Generals centre off to Tier II training camp
Aug 14, 2008 - 03:35 PM
By Shawn Cayley
A week after losing his No. 1 goaltender, being faced with the prospect of losing one of his top forwards as well likely wasn't something Chris DePiero, head coach and general manager of the Oshawa Generals wanted to deal with.
Thankfully, for the sake of the Ontario Hockey League club, he won't be faced with that possibility.
On Wednesday the Couchiching Terriers of the Ontario Provincial Jr. A Hockey League posted training camp rosters on their team website and one name that loomed large was that of Brett Parnham.
Yes, that Brett Parnham. The one who was a key cog within the Generals' offence last season, developed great chemistry with the OHL's goal scoring leader in the now-departed Brett MacLean, and who is expected to fill yet another large role this season as the Generals begin the re-tooling phase after losing a number of veterans from last season.
And after Daryl Borden surprised many by walking away from the club and signing on with the Jr. B St. Marys Lincolns, it made the possibility of another prominent player following all that more likely.
But according to Roy Micks, the GM of the Terriers, that's not the case, although he admitted he'd love to have Parnham on his club.
He is just giving a hometown boy -- Parnham is from Orillia -- a chance to get some extra ice in advance of training camp.
"He is just a local kid here looking for some ice time," said Micks, who added he's received several phone calls about Parnham since his name appeared on the website. "He's just looking for some ice time and hey, if he wants to come skate and get some before their camp starts, great.
"We'd love to have him but he is going to score 50 goals for Oshawa this year. And the same with (goalie) Shea Cooper (also attending Terriers camp). I am sure with Borden gone he's got a chance to make it there," Micks added.
That news has to be music to the ears of DePiero, who could not be reached for comment Thursday, and Generals brass. Having their fourth leading scorer from last year, and a guy who could crack the top-10 in league scoring this season, walk away for nothing would have been devastating for a club that on paper at least, appears hurtin' for depth after losing MacLean, Dale Mitchell, Patrick Asselin, Kevin Baker and Corey Cowick up front, Ryan McGinnis and James DeLory on the back end and both their goalies in Michal Neuvirth and most recently, and surprisingly, Borden.
Parnham's shocking departure so close to the start of camp would have added to an already challenging job for DePiero, the GM, to build a formidable nucleus for DePiero, the coach.
Shawn Cayley's column runs every third week. E-mail scayley@durhamregion.com
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