Pride of the Timmins Majors


By
August 26, 2019

Homegrown head coach Brandon Perry has made no secret of the fires of passion that burn within him relevant to the Timmins Majors of the Great North Midget Hockey League.

The 30-year old Perry, who was a star center and captain of the Timmins midgets before moving up to play four seasons with the Kingston Voyageurs of the Ontario Jr. Hockey League and four more years with the Queen’s Golden Gaels of Ontario University Athletics, is about to enter his third season as bench boss of the Majors.

Perry had opportunities to be an assistant coach in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League only to opt to return to coach the major midgets of Timmins again this season.

Saying he has “unfinished business” with the Majors and noting that the program still isn’t close to where he wants it to be, Perry has sights set on an improved season for the Great North team in 2019-2020.

When Perry took over as head coach of the Majors ahead of the 2017-2018 season, they were coming off of a 2016-2017 campaign in which they had won only two games.

Perry and his staff were able to improve the Majors to a 13-21-2 record in 2017-2018 and had a 10-25-1 mark in 2018-2019.

And now, as the 2019-2020 season looms, Perry — who is known for his passionate, albeit somewhat reserved nature — told Hockey News North that he is “excited” for the upcoming campaign.

“We have some depth at the forward position … we are young and skilled and excited to see what we will accomplish this season,” Perry noted, adding that the Majors “should be a competitive team in the Great North league this season.

“We feel that if our returning players are able to elevate their games beyond last season and our new guys turn out to be the players we expect, we can win our share of games,” Perry added.

The Majors are fresh from holding their main tryout camp at McIntyre Arena in Timmins and have signed the majority of their 20-player roster for the 2019-2020 season.

Perry has confirmed the signings of the following players with their positions and year of birth noted.

Returning forwards: Landon Deforge (2003), Pierre Racicot (2003), Jesse Dupuis (2003), Desmond Brazeau (2003) and Sebastien Sutherland (2002.) New forwards: Harry Clark (2003), Bradley Moore (2004) Nolan Ring (2003), Mason Wesley (2002), Tyshaun Neeposh (2004) and Justin Charrette (2005.)

Returning defensemen: Gavin Martel (2002), Keaston Blais (2002) and Mason Berthiaume (2003). New defenseman: Chase Longhurst (2002.)

New goalies: Julien Lefebvre (2003) and Evan Nicholls (2003.)

Of note, Martel will be the Majors captain this season.

And of further note, Nicholls played in the Great North last season as one of two goalies with the Soo minor midgets.


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