Sniper gives IceDogs firepower
Dallas prospect joins Niagara lineup after back-to-back 40-goal seasons
Have scoring touch. Will travel.
Welcome to the Ontario Hockey League.
Jason Robertson knew coming into his fourth season with the Kingston Frontenacs that he would be wrapping up his OHL career with another team.
As an NHL prospect, the Dallas Stars 2017 secondround pick, 39th overall; appreciated the rebuilding Frontenacs could load up with players and draft picks by putting him on the trade block.
“I understood that I had to leave Kingston, that’s the way junior hockey goes,” said Robertson, who along with fellow 19-year-old Jacob Paquette, was acquired by the Niagara IceDogs in a blockbuster trade earlier this week.
Going into the year after back-to-back 40-goal seasons with the Frontenacs, Robertson knew Niagara was going to put a strong team on the ice and contend for a championship.
“They were kind of on my list of teams that I would be excited to go to,” he said. “Thankfully, it all worked out.
“I’m glad that I’m an IceDog now and looking forward to the future.”
Last season, Kingston made it to Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals before being eliminated by Hamilton, the eventual OHL champion.
This season, Robertson hopes to play deeper into the playoffs and help bring the IceDogs their first Memorial Cup in franchise history.
He suggested in terms of developing hockey players to compete at the next level, nothing compares to the experience of playing meaningful games late in the post-season.
“The farther you go in playoffs in your respective league, you’re going against the top-end players,” Robertson added. “Most of the guys you’re going to be playing against in the latter stages of the season they will be going pro, too.
“It’s always good to be going against the best players in terms of development.
“The opportunity I have in Niagara gives me a chance to do that.”
Robertson, who netted 124 goals and collected 114 assists in 214 regular-season games in Kingston, describes himself as a goal scorer who uses his body to create space and as a forward who is “relatively reliable” in the defensive zone.
“I take in the game really well, that allows me to find my teammates, find my defenceman in an O-zone and really create scoring
“Playing in the Meridian Centre was always cool because it was soldout, that’s always something to look forward to.”
Niagara JASON IceDogs ROBERTSON forward
opportunities.”
The 6-foot-2, 202-pound lefthand shot said the No. 1 thing in his game that needs work is making better use of his size.
“I think I can still be a little more physical going on the ice,” he added. “I know I use my body a lot, but getting clear in front of the net and using my height to my advantage and my big size.”
Robertson enjoyed playing in St. Catharines as a visiting player.
“Playing in the Meridian Centre was always cool because it was sold out, that’s always something to look forward to,” he said. “It’s always a little more exciting playing in front of a sold-out crowd as opposed to the ones in Kingston.”
With 4,713 fans per game, Niagara is third in the 20-team league in average attendance behind the London Knights, 9,025, and Kitchener Rangers, 6,683, according to hockeyDB.com.
Kingston is 10th in the length, 2,945. Though a trade was expected, leaving the Frontenacs nonetheless was bittersweet for Robertson. He said it was emotional leaving Kingston, and especially his billet family, after three-plus years in Kingston.
“I created friendships with them that will last a lifetime, and I will be created new ones this year with the Niagara IceDogs.”
Robertson, who like Paquette is eligible to return for a fifth and final season in the OHL as an overager, has put education on the backburner for now.
“I’m focusing straight on hockey, I’m all-business here,”
A change of dressing rooms at Meridian Centre isn’t the only thing Robertson will need to get used to now that he’s an IceDog. There’s a new sound as well. “In the visiting team room you know you’re going to be booed when you go,” he said with a laugh.
Robertson’s first game wearing the No. 19 IceDogs uniform is 7 p.m. Friday against the visiting Barrie Colts.
Niagara is in Hamilton on Saturday for a 4 p.m. faceoff with the Bulldogs.
Bernd.Franke@niagaradailies.com
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