In honour of Ryan Bessey – who we miss dearly at the program these days – here’s this weeks notes titled ‘buzzing out there’, a popular Bessey catch phrase to describe players who are moving their feet and being noticeable night in night out.
Gavin Connors – Buzzing Out There! Connors was always a stronger player when I had coached him as a youngen, but I didn’t see his name on the U14 HPP roster last year and I didn’t hear much on him last season. The present moment – his size, speed and skill are really showing on tape. Take a closer look for yourself here – he’s number 32 in white. This tape also featured some 2027 grad years who will potentially get their first taste of Atlantic Challenge Cup action this fall (I have 0 say in the selection process) – Quinn Norman (37 black in the above tape) is a player who’s name drew some buzz at U13 Atlantics this spring, Cameron Haye (28 white) is quite an athlete, and Ashton Hierlihy (26 white) is no slouch out there for being a year younger than most (he’s also up for the Supplement King Hardcore POW this week – go vote on our Instagram page). Haye may have flown a little under the radar playing on such a stacked TriCom team last year, but he is a beast.
Lily Spurrell – Buzzing Out There! Spurrell has rapidly developed due to an insatiable work ethic and passion. Spurrell asks good questions, has a good attitude and loves the game – the Clarenville native will spend the winter months under Rebecca Babiak’s tutledge at Mount Academy, which I think will be good for her. Paired with Brooklyn Jefford in a recent Friday game (click here for the tape), the duo played like seasoned veterans.
Brooklyn Sturge – Buzzing Out There! Up until U15 Provincials, I had never heard of Sturge but her skating/acceleration caught my eye on tape. A couple months later, a woman named Krista is writing me asking if this Brooklyn Sturge girl can come out to our program. Sturge is always smiling out on the ice and has great edgework/turns/quickness.
Vijay Sahajpal – Buzzing Out There! If you don’t believe me on this one, go check the U21 Junior tape right here . VJ is consistent, hard-working, quick, and is playing like he deserves a shot at an MHL camp in August. Someone pick up the phone and call this man!
Cole Cooper – Buzzing Out There! Here is a guy who – since being selected by Miramichi in the MHL Draft – has been playing with a boat load of confidence. Cooper’s skating and skill has improved dramatically since the Atlantic’s – this is summer hockey without the compliment of a full bench, but does it not look like 10 white in this tape belongs on the ice with all of these junior players? Look at the rosters in this video description, watch the tape, and let me know https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut96F0H8I3Y&t=1435s . I really think this player gets a serious Major Junior look at some point – maybe a camp invite, maybe a signing, maybe a draft choice (which is somewhat rare statistically these days for 2nd year eligibles) but still happens.
Honorable mention: Haley Ryan has been going off in the Female U18 games so far. Buzzing = understatement. As the old saying goes ‘one can only hope to contain her!’ Ryan has the talent to be a flagship player for NL at the upcoming Canada Games in PEI (barring she has a good Provincial Camp/applies the above skill there), and from schools who have reached out to me about her, I’m clearly not the only one who thinks so.
Related Content
Thoughts from the Arena – Week 1 of Summer ’22 skates article – https://vhghockey.ca/thoughts-from-the-arena-week-1-of-summer-22-skates/
Holy Cross D Carmen Elliott talks Lily Spurrell – https://www.youtube.com/shorts/NAdiEfJSRh0