OJHL’s loss could be South Muskoka’s gain
SOUTH MUSKOKA - The South Muskoka Shield is taking advantage of the contraction of the Couchiching Terriers and Seguin Bruins by the Ontario Junior A Hockey League (OJHL) and Central Canadian Hockey League.
During the Greater Metro Jr. A Hockey League (GMHL) draft last week, the Shield selected six players from the two now-defunct teams.
A few weeks ago the OJHL announced that five teams will be contracted before the start of the 2010-11 season. The Bramalea Blues, Couchiching Terriers and Seguin Bruins were among those that were bought out by the league. Meanwhile, the Ajax Attack will merge with the Pickering Panthers and the Bowmanville Eagles will merge with the Cobourg Cougars.
“Basically the draft is all about protection,” said coach Dallyn Telford, who has been eyeing a number of the players who now have nowhere to play.
However, just because the players have been drafted to the South Muskoka squad doesn’t necessarily mean they will be signed to the team, he said.
“We may not see these kids on the team, but there is definitely interest there,” Telford explained. “They have to go through a dispersal draft on June 15, which gives the other OJHL teams a chance to draft and sign the players.”
As it stands, the Shield expects about a dozen existing players to return for the 2010-11 season.
General manager Gord Carey was pleased with the team’s draft picks. They include (in order of draft) former Couchiching forwards Ryan Purvis, 18, of Orillia, 20-year-old Taylor Holdaway of Orillia, 18-year-old Daniel Clairmont of Bracebridge, and 18-year-old Andrew Parks of Orillia.
The Shield’s fifth and sixth draft picks were defencemen including 20-year-old Tyler Lumley of Barrie, who formerly played for the Penetang Kings Jr. C team, and 18-year-old Derek van Ness of Barrie, who played for the Collingwood Blues.
The next two picks came from the Seguin Bruins. Defenceman Jeff Vanzant, 20, and forward Troy Craig, 19, both of Barrie, were drafted to the Shield.
The Shield’s ninth pick was Brad Baum, 21, a forward from the Penetang Kings. The team’s 10th draft pick was traded to the Elliot Lake Bobcats for a third-round pick in the 2011 draft.
Carey and Telford also plan to attend several weekend prospect tournaments in Toronto where they will be scouting players.
During the GMHL draft, teams also had to declare which 21-year-old players they would protect. The league modified its rule on over-age players. Last year, over-age players had to have already played in the league the previous season.
This year, one free agent, who hasn’t played in the league, can be protected and ultimately signed.
According to Carey, forwards Jon Adams and Rob Childs have been protected, and the club is holding out on its third choice.
“There are no 21-year-olds allowed in the OHL (Ontario Hockey League), so we could still get one good prospect,” said Carey. “It’s an opportunity to get a good hockey player who can’t play elsewhere because of age.”
That means 21-year-olds Shayne Wright, Matt Foley and Jon Kerr have become free agents. During the draft, the Deseronto Storm acquired Wright, but it remains to be seen if Wright will agree to play for the team.
New this year to the GMHL are the Sturgeon Falls Lumberjacks and the all-Russian Shelburne Red Wings. In addition, King Wild is moving to the Vaughan Iceplex and will be renamed.