By Pat Payton
Last week, defenceman Sam Sedley, 16, signed a Standard Player Agreement with the Ontario Hockey League’s Owen Sound Attack.
“Sedley stood out all week long in training camp,” Owen Sound GM Dale DeGray stated on the Attack website recently. “He played the same game he played in Midget at a Major Junior level, and he’s going to continue to develop into a puck-moving d-man for our team.”
Sedley spent last season with the Huron-Perth Minor Midget Lakers, picking up 24 points in 33 regular-season games while adding six points in eight playoff contests. He was selected in the fourth round of the 2019 OHL Priority Draft.
Sedley joins another St. Marys native in Owen Sound, second-year forward Kaleb Pearson, 19. As an OHL rookie last season, Pearson had 14 goals and 28 points in 66 regular-season games. He also scored twice in five playoff games.
Sedley, meanwhile, was one of Lincolns’ top defencemen at training camp and in pre-season games. If he didn’t make the Attack, the young blueliner was going to play the 2019-20 season with the Lincs.
“Obviously, from our hockey team’s standpoint, it’s a huge loss for us,” Lincolns’ GM Greg Smale said at practice last week. “We thought Sam would be in the top four (among defencemen) and be a huge part of what we’re trying to do here this season. The kid will be missed.
“But for the player and his family, all the hard work that they’ve put in, you wish them all the best. It’s paid off for them.
“For the Lincolns as an organization, it’s nice to see that we continue to identify good players and help advance them to the next level in hockey. We’re proud from that standpoint.”
–Last Thursday, GM Smale announced that Lincs had signed a new 16-year-old defenceman. He’s Brayden Hislop, who was drafted in the ninth round by Owen Sound this summer. He attended the Attack’s main training camp.
Hislop, who hails from St. Clements, played for the Waterloo ‘AAA’ Minor Midgets last season. He was in the St. Marys line-up for both games this past weekend. “He played really well,” Smale reported. “He’s a smooth skater and good puck mover, and we’re really happy to have him.”
The addition of Hislop gives Lincolns 13 forwards, seven defencemen and two goalies.
–Carson Brookshaw is back as skills and development coach with the Lincs. The former GOJHL player and OHA Jr. ‘B’ MVP is a native of the Thorndale area who now attends Western.
–A reminder that the final Elimination Early Bird draw is this Friday, Sept. 13 during the Lincolns’ home opener. The Elimination draw, featuring a grand prize of $15,000 in cash, is Nov. 1. It’s the team’s biggest fundraiser of the season. Tickets are available from any executive member.
–Lincs’ season tickets are available until the team’s home opener at a special price of $99 (a $240 value). After Friday, they go up to $120. They can be purchased at Guest Services at the PRC.
