Timmins Majors News 2008-2009
Winning in style
Saturday September 6, 2008
Majors open season with victory
Posted By VINCENT MAN, THE DAILY PRESS
Sporting new jerseys, the Timmins Majors began the Great North Midget League hockey season with a 6-1 victory over the Kirkland Lake Legion 87's at McIntyre Arena on Friday night.
Ryan Wildman and Byron Katapaytuk each scored a pair of goals, while Eric Allarie and Jordan Kord added singles in the victory. On the other end of the ice, goaltender Trevor McGee was sharp in allowing one goal.
With a fresh look and fresh legs, the Majors spent most of the game as the aggressors.
"It was definitely a quicker pace," McGee said. "All the boys came out working hard. Everybody kept going and we got a lot of goals.
"I think I didn't do that bad. I kind of let in a weak breakway. I should've had it. I thought he was going to shoot, but I guessed wrong."
With a 5-1 advantage midway through the third period, McGee thrawted a quality scoring opportunity for Kirkland Lake. The goalie reacted quickly to a re-directed shot, then slapped it away from a rebound-hungry attacker.
"That's my goal this season," he said. "Just try to keep the puck out and keep the goals against average as low as possible."
Including the pre-season, the Majors have won each of their five games, with each victory coming by a margin of three goals or more.
"When it's a win, we're always happy," head coach Murray McGee said.
"I think we did very well ... Most of it right now is effort. We're getting 110 per cent effort from everybody, not just a few guys. When every-one's giving 110 it makes a difference out there."
While the coach was pleased to see a number of facets executed well, he said he liked how his team set the pace.
"It's impressive when you can hem the other team in their own zone and they can't get out," he said. "Amazing things happen" when you do that.
Wildman opened the scoring by notching the only marker in the first period. When the second period began, he added to the lead scoring his second goal of the game one minute into the middle frame.
The line of Wildman, Allarie and Michael Fink stayed on the ice to further increase the lead. Forty seconds later, Allarie had the honours of putting the puck in the net.
Each player on the line recorded three points in the game.
Three minutes later, Drew Moffat broke the shutout for the Legion 87's with a goal assisted by Mikey Souriol.
The next goal did not come until the third period.
Katapaytuk sprung for a breakaway and converted a short-handed goal four minutes into the period.
"It's a good confidence booster," coach McGee said. "We have a set play for our penalty kill and it worked for us. We'll definitely keep using it."
Katapaytuk was at it again four minutes later when his rocket of a one-timer gave the Majors a 5-1 lead. His second marker came on the power play.
"Byron Katapaytuk out there was leading the path and doing very well," goaltender McGee said. "He just keeps lighting the lamp."
Robichaud capped the scoring with 3:50 remaining when he jumped on a big rebound.
Having cruised to a victory, the goalie said that the game was extra special factoring in that it was opening night with new sweaters.
"The atmosphere was great," McGee said. "All the fans that came out to support us was good. The new jerseys ... everyone who put their time and effort in, it really helped in pumping us up before the game."
The Majors will play their second game of the season on Sunday at 1:30 p. m. at McIntyre Arena. They will square off against the Kapuskasing Flyers.
McGee full of talent
Editorial September 3, 2008
For hockey fans in Timmins, most can remember a young man named Steve Sullivan making a big name for himself by making the Soo Greyhounds' roster back in the early 1990s as a walk-on player.
Sullivan went on to have a terrific junior career and was part of the Greyhounds team which captured the Memorial Cup 15 years ago.
Sullivan then made the huge jump to the NHL, despite the fact he was never drafted in the OHL or NHL.
It looks like another Timmins teenager is ready to take the hockey world by storm as Tyler McGee, 17, last week signed with the Greyhounds only two days into their 2008-09 Ontario Hockey League training camp.
Last year's captain of the Timmins Majors of the Great North Midget League was, according to numerous reports, outstanding from the second he stepped on the ice in training camp.
Not bad for a kid no other team in the OHL saw fit to draft or invite to training camp.
"I really didn't expect to make it," McGee told Daily Press sports editor Vincent Man. "I came down hoping for the best. If I didn't make it, I didn't make it, but they asked me to sign.
"I was really surprised. I was really happy for myself and I'm excited to be a part of the Greyhounds. It's a classy organization and I"m glad to be a part of something like this."
Anyone who watched McGee play last season was privileged to watch a young hockey player who never takes a shift off and leads by example.
Throw in excellent skating skills, tons of offensive talent, a commitment to playing both ends of the ice and you have a young hockey player where the sky is the limit.
McGee said his outstanding skating ability played a key role in turning heads early in training camp.
"I find myself as a fast guy and I can keep up with the older guys," he said. "I'm more of a playmaker than a goal score. I'm not the type of kid that's going to score a bunch of goals. I'm more the guy who's going to set them up."
