BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
The new Copper Cliff Redmen Minor Midget rep
team is looking for a few good, young men.
The team is now calling for players to fill
out the roster for a full season of high exposure to hockey
scouts.
Two tryouts will take place at the McClelland
Arena in Copper Cliff on Sept. 5. The first session is from 9
am to 10:30 am. The second session is from 7:30 pm to 9
pm.
Sudbury-born players need only show up with
their identification. Players outside the Sudbury district must
follow the Northern Ontario Hockey Association rules (NOHA) and
get a release from their home association.
Once the team has been established after the
tryouts, the team will have nine practices and hit the road for
tournaments.
The team will play in six major AAA
provincial tournaments, including the Toronto Marlboros Holiday
Classic, which is widely considered to be one of the most
watched tournaments in the province.
The team will also host the Barrie Junior
Colts AAA Minor Midget team on the weekend of Sept. 23 to
coincide with a Future Prospect Celebrity auction and dinner
hosted by world-renowned chef Michel Cullen.
The Redmen staff has a smorgasbord of hockey
experience. Denis Aubut is the head coach. Assistant coaches
are Mike Heaphy, Stu Duncan and Todd Gagnon. The goalie coach
is Scott Murray from Revolutionary Goaltending. Rod LaRocque
will be the general manager. Ken Creasey will act as
governor.
"We have put a lot of work into this and it's
great to see it come together," said LaRocque. "I don't think
there's a staff with more experience. It's a
real privilege that our program has attracted
this caliber of coaches. It will all benefit the
players."
Potential prospects are salivating at the
opportunity to be seen by OHL and NCAA scouts.
"I think this will be a great way to get
talent up north noticed," said Kevin Reynen, 14.
Other kids think it's about time they get
seen more.
"It's definitely a good thing for us," said
Shane Innes, 15. "It will be great to showcase out talents to
scouts from the OHL and the NCAA. We will be competitive as
well."
The Redmen are adopting the minor midget
program from Thunder Bay, which has, in the past two years, had
15 players drafted.
Hockey scouts see the obvious benefit of the
increased exposure.
"It puts everybody in a group and it will be
easier for scouts to see these guys at one time," said Doug
Bonhomme, OHL Central Scout.
The extra attention is part of the
battle.
"I applauded their idea and effort," said
International Scouting Services Chief Scout Mark Seidel. "It
will work because the kids will get the exposure to top scouts
around the province. "
The minor midget program will run for at
least three years.
For additional information on The Redmen,
visit their website at
www.coppercliffredmen.com
.
