happen without the work of many. We would like to thank Joe Birch of the OHL, and Dale DeGray, Mark Reeds and Jeff Reid of the Attack as well as their friendly staff in the dressing room.
I know everyone thoroughly enjoyed the day and we are fortunate to be involved in such an undertaking. We must also thank the following sponsors who made it possible for us to enjoy our first ever bus trip.
- MENEAR-WORRAD & ASSOCIATES
- JENNER BEEF
- LES DRURY
- PAUL WELLS
- DAVIS & MCCAULEY FUELS
WOLVESTOURNAMENT RESULTS. 15/12/08
The Elgin Middlesex Chiefs Minor Midgets took part in the Waterloo Wolves Gold Puck Tournament this past weekend and reached the semi finals losing to the eventual champions, the Sun County Panthers. The round robin portion saw the boys pile up a 3-1 record with wins over the Barrie Colts, Motor City Machine and the Ajax-Pickering Raiders. Their lone lose in the round robin came at the hands of the Huron-Perth Lakers. This week sees no games until Sunday when they will travel to Windsor and once again battle the Sun County Panthers. Game time at Windsor Ice Park is 2:45. See you at the rink
CHIEFS SMILE FOR THE CAMERA! 10/12/08
Rogers Television was on hand Tuesday night in Aylmer, filming the game between the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs and the Lambton Sting as part of their Hometown Hockey segment which will air sometime over the Christmas holidays. For more details on the broadcast go to www.rogerstv.com. As for the game itself, the Chiefs put together a well rounded effort, probably the best we have seen from this group in the last week or so. With the help of players returning to the line up, coupled with strong play on the puck in both ends of the rink, the boys were able to secure two well deserved points in a 5-1 victory over the Sting. Once again they displayed the type of game required for success, but ultimately will need this performance more consistently if they are to achieve their long term goals. Lets hope they can continue this trend and carry this momentum into this weekends Gold Puck Tournament in Waterloo where they will be seeking their first tournament championship of the season. Hope to see you in Waterloo this weekend and thanks for the ongoing support!
GOLD PUCK TOURNAMENT
The boys will be taking part in the Waterloo Gold Puck Tournament this weekend. Here are their times. Hope to see you there.
WATERLOO TOURNAMENT
FRI DEC 12TH 11:30AM ALBERT MCCORMICK VS BARRIE
FRI DEC 12TH 7:00PM ALBERT MCCORMICK VS MOTOR CITY MACHINE
SAT DEC 13TH 9:30AM RIM VS AJAX PICKERING
SAT DEC 13TH 6:30PM RIM VS HURON PERTH
SEMIS AND FINALS ARE ON SUNDAY 8AM 8:30AM AND FINAL
This week in Minor Midget Chiefs Hockey week of December 8th – 14th.
HOME GAME TUES DEC 9TH 8:00PM AYLMER (LAMBTON)
PRACTICE WED DEC 10TH 7-8:30PM GLENCOE
PRACTICE THUR DEC 11TH 5-6:30PM FARQUARSON
CHIEFS SWEEP RANGERS! 08/12/08
The Chiefs Minor Midget team completed a home and home sweep of the Kitchener Rangers by taking the back end of the series in Kitchener on Saturday morning via a 4-2 win. An altered line up was used as the team is still operating without a full roster. Despite the changes the boys were able to put together a solid effort that saw them execute as a TEAM, regardless of line combinations or defensive pairings. Being able to respond to this type of adversity and adapting on the fly to whatever situation faces them, and still win games, shows what type of character and make up this team possesses. If they continue with this outlook they can expect greater achievements when everyone returns to the fold healthy and prepared for the next hurdle. Next game action sees them host the Lambton Sting Tuesday night. Rogers Television will be filming at the game so be sure to show your support by sporting your finest Chiefs gear! Game time in Aylmer is 8:00. See you there!
UGLY BETTY VERSUS KITCHENER! 05/12/08
The Elgin Middlesex Chiefs minor midgets were able to walk away with two points in what can only be described as an "ugly" game against the Kitchener Rangers Wednesday night in Aylmer. The boys secured a 3-2 win in a poorly played contest which saw both teams spend large amounts of time on the power play and penalty kill respectively. I suppose it could have been worse, with the outcome turning out to be in Kitcheners favour. Lets hope the return end of the home and home with Kitchener sees a much better performance by the guys. Game time at Activa Arena in Kitchener on Saturday is 11:30 AM. See you at the rink!
