2008 TELUS Cup Players to Watch

TEL.004.08
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April 20, 2008
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CALGARY BUFFALOES (Pacific Region)

Calgary was one of the Alberta Midget Hockey League’s top teams in 2007-08, finishing third in points (48), goals for (148) and goals against (97). Despite the high-scoring offense, only Brett Switzer finished in the top 50 of AMHL scoring, showing the balanced production the Buffaloes received from all four lines. After a first-round bye, Calgary dispatched the UFA Bisons in four games and eliminated the first-place Lethbridge Y’s Men Titans in the same manner, advancing to their second AMHL championship series in three years, where they needed four games to top the Canadian Athletic Club from Edmonton. Calgary got a scare in the best-of-three Pacific Regional against the B.C. champion Cariboo Cougars, dropping Game 2 in triple overtime, but wrapped up a berth in the 2008 TELUS Cup with a Game 3 win.

PLAYERS SELECTED IN THE WHL BANTAM DRAFT

Erik Bonsor – 2006, 4th Round, 75th Overall, Calgary Hitmen – D 6’1” 200 01/05/1991
Chris Collins – 2007, 4th Round, 77th Overall, Chilliwack Bruins – F 5’11” 165 04/18/1992
Cole Grbavac – 2006, 3rd Round, 56th Overall, Portland Winter Hawks – F 6’2” 190 07/20/1991
Riley Reinbolt – 2006, 6th Round, 114th Overall, Moose Jaw Warriors – F 6’0” 180 03/09/1991
Hayden Rintoul – 2006, 4th Round, 79th Overall, Kootenay Ice – D 6’1” 165 02/02/1991
Blair Wentworth – 2007, 7th Round, 146th Overall, Chilliwack Bruins – F 5’11” 180 02/23/1992
Ben Wilson – 2006, 10th Round, 202nd Overall, Everett Silvertips – D 5’10” 160 03/26/1991

COLE HARBOUR MCCAINS (Atlantic Region)

The McCains rebounded from a sub-par 2006-07 to post a 22-10-2-1 record in 2007-08, good for second in the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League. Cole Harbour spread out its offense, with only Stuart Lenehan and Jordan Mock finishing in the top 20 of NSMMHL scoring. After a three-game sweep of Weeks in the opening round of the postseason, the McCains needed wins in games 6 and 7 against the Cape Breton Tradesmen to advance to the NSMMHL championship against the Dartmouth Subways. Using their comeback series win against Cape Breton as momentum, the McCains swept the Subways to advance to the Atlantic Regional. Cole Harbour reeled off victories over St. John’s, Central, Charlottetown and Fredericton to top the round-robin standings, and knocked off Fredericton 4-2 in the gold medal game, claiming the regional championship and moving on to the 2008 TELUS Cup.

PLAYERS SELECTED IN THE QMJHL MIDGET DRAFT

Jordan Burke – 2007, 9th Round, 157th Overall, PEI Rocket – F 6’2” 178 06/16/1990

OTTAWA VALLEY TITANS (Host Team)

In their first season of Midget AAA hockey, the Ottawa Valley Titans will play for Canadian minor hockey’s biggest prize, and they’ll do it as the hosts. While the Titans’ offense didn’t light up the scoreboard – they scored just three-and-a-half goals per game on average – they did get contributions from across the board, as their top six forwards averaged 23 points, led by Ryley Egan’s 34. After finishing just above the .500 mark in the regular season, the Titans topped the higher-ranked Ottawa Jr. 67’s in the semi-finals and continued their playoff run with an upset of the Ottawa Senators in the league final to claim the OEMHL championship. Ottawa Valley was the last team to lose at the Central Regional, and had a win over the eventual champions from Sudbury, but ended up as the bronze medalists, giving them one last boost of momentum entering the National Midget Championship.