Spending the summer with personal trainer Jason Porrit of Porrit's Competitive Edge in Timmins, was a huge advantage as he got into the best shape of his young life and was flying when training camp started, McGee said.
His father Murray, the coach of the Majors, said he couldn't be prouder of his son.
"It's a good accomplishment. He's worked hard all summer long and here he is. I'm happy, he's happy, so what more can you ask for?"
Greyhounds head coach Denny Lambert said McGee stood out amongst all rookies from opening day and that's why the organization made such a quick decision to sign him to an OHL card.
"McGee was excellent ... he used his speed and creativity," Lambert said.
McGee, who had 29 goals and 38 assists and was a second-team Great North Midget League all-star last season, said his goal as a rookie is to earn a spot on the Greyhounds' top line.
Considering his talent, determination, work ethic and smarts, don't bet against this youngster reaching his goal.
McGee is the kind of player hockey fans in Sault Ste. Marie are going to fall in love with because he plays the game with such passion and commitment.
Here's hoping he follows in the footsteps of Sullivan and continues to develop and grow and one day obtains his dream of playing in the NHL.
McGee signs with Hounds
Former Major to play in OHL
Posted By VINCENT MAN, THE DAILY
Tyler McGee's tireless work ethic has led him to the Ontario Hockey League.
The 17-year-old signed with the Soo Greyhounds on Friday afternoon, coming as somewhat of a surprise to him.
"I didn't really expect to make it," McGee said. "I came down hoping for the best. If I didn't make it, I didn't make it, but they asked me to sign.
"I was really surprised. I was really happy for myself and I'm excited to be a part of the Greyhounds. It's a classy organization and I'm glad to be a part of something like this."
The training camp in Sault Ste. Marie could not be going better for McGee. He quickly made a name for himself by displaying his conditioning.
"My upper body wasn't as strong as the other guys, but I came in first in running, and they talked about how strong my skating was."
It's that speed that the former Timmins Majors captain relies on as he describes himself as an elusive offensive threat.
"I find myself as a fast guy and I can keep up with the older guys," McGee said.
"I'm more of a playmaker than a goal scorer," McGee said. "I'm not the type of kid that's going to score a bunch of goals. I'm more the guy who's going to set them up."
McGee credits Jason Porrit of Porrit's Competitive Edge for bringing his fitness to new heights this summer.
He's really great with what he does," McGee said. "He's helped bring my game to the OHL.
"I would run on my own, but he pushes you. It's good to be pushed by the older guys."
Knowing McGee's training regimen, his father said moving up to the OHL is well-deserved.
"I'm really proud of him," said his father Murray, who is also the Majors' head coach. "It's a good accomplishment. He's worked hard all summer long and here he is.
"I'm happy, he's happy, so what more can you ask for?"
Greyhounds head coach Denny Lambert, who is overseeing his first camp since being named Craig Hartsburg's successor in late June, said that while the players' intensity at the camp has been a disappointment, McGee has been impressive.
"McGee was excellent," Lambert said on Thursday. "He used his speed and creativity."
Though McGee has just made the team, he has already set a new goal for himself. He plans on working his way up to the team's top line.
"I don't expect to be on the first line right off the bat, but my goal is to eventually get up there," he said. "I know it's not going to be easy or that it might not happen this year, but I'll keep working hard like I've been the last couple of years."
Following the 2007-08 Great North Midget League season, McGee was honoured with the Timmins Majors 7th Player Award, given to the player displaying the most trust, hard work, discipline, accountability and team-first attitude. In the regular season, he recorded 29 goals and 38 assists for a total of 67 points. He was also named to the league's second all-star team before recording 10 points in six playoff games.
As part of Timmins High & Vocational School's boys' hockey team last season, McGee helped the team to a fourth-place finish at OFSAA. He was named the team's MVP, as well as the school's senior male athlete of the year. McGee will be joining goaltender Cody St. Jacques, a native of Nellie Lake whom he used to play summer hockey with. St. Jacques was acquired by the Hounds in a trade with the Guelph Storm earlier in the summer.
"It makes us feel more comfortable because we know one another," he said. "We're both from the North so it makes us feel more at home."
Majors clobber Cubs, Flyers
End pre-season with 4-0 record
Posted By VINCENT MAN, THE DAILY PRESS
The Timmins Majors iced a relentless lineup to down the New Liskeard Cubs 6-1 in preseason Great North Midget League action at the McIntyre Arena on Sunday.
The victory came one day after the Majors defeated the Kapuskasing Flyers 6-3. It also improved the team's pre-season record to 4-0 going into Friday night's regular-season opener against the Kirkland Lake Legion 87's at home.
"We feel great," said Majors assistant coach Gil Allarie following Sunday's victory. "In yesterday's game, we weren't as hungry for the puck. We played hard one shift, then took one off. But today, on every shift we were working hard. It made a big difference."