CHIEFS BATTLE TO THE END! 01/12/08
INJURIES ARE A PART OF HOCKEY AND MOST EVERY TEAM MUST ENDURE THEM AT SOME POINT IN THE SEASON. THEY ARE NOT AN EXCUSE, THEY ARE A REALITY. THE ELGIN MIDDLESEX CHIEFS MINOR MIDGET TEAM EXPERIENCED THAT REALITY AS THEY ENTERED PLAY IN THE PRESTIGIOUS INTERNATIONAL SILVER STICK FINALS IN WHITBY THIS PAST WEEKEND. DESPITE HAVING TWO PLAYERS OUT FOR THE ROUND ROBIN PORTION OF THE TOURNAMENT THEY WERE ABLE TO SECURE WINS OVER THE TPH THUNDER AND QUINTE RED DEVILS WITH 5-0 AND 6-3 SCORES RESPECTIVELY. ENTERING SATURDAYS GAME WITH MISSISSAUGA, THE TEAM HAD A CHANCE TO WIN THEIR DIVISION WITH A WIN OR A TIE OVER THE REBELS. HOWEVER, AN UNTIMELY LOSS DUE TO AN UNCHARACTERISTIC PERFORMANCE SAW THE BOYS FINISH SECOND IN THEIR DIVISION, WHICH WOULD SEED THEM IN SIXTH PLACE AFTER ROUND ROBIN PLAY. THIS WOULD SET UP A QUARTER FINAL MATCH UP WITH THE TORONTO MARLBOROS, THE NUMBER THREE SEED. WITH YET ANOTHER INJURY SUSTAINED IN THE ROUND ROBIN, THE DECISION WAS MADE TO CALL IN REINFORCEMENTS FOR THE TILT WITH THE MARLIES. TWO PLAYERS FROM THE MAJOR BANTAM CHIEFS TEAM WERE BROUGHT IN JOINING ONE OF THEIR FELLOW TEAM MATES WHO HAD ALREADY PLAYED THE ENTIRE ROUND ROBIN DUE TO THE TWO AFOREMENTIONED INJURIES. THE THREE WERE UNITED TO FORM WHAT MANY FANS WERE CALLING, "THE KID LINE".
THE QUARTER FINALS SAW THE MARLIES TAKE ON A CHIEFS TEAM LACKING REGULARS FROM THEIR LINE-UP, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LACKING IN WILL, DETERMINATION, DESIRE AND PRIDE. THE BOYS FELL BEHIND EARLY BUT WERE ABLE TO KEEP THE SCORE AT 1-0 WITH VERY STRONG TEAM DEFENSIVE PLAY. THE MARLIES CAPITALISED ON A POWER PLAY LATER ON IN THE SECOND PERIOD TO TAKE A 2-0 LEAD GOING INTO THE THIRD PERIOD. THE CHIEFS CAME OUT HARD IN THE THIRD PERIOD BUT ONCE AGAIN FOUND THEMSELVES ON THE WRONG END OF SOME PENALTY CALLS AND THE MARLIES WERE ABLE TO CONVERT TWO MORE TIMES TO COME AWAY WITH THE 4-0 VICTORY. THE BOYS NEVER GAVE UP AT ANY POINT IN THIS GAME AND BATTLED RIGHT UNTIL THE END AND BEYOND!
NOW THE TEAM MUST FOCUS ITS ATTENTION BACK TO ALLIANCE LEAGUE PLAY, AND ON RETURNING EVERYONE BACK TO THE LINE UP. WEDNESDAY WILL SEE THEM HOST THE KITCHENER RANGERS AT 8:00 IN AYLMER. HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
SPECIAL THANKS!
THE TEAM WOULD LIKE TO THANK TYLER KETTLER AND GARRETT KING FOR THEIR EXCELLENT WORK VERSUS THE MARLIES, AND TYLER DUARTE FOR PLAYING THE ENTIRE TOURNAMENT. THE THREE WERE UNITED SATURDAY NIGHT AGAINST THE MARLIES AND QUICKLY WERE GIVEN THE NICKNAME "THE KID LINE" BY MANY OF THE FANS IN ATTENDANCE. THESE GUYS STEPPED INTO A VERY TOUGH SITUATION AND PERFORMED ADMIRABLY. THEY DISPLAYED THE TYPE OF EFFORT AND TENACITY THAT IS SYMBOLIC OF BEING A CHIEF. WE MUST ALSO THANK THEIR PARENTS FOR GIVING UP THEIR TIME IN ORDER TO ASSIST US IN OUR QUEST FOR SUCCESS. THANKS!
