2008 / 2009
Season
News Bulletin
May 19, 2008; updated May 23, 2008
OMHA Picks Predators for Under 17 Team Ontario Selection Camp
On May 9-11 the most talented Minor Midget aged players from across the OMHA gathered at the University of Guelph as the OMHA hosted the Under-17 Program of Excellence Final Camp.
Two Predators Picked
One Predator, Branden Eden (see photo), was selected in the initial 17 player cut.
A second Predator, Keevin Cutting, won the wildcard position a week later.
Congratulations to Branden and Keevin, and best wishes for good luck at the Team Ontario Camp in Thunder Bay! All of the players, families and friends
of the Predators are proud of your accomplishment.
On Friday morning, May 9th, 85 of the best players born in 1992 — 15 and 16 year-olds — arrived at the University of Guelph, hopeful that they would show the team of evaluators their best, with the goal of being selected to attend the Team Ontario Selection Camp to be held in Thunder Bay June 26-29. The 2008 edition of the Camp included more than 30 players selected at the recent OHL priority selection draft.
Players registered at the University of Guelph Athletic Centre on Friday morning. On behalf of Camp Chairperson Phil Hendry, the Collingwood Regional Camp Chair and OMHA Board Member, Dave Garinger, welcomed players and parents at a brief orientation, outlining details of the weekend. Head Evaluator Brian Boden and Head Trainer Butch McClintock also welcomed the players and provided their perspective on the weekend. Team Ontario Director of Operations and Head of OHL Central Scouting, Rob Kitamura, then addressed the group: he congratulated all players on their achievements to date. The primary message to the players — bolstered by a Rogers Television Documentary Making Under-17, which had been filmed at the OMHA and Team Ontario Camps in 2005 — made it clear that players would be evaluated throughout the entire camp, not only for their play on the ice, but also for their fitness, attitude, and conduct off the ice.
Each team then participated in a one-hour practice, allowing the players an opportunity to get on the ice and to get to know their teammates and coaching staff. There was also a goaltender session conducted by Goaltender Evaluator Rob Beatty. The Agenda’s first game kicked off on Friday night. By the final buzzer Sunday, after a weekend of 10 games, 85 very tired but very happy players went their separate ways, saying good-bye and gathering for pictures with many new friends made over the weekend. The Evaluation Team, under the guidance of Head Evaluator Brian Boden, discussed the evaluations compiled electronically over the course of the weekend. After some discussion, the selection of 17 players to advance to the Team Ontario Camp was complete, and the names were provided to Chairperson Phil Hendry. Phil then had the enviable task of calling those selected players on the Sunday evening to give them the good news.
