Picton sending six to PJHL Prospects event in Grimsby

There will be a strong Prince Edward County flavour to the 2022 Tod/Orr Prospects Team at the annual Provincial Junior Hockey League prospects event later this month in Grimsby.

A total of three Pirates player and three members of the club’s bench staff have been named to the entry set to do battle against their counter parts from the South Conference (Bloomfield/Doherty Divisions).

Picton Forwards Liam Philip and Gerrit Kempers as well as goaltender Ethan Beattie have been invited to take part as well as coaches Kyle Hawkins Schulz, Rick Van Vlack and trainer Lindsay Stakes will be at the Peach King Centre Saturday Nov. 19 to take part in a showcase event that is expected to draw dozens of scouts from the Ontario and Greater Ontario Junior Hockey Leagues, the Ontario Hockey League and the NCAA.

Pirates General Manager Jason Parks greeted the news of Picton’s healthy inclusion to the Tod/Orr team with great enthusiasm.

“Anytime you can send players to showcase events like this it’s an indication you are doing something right and having three players take part is an incredible honour,” Parks said.

The Pirates were keen to add Picton native Philip to the roster early on in training camp and the left winger hasn’t disappointed with three goals and three assists in seven games.

Meanwhile Kempers becomes a second straight Pirate to graduate from the Prince Edward County Minor Hockey Association and subsequently be named to the Prospects event. The Ameliasburgh native has an assist in nine games this season while providing excellent work in Picton’s defensive zone.

Picton added Beattie to the lineup late last month from the Pickering Panthers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.

A Hamilton Bulldogs pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Draft, Beattie has posted a 1.50 Goals Against Average and .966 Save Percentage in a pair of PJHL contests.

“We’re especially happy to send three members of our bench staff in addition to the players and congratulate Kyle, Rick and Lindsay on their selection to the prospects team,” Parks said.

The Pirates have a long history in providing players to the PJHL Prospects event and seeing them shine. Last year, forward Cole Stevenson scored the game winning goal in a 2-1 Tod/Orr win in Orillia while net minder Nolan Lane was solid in his 30 minutes of work.

“We look back to last season’s event in Orillia and the great job Nolan Lane did and he was able to parlay that selection and outing into a look with the Fort Erie Meteors and Nolan’s been fantastic in the GOJHL this season,”Parks said.

In eight GOJHL games, Lane has a 5-1-1 record with Fort Erie while posting a 2.86 Goals Against Average and .904 save percentage .

“We think it’s only a matter of time until he gets an offer to attend an NCAA school and play college hockey in the United States following his junior career and we’re very happy for him, Parks added.