THANKS ALSO TO OUR MANY DEDICATED FANS WHO MADE THE TRIP TO WHITBY ALONG WITH SOME OF THE NEW FACES THAT WERE SEEN AT THE RINK THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND. YOUR SUPPORT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!
CHIEFS SAY GOOD KNIGHT! 01/12/08
The Elgin Middlesex Chiefs Minor Midget team gained the upper hand in what has become a see saw battle with their Alliance nemisis, the London Junior Knights, by defeating them 4-1 this past Wednesday in Aylmer. This allowed the Chiefs to take a 2-1 advantage in the season series with the Knights. The game was played with a lot of emotion as this match up seems to bring out the best of both teams. A highly physical affair that resulted in numerous power play oppurtunities for both teams saw the Chiefs make the best of their chances, while on the other side of the coin, the Knights were held off the score sheet for the majority of their extra man situations. Strong goaltending and team defensive play kept the Knights at bay for most of the evening. This was the type of play the Chiefs would have to exhibit in order to find success as they entered the weekend heading to Whitby for the International Silver Stick Finals.
This week in Minor Midget Chiefs Hockey week of Nov 24th – 30th.
PRACTICE TUES NOV 25TH 6-7:30PM LIP
HOME GAME WED NOV 26TH 7:00PM AYLMER
SILVER STICK TOURNAMENT
FRIDAY NOV 28TH 9:00AM VS TPH THUNDER IROQUOIS #1
FRIDAY NOV 28TH 8:25PM VS QUINTE IROQUOIS #1
SATURDAY NOV 29TH 9:30AM VS MISS.REBELS IROQUOIS #2
QUALIFIERS/FINALS WILL TAKE PLACE SATURDAY AFTERNOON NIGHT AND SUNDAY
CHIEFS STIFLE WEEKEND OPPONENTS! 24/11/08
The Elgin Middlesex Chiefs continued their defense first philosophy by completely shutting down the opposition on the weekend. That is not to say that they cannot score goals, as was witnessed versus Chatham on Saturday afternoon in Bothwell en route to a 10-1 drubbing of the Cyclones. They followed this up with a road win on Sunday afternoon in Windsor, defeating the Sun County Panthers 4-1. This is exactly the type of game they need to exhibit Wednesday night as they host the London Junior Knights in Aylmer @ 7:00. It will also be critical this weekend in Whitby when they take part in the International Silver Stick Tournament. They will need to be firing on all cylinders as they face the best Minor Midget teams from North America as well as some from across the pond. The teams schedule for Silver Stickis listed below. See you at the rink!
SILVER STICK TOURNAMENT
FRIDAY NOV 28TH 9:00AM VS TPH THUNDER IROQUOIS #1
FRIDAY NOV 28TH 8:25PM VS QUINTE IROQUOIS #1
SATURDAY NOV 29TH 9:30AM VS MISS.REBELS IROQUOIS #2
QUALIFIERS/FINALS WILL TAKE PLACE SATURDAY AFTERNOON NIGHT AND SUNDAY
This week in Minor Midget Chiefs Hockey week of Nov 17-23rd.
