While many hockey fans are gearing up for the start of the NHL season in October, six local teens are lacing up and hitting the ice in the Canadian Hockey League.
Brock Phillips, Robbie Burt, Sean Allen, Eddie Schulz, Owen MacDonald and Tristan Liggett will represent Wellington County this season in what many consider the top developmental hockey league in the world.
Brock Philips
Fergus native Brock Philips is heading to the Guelph Storm as a defenceman this season. Philips was the team’s fifth round (100th overall) pick in the 2014 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) draft but wasn’t called up until last season in February.
With three players out, the team needed help on defence.
“I (found out) February 21 at about 11 o’clock the night before the Mississauga Steelheads game that I made my debut in,” said Philips.
“I was pretty ecstatic about the entire thing. I just couldn’t wait to get out there.”
The six-foot, five-inch 17-year-old played eight games with 14 penalty minutes in the 2014-15 season. He says he is ready this season to show what he’s made of – both to the Storm’s top brass and to fans.
“I’m looking most forward to proving everyone else wrong and just going into the season with a younger team than most teams and hopefully just blowout their expectations and just have a really good playoff run this year and see how far we can get,” he said.
Being from Fergus, Philips said he was always a fan of the Guelph Storm growing up.
“We always grew up going to Storm games all throughout my minor hockey career. We always looked up to them and now it’s pretty surreal being one of them,” he said.
Robbie Burt
The Kingston Frontenacs grabbed Robbie Burt of Hillsburgh with their first pick during the 2015 OHL draft (11th overall). The 16-year-old winger, called a “tank on skates” by OHL central scouting, said he’s ready to prove that with his new team.
“That’s the way I try to play. I try to make everybody scared and go in the corners with everybody and just try and use my body … and hit people,” said Burt.
He has played hockey since he was three and he too grew up watching Guelph Storm games.
“It’s like a dream come true,” said Burt. “Ever since (I was) a little kid living in Hillsburgh, going to Guelph Storm games was a big highlight, just wishing you could just play for them or play against them would be amazing – now I have the opportunity.”
He said the OHL is one step closer to the ultimate goal of playing in the NHL.
As for what motivates him, he said, “Love of the game I guess, I haven’t done anything else in my life, just played hockey.”
Sean Allen
While not a new addition to the Kitchener Rangers, Sean Allen of Puslinch is ready to bring his top game during the 2015-16 season.
Allen joined the team last year as the Rangers’ third round pick (41st overall) but split his season with the Ontario Hockey Association’s Kitchener Dutchmen.
In six Rangers games last season, Allen grabbed one assist and 11 minutes in penalties. He said he is looking forward to this season.
“Just working hard and trying to possibly get a good playoff run going and hopefully go into the Memorial Cup,” said Allen.
“I just love the sport, I just love going to the rink every day and being on the ice with the guys,” he said.
Allen said playing for the Rangers is “a big honour; you know it’s a big step in everyone’s junior hockey career and it’s one step closer to the NHL but you just got to push yourself more.”
Eddie Schulz
Another new player to the OHL is Eddie Schulz of Erin. While he was selected by the Peterborough Petes in the fifth round (89th overall) in the 2014 draft, he spent his 2014-15 season playing for the Strathroy Rockets.
But he has been signed this year to join the Petes as centre.
“It’s unbelievable actually. I mean it’s a dream-come-true type situation for me and I’m hoping to run with the opportunity here, work hard,” said Schulz.
“I’m just looking forward to getting to know the boys, finding my place on the team, working my way hopefully up the lineup, just working hard and winning some games.”
Schulz added, “You’re trying to become a professional hockey player one day, hopefully in the NHL like everybody’s dream so you keep working towards that and for everything your family sacrificed, and what you’ve sacrificed to get there so you just play for that.”
Others
Owen MacDonald of Elora is playing in his fourth season as centre with the London Knights and will be eligible for the 2016 NHL draft. In the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Tristan Liggett, who grew up playing minor hockey in Elora, is a defenceman on Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.
