GRADS NEWS |
Billet homes NEEDED for the Grads |
| With the strong national prominence that the Grads program is earning as a "hockey factory", we are now attracting greater and greater interest from players from outside the Ottawa area. Given the highly competitive nature of the CJHL; the Grads need the import players to build around our core group of locally developed players. This is where we need your help. The Grads have an urgent need for families with spare room in their homes to billet a player for the upcoming season. The players have strict rules to folow while staying with their billet familes and are generally either in school or at the rink - which is five days per week. As well, keep in mind that the Grads compensates the family on a weekly basis for billeting the player. Please call the hockey office at 613-835-4297 for further details. |
Grads Coach Named Team Canada East Head Coach |
Hockey Canada has announced that Grads coach, Mark Grady has been named as the Head Coach of Team Canada East for the World Junior A Challenge to be held in Camrose, Alberta this November. This is a tremendous honour for Mark and yet another feather in the cap of the Grads program. Not only are our players being noticed by scouts, but so are our coaches. Congratulations Mark - bring back the Gold! |
Grads announce their 2008 Entry Draft Selections |
Yet again, the Grads crackerjack scouting staff did a great job with this year's CJHL entry draft. We are proud to announce the following selections:
1st Round Michael Borkowski (1992 - F) Ottawa Senators AAA - 8th overall
1st Round Kevin Lough (1992 - D) Ottawa Senators AAA - 11th overall
2nd Round - Brent Bisdee (1991 - F) Ottawa Valley Titans AAA - 15th overall
4th Round - Peter Cook (1992 - F) Cumberland Barons AA - 41st overall
5th Round - Fabian Walsh (1992 - F) Ottawa Jr. 67's AAA - 52nd overall
5th Round - Jeff Stout (1992 - G) - Ottawa Senators AAA - 55th overall
6th Round - Sean Bamford (1991 - F) - Ottawa Jr. 67's AAA - 63rd overall
7th Round - Matt Hagen (1989 - D) - Ottawa West Jr. B - 74th overall
8th Round - Adam Mohr (1992 - G) - Ottawa Senators AAA - 85th overall
9th Round - Sam McLaughlin (1992 - F) - Cumberland Barons AA - 90th overall
10th Round - Jason Seed (1992 - D) - Ottawa Silver Seven AA - 101st overall
Major Bantam Protected Players:
Doug Harvey (1993 - F) - Ottawa Valley Titans AAA
Keegan Harper (1993 - D) - Ottawa Jr. 67's AAA
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Grads revamp Minor Hockey Camp with "Elite Division" |
Every summer the Grads, in conjunction with the Cumberland Barons and the Cumberland Minor Hockey Association, hold a hockey school for kids aged 6-15. With our low coach/player ratio; current Grads players skating with the kids throughout the camp, as well as having top flight coaches as instructors (not to mention a certified Junior A level trainer rinkside everyday!), it is no wonder that our camp is the preferred summer hockey school for more and more kids every year. Our 2007 camp was our biggest yet (details below). See you in 2008! New this year - the Grads have added an Elite Division (ages 8-15) to accomodate those kids who currently play in the competitive stream, or aspire to do so. Three hours of on ice instruction per day (versus two), with drills run at a high tempo by Junior A coaches will make for excellent preparation in advance of tryouts and evaluations.
Camp Information - pdf
Registration Form - pdf |
Alumni Grads making waves |
Don't look now, but two more alumni Grads are making good use of their development time with the Grads. Simon Lambert (RIT), a Grad from 2000-2004 was recently named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, which is handed out to the top NCAA hockey player across the entire USA. This is a tremendous honour for Simon and we are extremely proud to have helped him develop his hockey skills while with the Grads. Not only did Simon excel on the ice but he also completed a Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering in his four years at RIT to fall back on once he finishes his hockey career. Look for Simon to continue to make waves in pro hockey!