PRACTICE WED NOV 19TH 7-8:30PM GLENCOE
PRACTICE FRI NOV 21ST 6-7:00PM FARQUARSON
AWAY GAME SAT NOV 22ND 4:00PM CHATHAM (BOTHWELL ARENA)
AWAY GAME SUN NOV 23RD 3:30PM SUN COUNTY (WINDSOR ICE PARK
CHIEFS STING LAMBTON! 18/11/08
Monday night saw the Chiefs head to Sarnia to take on the Lambton Sting, who had been riding a wave of success in the last month that included registering victories over London and Sun County in league play. The Chiefs also found themselves on a winning streak of their own and were hoping to continue that pattern. Both the Chiefs and Sting were coming off losses however, having fallen in the semi-finals of the Brantford Tournament just one day earlier. The wear and tear of playing 5 games in the previous 3 days was evident as neither team displayed their usually skilled and up tempo style, reverting rather to a choppy, chaotic game with little flow. Having said that, it can also be noted that good teams find a way to win these types of games and the Chiefs did just that. Trailing 1-0 for most of the game, despite outplaying the Sting the majority of the time, the boys rallied for two goals in the third period to walk away with the 2-1 victory. Certainly not their best performance of the year but one just good enough to escape with the two points. Their next game action will see them take on the Chatham-Kent Cyclones in Bothwell on Saturday at 4:00. They will practice Wednesday and Friday as their prepare for what is sure to be an "entertaining" game versus the Cyclones. Sunday will see them head to Windsor for a tilt with the Sun County Panthers. Game time for that one is 3:30 at the Windsor Ice Park. See you at the rink!
SENATORS VETO CHIEFS! 18/11/08
The Mississauga Senators put a halt to what was, up until that point, a perfect weekend for the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs. The Senators defeated the Chiefs 2-1 in one of two semi-final games at the Boston Pizza Cup Minor Midget Showcase Tournament in Brantford on Sunday. The London Knights defeated the Lambton Sting 3-2 in the other semi only to fall to the Senators 2-1 in the final. The Chiefs enjoyed round robin wins over Rochester 3-0, Central Ontario Wolves 5-2, and the Grey Bruce Highlanders 9-0. This set up a quarter final match-up with the Cambridge Hawks. The boys were able to defeat their fellow Alliance League members by a 5-1 score setting up the meeting with the Senators. Their semi final saw two very skilled and well coached teams go head to head with not much separating the two. The difference in the game was the Senators taking advantage of the power plays they were given as both of their goals came with the Chiefs a man down in the first period. There was no scoring in the second period, but the Chiefs were able to get a goal early in the third to pull within one, but couldn't notch the equalizer. All in all the boys had a very good weekend and although it is always tough to lose, I am sure they can look at the game with the Senators and see what it is they need to do in order to win these types of games and move to the next level. Tonight sees them return to the ice as they visit Sarnia to take on the Sting. Game time at the SSEC is 7:30. See you at the rink!
BRANTFORD MINOR MIDGET SHOWCASE
This weekend sees the boys head to Brantford for their second tournament of the year. Here are the times for their round robin games:
BRANTFORD TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
FRI NOV 14TH 1:00PM LION’S ARENA VS ROCHESTER ALLIANCE
FRI NOV 14TH 9:00PM GRETZKY RED VS CENTRAL ONTARIO WOLVES
SAT NOV 15TH 11:30AM GRETZKY BLUE VS GREY-BRUCE HIGHLANDERS
PLAYOFF GAMES TO FOLLOW
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
CHIEFS PUT UP ROADBLOCK! 10/11/08
The Chiefs completely shut down their opponents this past weekend, defeating the Chatham Kent Cyclones 3-0 Friday night in St. Thomas, then travelling to St. Marys Sunday afternoon and shutting out the Huron Perth Lakers by the same 3-0 score. This despite spending too much time on the penalty kill including numerous 5 on 3's against them. A total commitment to team defence and scoring goals at opportune times helped to contribute to these victories. The week ahead sees them practise Tuesday in Aylmer followed by their first meeting of the year with the Hamilton Reps. Game time on Wednesday is 8:00 in Aylmer. See you at the rink!
ROLLER COASTER RIDE! 05/11/08
Most teams would be happy with a weekend road trip that saw them gain 5 out of a possible 6 points. A 1-1 tie with the Sting in Sarnia on Thursday, a 5-2 victory in Waterloo Saturday night and a 6-2 triumph over the Cyclones in Chatham Sunday afternoon would see the team take on different appearances and attitudes as they try to execute the game plan that has been set out for them in order to have success. Most of Thursdays game in Sarnia and the first two periods in Waterloo Saturday night saw them play at a level that was below what those expectations are. The third period of the game with the Wolves in Waterloo, and Sundays game versus the Cyclones, saw them edge closer to the style of game that they should exhibit every time they step on the ice. Friday night will see them host the same Cyclones team they beat last Sunday, and if they build on the effort shown against them the last time the two teams met they will enjoy a positive outcome. If they are to revert back to the type of play they possessed in the other two match ups from last weekend they will no doubt put themselves in a very difficult position versus a scrappy Chatham team. Game time in St. Thomas Friday night is set for 8:00 at the Timken centre. See you at the rink
PANTHERS DE-CLAWED! 29/10/08
This much anticipated match up took on new importance as a result of Sun County defeating London Friday night, turning this game into a battle for first place between the Chiefs and the Panthers. The teams played a very entertaining, high spirited affair. Good flow, precise passing and overall a well executed game by both teams. As the result of that execution, and by sticking with their game plan, the Chiefs earned a well deserved two points with a 5-3 win over the Panthers. They will look to continue this trend as they head to Sarnia Thursday night to face the Sting, 7:30 at SSEC. See you at the rink!
