Major change takes shape in Sudbury hockey scene

For the first time since 1994, the Greater Sudbury area will be represented by one Major Bantam AAA team, and one team only, come the 2015-2016 campaign.

The one-year approval granted by the NOHA has allowed the (2014-15) Nickel City Minor Bantam AAA Sons and the Sudbury Minor Bantam AAA Wolves to combine forces beginning in the fall. Actually, it has already begun.

Returning Nickel City head coach Brian McGillis has already assembled the troops, kicking off dryland summer training earlier this month.

"We've already started our summer program, the expectations are high, and the boys have all bought in," McGillis said earlier this week. "We want to be the fittest team in the group."

It's hard to ignore their optimism.

"I think our forward group is going to be extremely strong, we're going to score a lot of goals," said McGillis.

Never one to shy away from adding size to his roster, the long-time hockey man welcomed the likes of Alexander Fowke, Brett McGlade and Owen Coles to his roster, allowing him also to move Adam Bertrand to a forward position.

"It gives us a lot of size, and a lot of skill up front," said McGillis. "We're going to be bigger, stronger, faster and better."

Running under the Nickel City Sons banner, the AAA bantams open tournament play at the Toronto Red Wings Early Bird Tournament, from Sept. 10-13.

The roster for the bantam AAA squad includes Carson McMillan, James Way, Owen Coles, Adam Bertrand, Joe Mazur, Jarod Hurley, Eric Bourassa, Sebastien Olivier, Ethan Boyd, Draper MacLean, Noah Lagrandeur, Alex Fowke, Griffin Simpson, Noah Manitowabi, Brett McGlade, Michael Laliberte, Bryce Brunet, Jake McGuire and Logan Jewell.

With Nickel City taking the reins of the bantam AAA team, the Sudbury Minor Hockey Association crew will handle the midget AAA squad. Former Sudbury Wolves defenseman Shawn Frappier has been named coach of that team.

The Great North Midget League has accepted the single Sudbury midget AAA team into the schedule for next season.

Frappier's midget lineup includes will have at his disposal includes Brandon Atkins, Joseph Casio, Christopher Clark, James Colburne, Mathieu Dokis-Dupuis, Ryan Fournier, Damien Giroux, Brett Jacklin, Cameron Lamour, Ethan Lavallee, Tyler Maki, Joel Mongeon, Billy Moskal, Mathieu Seguin, Jordan Spadafore, Alex Vendette, Thomas Vlahos and Timmins native Chad Denault.