Ottawa 67s' Hoefenmayer grew on and off the ice
Now he’s the CHL’S top defenceman
OTTAWA — In his five seasons with the Ottawa 67’s, Noel Hoefenmayer found his game and, maybe most importantly, he found himself.
The 21-year-old was named the Canadian Hockey League defenceman of the year this week.
There has never been a question of Hoefenmayer’s potential. A second-round pick by the 67’s in the 2015 Ontario Hockey League draft, Hoefenmayer kept building his point total along the way. After five points in his rookie season, he had 40, 33, 62 and 82.
He also matured off the ice.
“The biggest thing is his mindset. It grew so much,” 67’s head coach André Tourigny said. “When he arrived, he was a player who had a lot of energy, but he was immature in his game and as a person. He transformed that into positive energy in every way. His focus improved. Now he’s a young man who really wants to be a hockey player. His legacy will live for a long time for us.
“All the credit goes to him. It’s important to give him credit for growing as a person, tuning in to what he wants to become. He really set priorities in his life. He really improved and matured as a person.”
Hoefenmayer had eyepopping numbers in a Covid-19-shortened 2019-20 season. His 82 points (which led all defencemen in the major-junior CHL) came in just 58 games. Another number that jumped out was his plus-52, which indicates highly skilled teammates, but also the work Hoefenmayer put in to improve in his own end of the rink.
“With the help of of the 67’s coaching staff, how smart and educated they are about the game, being able to go to the rink every day and be a sponge, that really helped round out my game,” Hoefenmayer said. “The past two years especially, my focus was on making the defensive side of my game sound and being able to make that defensive mindset translate into offence.”
Finalists for the CHL top defenceman award also included Los Angeles Kings prospect Jordan Spence of the Quebec Major Junior
Hockey League’s Moncton Wildcats and last year’s award recipient: New Jersey Devils prospect Ty Smith of the Western Hockey League’s Spokane Chiefs.
Hoefenmayer had 65 goals and 157 assists in 298 regular-season games with the 67’s. He is fourth all-time in franchise history for games played with his 298 and he ranks sixth among defenceman in scoring.
“Through hard work and perseverance, Noel has showed continuous improvement throughout his junior career,” 67’s general manager James Boyd said. “In addition to this season’s leagueleading offensive production, Noel has been a steady defensive presence on our blue line and is a key part of our team’s leadership group.”
There have been bumps along the road for Hoefenmayer, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL draft by the Arizona Coyotes, but not signed by that club. He recently signed a contract with the Toronto Marlies, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Maple Leafs.
Hoefenmayer’s ECHL/ AHL deal means he could see some time with the ECHL’S Newfoundland Growlers, much the same as fellow rearguard Joe Duszak last season, who earned a berth on the ECHL’S all-rookie squad.
“Since a young age, it’s been instilled in me that hard work will get you places,” Hoefenmayer said. “That stuck with me. With the amount of hours I put in trying to improve myself, this (award) kind of shows it paid off. I know what I have to continue to do to make it to the next level. In any competitive sport, there are going to be roadblocks. Successful athletes find a way to manage their life, manage their game and work through different setbacks they have. I know it’ll never be clear sailing, it won’t be perfect. I have to work through things, put my head down, put my work boots on and work through those things to be able to play in the NHL. I know there’s a lot more work to do to make myself a successful NHL player.”
“He will still have to work on a few things in his game and he’s well aware of that,” Tourigny said. “But, if he keeps striving to get better like he does, eventually, I think, he will have a good opportunity to play at the next level, in the NHL.”
Being in the Leafs organization is a big deal to Hoefenmayer, whose dad, Rupert, shares season tickets for that team.
“I’m very excited,” Hoefenmayer said. “It’s an honour to be able to wear the jersey. I’ve said this before, but the long road makes people stronger. There are things that have happened that have added wood to my fire. That fire’s burning now. I’m excited to continue adding logs to the fire throughout my journey and push myself to be a better version of myself.”
Now that Hoefenmayer is gone — as an overager, he played his last game for the 67’s in March — there will be others to take up the torch.
“My mentality is it’s unfair to ask anybody to replace anyone,” Tourigny said. “Everybody has to be his own self. Noel Hoefenmayer will not be replaced. Other guys have their own strengths and their own potential. What’s important for us is everyone strives to reach his own potential, but Noel will leave a really good legacy.”