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The Port Hope Predators may have fallen short of a second Eastern Division championship last season but with 10 former players either securing scholarships or playing hockey at a higher level, the team says last year was still a success.

"It is important to the entire organization to have players move on in a positive direction after they play their junior hockey in Port Hope," says Tim Clayden, Predators hockey operations director. "A lot of players come to our hockey club each year through the referral of other close hockey contacts or our management team. They pin their hopes on our management efforts to help them move on after junior hockey."

Six Predators from last year's roster secured scholarships at NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) schools in the United States, three players are playing semi-professional hockey and one player has moved on to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

"We have had some success the previous two seasons at the (NCAA) Division Three level, along with semi-pro tryouts. The truth is our organization can do more in order to get to the next level and especially to NCAA Division One programs," says Clayden. "The Predators organization to a man want to win every game. Unfortunately, the season doesn't always end that way. When you can play a role and help players move into semi-pro hockey or the NCAA it sure feels like you have a winning program and takes the sting out of not winning a championship."

The Predators credit the support provided by Cardinal Sports Management to help promote their players to the NCAA and Brian Trenholm, of the McArthur Group Sports Management Services, who helps prepare and educate Predator players for the NCAA SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test). Elmira College, which will have both Rusty Masters and Jason Fransky joining them this fall, compliments Port Hope's off-ice efforts to help its players.

"The Predators have done a great job of promoting their players, developing their skills and worked closely with us throughout the recruiting process," said Tim Ceglarsk, Elmira's head coach. "These two young men are very mature, focused individuals that are truly excited to join our program. We look forward to having them don the purple and gold next season."

The other Predators skating on to new hockey horizons in NCAA schools are Tyler Allen, St. Norbert University, Michael Grimes, Potsdam University, Kyle Gunn Taylor, Buffalo State University and Sammy Forget, Morrisville State College.

"We are looking forward to the leadership, talent level and maturity level Sam will bring to the Morrisville State College hockey team," says Earl Utter, Morrisville State head coach. "I believe that Sam will be an integral addition to our developing Division Three hockey program. The Port Hope Predators are to be commended for providing a strong organization that remains committed to developing their players each year."

The Port Hope players playing semi-pro hockey next year are Jacob Taylor with the Florida Seals and Mark Prentice with the Knoxville Icebears in the Southern Professional Hockey League, Nick Tomas with the Youngstown Steelhounds in the Central Hockey League and Corey Tamblyn now with the OHL Sudbury Wolves.

"Hearing from a former player expressing his excitement, after they learn that they have been accepted to a school program or offered a semi-pro tryout, is sometimes more or just as satisfying as winning any single hockey game," says Clayden. "In Port Hope we have made promises to all our players that our management team will work just as hard for them off ice, as they work on, and we love our chances again this season."