Rayside set for start of season
As Rayside-Balfour Canadians will take to the ice for the start of the 2017-2018 regular season on Thursday night, the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League team has a late commitment from a rookie forward.
Canadians director of scouting Zack Schipper has confirmed the commitment of 2000 birth-year skater Darcy Winkler, who played at the AAA midget level in Waterloo last season. Winkler connected for 17 goals, 20 assists, 37 points in 32 games for the Waterloo midgets in 2016-2017.
“He’s a big forward with lots of offensive upside,” Schipper said of Winkler. “He battles hard, is physical and has the ability to fill the back of the net.
“Winkler has a pro upside shot and is not afraid to battle in the dirty areas. We expect him to play hard for us and contribute offensively,” Winkler further relayed to HockeyNewsNorth.com.
Thursday at 7 p.m. at Chelmsford Arena will mark the beginning of the 2017-2018 campaign for Rayside-Balfour, which will again be coached by Dave Clancy, a no-nonsense veteran of NOJHL and Canadian university hockey competition.
Elliot Lake Wildcats will provide the opposition for Rayside-Balfour in Thursday’s NOJHL season opener.
Isn’t Rayside-Balfour hosting the 2019 DHC?