Major news from Timmins
Four more for the core. Timmins Majors of the Great North Midget Hockey League have signed three forwards and a defenseman from their weekend training camp.
Majors head coach Brandon Perry told Hockey News North that the newly-signed additions to the Timmins midgets are forwards Landon McGrath, Jesse Dupuis and Sebastian Sutherland and defenseman Keaston Blais.
“We still have two forward spots open and room for one defenseman and one goalie,” Perry relayed.
Perry said the Majors plan on finalizing their roster at the upcoming Polar Bear Classic Tournament, which is slated for Aug. 31 to Sept. 2 and will be hosted by the Cochrane Crunch of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
Timmins is coming off a rebound season in 2017-2018 from which it won 14 of 36 regular season games and then upset the higher-ranked Soo Greyhounds (now known as the Soo Thunderbirds) in the first round of the playoffs.
The Majors had won only two games in 2016-2017 and the program was in a shambles before a new executive and coaching staff took over prior to the start of the 2017-2018 campaign.
Looking ahead to the 2018-2019 campaign, in addition to several newcomers — including the recently-signed foursome — the Majors have a solid group of veterans who will be back wearing Timmins maroon and gold in 2018-2019.
Leading the group of returnees are crackerjack goalie Dylan Dallaire and high-scoring defenseman Cameron Dutkiewicz.
Following is the Majors roster to date.
FORWARDS: Brennen Martel, Joel Martin, Eric Daigle, Garrett Gelinas, Carson Cavalieri, Landon Deforge, Landon McGrath, Jesse Dupuis, Sebastien Sutherland.
DEFENSEMEN: Cameron Dutkiewicz, Gavin Martel, Jeremy Jeffries, Reese Beagan, Nicholas Tremblay, Keaston Blais.
GOALIE: Dylan Dallaire.
Meanwhile, the 29-year old Perry, who was named coach-of-the-year in the Great North loop in 2017-2018, is returning for his second season behind the Timmins bench while Derick Martin and Trevor McGee are back as assistant coaches.
Ron Holmes is the Majors general manager and Doug Cheechoo is director of player recruitment.
PHOTO: Newly-signed Timmins Majors defenseman Keaston (Sticks) Blais with coaches Brandon Perry, Trevor McGee and Derick Martin.