Storm catches Cam Hillis
Better late than never. A year after being a second round pick of the Guelph Storm, forward Cam Hillis has committed to the Ontario Hockey League team for the coming season.
A 5-foot-11, 170-pound forward, Hillis spent the 2016-2017 season with Toronto-based St. Andrew’s College and racked up 77 points in 56 games. He also skated for Team Canada Red at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge that was held in Sault Ste. Marie last November.
Veteran OHL hockey boss George Burnett, who was hired by Guelph during the off season in the dual role of coach and general manager, told HockeyNewsNorth.com that he communicated with Hillis and his family shortly after taking the Storm job.
Then about a week ago, the Hillis family advisor reached out to Burnett and it wasn’t long before an agreement was reached for the 2000 birth-year skater to sign with Guelph.
Hillis decided on Guelph and the OHL after a serious overture from a Division 1, National Collegiate Athletic Association school.
Burnett referred to Hillis as a “very intelligent player with a high-end skill set. He adds to our elite group of 2000 birth year talent that includes (defenseman) Ryan Merkley and (forward) Keegan Stevenson.”
Merkley was the OHL rookie-of-the-year this past season after Guelph made him the first overall pick of the 2016 draft.
Stevenson signed with Guelph during the off season after playing for the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League in 2016-2017.
PHOTO: Cam Hillis dons the jersey of the Guelph Storm.
This signing came out of the blue for Storm fans who were resigned to having lost a second round pick after finishing last that draft year. Nice to be emulating the London Knights in getting a player everyone else thought was going to sign somewhere else. Now hopefully this is part of a rise by the Storm to get back into the playoffs and be competitive again.