SPITFIRES GROUNDED! 29/10/08
The long road trip to Windsor Friday night didn't slow the boys down as they were able to leave town with a 4-1 victory over the Spitfires under their belt. They would return home and have a quick turnaround as they were on the ice Saturday morning for practice in preparation for Sundays important match up with the Sun County Panthers
PRACTICE TIMES 28/10/08
I have received some feedback about the late practices and believe me, it goes without saying practices until 10:00 pm are not the preference of any team. Many of you feel that the older teams should always have the late times and the older teams can argue that in many areas high school kids start school much earlier than the elementary kids. Not to mention the fact that our kids live from one end of EM counties to the other and if it's not the times we're complaining about, then it's the location.
In the perfect world, the Chiefs would have a home centre and lots of prime time ice, however that is not the case. At the start of the season there was contact made with every arena in Elgin Middlesex County looking for any available ice. I was new to this position this season and had big shoes to fill after Donna's tenure. I can say that I have distributed ice time to the best of my ability in the most fair way possible. Where I could, I have scheduled games for the older teams hoping they may be off the ice before 10 pm.
For the past four years I have had a child playing with Chiefs and can say these practice times are nothing new and have been shared from minor atom through to midget. The kids playing hockey at this level are skilled athletes who often have a lot on the go so obviously need to have excellent organizational and time management skills. If that means going to bed earlier the nights before an after and organizing your morning so you can sleep a little longer, then that's what you have to do to play at this level. All teams have the schedule until early January and although there may be a few minor edits, you have plenty of time to plan your schedules.
If you don't feel your team can take these late practices there are a couple options. If you find a team to switch practices please let me know once the agreement is made and I will change the master schedule and notify the appropriate arenas. Or, please let me know you are returning the practice and I will reallocate to another team, although that practice time will count towards your season total.
Thanks,
Marnie Johnstone
EMHA Ice Scheduler
This week in Minor Midget Chiefs hockey week of Oct 27th – Nov 2nd
PRACTICE TUES OCT 28TH 6:30 – 8PM STRATHROY
AWAY GAME THURS OCT 30TH 7:30PM LAMBTON (SSEC)
PRACTICE FRI OCT 31ST 7 – 8:30PM ST THOMAS
AWAY GAME SAT NOV 1ST 7:00PM WATERLOO (RIM)
AWAY GAME SUN NOV 2ND 4:00PM CHATHAM (MEMORIAL)
Notes:
- Please keep Wednesday December 17th clear on your calendars. We will be going to Owen Sound details to follow.
- Nov 11th will be another picture day before practice (make sure you bring your away socks). If you were not satisfied with your individual shots or want more please let me know
99'ERS IN TOWN TONIGHT! 23/10/08
After a convincing 11-0 win over the Cambridge Hawks Sunday in the Strathroy the boys lost 3-2 to the London Jr. Knights on Monday night in London. After defeating the Knights 3-0 last week the team knew the Knights would be seeking to even the season series to date and were able to do so by capitalising twice on the power play en route to the 3-2 win. A tight game throughout, with flashes of great play and some mediocre, the Knights were able to take the lead in the third period and keep it despite feeling constant pressure from the Chiefs as they tried to score the equaliser. The team will look to get back on track tonight as they host the East leading Brantford 99'ers in their first meeting of the the year in Aylmer at 8:00pm. Hope to see you there!
