Well it’s been a few weeks since the last home game of the season and I am officially missing hockey at the Bayshore. But while that night felt like an abrupt ending, I’ve quickly noticed that there’s lots of exciting news to follow about where our current and graduating players are, about our new draft pics and about what’s on the horizon for next season.
I’ve long read a pair of weekly updates in the US and Canada about motocross that are released every Friday with a round-up of news and events from across the industry. And so here we are at Week 1 of Bear Tracks -my own weekly (or maybe bi-weekly) round-up of relevant news for fans of the Owen Sound Attack. Think I missed something? Feel free to send it along to me at allison@allisonkennedy.com and I’ll include it in next week’s edition.
Taos Jordan and Team Jamaica
Attack blueliner Taos Jordan is in Chicago playing with the Jamaican Olympic Ice Hockey Federation’s Senior Men’s Team in round one of the three-found Challenger series featuring Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Lebanon. These three emerging ice hockey nations came together to create the series that visits New York June 6 to June 9 and then wraps up July 11 to 13 in Oshawa. Find out more about the series in the NHL’s Colour of Hockey series and in the Jamaica Observer here. You can follow the Jamaican Olympic Ice Hockey Federation here.
Carter George named to Team Canada for IIHF U18 World Hockey Championships in Finland
Add another International appearance to Carter George’s dance card. While George flew to Finland the night before this announcement, George was officially named to the U18 team on Tuesday. He is joined by fellow OHL netminder Ryerson Leenders in the lineup. After clinching gold at the Hlinka Gretzky tournament last year, George knows how to handle the pressure of a big tournament like this. See the full roster here. Expect some additions to the lineup after Round 2 of the CHL playoffs wraps up and they see who else is available.
Carter George and Sam McCue on Final NHL Central Scouting Rankings
Tuesday was a big day for George who ended ranked 2nd among all North American goaltenders in NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings heading into the 62nd NHL Entry Draft scheduled for June 28 and 29 at the Sphere in Las Vegas. Rumour has it this will the last in-person entry draft for the NHL who will switch formats in the future. Sam McCue was ranked 178 among North American skaters. See the full rankings here for North American skaters and North American goalie rankings here.
Colby Barlow plays first pro game with the Manitoba Moose
With the Attack season over, Captain Colby Barlow quickly found himself reassigned to the Winnipeg Jets AHL affiliate the Manitoba Moose. With the Moose in the hunt for a playoff spot, Barlow didn’t dress for his first game out there but did join the lineup on Sunday, April 14th after the Moose had clinched a spot the night before. I’m sure Barlow is learning a ton practicing with the Moose who have put together a strong run into the playoffs. They play their last two regular season games in Texas today and tomorrow and will then meet Texas in a best of 3 playoff Calder Cup playoff series next week still in the Lone Star State. Here’s hoping we see Barlow in the lineup this weekend. Stay tuned to the Manitoba Moose social channels as well as updates from Illegal Curve for info on Barlow’s time out west.
Konnor Smith plays first pro game with the AHL San Diego Gulls and scores first pro goal
Konnor Smith left Canada quickly for an Amateur Tryout with the San Diego Gulls in the AHL. The Gulls are an affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks. Smith found himself in the lineup right away and scored the Gulls lone goal on April 6 as the Gulls fell 4-1 to the Tuscon Roadrunners. Smith has remained in the lineup and the Gulls have two regular season games remaining.
Ethan Burroughs play first ECHL pro game with the Iowa Heartlanders and scores first pro goal
Graduating overage player Ethan Burroughs also found himself in his first pro game with the Iowa Heartlanders of the ECHL soon after the Attack’s playoff run. The Heartlanders fell 5-1 to the Kalamazoo Wings and much like Smith, Burroughs scored the lone goal in the closing minutes of the game. Way to go Ethan.
Servac Petrovsky with Team Slovakia at Men’s World Championships
Servac Petrovsky, back home in Slovakia, has landed a spot on the roster of Team Slovakia for the upcoming IIHF Men’s World Championships. Lots of questions about Servac’s future with the Attack but with him occupying both an overage spot and an import spot for the team it seems unlikely he’ll be back. Here’s his post after playoffs as well.
Attack pick Pierce Mbuyi in the first round of the OHL Draft
The OHL draft went down last Friday and Saturday and the Attack used their first pick to select forward Pierce Mbuyi—the recent scoring leader at the OHL Cup. Here’s a quick video to introduce you to Pierce.
And a round up from Greg Cowan at the Owen Sound Sun Times about the team choosing Mbuyi.
The graphic below sums up the teams picks over the 2-day draft
The Attack made several more selections in the 2024 U18 Priority draft on Wednesday. Check out their website for a U18 roundup.
That’s it for Edition #1. See ya at the rink!
Great excellent , love it