Garb and Gear Grey Bruce Highlander Midgets Experience NCAA Hockey…and Football, News, Midget, 2013-2014 (Grey-Bruce Highlanders AAA Minor Hockey Association)

This Team is part of the 2013-2014 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Nov 14, 2013 | dvanooteghem | 4598 views
Garb and Gear Grey Bruce Highlander Midgets Experience NCAA Hockey…and Football
For Midget-age players the idea of playing NCAA hockey is an option they are considering at this stage in their hockey development.  So on the weekend of Nov 8-10, in lieu of another tournament, the Garb and Gear Grey Bruce Highlanders Midgets traveled to Robert Morris University in Pennsylvania to get a feel for what it takes and would be like to play NCAA College Hockey.   

The weekend started with a tour of the Robert Morris University Campus, a small university specializing in Business programs.  From the campus tour the boys made their way to the rink where they were treated to a Division 1 (D1) hockey game between Robert Morris and Buffalo’s Canisius College.  Robert Morris won the game easily (6-1) but what was most impressive was the caliber of D1 hockey – clean, physical, skilled and very fast.   Of note at least 50% percent of the players on both teams are Canadian born (a statistic that would make Don Cherry proud) and the average age of NCAA players is 21.   It is obvious to see why an increasing number of players going through the NCAA system are playing at the next level.  It makes you question why Canada does not have a similar system.  

The first task the next day was back to the rink to meet with the Robert Morris coaching staff.   Coach Matt from Robert Morris gave a practical talk about what it takes to play NCAA hockey and what they look for in student-athletes. This was followed by a Q&A with former Halton Hurricanes and now Robert Morris winger Brandon Denham.  Brandon described his long road to get to D1 hockey – playing 1 year of Major Midget in Halton and then Tier II Junior A in Oakville before going to Robert Morris.   After the inspiring and thought provoking session the Midget Highlanders headed to Heinz Field in Pittsburgh to watch a NCAA football contest between the Pitt Panthers and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. 

The final stop of the weekend found the Midget Highlanders in Detroit at the Joe Louis Arena to play the Little Caesars U18 team.  A physical game from start to finish saw Grey-Bruce defeat their American hosts 3-1.  Ethan Skinner netted 2 and Brady Anderson scored an empty netter to seal the victory.  Tyler Fassl played strong throughout making several stellar saves that seemed to repeatedly frustrate the home team. 



All in all a fun-filled, educational and a wonderful experience and a great weekend.  
 
The Garb and Gear Midgets their 11-6-2 record to Brampton where they play a rare mid-week game before heading home to play Oakville on Saturday, November 16 at 5:30 in Chesley and then to Hamilton to take on the Bulldogs on Sunday. 

 
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