Former Western Mustangs’ coach Mike Herman a new assistant with the Lincs
By Pat Payton
St. Marys Lincolns added more speed and skill with the signing of a new forward last week.
Chase MacQueen-Spence, 17, was a fourth-round pick of the OHL’s North Bay Battalion, 78th overall, in the 2021 draft. The London native played in seven OHL games with North Bay last year.
MacQueen-Spence, who is listed at 5 ft., 9 inches and 155 lbs., spent the majority of last season with Powassan Voodoos of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL). He clicked for 12 goals and 35 points in 47 games, and then added four points in six playoff games.
“He’s a very skilled offensive player, with a great hockey IQ,” General Manager Greg Smale says. “We got to watch Chase a lot a few years ago. (Assistant GM) Jeff Roy coached him, so we’re quite familiar with him and excited to have him on board. He brings that OHL experience, and it just adds to our great nucleus.”
In 2019-20, MacQueen-Spence had 16 goals and 32 points in 32 games with the U15 Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs ‘AAA’ team. A teammate on that Chiefs’ squad was former Lincoln Noah VandenBrink (2021-22).
MacQueen-Spence, who was acquired in a straight cash deal, made his first start with St. Marys Sunday in Chatham. He clicked for a goal and an assist, and also hit the crossbar on a third-period breakaway.
–Early last week, the Lincs sent second-year forward Kevin Perrott, 19, to the Walkerton Jr. ‘C’ Capitals for cash.
“Kevin’s looking for a team that will give him more ice time,” GM Smale said.
Coach Jeff Bradley said there was “no animosity” between the parties involved.
“Kevin wants to play and he wants to develop; he feels he can do that best elsewhere,” Bradley told the Independent. “Kevin and I aren’t at odds. I was honest and respectful with Kevin, and he was honest and respectful with me.
“Nate spends a lot of time driving to be an assistant coach on the team. Now that his son doesn’t want to be a part of the team, it didn’t make much sense for Nate to continue.”
Kevin and Nathan both joined the Lincolns at the beginning of last season.
–A new assistant coach with the Lincs is Mike Herman, a former assistant with the Western University men’s varsity hockey team. He replaces Nathan Perrott.
Herman was behind the bench for his first two games this past weekend. He has 15-plus seasons as a coach, scout, development director and/or manager of several local Junior ‘B’, Junior ‘C’ and Junior ‘D’ organizations.
The London resident also spent several years coaching ‘AAA’ hockey in the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs’ minor system. He is a Certified Power Skating Instructor as well, with several years running schools and development sessions.
“Mike has helped me throughout my development as a coach,” coach Bradley said. “He ran the defence at Western for four or five years, and coached at the Jr. ‘B’ level a long time. He’s always been a guy that I’ve leaned on quite often for advice. When the vacancy opened up, we were very happy to bring him on board. Having a guy with his experience will also help the young guys on our (coaching) staff.”
–Leamington coach Dale Mitchell says he’s very pleased with this year’s edition of the Flyers.
“We’re happy with the guys we acquired and the guys that we retained from last season,” Mitchell said last Friday night at the PRC. “We have a good core back who really contributed for us last year.”
Flyers have the MacPherson twins back (Ryan and Connor), captain Gabe Piccolo, high-scoring Gavin Grundner and most of their defensive unit has returned. A new goalie is former Lincs’ netminder Bryce Walcarius (2021-22).
“I think our skill and speed could be better than last season,” Mitchell noted. “We’ve added a little grit to our game and more maturity for sure. Everybody is a year older with another year of experience. We have a good structured team and the guys are working hard.”
–The team off to the hottest start in the GOJHL this fall is the Kitchener-Waterloo Siskins. After weekend action, the Siskins are 8-0 atop the Midwestern Conference standings.
–St. Marys native Sam Sedley scored goals in a pair of OHL pre-season wins recently. The 19-year-old defenceman with the Owen Sound Attack connected in a 9-3 win over North Bay and in a 3-1 victory over the Barrie Colts.
Sedley also scored for the Attack and drew an assist on the winning goal in Saturday’s home opener, a 4-3 victory over the Kitchener Rangers.
Sedley is starting his third full season in Owen Sound. He picked up 42 points (4-38) in 64 games last season.
