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Predator Feature Player

Name: Dave Harris

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 195 lbs

Age: 18

(DOB): Oct 2, 1989

Stats: (Click Here)

Shoots: Right

Hometown: Waterloo, ON

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Chris Shakesby signs with Canadian Team
Press Release: May 30, 2006
By: Rodney Williams, McKinney Sports

Meeting goals has never been a problem for Chris Shakesby. Whether it was graduating from McKinney North High School early at age 16 or playing triple AAA hockey at 17, Shakesby has risen to the challenge.

The next challenge lies due north in Port Hope, Ontario Canada. Shakesby, two months shy of his 18th birthday, has signed a contract to play Junior A hockey with the Port Hope Predators of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League.

“I’m excited, I get to play hockey somewhere other than in Texas,” Shakesby said. “It’s going to be different, but I’ll be closer to Montreal and close to relatives.” Shakesby was born in Montreal and lived in Canada for the first six years of his life. While he will be far away from parents Ghada and Dan Shakesby, he will be within a two-hour drive of family. There won’t be much time for renewing those family ties, however, as hockey will consume Shakesby’s life for the next seven months. Constant practices and a game schedule that runs from August to February leaves little time for anything else.

Ghada said her son has their full support. “We encouraged him to exercise his options, to learn what is to be on his own,” Ghada said. “Kids mature faster that way, but it’s harder on the parents than it is on the kids. But that’s what he wants to do.” The jump to Junior A hockey was a natural one. Shakesby’s goal is to parlay a season or two in Junior A hockey into an NCAA college scholarship. Hockey is unlike traditional stick and ball sports when it comes to college scholarships. College recruiters for the few northern schools which offer hockey scholarships search for talent in the Junior A leagues, generally foregoing high school leagues.

Shakesby said the opportunity to play Junior A hockey isn’t to be taken lightly. “I’m nervous about the move and the hockey,” Shakesby said. “Moving away from home, living in Canada and just playing hockey, not knowing [hardly] anybody at all. It’s kind of nerve-racking, but I will be on my own just playing hockey.” Shakesby played AAA hockey last season with the Dallas Junior Hockey Assocation Penguins, a necessary step to getting noticed. His big break came at an April camp for young prospects in Toronto. Shakesby’s performance earned him a tryout at a Predators rookie camp, and he made the most of the opportunity.

Shakesby was, “Clearly one of, if not the best player,” at the rookie camp, according to Tim Clayden, director of hockey for the Predators, in an e-mail sent to Shakesby’s father, Dan. Mark Frankenfeld, Shakesby’s AAA coach, said the fit between player and team will be a good one. “We are excited to hear about Chris’ opportunity with the Port Hope Predators,” Frankenfeld said. “[He] is more than ready for junior hockey, both mentally and physically.”
The Junior A hockey system works much like summer league baseball. Players live with host families and take part-time jobs. Shakesby will also continue to take online courses at Texas Tech.

If Shakesby gets homesick he can always turn to his head coach. Bart Crashley lived in Dallas in the late ‘60’s and early ‘70’s when he played for the Fort Worth Wings and the Dallas Black Hawks of the CHL. Crashley also played for Detroit, one of the original six hockey teams in the NHL. Shakesby was enthusiastic about playing for Crashley.
“He’s teaching half European hockey and half Canadian hockey,” Shakesby said. “European hockey is more skill and finesse and Canadian hockey is more grinding. He’s basically doing what the 1980 [U.S. Olympic] team did against Russia.”

Shakesby should work well within that system. He scored 32 goals and 36 assists in three years as a varsity player for the McKinney Ice Hockey Club. In that time, he played wing and center and mixed a smooth skating style with a hard-hitting attacking mentality. Shakesby will begin playing in intrasquad scrimmages in August, and the new season begins in mid-September. Port Hope compiled a 48-12-4 record on its way to the playoff quarterfinals last season.

Port Hope Junior Hockey
Where are They Now?

Sean Streicher