With the 2022-23 hockey season about to begin, we are firing off 4 bold statements + a bonus statement that should get some people talking in the NL hockey world.
To be classified as a bold statement, the statement has to be a surprise to most. For example, saying ‘Connor McDavid will win the Art Ross in 2022-23’ is not a surprise. But if I said Cole Caufield will win, that’s off-the-beaten path but shining some light on a player who has plenty of talent to be in the mix for the ‘Ross.
Disclaimer*** this is supposed to be a FUN article. If we don’t mention you, it’s not because we don’t think you’re a great player/not giving love to your team/region.
Bold Statement #1 – Max Sheppard wins D-Man of the Year in U15 AAA. ‘Shep went from being an alternate on the U14 HPP team in 2021 to a regular in 2022, mainly because of his skating, poise with the puck and fearlessness for being on the smaller side. ‘Shep is a smart D-man who reminds me a lot of Charles Walsh when Walsh played U15 AAA for the Hitmen. On the smaller side but smart, quick and good with his stick in the defensive zone. Sheppard will play for the TriCom Thunder – teams were posted yesterday, here they are voila! Lots of VHG representation below:
Bold Statement #2 – Adrienne Shannahan plays as a top-pair D in U13 AAA Male. Shannahan was an AP for the U13AAA Hitmen in 2021-22, and has shown no signs of slowing down this summer. ‘Shanny’ is a competitive S.O.B who skates well and is – by all accounts – a tremendous soccer player (I wouldn’t know a good soccer player from a bad one; I am motley at the sport). In what is shaping up to be an interesting U13 circuit in 2022-23 (extra metro team), Shanny shines.
Bold Statement #3 – Growlers F Mark Corbett finishes in the top-10 in NL U18 Major scoring. Corbett could very well be the Growlers version of Reegan Hiscock from previous years. Corbett is a big lad who has hands; I think teams who might not know Corbett will get to know him rather quickly. This is a bold statement because Corbett – like Tyler Curnew last year – toiled in the U18 AA/High School stream for a couple of years before making a splash at the U18 AAA level.
I think that the NL U18 League scoring title will be a 4-horse race between Dutcher (Western), Caines (Western), Crosbie (Tri-Pen) and Loveless (Blizzard – my opinion based off very lazy research, I’m definitely forgetting someone or two), but Corbett could be in the conversation with these guys come February. Corbett is also an elite athlete – go follow the NL Softball Twitter page if ya don’t believe me. To see my Pinnacle Growlers team preview, click here!
Bold Statement #4 – Katie Hurley Plays – and Plays Well – in U15AAA Male. While there will be competition in Central for a spot on the U15AAA Male team, I feel like Katie Hurley wins a spot and shows very well this season. The Grand Falls-Windsor native stood on her head for the IcePak in U13AAA Male last season, and looked strong in limited viewings at the U16 Female Provincial team regroup last weekend in Paradise. This statement is bold because I cannot remember the last female player to play goal in U15AAA Male – according to sources, the last female goalie to do so was Abby Clarke (also with Central) which was not yesterday. Hurley is a name that prep and university programs MUST stash away (2027 grad year); be sure to stop in take a look at Team NL U16 Female at the upcoming Atlantic Challenge Cup October 7-10, 2022 in Moncton. There’s a super handsome Assistant Coach on the bench for that team… me! Just kidding. I’m on the bench though.
BONUS Bold Statement – The HNL U14 Male team has one heck of an ACC in October. Disclaimer – I think all the HNL HPP teams are good and have a shot at winning in 2022. But I just have this feeling about the U14’s. Not only are they deep from 1-12 up front and 1-6 on the back end, this team has exceptional goaltending that could steal them a tournament if they run into some tough competition. This team has size, skill, grit, superstar power, and a good mix of coaches behind the bench. Could they go undefeated? Well, lets put it this way… did you ever think there would be two official stat holidays within a handful of days of each other? Nothing is out of the realm of possibility, baby!
Until next time
AP