GOOD KNIGHT-CHIEFS BLANK LONDON! 17/10/08
The boys came up with a solid team effort Wednesday which allowed them to shutout the London Jr. Knights 3-0 in the teams first meeting of the year in Aylmer. Many were expecting this game to be fast paced and intense with lots of physical play and opportunities to score and they weren't disappointed. End to end action, tough physical play in open ice and along the boards and some outstanding goaltending at both ends were some of the highlights of this game. The boys played a very spirited, up tempo game and were finally able to take a lead which they never relinquished. This is the type of effort and result the boys have been searching for and they will try to continue this when they host the Cambridge Hawks, this Sunday afternoon at Strathroy Gemini, 2:30pm. Hope to see you there!
KNIGHTS TONIGHT! 15/10/08
Wednesday night in Aylmer @ 8:00 will see the first game of the year with the London Jr. Knights. In the past these have been fast paced, intense match-ups and tonight is not expected to be any different. Hope to see you at the rink!
HAMILTON HICCUP! 15/10/08
The Tim Horton's' AAA Invitational Tournament on the weekend saw the Chiefs bow out in the semi finals to the eventual champions, the St. Catherine's Falcons, 2-1 in overtime. The boys could not find a way to get it done versus the Falcons, but credit must also be given to a very good, well coached St Catherine's team. Our congratulations to them and I am sure the boys look forward to another meeting with them down the road. A 4-0 record during the round robin portion of the tournament set up the semi final meeting with the Falcons. During that run the boys had an impressive 20 goals for and 3 goals against so many good things were accomplished on the weekend.
STEEL CITY BOUND! 08/10/08
This weekend will see the team head to Hamilton for the Tim Hortons AAA Invitational Tournament. The boys are coming off victories of 6-3 versus Chatham on Friday, 3-1 against Windsor on Sunday, and a 4-0 shutout of Lambton on Tuesday night. They head into this weekends tournament looking to continue this pattern and build on their game. Now that they have everyone healthy and back in the line-up. This weekends games are as follows:
Friday vs St. Catherines Falcons 8:00 PM Chedoke Green
Saturday vs Monroe County Eagles 3:30 PM Chedoke Green
Sunday vs Ottawa 67'S 1:15 PM Chedoke Blue
Sunday vs Kitchener Rangers 7:00 PM Chedoke Green
Semi Finals are Monday 11:00 AM @ Quad, Final is 4:00 @ Chedoke Green.
The team looks forward to achieving the same success this year as they were able to accomplish last year when they won the Major Bantam title. Hope to see you there!
Alliance Minor Midget - Pavilion AAA O4/10/08
Welcome to Pointstreak!
ALLIANCE Hockey is pleased to partner with Pointstreak.com for the 2008-2009 hockey season for all of the Midget AAA and Minor Midget AAA schedules and stats.
You can find it under Schedule & Stats on our Web Site
This week in Minor Midget Chiefs Hockey - week of Sept 30th – Oct 5th.
PRACTICE WED OCT 1ST 8:30 – 10PM AYLMER
HOME GAME FRI OCT 3RD 8:00PM ST THOMAS
PRACTICE SAT OCT 4TH 9:30 – 11AM FARQUARSON ARENA
HOME GAME SUN OCT 5TH 11:30AM STRATHROY
CHICKEN FUNDRAISER-THANK YOU! 29/09/08
Thanks to everyone who ordered chicken through our fundraiser. The monies raised goes directly to the boys. It is used for meals, drinks and snacks at tournaments, as an example, and we appreciate everyone's support. We would also like to recognise Marianne Janicek for organising this fundraiser once again, she did a great job as usual!
A TALE OF TWO TEAMS! 29/09/08
Weekend one of the regular season is in the books! Game one of the weekend saw the boys hosting the Waterloo Wolves and proved that you can't take a day off in this league or you will get beat, as the boys found out losing 4-3 to the Wolves. An all around team effort will be required game in and game out in order to win at this level. Proof of that came in game two of the weekend as the guys showed what they are capable of with a 7-1 victory in Cambridge. A rather quiet week sees them practice once before hooking up with the Chatham Cyclones on Friday in St Thomas for an 8:00 game at the Timken Centre, and Sunday in Strathroy versus the Windsor Spitfires, an 11:30 start at the Gemini. Hope to see you there
CHIEFS' DAY A HUGE SUCCESS! 29/09/08
Thanks to everyone who took part in Chiefs' Day this past Saturday in Strathroy, including all the people who either volunteered, donated, or dug into their wallets to support! Your contributions are appreciated
ANNOUNCEMENT! 25/09/08
CAPTAIN - #22 BOONE JENNER
ALTERNATES - #7 LUKE HEITKAMP #9 JAKE WORRAD
#16 MITCH BERZINS #18 BRYAN MC CAULEY
CONGRATULATIONS!