Each of the Majors' six goals came from a different player. Scoring were Justin Lafleur, Byron Katapaytuk, Eric Allarie, Jonathan Levesque, Eric Martineau and Erik Robichaud.
Nick Robidas scored the Cubs' lone goal.
"I hope to see that all year," Gil Allarie said.
"We don't have the size we had last year, but we make it up in speed. The way they call penalties today though, you're not at a disadvantage by having smaller players. As long as they're hungry for the puck and show they want it, go into the corners, you should be at even keel with the other team."
This year's Major Midgets will boast just two third-year players. Katapaytuk and Josh Deluca will provide experience and leadership for a number of players who are making the jump from playing for the Timmins Liberty Mines Eagles 'AAA' bantam hockey team, but Allarie said that second-year players will also have to show maturity.
"The players who we have coming back from last year are going to have to step in," he said. "Byron can't do everything by himself, so we'll have to get leadership from those guys also."
After Lafleur scored the only marker in the first period, Katapaytuk showed that he can do it on his own. Katapaytuk carried the puck from his own end, fought off a Cubs defender and went airborne to get enough mustard on his shot past goaltender Taylor Dupuis before crashing to the ice.
"I just skated and shot the puck," Katapaytuk said modestly. "It just went in the net. You have to shoot the puck to score, right?"
The individual effort is a reflection of where his game is, Allarie said.
"He took the puck from our end all the way down," Allarie said.
"He's got wheels ... He's got the hands and this year he came to camp in a lot better shape and it shows."
Eric Allarie's goal gave the Majors a 3-0 lead heading into the third period.
Levesque opened the final period with a marker to extend the lead to 4-0.
Less than seven minutes into the last period, Robidas broke the Majors' shutout. He beat goalie Casey Silvennoinen who came on in relief of Trevor McGee midway through the second period.
Martineau added a shorthanded goal, while Robichaud scored on a nifty deke to his backhand.
While Katapaytuk is being counted on to provide leadership, he said that the expectations aren't getting to him.
"There's not that much pressure," he said. "It's going to be a team effort. There's no pressure at all.
"We lose as a team, we win as a team.
Last season, Katapaytuk, now 17, scored 19 goals and recorded 30 assists for a total of 49 points in a season.
Meanwhile, the Majors finished third in the league with a regular-season record of 21-11-1-1.
Katapaytuk said he expects another winning season.
"If we play hard, I'm sure we'll go far," he said.
"This is a young, talented team ... I'm thinking on both ends of the ice we're talented."
The Majors will begin the regular season on Friday at the Mac against the Legion 87's. The game begins at 7 p. m. They will also play on Sunday, hosting the Kapuskasing Flyers. That game will begin at 1:30 p. m.
McGee Makes the Cut Among Final Selections for Under 17
Trevor McGee, the 16-year-old net minder with the Timmins Majors, is getting serious consideration to make the Team Ontario Under 17 team.
McGee was among the 84 players from across the province who were invited to attend the team’s evaluation camp in Thunder Bay from June 26 to 29.
By the end of the camp, team officials selected 40 players who will continue to be monitored and evaluated while playing for their respective teams in the fall.
There were eight goaltenders at the camp and McGee was among the four who were selected for further evaluation.
“I was really happy with my overall performance at the camp” said McGee. “It was a fantastic experience from the caliber of hockey to the coaching, the training and expertise from higher-end people.”
“The first few days consisted of an on-ice and off-ice testing. Then we went into practices, and played a few games. They made up four teams and set it up in a tournament style. The top two teams advanced to the finals and my team was one of the two that played in the finals.”
McGee, who will be playing with for the Timmins Majors in the fall, will be evaluated by scouts sent by team Ontario officials early in the season.
“What they said is they will have a scout at our games and they’ll be watching when I play,” he said. “ If I get on a hot streak, there’s a chance they may call me up as the No. 1 or 2 goaltender. So I’ll have to be at the top of my game ay all times.”
Team Ontario plans to announce it’s roster some time in November.
The team will choose a starter, a back-up goaltender as wee ala first and second alternate – so McGee is already in the mix.
Players who are ultimately selected will represent Team Ontario at the 2009 World Under 17 Challenge being held in Port Albertini, BC, from December 29th to January 4th.
Asked how he views his chances of making the team, McGee replied, “I’m in the top four, I’m just thinking; Work hard and play good and the best comes to the best and we’ll go from there.”
Trevor McGee attended the Team Ontario Under-17 Evaluation Camp from June 26th to the 29th.
Timmins Major seeks spot on provincial team
Posted By BY RON GRECH THE DAILY PRESS
Trevor McGee, the 16-year-old net minder with the Timmins Majors, has been invited to the Provincial Under 17 hockey camp for a tryout.
