By Tyler Renaud [1]
BELLEVILLE – Seven players from the Quinte Red Devils [2] have been selected to the Eastern Triple-A all-star game in Orillia, Ont.
The chosen players are goalie Anthony Bertucca [3], defencemen Mackenzie Warren [4] and Colin VanDerHurk [5](the team’s captain), and forwards Nick Hoey [6], Shelby Reinstra [7], Greg Thomas [8] and Greg Powles [9]. Head coach Ben Hagerman was named to the all-star coaching staff.
Hagerman is enjoying his first season as head coach and says individual success trickles down from team success.
“It’s a huge reflection of our team success – having individual success comes when you’re having success as team. For the league to recognize seven of our players is also a true reflection of the commitment and how the team has bought in collectively,” Hagerman told QNet News.
The Eastern Triple-A all-star game is part of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association [10] midget showcase weekend, which brings together the best midget hockey players from the Eastern Triple-A hockey league. The representatives from the Red Devils will compete against Western All-Stars this Saturday in Orillia. From this game a collective Eastern Triple-A all-star team will be selected to compete against all-stars from the South Central Triple-A league [11] Jan. 28 and Jan. 29 in St. Catharines.
Hagerman says the players will get “good exposure” as many Junior A and OHL scouts will be present at these all-star games.