Paper Kings between the pipes

Long-time Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League goalie coach Bill Vanderleest is quite taken by the current net duo of the Espanola Paper Kings. A Sault Ste. Marie resident who commutes to and from Espanola to work with the Paper Kings goalie tandem of Logan Vale and Jack Helkie, Vanderleest is of the notion that he has two of the best in the NOJHL in Vale and Helkie.

And there is definite merit to what Vanderleest has to say.

Vale, who has a 2005 birth date and who was acquired by Espanola in an off season exchange with the Napanee Raiders of the Provincial Jr. C Hockey League, has a record of 6-1-0 with a .934 save percentage and 2.69 goals against average. And Helkie, who has a 2006 birth date, has a record of 4-3-1 with a .927 save percentage and 3.13 goals against average for the Paper Kings.

Espanola, which is challenging for the lead in the 11 team NOJHL with a record of 10-4-1, will need its goalies to be in top form again this weekend as the Paper Kings head to Hearst for a pair of games against the first place Lumberjacks.

At any rate, Vanderleest can’t say enough about the play of both Vale and Helkie thus far this season.

“I would say that right now, Logan and Jack are the best combo in the NOJHL hands down,” Vanderleest relayed to Hockey News North. “Both are sitting among the top of the NOJHL in stats a quarter of the way through the season … and the Paper Kings sit in second place in large part because of these two. This is all despite having a team with a lot of newcomers that is still looking to find their structure … despite being out shot in most of our contests here we are, battling for first place.”

All in all, Vanderleest said that both goalies bring a lot to the Paper Kings in so many ways.

“Both have a tremendous work ethic and determination to achieve a positive outcome. They have been consistent right from game one of the season, which is something we struggled with last year when we missed the playoffs by two points.

“And they are both leaders on and off the ice … they are mature and confident. I am sure that they will continue to help to lead our team to great success for the rest of the season,” summed up Vanderleest.

Notably, while Vale was born in 2005 and Helkie was born in 2006, they are actually almost two years apart in age — as Vale was born on January 3, 2005 while Helkie was born on November 1, 2006.

Meanwhile, as for Vanderleest himself, he is valuable part of the Paper Kings with his own set of values and commitment.

When he is not at home in Sault Ste. Marie working and spending time with his wife Sandi, Vanderleest is travelling 280 miles round trip to and from Espanola for practices and games. He loves what he does and has been doing it for a long time.

The ageless Vanderleest has been tutoring goalies for a number of years at high end levels of the amateur hockey game. And while he is now in his third season as the goalie coach in Espanola, Vanderleest is not new to the NOJHL, having spent 10 years in the same position with the Soo Eagles.

Simply put, Vanderleest loves hockey and the goalie position. Just ask him. And showing no signs of slowing down — he continues to work in the real estate and property management field in Sault Ste. Marie past the age of 70 — he finds the time to tutor and consult with the goalies in Espanola.

The work that Vanderleest does for the Paper Kings is greatly appreciated by president and head coach Jason Rapcewicz.

“Billy V is awesome,” Rapcewicz exclaimed to Hockey News North when asked about having Vanderleest as the Paper Kings goalie reach. “Our organization has been lucky to retain the services of a veteran of the junior hockey world like Bill. 

“His experience and pedigree makes our program that much better,” Rapcewicz added in further praise of Vanderleest. “Billy’s commitment and dedication has allowed our organization to be able to offer another dimension that a lot of small town programs can’t acquire due to logistical barriers. Billy is here every week to work with our goalies and his travel time and the day he puts in to get to Espanola and back home (to Sault Ste. Marie) is absolutely amazing in this day and age.”

Meanwhile, when asked about his travel and time consuming commitment to Espanola and driving back and forth to tutor the goalies of the NOJHL Paper Kings, Vanderleest simply shrugs his shoulders.

“I love what I do,” he relayed. “And it certainly helps that (Rapcewicz) as the owner and the head coach not only appreciates me but he runs a really good program, especially as a small market team in the NOJHL. Rapper and (Paper Kings general manager) Marc (Gagnon) give me the freedom to do my thing and work with our goalies. It is really nice to have their trust and to be a part of the Espanola franchise in the NOJHL.”

Paper Kings goalie Logan Vale, in action photo above.