He leaves today for Thunder Bay. The camp he is attending runs from Thursday to Sunday.
"It's a little stressful but it will be good experience," McGee said Tuesday. "I'll be on the ice with a bunch of the best players in Ontario plus coaches from the OHL (Ontario Hockey League). So I'm just going to enjoy the experience and hope for the best."
McGee was selected after attending the regional Under 17 camp held in April in Espanola.
This final evaluation camp is comprised of the top 84 players in Ontario who made it regional camps held throughout the province earlier this spring.
The goal of the provincial selection camp is to provide the players with an intensive, high-calibre training opportunity.
It also serves to identify players who will ultimately be selected to represent Team Ontario at the 2009 World Under 17 Challenge being held in Port Albemi, B. C. from Dec 29 to Jan 4.
McGee, who describes his netminding style as "more of a butterfly goaltender" will be competing with seven other netminders for the starting position.
The team will choose a starter and a backup goalie as well as a first and second alternate.
McGee anticipates the two alternate goaltenders would practise with the provincial team but not travel to the tournament games in B. C. unless called upon because of an injury.
"I've been playing hockey for 14 years now," said McGee. I started when I was two and became a goalie when I was five and stuck with that position. I've been playing 'AA' all of my life and been in 'AAA' since bantam.
"My main goal is to make a living out of playing hockey. I'd like to play professionally but if not then I'd at least get a good college education out of it" through a hockey scholarship.
The Under 17 camp will provide the Timmins High & Vocational School student with ample opportunity to gain exposure from upper-tier coaching staff.
The camp has head coaches, assistant coaches and trainers who are connected with OHL teams.
McGee feels getting noticed at this camp could prove be beneficial later in his career -possibly as soon as next year.
He's hoping after this year to get drafted by an OHL team or even picked up as a walk-on.
McGee will be heading to the provincial tryout camp in Thunder Bay with his mother Shelly.
Majors cap successful year; McGee and coaching staff to remain for 2008-09 season
Posted By Vincent Man
The review is in for Murray McGee's season as head coach of the Timmins Majors 'AAA' midget hockey team: Successful.
At the Majors' annual end-of-year banquet on Wednesday at Siva's Restaurant, team manager Dan Savard announced that McGee and his coaching staff, which includes assistants Gil Allarie, Henry Gloster and Kevin Osmars, will be back for the 2008-09 Great North Midget League season.
"I think it was a very easy decision," Savard said. "We all get along very well. They all know their players and we did very well this past year.
"We were really happy with that and it wasn't very difficult. We just sat down and said, 'Are you coming back?' 'Yeah.' 'OK.'"
The 2007-08 season was the first for McGee and company behind the Majors' bench after a stint with the Timmins Rangers of the Northern Ontario Bantam 'A' Hockey League. The Majors finished the regular season in third place with a record of 21-11-1-1.
"It was very, very good. We figured we'd be in the middle of the pack," Savard said.
"We ended up in third place and we were really surprised. We caught North Bay (in the standings) and had two good rounds in the playoffs. We were really happy with what happened this year. The players performed very well for us."
The Majors reached the playoffs' semifinals after sweeping the Nickel City Sons in the opening round. The next round did not prove to be as fruitful, however, as the Major Midgets were swept by the Sault Ste. Marie North Stars.
Still, the Majors' season was deemed a success by those in the organization.
"I think we did alright. I enjoyed myself," McGee said.
"I didn't think we expected to end up how we did, but I think that means the kids played well.
"I'm certainly looking forward to year No. 2."
The only two teams to finish ahead of the Majors in the regular season were the North Stars and the Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves. Further improvement by Timmins in the standings would mean topping one of those two powerhouses.
"Our expectations are going to be that much higher next year," McGee said.
"By the start of next season we'll have a goal set and obviously we're going to set the goal higher. We set it high last year and superceded it. We can do it again next year."
Also announced at the banquet was the recipient of the Timmins Majors 7th Player Award, given to the player displaying the most trust, hard work, discipline, accountability and team-first attitude. Team captain Tyler McGee was honoured with the award.
Receiving the award was especially meaningful as he tried to set the tone for the rest of the team as the captain, he said.
"It shows the captain is the leader and he has to be a determined captain and show a lot of intensity throughout the year," the younger McGee said.
The captain also led the team in scoring during the regular season - his last in midget hockey - with 29 goals and 38 assists for a total of 67 points. He was also named to the league's second all-star team before recording 10 points in six playoff games.
Tyler McGee will play junior hockey next season, but has not made a decision as to who he will play for.
Timmins Majors manager Dan Savard, left, and head coach Murray McGee, right, present captain Tyler McGee with the Timmins Majors 7th Player Award at the team's annual end-of-year banquet at Siva's Restaurant on Wednesday. The award goes to the player displaying the most trust, hard work, discipline, accountability and team-first attitude.