Walleye fishes local ponds
General manager Kevin McCallum has gone east and west across the nation to stock the first place lineup of the Kam River Fighting Walleye of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League. But McCallum has also stayed true to his northwestern Ontario roots of the Thunder Bay district when going fishing for Walleye.
That is, no less than 11 players from the Thunder Bay area are currently on the Kam River roster.
And the list of homegrown performers is an impressive one of varying talent that includes forwards Colton Crysler, Jeremy Dunmore, Braeden Duschene, Trenton Morrisseau, Mackenzie Sedgwick and Christian Veneruzzo, defenseman Zachary Fortin, Trystan Goodman, Johnny McCollum and Collin Wiseman and goalie Eric Vanska.
The league leading Fighting Walleye also has several local lads who have seen action as affiliate players this season.
Further, when McCallum, as the Fighting Walleye GM, no longer has room on his roster for local players who already have SIJHL experience, he has this season shown loyalty and good sportsmanship by keeping no less than four such veterans at home and in the league by trading them to the Thunder Bay North Stars, who are Kam River’s crosstown rivals.
All of which, to be sure, speaks of the general character of McCallum and the Kam River organization.
Local product Zachary Fortin is captain of the Kam River Fighting Walleye. (photo by Leith Dunick)