The Sarnia Legionnaires have announced nine returning players to their roster for the upcoming season.
“It’s really good,” said GM Paul Hurtubise. “When I joined the Legionnaires a couple of seasons ago, I had told our board of directors that in three years from now when the 04’s were going be 20-years-old we, should have a good core group of players, and that’s what’s showing in these returning players.”
Hurtubise believes the team has a solid core group of 2004 born players starting with goaltender Logan Phillips, and forwards Ty Moffat, Austin Harper and Ryan Richardson.
Phillips played 29 games last season for the Legionnaires, and will be entering his third season with the club. Hurtubise believes Phillips will be able to help get some wins early on.
“Logan has had two years under his belt now, it’s not an easy league,” Hurtubise said of his goaltender.
“I’m expecting us to be better in front of him this year and that should help him have better stats on his own, but he knows there is a challenge there to lead the group and give us some wins right off the bat.”
Harper, who spent a season with the Sarnia Sting before returning to the Legionnaires last season, will be looked upon for leadership and production, Hurtubise added. Harper led the team in points last season, scoring 21 goals for 48 points in 50 games.
“Austin really embraced our team last year, coming back from the Sting,” Hurtubise said.
“He embraced his leadership role as an assistant captain; we are looking for more of the same from him this year and probably even more as a 20-year-old.”
Another player Hurtubise is pleased to be returning is centermen Ty Moffat. Moffat saw a lot of time on the penalty kill, and will be expected to increase his point production as well. Moffat has doubled his point production in each of his three seasons, ending last season with 15 goals and 28 points.
“He’s our number one penalty guy,” said Hurtubise.
“Anytime we need to kill a penalty, he’s in the first twosome going on the ice, so he gets lots of penalty kill time. He's very very solid down the middle for us defensively”.
Ryan Richardson will also be returning; the center from Wyoming had 10 goals and 37 points last season, eclipsing 100 career GOJHL points and his next regular season goal will be the 50th of his career.
Hurtubise will be glad to have Richardson back, not only for his offensive side, but along with Moffat, Richardson is solid on the defensive side of things as well.
The team also announced five of their 2005 born players will also be returning.
“We have a solid 2005 bench, on defense with Jace McGrail, Jake Blum, Owen Brown, and up front Jimmy Monks and Nathan Holland,” Hurtubise told the Journal.
Blum, a Port Huron, Michigan native, has played parts of two seasons due to injury. He played 18 games last season for the Legionnaires, having a goal and seven points, for a career total of 13 points in 48 games.
“We see Jake as one of our best defensemen; this year he is coming back and we expect him to be 100%,” Hurtubise.
“He played really well in the games he did play in. If we can have him in the line up for the entire season that will help us big time, it will be like having a new player.”
Rounding out those returning are two more American born players, Jimmy Monks and Nathan Holland.
Monks, a native of Wyandotte Michigan is a product of the high school hockey system and never played AAA level hockey. In his first GOJHL season, he scored 11 goals and 30 points for the Legionnaires, another forward Hurtubise is happy to be returning.
“He came to our squad and ended up in our top six. He had a role both offensively and defensively both on the powerplay and penalty kill, and we expect some really good production from him,” Hurtubise said of the Michigan native.
Holland, who hails from Dearborn, appeared in 37 games for the Legionnaires. Hurtubise said they expect some good things from Holland this season, especially on the defensive side of the game. Holland, who missed part of the start of the season due to injury, scored four goals and had 11 points.
The Legionnaires GM says that they are still in talks to bring more returning players home, and said the team will announce some new player signings closer to the start of the pre season.
According to the GOJHL website, the Legionnaires will open the pre season with a game against the Komoka Kings Wednesday August 14th, at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena.
Season passes are also on sale for a special early bird price of $75 until August 31st, in celebration of the 75th season of Jr B hockey in Sarnia.