A few years younger, but also making a splash is Eric O'Dell who garnered 32 points in only 26 games this season as a 17 year old with the Sudbury Wolves. Eric, originally a 10th round pick into the OHL was able to parlay his time and effort with the Grads into an explosive OHL start this January, and considerable notice from the NHL. In fact, Eric is already being touted as a mid second round pick in this year's NHL draft. (UPDATE - ERIC WAS PICKED #39th OVERALL BY THE ANAHEIM DUCKS - CONGRATS ERIC) Proof yet again, that the Grads are an organization committed to player development as well as winning.
Want to get noticed? - be a Grad!
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PROFIT Magazine profiles Grads Owner |
The Cumberland Grads get some national media attention off the ice, as PROFIT Magazine delves into Grad's owner, Steve Barban's motivation to buy the team as well as his experiences with the club thus far in this recent article. |
Grads add Mathieu Bougie to coaching ranks |
The Cumberland Grads are pleased to announce that Mathieu Bougie has joined the club as an Assistant Coach. Mathieu is a successful, experienced CJHL coach, and we are delighted to have him on the home side. Given the team's major investment into game video analysis this off season; more hockey staff were required to round out our hockey operations staff and hence we are pleased with our additions over the last nine months.
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Become part of the team - Volunteer with the Grads!! |
The Cumberland Grads are always looking for more great staff to help run our hockey games. If interested, please contact us for more information. Currently we have volunteers from all areas of our community. Our volunteer are students, retired members of our community, young hockey players, and we have even had whole families volunteer, which is a great bonding family function. The Grads welcome all volunteers, there is no minimum game commitment, or requirements. . Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community, obtain volunteer hours for school, and be a part of a great organization. |
Alumni Grads in the NHL this past season! |
Make that four! With the Los Angeles Kings calling up Danny Taylor (G) on March 27th, that makes four; the number of former Grads who have seen playing time in the show in the 2007-08 NHL season. Danny joined Claude Giroux who played his first two NHL games with Philadelphia this past season as well as veteran NHLer's , Matt Bradley (Washington) and Stephane Yelle (Calgary). It's all about development and winning - something our program clearly demonstrates!
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AAA Jr. Grads end Successful Sophomore Season |
Congrats to the fine players who competed for the 1997 AAA Jr. Grads this spring. After losing their first three games, the boys went on to lose only seven of their remaining twenty games! Well done boys and good luck with your various winter teams this upcoming season.
If you're a competitive level coach, and would like to expore fielding a AAA Junior Grads team for spring 2009 in your child's age category, please contact the Grads.
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Barons adopt the Jr. Grads name |
At their AGM held April 26th, The Cumberland Barons Minor Hockey Club voted to have their team known as the Cumberland Jr. Grads for all age groups and levels going forward. Much like their colleagues in many other cities - and right here in Nepean and Gloucester - the norm is to name the competitive level minor hockey program after the Junior A level team in the community. The Grads enjoy a great working relationship with all levels of minor hockey in Cumberland, and look forward to building upon that relationship.
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Grads Merchandise Now Online |
The Grads offer an exciting and complete line of official logo-ed merchandise. Show your team colours and support the team. See what's available in the Grads Gear section and order today - supplies are limited!
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Mini Grads for IP teams |
What can be more exciting for an IP player than to play a mini game between periods at one of our games. The Grads can accomodate you at one of our Sunday afternoon home games. Bring the whole family...watch your child play and be treated to exciting Junior A hockey as a bonus! Please call for further details.
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Jeff Clarke wins 3-Stars for Season!
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Talk about perserverence. Mirroring the determination of his on ice play; Jeff refuses to let the loss of his linemates bring him down the rest of the way. Jeffrey Clarke stepped up this season with 40 goals and 40 assists (10th overall in the league) to earn top honours in JT Bradleys 3-Star competition. Don't be surprised if NCAA offers start making their way Jeff's way as scouts take notice of his firebrand style of play and skill around the net. Congrats Jeff!!
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Minor Hockey and School Fundraisers! |
Does your team or school need funds for this year? We can help by offering your minor hockey/ringette team (or school) discounted Grads game tickets, which can be resold for any amount up to the ticket's face value. Sell only 60 tickets and make an easy $300 for your team or school!! Call for details.
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