ESPANOLA—This weekend marks the first official home game of the newly minted Canadian International Hockey League’s (CIHL) Espanola Rivermen when they take on the St. Charles Spirit at 7 pm.
“I think we’re pretty excited that we have more local players than we had last year,” said CIHL president and Rivermen club governor Tim Clayden, noting Carter Noble of Gore Bay, Nevada Waindubence of Sheguiandah First Nation and Zak Pregent of Whitefish River First Nation are part of the 2014-2015 Rivermen squad.
“Nevada is a returning player and he’s got a real good chance to move on next year and go to school,” Mr. Clayden said, adding that he was happy to have Zak as an addition to the Rivermen this year.
When speaking of Carter Noble, Mr. Clayden called him “a young and feisty player” but still a young man in terms of the world of competitive hockey.
“We’re not at the top of the heap yet, but we’re practicing three days a week,” Mr. Clayden added, noting that for some of the players, this is their first year at this caliber of hockey. “They are a happy go lucky bunch. We’re still going to be in the middle of the pack, but we’ve got something to work towards. They’re good kids, but it’s going to take the staff to develop them.” And under the direction of Coach (Tom) McCarthy, they will do just that, he added.
“Our team has a commitment to them that we will work as hard for them to get them into the colleges and universities they want,” Mr. Clayden said.
Judging by the crowds for the Rivermen’s first two exhibition games, an almost sold-out capacity of over 700 fans, Espanola and Manitoulin’s love for Junior A hockey has not waned. “Last year we had people from Manitoulin who would drive an hour there and an hour back to go to a game and we appreciate it,” he added. “Yes, it’s the Espanola Rivermen, but the shield includes Manitoulin and the North Shore.”
There are eight teams in the CIHL—St. Charles Spirit, Batchewana Attack, Collingwood Ice, Milton Cobras, Sudbury Royals, Toronto Hockey Academy, Colborne Hawks and the Espanola Rivermen—but almost 50 in the league umbrella of the United Hockey Union. The Espanola Rivermen opted out of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) this year, joining the inaugural CIHL as the first of the eight teams to sign up.
Two weeks ago, the Rivermen attended a Traverse City, Michigan tournament which acted as an eye-opener for some of the players who are looking to another big one come April when it’s time for the league showdowns.
“It’s a work in progress and we’re going to have some bumps along the way, but we’re so excited,” Mr. Clayden said.
The CIHL will be attending showcase tournaments, like the one in Traverse City, over the season where the kids will gain exposure to scouts from American colleges and universities.
“Why American schools?” Mr. Clayden proposed. “First and foremost, the kids should be in school. It’s very difficult for tier 2 players to make it on Canadian teams whereas college programs in the US have a level for everyone. CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) level of play in Canadian schools is a little bit higher level and harder to make it.”
“At the end of the day, they are playing hockey because they love the sport,” he added. “By the time they finish school, they’ve had the chance to play four years of good hockey, gotten it out of their system and can move on with their careers.”
The whole premise of the league is to take players to the school to get them more exposure, he continued, “and I can’t wait until that happens for one of the Rivermen.”
Cheer on the Rivermen, and the Island contingent, this Friday night in Espanola at 7 pm and see the full-page ad on page 16A of this newspaper for a clip and save season schedule for your refrigerator door.
