The 2022 instalment of the Male U18 AAA Atlantic’s kicks off this Thursday @ the Paradise Double Pad, and we are going to break down the contestants, and offer up some fearless predictions. Let’s go!
Host: East Coast Blizzard
2021-22 Record: 16-12-4 (lost in round 1 to Tri-Pen in 6 games)
Head-to-Head vs Provincial Reps: 1-8 (1-7 vs Growlers, 0-1 vs Charlottetown)
What to Look For: The Blizzard were eliminated from NL U18 AAA playoff action at the beginning of April, so there may be a dash of rust out of the gate for the host club. The blue and white get graduating defenceman Liam Marshall back from injury, which is a huge boost to a D core that – outside of minutes eater Kyle Mcguire – was young and inexperienced this season. Up front, the Blizz will lean on the ‘kid line’ of Kyle Tucker, Liam Noble and Ash Mitchelmore who – in our humble opinion – was coach Mark Lee’s go-to line in the second half of the year. Tucker is fast and smart with the puck…. Noble is big and has a lot of individual skill…. and Mitchelmore is the Charley Hustle on the right side.
The Blizzard need to get top-notch goaltending if they wish to compete in this event. The goaltending tandem of ’06 Sean Hogan and ’05 Josh Hillier will need to really dial it in to combat the firepower of some of the other clubs. If the game turns into a shootout, the Blizz need Ryan Loveless to play like he did in the first half of the season. The ’05 winger will be on the radar of PEI head coach Luke Beck, an astute hockey mind who was once AP’s line mate with the defunct Charlottetown Abbies MHL franchise. Beck will likely make every effort to shut the Loveless-Toole-Hawkins line down, as the trio converted on multiple scoring opportunities in their Monctonian matchup.
NL Rep: Pinnacle Growlers
2021-22 Record: 29-2-1 (Won Provincial Championship vs Tri-Pen in 6 games)
Head-to-Head vs Provincial Reps: 7-1 (7-1 vs Blizzard, no games played vs other provincial reps)
What to Look For: The ‘dawgs advanced to the elite 8 @ the Monctonian back in November, and are fresh off a playoff series that ended less than 48 hours ago. The Growlers have a solid club across all positions. In goal, ’04 Nathan Hurley can steal you a game and ’05 Clay Ryan has long been known as a big game goaltender. On the back end, the emergence of ’04 Cole Gosse has been something. Gosse was – in our opinion – the biggest X-Factor in the league final series as the Osprey just did not have a defenceman who controlled the game from start to finish like Gosse did. Gosse – along with Hiscock, Butler and Drew Sheppard in the net front – will likely be the first unit over the boards for coach Trevor Budgell on a man advantage and one would expect Gosse to be at the top of the formation controlling the operation. Junior ‘A’ teams HAVE to take note of this player, as Gosse will – not if, will – be a excellent Junior ‘A’ defenceman in any league across this so-so nation that charges us too much to pay for other people’s healthcare.
NB Rep: Moncton Flyers
2021-22 Record: 25-3-2 (Won Provincial Championship vs Saint John in a 4 game sweep)
Head-to-Head vs Provincial Reps: 5-2 (4-2 vs PEI, 1-0 vs NS, NL teams no games played)
What to Look For: The Flyers beat up on the 2021 Monctonian champs the Saint John Vito’s in the playoffs, getting the brooms out and sweeping the port city in convincing fashion. The Flyers have some players who will be wearing QMJHL jerseys as soon as 2022-23. Preston Lounsbury (Wildcats), Luke Patterson (Eagles), and Spencer Gill (QMJHL Draft List top-50) will be names to stash away for those of you QMJHL junkies out there, while Jeremie Richard is also a prospect of interest. The Flyers are arguably the stingiest team in this event, giving up less than 2 goals a night to opposing offences and have shut their opponents out 3 times in their past 7 matches. Name of interest on this coaching staff – skills coach Bruce Graham. A blast from the past who was an absolute stud in the VHG boys playing eras.
PEI Rep: Charlottetown Knights
2021-22 Record: 21-9 (Won Provincial Playdowns over Kensington)
Head-to-Head vs Provincial Reps: 3-4 (2-4 vs NB, 1-0 vs Blizzard)
What to Look For: The Knights are a team that rely on scoring depth, with 8 skaters hovering around the 1.00 PPG mark but none with gaudy stats. Q scouts will likely be keeping a close eye on the Knights, as some of their top players are born in 2006. Lincoln Waugh is every bit the PP QB that Luke Coughlin was before him, Carson Griffin isn’t pretty but is very effective, and Ross Campbell reminds us of a young PEI legend by the name of David Ling. Names of interest on this coaching staff – the irony of Luke Beck working with director of player development Scott Bridges. Bridges was the Head Coach of Summerside back in the days when the Abbies-Caps Junior ‘A’ rivalry was a thing, and the legendary Cahill Stadium stood tall on a patch of red earth next to the Summerside race track (the nostalgia)!
NS Rep: Halifax Macs
2021-22 Record: 28-5-1 (Won Provincials over CB West 3 games to 1)
Head-to-Head vs Provincial Reps: (0-1 vs NB, have not played any of the other teams)
What to Look For: A high-octane offence. ’04 Jacob Fletcher destroyed the NS U18 Major League this season, while Brandon Abbass – when he wasn’t playing for the Halifax Mooseheads – wasn’t far behind him. The Macs will pick up some offensive contributions from their back end – Q Draft-eligibles Jack McMinn and Eric Halliday look like the same person on the ice, and will be elusive puck movers for the Macs. The Macs are usually in this position at the end of the season, and some credit has to go to the coaching staff (Tim Boyce and Tony McCarthy). Both coaches have been with the Macs program a long time, and were solid players at the Maritime Junior ‘A’ level in their heydays. Both have earned our respect.
Fearless Predictions
The Moncton Flyers win the event outright. This is a fast, skilled team with numerous players who have Major ‘A’ experience already.
Salty the Whale falls down during the opening ceremonies, or in a big spot at some point during the tournament. Thank you Deb Smith for coining the priceless name.
Luggage issues effect at least 1 team in the tournament, as it wouldn’t be a trip on or off the island that didn’t have something go wrong with equipment (ask the 2018-19 St. John’s Hitmen)
‘Cotton Eyed Joe’ is on the Paradise Double Pads tournament playlist and gets some air time every game
The Blizzard ‘kid line’ impresses and sees their QMJHL Draft stocks rise by the end of the weekend
Quinn Kennedy solidifies himself as a bona fide top-10 Q Draft selection with an impressive showing (his agent T Mac rejoices)
Until Next Time,
The VHG Boys