PREDS EMBARK ON A RETOOLED & REFRESHED NEW DIRECTION

Press Release, April 11th, 2008
Port Hope Predators Junior ‘A’ Hockey Club

The Port Hope Predators have retooled their organization,
striding forward in a refreshed new direction to better prepare
for what is expected to be a very competitive and exciting season
throughout the OPJHL Eastern Division

Director of Hockey/GM Tim Clayden has returned for his 5th consecutive
season to head up the hockey operations of the organization. “I’m excited
to return and look forward to a highly competitive division again next season which is sure to provide some very exciting and fast hockey for all the fans, for junior ‘A’ hockey lovers, it’s going to be just great” stated the GM upon his return.

“The OPJHL Eastern Conference has some very good people involved within many of the organizations throughout the Conference, on the benches and certainly behind the scenes in management, no team can afford to take a night off next year. It will be fun to be a part of again.”

Part of the Predators retooling will see last seasons Head Coach
Brian Drumm make the jump into Preds Management due to
his own work place commitments this coming year, acting as
the Predators Director of Player Development and Advancement.

“I’m very excited about my new role within the organization, it’s a team game and you need everyone contributing at every level in order to be truly successful.  I like the kids a lot and look forward to helping each of them develop as hockey players and young men before advancing onto the next level of play” stated Mr. Drumm “Moving players onto the next level is extremely satisfying and the Predators have identified this role as an important key to their continued success”

“Brian’s experience, contacts and knowledge of and in this great game
should not be underestimated, Brian will assist in identifying players for
our hockey team while also helping players advance into the OHL, NCAA and Pro Hockey. All very important components of a quality Junior ‘A’ hockey program” added the Preds GM.

Coach Drumm and Tim had met several times since the Preds season
had come to a disappointing semi final abrupt end. Both discussed their own commitments and plans for next season and the possible restructuring in Port Hope this coming year before making their individual decisions to stay on. Some organizational changes were necessary due to both the travel time spent on the highway each season by the GM and now due to the changes at Mr. Drumm’s place of employment.

“Brian’s time this upcoming season was limited and would not allow him to commit full time to the Head Coaching position” said Clayden. “I enjoyed very much working with Brian this past season, on and off the ice. I respect the way that he handles his players one on one and his insights into this great game. The man has wisdom and a lot of experience to share with those around him. Brian Drumm is an asset to a junior hockey program and frankly, just to valuable to lose”

Also added to the Predators Management Team this upcoming season is
Port Hope resident and team statistician, Joe Berney. Mr. Berney will now act as the team’s Assistant General Manager working closely with the GM in all areas of hockey management, including player billeting this season.

“I'm very excited to be involved as the Assistant GM. I would like to thank our supportive and robust ownership group of Mr. Finney and Mr. Smith for entrusting me with this position and Tim for having the faith in me to fulfill this role” stated Mr. Berney “I've been very fortunate to work with some great people here in Port Hope, Bart Crashley, Cory Bricknell, Brian Drumm and Tim are all good hockey people with incredible knowledge and experience. Working with each has been a very good learning experience” added Berney.

Now with the bench’s cleared, the Preds have been accepting coaching applications for a week now and will continue to do so until April 25th, at which time Management will review all applications and make a final decision mid-May before Spring Training Camp begins, May 24th and 25th.

“With a coaching change the organization has an opportunity to move forward in a re-energized direction, giving us all a brand new beginning, especially with the ghosts of past all gone” said Clayden “We all have an opportunity for a fresh Start, it’s a very exciting time to be a Port Hope Predator again”

The Eastern Division make up is very competitive, fast and tough, physical hockey. Next season the Conference is expected to be even more balanced than ever before. No team should be considered weak and each team will need to be well prepared for every game by the bench boss’s if they expect to have any kind of consistent success during the regular season.

Preds Director of Hockey/GM Tim Clayden doesn’t sugar coat it; “it’s no secret, we are pretty demanding in Port Hope, that will not change, our coaching staff will be encouraged to take advantage of management’s past experience while working together to achieve our team goals” said Clayden “We will be looking for a coaching staff that understands “the NEW GAME” of speed and skill while also having some knowledge for the Eastern Division’s competitive, fast and physical hockey most nights. Winning as many hockey games as possible will always be a very important priority”

Leadership in the Predators dressing room will also be important next season. With 4 year veteran Kevin Parker vacating the organization and his ‘ C ‘ after graduating from police college, the Predators have selected 3rd year Port Hope veteran Jeremy McCarty to lead the Predators as their Captain this coming season. “we have had some pretty darn good captain’s here the past 4 season’s, Tyler Cann, Mark Prentice, Dan MacIntyre, Kevin Parker and now Jeremy” said Clayden “this kid comes to play every night for the crest on the front of his jersey and not the name bar on his back. With any luck at all we can find another 9 Jeremy McCarty’s this summer and we will still be playing hockey this time next year”

“Preds 3rd year Veteran 2008-09 Team Captain Jeremy McCarty”
shown here with his Grandmother
(Credit 'Jason Chamberlain Northumberland News')

The Preds have also made a significant move this season that will provide the organization with a very important hands on local presence “off ice” that will now see Paul Henry act as the team’s Director of Marketing while overseeing the club’s local Community Communications and Game Day Operations. “Paul has done it all as a Predator, he has a complete understanding of both the organization as well as the community” said the GM “ an area as an organization that we have not paid enough attention to in the past has been in having our player’s more available and visible throughout the community.  Paul and his family reside in Port Hope and having Paul onside now with local Marketing and Club Communications will surely give our team a big local boost in Northumberland County”

“We have some unfinished business here in Port Hope” smiled Clayden “we have what some consider possibly the best ownership involved in the game today at this level, along with some of the very best billets and volunteers, we are incredibly fortunate, our equipment managers and trainers are also 2nd to none and are a very important component to the success of this organization, both on and off the ice.

The Port Hope Predators Junior ‘A’ Hockey Club
is stronger today and poised for a successful
2008 – 2009 season

www.predatorsjrahockey.net