Junior B Elks players holding their composure
Without question, it’s been a rough season for the Brook eld Elks. In their last game before the Christmas break, the junior B team was downed 12-3 at the sportsplex by Liverpool Privateers. ey will enter the second half season with a record of 1-18-2 for four points, last place in the Fred Fox Division.
e East Hants Penguins (14-1-21) lead the division with 34 points, followed by the Sackville
Blazers (12-7) with 24. One position above the Elks are the Valley Maple Leafs with 17 points. Despite all this, and asfar as I can tell, these young Elks players are holding their composure. It was last ursday night in the Elks dressing room at the Don henderson Memorial Sportsplex that I talked with three of the team’s local players. Under my breath, I was sincerely applauding these young athletes. ey answered my request for an interview and all three were refreshingly positive.
Connor Miller, a rookie forward, came to the Elks from the CEC Cougars high school team.
“Junior B hockey is a lot more physical than high school hockey,” Miller, 18, of Masstown, said. “ere’s less time to make a play when you have possession of the puck. I’m enjoying the experience of playing with Brookfield, we have a real good group of guys. Like every other-player, I’d like to see us put some wins together in the new year.” Reflecting on his hockey start – Miller played in the West Colchester Minor Hockey Association in Debert.
“I remember my father signing me up when I was ve or six. I started at a young age and I’ve stuck with it.”
Miller attends Dalhousie Agricultural Campus in Bible Hill and is studying plant science, a two-year course.
Defenceman Evan Taylor is in his third season with the Elks after playing three years under Je Hazelton with the CEC Cougars.
“I enjoy the game a lot,” Taylor, 21, of Salmon River, said. “Coming together with the team, the friendships – I’ve met some great guys through hockey. What would really help us would be to pick up some wins. I realize we haven’t been able to get the results we want but we’ve got to nd a way to turn things around.”
Taylor commented on his earliest hockey days.
“We had a rink in our back yard which my father built and I lived close to Deuville’s Rink so it made it easy to become interested in hockey. I played my minor hockey in the Truro and Area Minor Hockey Association.”
A 2015 CEC graduate, Taylor has earned his ‘red seal’ in the automotive trade.
Centre Cole Fielding is in his fourth season with the junior B Elks. He came to the team after playing the 2014-15 season with the midget Elks.
“We really want to get some wins on the board in the new year,” Fielding, 19, of Forest Glen, said. “We have a good group of guys here, through the tough rst half season the team spirit has stayed good. I feel a couple wins would bring us around, it would give us some con dence and motivation. Every one of our players would like to nish out the league strong.”
Fielding is employed with Lindsay’s Construction. He is the son of former Truro Bearcats senior baseball pitcher Je Fielding and the grandson of former APC Hockey League star Ron Fielding.
e three Elks players are looking forward to celebrating Christ- mas and spending quiet time with family and friends.
The closest I can come to a Christmas story. During June of 2001, it was an unforgettable interview in the Halifax forum. It was following general manager Steve Crowell and the Truro Bearcats drafting a 13-yearold player in the fth round of the Maritime Hockey League draft.
anks to Crowell, I got to interview the ve-foot-seven-inch, 145 pound centre.
“It was exciting, I never experienced anything like that in my life,” the polite young man said. “I remember hearing whispers, they were whispers of surprise. I felt a little bit like it was nerve wracking. The equipment manager of the Bearcats was the rst to shake my hand. I felt welcomed immediately.”
Turning 14, the unique hockey prospect played two games for the Bearcats during the 2001-2002 season. Merry Christmas everyone. You too Sidney Crosby.
Lyle Carter’s sports column appears weekly in the Truro News. If you have a story idea,
contact him at 902-673-2857