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MINOR HOCKEY Kings salute top contributors to rep programs at banquet 19
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Sports
APRIL 16, 2015
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Local goaltender drafted into OHL by Mississauga Steelheads add Jett Alexander to their prospect pool with 12th-round selection JASON PARKS STAFF WRITER
The Ontario Hockey League has come calling Prince Edward County. The Mississauga Steelheads selected goaltender Jett Alexander in the 2015 OHL Priority Draft this past weekend. The 1999-birth year, lefthanded catching netminder who plied his trade this season with the North York Rangers AAA squad admitted it was a trying time while OHL teams made their selection of hockey prospects through the league’s online drafting process Saturday morning. “We hooked up the computer to the TV and sat there for about five hours before we got the news,” Alexander said. Ironically, the league’s website crashed and Alexander learned the Steelheads had selected the county native in the 12th round via text. “I jumped up and hugged my mom,” Alexander said of his reaction. The lanky puck stopper had talked to six or seven OHL squads but last had contact with the Steelheads Thursday night and had a good feeling about winding up in Mississauga. “I’ve worked with their goalie coach (former Belleville Bull) Kory Cooper for a while and we work well together,” he explained. At 6’ 2.5” and 165 lbs, the 16-year-old is hoping to heed Steelhead staff’s advice and put some beef on that slight frame. “I want to get stronger this summer, play a year at a lower level next season and try and get a spot in 2016-17,” Alexander said. Though a local product having grown up on the family farm north of Wellington,
JETT ALEXANDER
Alexander played this past season for North York and spent the previous campaign stopping pucks for the Don Mills Flyers. While the Rangers missed the Greater Toronto Hockey League playoffs by a win, Alexander was satisfied with his season where he came aboard midway through the campaign and played in 11 of 17 regular season games down the stretch. His play was strong enough to earn a selection to the annual GTHL top prospects game. Alexander said hopes to catch on with a Jr. A team next season but isn’t above returning for another season of midget hockey in the largest minor hockey system on the planet. Living two hours away from home was rough at first but Alexander has gotten acclimated to big city living. “I’ve had a lot of fun this year,” Alexander said. “It’s tough on my parents (Jamie Alexander and Sandra Rutter) and it takes its toll but they have supported me the entire way and I wouldn’t be where I am without them.” Alexander was expected to be in the crease this weekend at Iceland Arena in Mississauga as the club hosts its annual spring prospects camp.
GOLDEN GROUP The Under-14 County Clippers beat Lindsay, Orillia, Huntsville, Port Colborne, and Milton over the weekend as they earned the association’s first tournament championship in Ontario Basketball Association play. (Submitted photo)
Clippers crowned champs in Hamilton Under-14 boys go undefeated in Blessed Sacrament tournament to cap off their season ADAM BRAMBURGER STAFF WRITER
The Under-14 County Clippers won their last game of the season — and every other game this weekend — at the prestigious Blessed Sacrament Tournament in Hamilton. Though the winning record and gold medals stand alone as impressive accomplishments, coach Rob Garden said the team did two things he was really proud of in the five-game event. "Our defence kept all opponents under 40 pints, which seeks very highly of our focus all season," he said. "We also played every player every game this weekend, which wasn't the norm for most teams, but it was important for us that guys got their minutes." To start the event, the Clippers took the court after a long drive Friday night against a well-known foe in the Lindsay Wildcats. The teams had already met twice in the season, splitting the decisions. Garden said the Clippers struggled early to find their offence, but they were able to hang in the game until the sec-
ond half, when they got a jump in the third to take a 10point lead. Lindsay never caught them as the Clippers triumphed 40-32. Joe Burley had 12 points and Brodie Byford, 11. Early the next morning, the Clippers tipped off against the Orillia Lakers. Again, they started slow with only six points in the first quarter. Garden said they eventually took over, however, as they led by eight at half-time and kept going late in the game. Thomas Davies hit a big threepointer late that would seal the 39-21 win. Byford led with 12 points. Jack MacCool had six. Going into Game 3, the Clippers knew they'd have to be at their best. Garden said during a previous match this year, the Huntsville Hurricanes had beaten them by 20 points. Early on, it didn't appear things were going to turn for the better. The Clippers again struggled in the first half of the game, but they came out in the third quarter with a renewed sense of purpose to outscore their opponents 17-6. Defensively, they got even stingier in the fourth, limiting
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the Hurricanes to just four points while their own offence kept pro ducting to lead to an impressive 50-29 winning margin. MacCool and Byford each scored 15 points. Dylan Morrow had eight and Devon Wilton, six. The win gave the local squad first place in pool play. The tournament format saw the Clippers cross over to play the seconded team going into the tournament, the Port Colborne Hornets. Almost a hallmark on the weekend, Garden noted his team again didn't start well as they missed their first 12 shots. The defence would not break, however, and it held the Clippers in until they started to sink easy baskets in the second quarter. As the game progressed, the offence started clicking and the Clippers won 46-33. Byford led scorers with 10, MacCool and Ian Forsyth each had eight, and Burley contributed six. Going into the final against the Milton Stags, Garden said his team had a simple game plan to follow in order to capture the championship. "The message was the boys had earned the right to be
here and they just needed to rely on their teammates and do what they had been doing all year," he said. "Milton had one really good player and we had a focus to shut him down." MacCool and Morrow took on that defensive assignment and they did their jobs well in a 48-37 victory. Garden reported that after the team shook off some early jitters, they started to take over the game. Byford was dominant from the post with a 15point effort and a number of clutch rebounds defensively. MacCool was in control at point guard and Burley was also effective grabbing rebounds. Following the game, Byford and MacCool were given shared tournament MVP honours. The championship was the first for a Clippers team in tournament play. The Under14 squad also celebrated a 148 record on the season. They'll toast those accomplishments and many others shared with the Under-12 girls and boys teams at a year-end banquet next Wednesday at the Picton Golf and Country Club.
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