WHY WE'RE KNOWN AS THE HOCKEY FACTORY!
Our team plays out of the Navan Memorial Centre just east of Ottawa (most players live in Ottawa); while our team belongs to the Central Junior Hockey League (CJHL). The opportunity that we offer to you is to “be noticed”. The Grads have an exceptional track record of developing student athletes for the next level – in fact, we think we’re the best around at it! We’re very proud of having four former Grads having seen NHL action this past year; but over and above that great statistic, have a look at some of the players we’ve developed with our club all since 2000:
- Eric O’Dell – 10th round pick in OHL – opts to develop within our program – gets noticed – goes to CJAHL Prospects Game, offered $200,000 NCAA scholarship at St. Cloud State…opts for full four year CIS scholarship through Sudbury Wolves…joins them in January 2008 (32 points in 26 games) – selected to Team Canada U-18 team playing in Russia in April 2008 – DRAFTED #39th overall by the ANAHEIM Ducks in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. (scholarship to fall back on – developed by the Grads)
- Jason Akeson – undrafted as a 16 yr. old – develops through the Grads as a 16 year old – leads team in scoring – gets noticed – drafted 6th rd. by Memorial Cup host Kitchener Rangers – continues to develop with us this past season – goes to CJAHL Prospects Game – offered four year Educational package through Kitchener – joins Kitchener in January 2008 – plays and scores in Memorial Cup this year with scholarship to fall back on (developed by the Grads)
- Simon Lacroix – undrafted into the OHL – develops with us – gets noticed – walks on to Shawinigan in QMJHL – selected in 7th round by the New York Islanders
- Claude Giroux – undrafted at 16, undrafted at 17 – develops through the Grads – gets noticed - walks on to Gatineau in QMJHL – leads team in scoring two seasons – member Junior Team Canada (Gold Medal) – 1st round NHL pick to Philadelphia Flyers (22nd overall) – saw first action in NHL in 2007-08 season
- Jonathon Matsumoto – 15th round pick to Sudbury Wolves – opts to play and develop for the Grads – gets noticed – offered full four year NCAA scholarship to Bowling Green – leads Bowling Green in scoring - selected in 3rd round in NHL draft by Philadelphia Flyers – currently playing in the AHL for the Philadelphia Phantoms
- Danny Taylor – plays for the Grads as a 16yr. old – gets noticed – offered NCAA scholarship at St. Lawrence University – opts for the OHL with Guelph Platers (wins championship) – drafted 7th round in the NHL by the LA Kings – saw his first NHL game action in 2007-08 seeason – presently playing for Manchester (AHL)
- Max Taylor – undrafted in the OHL – plays and develops with the Grads – gets noticed – offered full four year NCAA scholarship with St. Lawrence University – signs with Texas Wildcatters in ECHL – also saw action in 2007-08 in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies (where he is playing in 2008-09)
- Simon Lambert – plays and develops with Grads over four seasons – gets noticed - offered NCAA scholarship at R.I.T. – leads team in many categories – graduates in 3.5 years with a full engineering degree with a high GPA – and selected as a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award given each year to the top player in NCAA hockey
- Jason Murfit – plays and develops with the Grads – gets noticed – recruited to NCAA - Manhattanville College on a four year scholarship – sets all team scoring records
- Brent Patrie – plays for the Grads – gets noticed – recruited to NCAA - R.I.T. on a four year scholarship
- Brendan McIntyre – plays for the Grads – gets noticed – recruited to NCAA - Bemidji State on a four year scholarship
- Craig Nooyen – plays for the Grads – gets noticed – recruited to NCAA – Canisius College on a four year scholarship
- Christian Boucher – plays for the Grads – gets noticed – recruited to NCAA – Robert Morris on a four year scholarship
- Matt Pierce – plays for the Grads – gets noticed – plays part season with R.M.C. in CIS Hockey - signs in the SPHL – Knoxville Ice Bears
- Keith Wynn – plays for the Grads – gets noticed – OHL - Mississauga Ice Dogs
- Bryan Wilson – plays for the Grads – gets noticed – to QMJHL - Gatineau Olympiques
- Pierre Alexander Marion – plays for the Grads – gets noticed – to QMJHL - Drummondville
- And of course who can forget NHLers Stephane Yelle (Calgary Flames) and Matt Bradley (Washington Capitals) who developed through the Grads prior to 2000…and of course – got noticed
Needless to say, our players are heavily scouted by higher levels of hockey –and in fact, schools steer kids to our program given our strong record and deserved reputation for development.
Bottom line – want to get noticed? Be a Grad! Send us an email for more information. We hope to see you competing at one of our upcoming evaluation camps.
Sincerely,
Steve Barban
President/Governor
Cumberland Grads Junior A Hockey Club
