Beavers hope to add US talent through affiliation with Virginia

NEWS RELEASE

VIRGINIA STATESMEN

EMPIRE JUNIOR B HOCKEY LEAGUE

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Blind River Becomes Statesmen Junior "A" Affiliate

The Virginia Statesmen are proud to announce a Junior A affiliation with the Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Junior A Hockey League.

Statesmen General Manager Paul Veillette sites Blind River Director of Player Development Charly Murray as the primary reason for choosing the Beavers as their affiliate.

“Charly is a well respected individual in the hockey community, he is truly in it for the kids” Veillette said.

Last season the Statesmen were affiliated with the now defunct Northern Michigan Blackbears they have been looking to fill that void since the Blackbears were sold at the end of the season. The Northern Ontario Junior A Hockey League has a successful track record of promoting players to Major Junior, College and professional levels.

Current NOJHL alumni in the NHL include Brian Savage of the Philadelphia Flyers, and star forward of the Nashville Predators Steve Sullivan. Current Statesmen Empire Junior B Head Coach Derek Comeau is also a graduate of the NOJHL; Comeau played for the Sudbury Cubs (now the Sudbury Junior Wolves) in 1987-1989. In 1989, Comeau and the Cubs won the NOJHL title and moved on the to National Championship game. The NOJHL is part of the ten league, Canadian Junior A Hockey League. Over 50% of Division 1 NCAA players are recruited from the CJAHL every year.

Although the Empire Junior B Hockey League and the CHA are regarded by college scouts as some of the best Junior B hockey, quality Junior A leagues can offer a direct path to the college and professional ranks. The Statesmen pride themselves on their ability to move players on to Jr. A hockey.

“Anytime we can move a player on to the EJ (Eastern Junior Hockey League), USHL, NAHL or Canadian Junior “A” we know we are putting them in a position to get some quality competition and D-1 college exposure”

Three players from the 05-06 Statesmen CHA Premier team have signed Junior A contracts to play in the 2006-2007 season. Josh Andreas and Tim Gleason have signed with Syracuse of the EJHL while Colin Milford will be manning the blueline for the Oswego Admirals of the CJAHL.

Hopefully the Statesmen can add to that number with this affiliation. Blind River will be holding an invitational tryout on July 22-23 followed by their main camp on August 19-20.

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