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 27 IS CHIEFS DAY AT THE GEMINI IN
STRATHROY, VISIT http://www.elginmiddlesexchiefs.com/
FOR SCHEDULES, ALL CHIEFS TEAMS WILL BE IN ACTION!.
THIS WEEKS GAME REPORT 24/09/08
Through hard work and good leadership the boys will continue to improve. Saturdays result vs the Hamilton Bulldogs was a 4-3 loss, due to the fact that many of the aspects of their game that need to occur for them to be successful were not present. As we head into the opening weekend of the regular season versus Waterloo at home on Saturday (Strathroy Gemini @ 4:30), and on the road in Cambridge on Sunday (Galt Arena @ 1:00), it is hoped that their preparation through practice this week will see them perform at the level they know they are capable of. See you at the rink!
JUST ANNOUNCED! 18/09/08
JUST ANNOUNCED! EXHIBITION GAME NOW SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20 VS THE HAMILTON BULLDOGS. 3:00 PM AT THE LONDON ICE PARK. HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
CHIEFS WEATHER THE STORM! 16/09/08
A rainy road trip to Guelph saw the Chiefs escape with a 5-4 victory over the Guelph Storm. They rallied back from a 2 goal deficit twice in doing so. A lot of new line combinations and defence pairings where used as we get accustomed to our three new forwards in the line-up as well as having to play with two regulars not dressed for the game. These factors contributed to some uncharacteristic play at times but as the game progressed you could see the boys starting to work better together and eventually started to exert some sustained pressure on the Storm. The game saw a curfew with about six minutes remaining so the boys would have to wait until Sundays' rematch to see if they could continue to improve their play
CHIEFS CALM THE STORM! 16/09/08
It didn't take long to see that the momentum that was building near the end of Saturdays' game had carried over into Sundays' return match with the Storm. A much better team effort was witnessed as the boys were clicking right from the outset. The Chiefs jumped on the Storm early and often en route to a 10-3 victory. Many of the small details this team must do game in and game out were executed well on Sunday. However, a better effort will be required against some of the tougher opponents that the boys will face this year. Having said that, many positives can be taken from this game as the team continues to work hard and move forward. That's' all for now, hope to see you at the rink!
BIG THANK YOU TO PETE'S SPORTS 15/09/08
Thanks to Pete's Sports for the great job on the uniform jackets and the track suits for the team. As always the quality was top notch, but we really appreciated the fact they were able to get the order to us in a hurry without sacrificing the excellent quality. For all your uniform needs as well as all that is hockey, please contact Petes @ 519-433-9555
http://www.petessports.com/
NEW MEMBER OF THE BENCH STAFF 15/09/08
Along with welcoming our new teammates we would also like to add a warm
welcome to our new trainer, Bob Gardner. I had a chance to chat with Bob at
a recent practice and asked him for a little background info on his family,
his hockey career, and how he found his way to the team.
Bob and his wife Barb have five children and they have been residents
of Dorchester since 1987. They have four boys: Dave, Doug, Michael and
Jeremy, and one daughter, Paula. All the boys played their minor hockey
in Dorchester, with Paula dividing her time with the Devillettes and B.A.D
Girls. Dave is currently a Level 4 referee with Michael being a Level 3.
Doug played as high as Tier 2 Junior for Rayside Balfour and Jeremy was the
only member of the family to win an OMHA Championship, doing so in his
Midget year in 1991. However, Paula has the distinction of winning the
"Big One", a Silver Stick Championship, which she did while playing as a
member of the B.A.D. Girls.
Bobs' coaching career spanned the years 1988-2006, where he coached
everything from novice house league to Midget "A". During that time he was,
and obviously still is, a certified trainer. After the 2006 season he
decided to take a break from the coaching ranks. In 2007 he took a break
of another kind, retiring from Ford after 34 plus years.
His resume also includes time spent as an exexutive of the DDAA (Dorchester District Athletic Association) from 1988-90. He left this post in 1990 and took on the job as Shamrock Rep. In 1991 he also added the title of OMHA rep for Dorchester. Over a 10 year period Bob basically had his finger on the pulse of minor hockey in Dorchester. If something was happening regarding hockey in Dorchester, Bob knew about it! Aside from hockey, he and wife Barb also spent 10 years running minor soccer in Dorchester.
