Timmins signs with Greyhounds
Conor Timmins is ready to take the next step in his hockey career.
The 16-year-old Thorold resident has signed with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League after splitting his first season of junior hockey last year between the Thorold Blackhawks and St. Catharines Falcons.
“It’s tremendously exciting. It feels like all my hard work is finally paying off,” Timmins said. “I’ve been looking forward to this for awhile so it’s great.
“We’ve been discussing this for awhile. They’ve been wanting to sign me we’ve just been working on the paperwork. I’m exciting it finally got done. They have a great program up there so I’m looking forward to it.”
I just gained a ton of confidence. As I started to play I got more into the stride of the game. I got to experience the pace more and when I went to St. Catharines I was playing with great players and hit my
stride.” Conor Timmins
Timmins was originally selected by the Greyhounds in the fourth round (79th overall) in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection from the Southern Tier Admirals minor midget program.
“We are thrilled to have Conor join the Soo Greyhounds hockey program. Conor’s progression was steady throughout the year and really took off once he joined the St Catharines Falcons,” Hounds general manager Kyle Raftis said in a release. “As an offensive-minded defencemen, Conor is at his best when the puck is on his stick. What continually drew us back to his game was his puck management, distribution and ability to escape defenders while breaking out of his zone. As Conor’s abilities continue to mature both off and on the ice, we are very excited to see where his potential can take him.”
Timmins also had the option of playing at the collegiate level in the United States.
“I was talking to a few schools last year throughout the junior B season, but I just felt the OHL was the best league for my game in particular so it was an easy choice,” he said.
Timmins is expected to crack the roster out of training camp, although, there are no guarantees.
“They said go in have a good training camp — they didn’t say I had a slot — but they said they are looking forward to me playing next year and developing my game as one of their lower defenceman and hopefully I can work my way up,” he said.
Timmins made steady progress in his jump from midget to junior B last season and can’t see why he won’t be able to do the same thing at the OHL level.
“It’s going to be tough at first, but I already did it once and that was pretty big jump. I thought I handled it pretty well so I’m looking forward to doing that again,” he said.
Timmins began last season with the Blackhawks — his father, Dan Timmins, is a former owner/coach of the team — before being dealt to the Falcons for forward Nicholas Prestia.
“It was obviously huge for me,” he said of his junior B season. “I went into camp in the Soo not really expecting to make the team. I knew it was going to be a development year. I went into junior B with an open attitude and it turned out to be a great year for both teams I played for.”
Timmins finished the season with seven goals and 18 points in 30 games and displayed the ability to carry the puck, but also take care of his own end.
“I just gained a ton of confidence. As I started to play I got more into the stride of the game. I got to experience the pace more and when I went to St. Catharines I was playing with great players and hit my stride,” he said.
Falcons coach/general manager Frank Girhiny feels the sky is the limit for Timmins.
“We’re really happy for him. I expect a lot of good things from Conor playing for Sault Ste. Marie the next few years,” he said.
Timmins admits it will be a big adjustment to be so far away from home, but is ready for the challenge.
“Obviously, there’s pros and cons to that. We’ve discussed that. It’s a negative that I have to go so far away. I’m going to miss my family and friends but it’s such a huge opportunity I’m looking forward to it.”
Falcon facts: The Falcons have signed 20-year-old netminder Joel Horodziejczyk from Powassan of the NOJHL and 18-year-old defenceman James Guest . . . Graduating forward Paolo DeSousa has committed to play next season with the University of Oklahoma Sooners (ACHA D1).