‘One-man wrecking crew’
Caribous import could spell big trouble for opposition
It didn’t take long Monday night for the Clarenville faithful to learn Matt Stefanishion figures to be a big addition — figuratively and literally — to the Caribous in their quest for the Allan Cup on home ice this week.
The 31-yearold Albertan scored twice and assisted on another as the Caribous opened the Canadian senior hockey championship at the Eastlink Events Centre with a 5-1 win over New Brunswick’s Lameque Au Ptit Mouse.
Stefanishion only arrived in town Friday, and had two practices with the Caribous, but he and linemates Andrew Sweetland (goal and an assist) and Matt Bragg (three helpers) worked in unison.
At 6-3 and 225 pounds, Stefanishion brings much-needed size to a group of Caribous forwards that aren’t necessarily small, but certainly aren’t overly big.
“When Bentley beat us two years ago (in the Allan Cup),” said Caribous coach Ivan Hapgood, “he was a one-man wrecking crew.”
So Clarenville was certainly well familiar with Stefanishion when the Caribous added him to the roster for the Allan Cup. After playing for the Alberta-based Generals in 2012-13 and 2013-14, Stefanishion took a pass this past winter because of his work with a pipeline construction company in Calgary.
But hockey being as it is — that is the biggest who-you-know business out there — Stefanishion was in contact with a couple of former pro teammates, Matt Quinn and Stuart MacRae when they played together in Fresno of the ECHL, and Derek Martin, when the two skated with Victoria and Alaska of the ECHL.
MacRae suited up for the Caribous this season — though his year was limited to nine games because of injury — and Quinn (Gander Flyers) and Martin (Corner Brook Royals) were picked up by the Caribous for the Allan Cup.
“I talked to Quinner and men- tioned to him that if Clarenville was looking for someone, I was ready to come,” Stefanishion said. “Derek MacPhee (Caribous’ GM) gave me a call, and here I am.”
Stefanishion played five years of pro hockey, including 19 games in the American Hockey League (Hartford Wolf Pack and Peoria Rivermen).
Most of his time was spent in the ECHL, which included a stint in Alaska where he played under current St. John’s IceCaps coach Keith McCambridge.
Since retiring from pro, and AAA senior with Bentley, Stefanishion has been skating in a few recreation non-contact leagues in and around Calgary.
And while that’s fine to get in a few skates, it’s not the same playing in a competitive national championship.
“It took me a few shifts to get into it, to get my legs,” he said. “But I was excited just to get out there and throw the body around. That’s a big part of my game.”
Caribous fans hope it leads to big results.