NORTH YORK – Picking teams by doing the classic pile of sticks in the middle of the ice might have been a better idea.
The Greater Toronto Hockey League split up 40 of its best Minor Midget players into two squads for the 3rd annual Scotiabank GTHL Top Prospects Game.
Roland McKeown of the Toronto Marlboros was one of 12 defencemen selected, and while it was an hononour to be picked, the competition was stiff as he lined up against some familiar faces.
“Our entire top line on the Marlies was on their team,” McKeown said. “They tried to make it even but the score was pretty lopsided.”
Team Clark slammed Team Kypreos 9-2.
Protecting the defensive zone from Marlies teammates like Josh Ho-Sang, Connor McDavid, Jeremiah Addison and Connor Graham was an enjoyable challenge for McKeown, a Listowel product who turned 16 five days ago.
“It was fun, good to give them a couple of whacks,” he said. “It’s fun to play them. A lot of skilled guys.”
The game was played at the Herbert Carnegie Centennial Centre in North York on Jan. 12.
McKeown nabbed an assist on his team’s first goal of the game with 1:01 to go in the second period. That made it 4-1.
“It was a good game for the first two periods, then it got out of hand in the third,” he said. “The GTHL put on a great show. The crowd had like 1,500 so it was pretty cool to play in front of them.”
He found out online that he was going to be part of the action.
“They announced it on the GTHL website. I was at my buddy’s house and saw that we made it, it was pretty cool seeing that.”
There was 11 Marlies at the event, a testament to the strong season the club has enjoyed to date. They defeated the Mississauga Rebels 4-3 last week with a late goal to clinch first place in their division.
Toronto is three best-of-seven playoff series victories away from repeating as GTHL champions at the Minor Midget level, and are a lock to compete at the OHL Showcase Cup again in March.
McKeown – paired most of the season with Greg Allen on the blue line – and Ho-Sang both were affiliated players on this club last year and could be the first skaters to win two OHL Showcase Cups. ... Please read more in this weeks Listowel Banner