Coach Jenner approached Bob in the summer in regards to being the
trainer of the Minor Midget Chiefs team. Bob was interested in the job but
was having some minor health issues that might impact his decision. He
didn't want to say no though, so he sat on his decision for a week or so.
The next time he talked with Coach Jenner he was feeling much better and
decided to attend a few try outs to see exactly what he was getting himself
into! Well the rest is history and we are glad to have Bob as a member of
the staff. Please feel free to stop by and introduce yourself to Bob if
you haven't done so already. We are happy to have him on the bench and
hope his time with the team is both enjoyable and rewarding
A BIG THANK YOU TO SANDY FIELD 15/09/08
The team would like to thank Sandy Field for her hard work in organising and running the Fingal Camp this year. Once again everything ran smooth as silk thanks to her preparation and leadership and we want to let her know her dedication and attention to detail did not go unnoticed. Great Job Sandy!
A BIG THANKS TO DRENNAN REFRIGERATION 08/09/2008
A Big Thanks this week to Drennan Refrigeration for their donation of practice uniforms for the team. Their contribution is much appreciated and the boys look very professional in their new gear
.
Call Drennan for all your refrigeration needs in London @ 519-453-9100.
http://www.drennan.on.ca/
LOOKING FOR SPONSORS
08/09/2008
If anyone is interested in a donation to the team to help offset other costs please contact Manager Mike Mc Cauley @ 519-425-9192. All monies received is used solely for the players, i.e. meals, drinks, snacks etc while the team is at tournaments. Any support would be greatly appreciated.
GETTING READY FOR THE SEASON
08/09/2008
The boys continue to prepare for their regular season and this weekend WE will see them play an exhibition home and home with the Guelph Storm. Saturdays game will put them on the road as they travel to Guelph for a 1:30 start at the West End Rec Centre. The back end of the weekend series sees the Chiefs at home in Strathroy for a 4:00 start at the Gemini. These will be the first games played as a "team" since their first two pre-season games saw quite different line-ups versus the roster that will take to the ice against the Storm. They will be on the ice practising twice this week as they continue to work on getting their game to where it needs to be and the games with the Storm will give a good indication of where that work needs to be done.
Don't forget to add a comment on our blog and let us know what stories you would like to see on the website. Thanks for your continued support and hope to see you at the rink this weekend.
Team PICTURES
04/09/2008
Hana has advised us that the Chiefs coats we ordered are now in…..so we will
take our team individual “head shots” on Sunday before practice 2:30pm at Strathroy.
Hana will bring the jackets. If your son has a white shirt and plain black tie please bring it. If
not they can borrow from the others.
We are having a professional photographer take the pictures so please be on time.
The start of 2008-2009 season is here
It is with mixed emotions that we kick off the 2008-2009 Minor Midget Chiefs season as we say goodbye to people who were not just hockey players and their families, but were our friends and we wish them nothing but success in whatever they do, and we hope to cross paths with them soon because they are all good people.
We would also like to welcome the new players into the fold. We look forward to getting to know them and their families as we head forward and hope that with them we can achieve much success this year. WELCOME!
Once again a very exhausting and trying selection process took place in order to pick this team. The end product is now in place and the team is starting to come together as they are being put through their paces once again at CAMP FINGAL!
The boys arrived Monday after their first on ice workout as a team that morning in St. Thomas. With on and off ice sessions, meetings and games planned for their three days at camp, it is hoped the boys will exit camp as a single unit all pulling in the same direction. The parents were invited for a BBQ Monday night where everyone got to see each other after a short summer as well as getting to know the new players and their families. As always the food was fantastic and everyone seemed to have a good time.
As we head into the season we will try to continually update the website with game summaries and interesting stories about the boys. You will probably also notice that we rarely mention players names individually and are constantly mentioning the "team" or aspects of the team, ie the "defense", "offense", and "goaltending". We will acknowledge individual achievements from time to time but hockey is a team game and for this team to be successful we will need every player on this team to contribute to the best of their ability every time they touch the ice.
In closing we once again look forward to a competitive and successful season in which we all must work together to make it happen.
