Eagles sign two Ontario boys


By
June 24, 2022

A pair of highly touted Ontario born skaters have been swooped up by the Michigan-based Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, Hockey News North has confirmed.

They are hard rock defenseman Dawson Wilson and polished forward Nolan Hendry. Wilson hails from Sault Ste. Marie while Hendry is a Mississauga lad. Both have 2005 birth dates.

Wilson, who played high school hockey locally for the St. Mary’s Knights in 2021-2022, impressed enough at that level that he received an invitation to attend the recent prospects camp of the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League.

Hendry, meanwhile, was a productive forward with the under 18 Guelph Jr. Gryphons in 2021-2022, netting 13 goals, eight assists, 21 points in 31 games.

Soo Eagles coach Doug Laprade (photo by Bob Davies)

Notably, Eagles head coach Doug Laprade played alongside Hendry’s dad, John, with the Division 1, National Collegiate Athletic Association powerhouse Lake Superior State Lakers from 1989 to 1991. Both were forwards and became National Hockey League draft picks; Laprade by the Los Angeles Kings and Hendry by the Detroit Red Wings.

At any rate, Laprade, as the veteran bench boss of the perennially competitive Eagles, likes the signing of both Hendry and Wilson.

“Nolan Hendry is a great signing for us,” Laprade relayed to Hockey News North. “He plays a lot like his dad did … he is a smooth skater and aggressive with a good nose for the net. Dawson Wilson is an equally important commitment. He is a big, tough, solid D with a great first pass.”

Both Hendry and Wilson had offers to sign elsewhere before opting to commit to the Eagles, said Laprade.

“I am looking forward to coaching them both,” Laprade noted. “Both kids had opportunities to play with other teams, both in our league and with other teams across the Canadian Jr. Hockey League.”


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