With the John Reid Memorial Tournament set to take place in just over a couple weeks, we will begin to look at the tournament and some facts as well as preview the teams and divisions in the coming weeks. Here are 10 top facts compiled for the John Reid Memorial Tournament.
1. The 2012 WHL Bantam Draft featured 93 players who were participants in the JRMT. That is an amazing 31% of all invitees from the 2012 edition of the event, who went on to be drafted in to the WHL. 2013 is expecting to be as prolific.
2. The current top 3 scorers in the WHL, Colin Smith, Nicolas Petan and Brendan Leipsic were all participants in the John Reid Memorial Tournament, as were two members of Canada’s 2013 U-20 WJHC team Morgan Reilly and Mark McNeill .
3. Over 60 alumni from the JRMT have gone on to play in the NHL including Jerome Iginla, Scott and Rob Niedermeyer, Vincent Lecalvier, Brad Richards, Eric Staal and Jonathon Toews.
4. This year’s tournament features 23 of the top 30 scorers in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League, including South Side Athletic Club’s Tyler Benson, who is on pace to shatter the AMBHL scoring record, currently held by Team Canada U-20 member Ty Rattie.
5. The all-time single tournament scoring leader is Jonathon Toews who scored 36 points (7 games) in 2003 edition of the tournament.
6. Michael St. Croix, currently with the Oil Kings, scored a record 38 points (including 15 as an underage) over two tournaments (2007 / 2008).
7. Thunder Bay won the tournament a record four consecutive years (1997 – 2000). The 1997 Thunder Bay squad featured three current NHLers: Patrick Sharp, Taylor Pyatt and Alex Auld.
8. Current Oil King Curtis Lazar was named MVP of the 2010 JRMT. His performance at the JRMT was his self-described, “coming out party” in terms of his meteoric rise up the scout’s rankings, eventually being selected 2nd overall in the WHL draft and a potential first round selection in the upcoming NHL draft.
9. Several coaching staffs from teams attending this year’s tournament feature ex-NHLers. Blake Wesley, Dixon Ward, Norm Lacombe, Joby Messier, Kevin Smyth, and Mike Needham will all be in St. Albert providing leadership and mentorship to these talented athletes.
10. St. Albert has only won their own tournament once – 1983, led by future NHL sniper Rob Brown.
You're missing a lot of comments!
ReplyDeleteNo body will come close to Toews record this year . Even Benson . That is too many points in such a short period of time I don't think it can be done
ReplyDeleteNick Petan never played at the tournament as he was injured
ReplyDeleteI don't care...do you?
ReplyDeleteSome interesting points and facts. Thanks for posting it.
ReplyDeleteWas just looking at the PCAHA standings. Through the first 12 games of the season BWC has allowed just 4 goals. Four!
ReplyDeleteThat is very strong stuff.
St Albert will be fun to watch.
Benson will most likely break St Croix's record. Benson led the tournament in scoring last year with 21 points.
ReplyDeleteChris Seto racked up a lot of pints the last 2 years
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to all the players and coaches that are participating in the JRMT. To the teams who have been to this event before and to teams that are new to the tournament. Great job. Top 16 in western Canada!!!
ReplyDeleteIf Sherwood Park is healthy Sam Steele will chellenge for tournament scoring lead, He is the most dynamic and exciting player in Western Canada and is a complete player that uses his wingers well and plays in both ends of the unlike some of the other top players that don;t understand defense zone coverage!
ReplyDeleteYes, Steele and Benson will be the players to watch. But they will be watching BWC win it all.
ReplyDeleteBelieve me there will be more to watch then steel and benson to watch and BWC will not win
ReplyDelete