Split weekend for Major Peewee AAA Petes
Peterborough Petes goalie prospect Hunter Jones can’t wait to put on the maple leaf for the 2016 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
“Obviously, it’s a huge honour to play for Canada,” said Jones, who will play for Team Canada Black at the tournament, Oct. 27 to Nov. 5 in Sault Ste. Marie.
“I was super excited when I got the phone call and super shocked. It’s unreal.”
The top 66 players from across the country were selected to play for Team Canada Black, Red and White. Team Canada White is the defending champion of the tournament, which also will feature teams from the U.S., Finland, Russia, Sweden and Czech Republic.
Throughout summer, hopefuls attended evaluation camps. Jones, a former student at Brantford Collegiate Institute, did well in the on-ice testing at those camps but thought he could have shown more in games.
“I was disappointed in myself and I wanted to take it and use it as a you learn from your mistakes lesson,” said the son of Paul and Sharron.
Jones was selected in the fifth round of last spring’s Ontario Hockey League priority selection by the Peterborough Petes. He also played in the prestigious OHL Gold Cup.
Jones hoped to make the Petes this season but wasn’t surprised when he was sent to the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Stouffville Spirit.
“I was disappointed I wasn’t able to play there full-time but I was really happy they offered to sign me and they have plans for me in the future,” said Jones, a former Brantford Minor Hockey Association player who suited up last season in the Greater Toronto Hockey League for the minor midget AAA Mississauga Reps.
“I’m totally OK with it because the way my birthday falls. I don’t get drafted to the NHL until my third year of (junior) eligibility.”
Players who turn 18 on or before Sept. 15 of the draft year are eligible for that year’s NHL Entry Draft. Jones, who turned 16 on Sept. 21, will be eligible to be drafted in 2019.
In Stouffville, Jones has played five games, going 4-0 with a 1.49 goals against average and .954 save percentage. He hasn’t played in enough games to be eligible in any statistical category.
“I wasn’t expecting to start the way I did,” said Jones, whose Spirit led the OJHL’s North Division with a record of 9-2-1-1. “I’ve never done that, ever.
“I knew I didn’t have a really good camp in the summer. I played OK. I knew I had to have a better start to get on the (under-17) team. “That was my game plan.” Overall, he said he is happy in Stouffville.
“It’s been great,” the six-footthree, 195-pounder said. “It’s very similar to Brantford. It’s a community-based town where everybody knows everybody. It’s like a big family here.
“My billet family is great. It’s like I’m not even living away from home.” The Peterborough Billysmithsells Major Peewee AAA Petes split their past two regular season games last Saturday and Sunday. First, the team fell 4-1 in an away game against the Richmond Hill Coyotes. Jack Carey scored the lone goal for the Petes assisted by Jackson Stewart and Ty Harris. Nathan Cannons played a strong game in net. In a game against the Barrie Jr. Colts the following day, Peterborough walked away with a 6-1 victory. Nate Bassett scored a hat trick with singles contributed by Ryan Bell, Will Corcoran and Jack Carey. Assists went to Jackson Stewart, Nick Roode, Cole Pottle, Bell and Bassett. Chase Denoble played a strong game in net. The team will face the York Simcoe Express in a home game at the Evinrude Centre on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.