Prospects get their shot too
Posted Jan 6, 2011 By Ryland Coyne
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Tweet ThisEMC Sports - The rosters for the upcoming Central Hockey League All-Star game have long since been announced. Now it's the Prospects' turn.
Several of the Smiths Falls Bears' young guns will represent the Robinson Division when they face off against their rivals from the Yzerman Saturday, Jan. 15 in Hawkesbury.
Up front, new arrival Connor McLaren will occupy one of the forward positions while a trio of the club's talented young defence - Brett DuPuy, Warren Steele and Tyler Akeson - will patrol the blue line.
Three other Bears - defenceman Nathan Livingstone, forwards Mike McNamee and Ryan Van Stralen - will play in the CHL All-Star game next Wednesday, Jan. 12 at the Bell Sensplex in Kanata. They were named to the Robinson Division roster just before Christmas. Game time that night is 7:30 p.m.
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Meanwhile, being named to the Prospects game wasn't the only accolade for Steele this past week. He was also given honourable mention for CHL Rookie of the Month for December along with Curtis Meighan of the Cumberland Grads.
The 16 year-old Williamsburg, Ont., resident has two goals and 20 assists so far this season and was riding a seven-game point streak heading into Tuesday's game in Kanata. He sits 12th in scoring among CHL defencemen.
The award went to Nathan Pancel of the Gloucester Rangers who recorded 13 points in nine games. He is tied for second in league rookie scoring with 23 points.
For the second straight month, Jacob Laliberte of the Cornwall Colts was named the player of the month. With 12 goals and 18 assists in December, he led the Colts to a 10-1 record. His 86 points overall (39 goals) are seven clear of second place Tyler Tosunian of the Pembroke Lumber Kings.
Justin Gilbert of the Brockville Braves received the Goalie of the Month honours. He won four of his five starts and has a 16-5 record overall with a 2.35 goals against average and .913 save percentage.
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It's as close to Smiths Falls as the tournament will likely ever be held - unless Smiths Falls were to join with a couple of its CHL neighbours like Carleton Place or Kemptville to host it sometime down the road.
The 2012 Fred Page Cup championship, which pits the best Tier I Junior A clubs across Eastern Canada in a bid to advance to the RBC Cup national championship, takes place in Kanata next April. Earlier this week, the league unveiled its logo for that tournament as well as some additional event details.
The four teams will consist of the winners from the Maritime Junior A Hockey League (MJAHL), Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League, the CHL Tier 1 Junior A Hockey League and the host team (Kanata Stallions).
Whereas the league attracts strong attention outside the city of Ottawa, it has traditionally failed to grasp many of the headlines in the nation's capital away from the Senators or 67's. That has started to turn a bit with The Team 1200 sports radio station and the daily papers devoting some more air time and space to the league.
It's this lack of exposure from the media and fans which has likely prevented one of the Ottawa-based clubs from hosting this tournament in the past. The key will be to continue the latest trend in order to attract the kind of crowds organizers are aiming for, notes Tony House, whose marketing and promotions company Corporate Hype Inc. has been hired to organize the FPC.
"It's good we're starting now on this - it's the first time the Fred Page Cup will be in Ottawa, our number 1 goal will be to pack the KRC everyday and make this the most memorable Fred Page Cup yet ."
League president Kevin Abrams says fan interest within the city has grown. And while it still doesn't match that here in Smiths Falls or Brockville, it is a step in the right direction.
"Our league is garnering a lot of attention, having one of our five "city" teams host the Fred Page will be very good for us," Abrams adds, "I'm confident that we can build on the momentum of this year's 50th season and host a fantastic Championship."
Let the pre-championship hype begin!
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