A quiet, steady contributor
Clements playing an important role in QMJHL on Acadie-bathurst Titan’s blue-line
Harry Clements quietly goes about his business with the Acadie-bathurst Titan.
Although the second-year defenceman from High Bank, P.E.I., may not show up on the scoresheet every game, Clements has earned a reputation for steady, hard-nosed and consistent play in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
“Last year, I was a rookie and started off a little slow,” the son of Troy and Alexis Clements told Saltwire in an interview following a recent game against the Charlottetown Islanders at Eastlink Centre.
“I found my game eventually and I worked hard and tried to be physically strong. Overall, I think I have upped my game from last year to this year; maybe not offensively but physically and defensively.”
An example of that is Clements was named the Titan’s defensive player of the year on March 25.
“I’m more of a defensive defenceman,” said Clements, who turned 19 on Jan. 29 but is in his 18-year-old season of eligibility. “I’m not too worried about all the points, but I try to keep the pucks out of the back of our net and play my defensive game as best I can, and the offence will come.
“My strongest part would be defending, physicality and speed.”
“Overall, I think I have upped my game from last year to this year; maybe not offensively but physically and defensively.” Harry Clements
WORKHORSE
Clements, who stands six feet and weighs 205 pounds, has also proven to be durable with the Titan, playing in all 68 regular-season contests in his rookie campaign and 63 of 68 during the 2023-24 season.
“Harry is a warrior,” said Titan general manager and head coach Gordie Dwyer of
Stratford, P.E.I. “He’s a young man who has stepped into this league and really made an impression since Day 1.
“He knows his identity, he knows his role, he knows
where his skill set lies.
“We see that pretty consistently from Harry. He’s a team guy and a lot of guys really enjoy playing with him. He’s an ultra-competitive guy who is hard to play against, plays a heavy game and definitely adds to the identity of the hockey team.”
DRAFTED
A second-round pick, 28th overall, by the Titan in the 2021 QMJHL Entry Draft
out of the Charlottetown Bulk Carriers Knights’ major under-18 program, Clements recorded 18 points in his rookie campaign and 12 this season. One big statistical improvement is Clements went from minus-19 in Year 1 to plus-12 in his sophomore season.
“Definitely, I feel more at home after having a year under my belt,” said Clements. “Probably a couple of
months into the season at the start of this year I got more comfortable in my second year, got some confidence under myself and I feel good out there.”
Dwyer pointed out Clements’ responsibilities changed this year to focus more on defence than in his rookie season. Dwyer went on to say Clements has settled nicely into the top defensive role with the Titan.
“He wants to play against top teams, he wants those assignments and wants to play against top players in the league and he has confidence in his abilities and physicality,” said Dwyer. “Guys have taken notice around the league and Harry has done an extremely good job at only 18-years-old, so we feel there is a lot of great hockey for Harry at this level over the next couple of seasons.”
Clements recalled attending Islanders’ games in Charlottetown as a young kid and wishing he would one day be out there playing.
“It was always a dream to play in the Q and eventually I decided I had enough work ethic and I put the work in and eventually made it here,” said Clements, who loves playing in Bathurst, N.B. “It’s a small little town like I come from in P.E.I.
“It’s a great little town to play in and a great organization. I can’t complain about anything.”