Kings add a pair of forwards to their roster, bring on two assistants
WITH TRAINING CAMP A month away, the Elmira Sugar Kings are busy lining things up for the 2017-18 season.
Besides drawing in two new players – forwards Tyler Beauparlant and Matt Mackay – the team has also hired two assistant coaches.
Beauparlant, 20, is something of a seasoned player, having formerly played in the CJHL for the Junior A Kemptville 73’s. The 5’10”, 188-pounder will be attending the University of Waterloo, and will be playing for the school team in the coming months.
“We’re very fortunate to be adding a player of his character. He’s a high quality player as well as being a good person,” said Kevin Bloch, general manager for the Elmira Sugar Kings.
“He’s come to us as a player with a great deal of skill. He’s very quick, he plays with a great deal of energy and conviction. We’re really excited about having him joining our team and our program, and we also hope he has a great start to his university career in town as well.”
Jeff Snyder, director of hockey operations, agreed, saying Beauparlant “should be a real good forward for us – in our top six forwards.”
The second player, Mackay, is coming out of Sault Ste. Marie. He’s familiar with Elmira, having captained the Cambridge Winter Hawks last year. With the team’s withdrawal from the Ontario Hockey Association, the 19-year-old left wing – listed at 6’1” and 183 pound – was available.
“When the (Cambridge) team folded or disbanded, we were able to add Matt to
our team. He’s again a local university student. He’s a real quality kid and he’s really, really going to help us on the ice. He’s a big, bruising winger that’s got a nice set of hands to go along with it. And he’s just a really nice kid,” said Bloch.
“I think he brings a lot to the table. Real sound defensive player, good penalty killer, big strong guy, brings a lot of leadership, so we’re really happy with him as well,” added Snyder.
In addition to the two players, the Sugar Kings also took on two new assistant coaches for the season: Andrew Brubacher and Nik Knezic.
Brubacher played for the Waterloo Siskins while he studied at Conestoga College. Besides his abilities on ice, he’s also had some experience with the Kings. Last year, he volunteered with the team, acting as their “eye in the sky.” The coaches had him watch the team’s games and give his input and opinions on their performance. A few years before that, Brubacher briefly played for the Sugar Kings before he was traded to Waterloo. Now, the former King will be joining the team fulltime on the bench.
“He played in the league and he’s got some coaching experience with Woolwich Minor Hockey ... so we’re really excited about having a former player and a good young Elmira resident being a part of our coaching staff this year,” said Bloch.
Knezic, a former defensemen, played for the Warriors while studying chemical engineering at the University of Waterloo. Knezic is comparatively new on the bench side of things, says Bloch, but he more than makes up for it with skill and character.
“He’s a young guy, doesn’t have a lot of coaching experience, but he does have a lot of playing experience. He’s the right type of person that’s going to be able to connect with these players,” said Bloch. “And we’re real happy to have someone with his playing background and his personality to be working with our young players on the blue line.”
Besides his hockey prowess, Knezic has been outspoken on issues of men’s health. Last year, Knezic joined Movember’s new campaign “Know thy nuts,” after overcoming his own bout with testicular cancer in 2015.
“Well I think you’re always excited about getting training camp started and getting the new players on the ice and getting your new team put together,” said Bloch. “I think we’re going to have a fun and exciting team to watch and follow again this year for our fans, and we’ve got great fans.”
The front office expects to be active during the runup to the Kings’ training camp on August 18.