Locals excel at Future Stars game
Tue
Jan 15, 2008
By:
By Jason Chamberlain
The Cobourg
Cougars and Port Hope Predators made their presences
felt at the OPJHL Future Stars game.
The game was held in Orangeville on Wednesday, Jan.
9, and when Team East Division squared off against Team
North Division, three Cougars and two Predators (as well
as Preds coach Brian Drumm) were instrumental in the
East's 5-3 victory
"It was a great experience," said Port Hope's Jesse
Stoughton, who notched a goal and an assist and received
MVP honors. His Predators teammate, Spencer Finney,
started the game in net and came up strong against
shooters he had never faced before. "It was weird at the
start, but I got used to it," said Finney. "I felt very
comfortable."
The Cougars sent Paul Jackiw, Blake Sexton and
Richard Lee, who played in the game for the second time.
"It was just as fun as last year," said Lee. "It's fun
to play with the guys you compete with."
With both Northumberland teams represented, Drumm
made a fitting head coach given his experience with both
organizations. He was returning to the game that he
coached for years earlier in his Junior A coaching
career.
"They always bring a lot of energy," said Drumm of
the youngsters.
Drumm also had a personal stake in the game, coaching
against childhood friends in Mike Webb and Hockey Hall
of Famer Dale Hawerchuk (the owner and head coach of the
Orangeville Crushers), who led the North squad.
"It was neat coaching against them," he said.
As for his Port Hope players, Drumm was impressed
with their performance. "Stoughton has a knack for
getting goals. He made some real nice plays. Spencer was
very strong and made some good stops."
And though the Cougars are again his rivals, he had
some encouraging words for them.
"(Jackiw, Sexton and Lee) played very well. They're
nice kids."