PLAYERS SELECTED IN THE OHL PRIORITY SELECTION

Alexandru Huard – 2007, 11th Round, 214th Overall, Belleville Bulls – G 5’10” 178 03/15/1991

BLIZZARD DU SÉMINAIRE SAINT-FRANÇOIS (Quebec Region)

The Ligue de hockey midget AAA du Quebec’s number-three team during the regular season, Saint-François used a balanced offense – only Guillaume Asselin and Dave Leclerc finished in the top 20 of league scoring – and a stifling defense – their 109 goals against were the second-best mark in the league – on their way to a 32-12-0-1 mark. After a smooth ride through the first two rounds, dropping just one game to Jonquière and Trois-Rivières, the Blizzard jumped out to a 3-0 series lead against Collège Antoine-Girouard in their semi-final series, but needed a last-second goal in Game 7 to survive and move on. The Blizzard used their Game 7 momentum to dominate Gatineau in a four-game sweep in the league final, outscoring them 22-6, claiming the Jimmy Ferrari Cup and booking their 14th trip to the National Midget Championship.

PLAYERS SELECTED IN THE QMJHL MIDGET DRAFT

Tommy Déry – 2007, 4th Round, 56th Overall, Lewiston MAINEiacs – F 5’8” 157 03/17/1991
Frédérick Roy – 2007 4th Round, 63rd Overall, Quebec Remparts – F 5’8” 138 02/26/1991

SUDBURY NICKEL CAPITAL WOLVES (Central Region)

The Nickel Capital Wolves exploded out of the gate in 2007-08, winning their first 28 games. Sudbury is a potent offensive team, averaging a remarkable 8.53 goals per game, paced by the trio of Craig Laliberte, Mathieu Lecours and Denis Restoule, who finished one-two-three in Great North Midget League scoring. After a three-game sweep of the Kapuskasing Flyers in the opening round of the playoffs, Sudbury swept the North Bay Trappers and won the GNML championship with a four-game victory over the Sault Ste. Marie North Stars. The Nickel Capital Wolves were the top round-robin team at the Central Regional, and a nail-biting 5-4 win over Ajax/Pickering in the semi-final set up a championship game meeting with the London Jr. Knights, which Sudbury won 6-2 to book a spot in the 2008 TELUS Cup.

PLAYERS SELECTED IN THE OHL PRIORITY SELECTION

NONE

WINNIPEG THRASHERS (West Region)

The Thrashers ran the table in the Manitoba Midget AAA Hockey League, going 40-0 and outscoring the opposition by 225 goals. No one player took the offensive lead, as four players – Cole Pruden, Mark Stone, Jesse Hall and Kyle Mulder – finished in the top 10 of MMAAAHL scoring. In the playoffs, the Thrashers rolled over the Interlake Lightning, Brandon Wheat Kings and Pembina Valley Hawks in three games each to move on to the West Regional. After wins over Thunder Bay and Superior, the Thrashers came out on the losing end FOR the first time in 52 games, losing 5-1 to Notre Dame. The same two teams battled for the regional crown and a spot in the 2008 TELUS Cup the following day and it was the Thrashers who advanced, winning a 4-3 double-overtime thriller.

PLAYERS SELECTED IN THE WHL BANTAM DRAFT

Corbin Baldwin – 2006, 4th Round, 65th Overall, Spokane Chiefs – D 6’4” 186 02/05/1991
David Conrad – 2006, 3rd Round, 57th Overall, Spokane Chiefs – F 6’1” 185 01/07/1991
Matt Garvey – 2007, 6th Round, 131st Overall, Medicine Hat Tigers – F 6’2” 177 02/23/1992
Matt Glowa – 2007, 7th Round, 139th Overall, Prince Albert Raiders – F 5’8” 155 05/12/1992
Jesse Hall – 2006, 7th Round, 138th Overall, Brandon Wheat Kings – 5’11” 160 03/22/1991
Michael Hay – 2007, 4th Round, 78th Overall, Swift Current Broncos – F 5’10” 155 05/11/1992
Kyle Mulder – 2006, 8th Round, 161st Overall, Regina Pats – F 6’0” 175 06/13/1991
Mark Stone – 2007, 5th Round, 92nd Overall, Brandon Wheat Kings – F 6’1” 170 05/13/1992
Jeff Weselake – 2006, 10th Round, 196th Overall, Tri-City Americans – D 5’10” 170 01/21/1991

For more information:

Esther Madziya
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 284-6484 

[email protected] 

Spencer Sharkey
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 777-4567

[email protected]

Jeremy Knight
Manager, Corporate Communications
Hockey Canada

(647) 251-9738

[email protected]

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