(Posted Oct. 4)
Veteran Grads get 'branded'
By Melissa Monette
Special to Orleans Online

The sounds of metal on ice and wood slapping rubber slowly fill the rink as does the fan excitement at the start of a new hockey season.

For the Cumberland Grads, this will be a rebuilding year, but with newly appointed captain Matt Doelman and assistant captains Craig Baxter, Sean Grady, and Michael Willemsen, there should be nothing to fear.

Doelman will have big skates to fill following the departure of former captain Craig Nooyen, but he accepts the challenge and is looking forward to leading the team both on and off ice.

"I haven’t been in the captain position since minor hockey and I’m really looking forward to being back in that role," Doelman comments. "This is my fifth year in the league. There aren’t many guys who have been around that long. I’ve got a lot of experience under my belt and hopefully I’ll be able to share that with the new guys."

With twelve rookies suiting up for this year’s line up, the Grads will need all of its veterans to step up and take on leadership roles. Baxter says although there is more pressure put on this year’s letter holders with youth dominating the Grads’ bench, he knows his four years of CJHL play will help him do the best job he can.

"I think having the ‘A’ will only play more on my ability to be a leader," Baxter states. "We are all going to have to be an example to the younger guys. I can help the younger kids cope with the different levels of stress and help them deal with different problems they are going to face on and off the ice."

Willemsen says being chosen to sport an ‘A’ on his jersey is an honour, but is aware how important his role on the team will be over the course of the season.

"Having an ‘A’ on my jersey is exciting," he says. "It is something that I take very seriously knowing how influential I am to the younger guys. I’m not worried, but it is a little nerve racking thinking about how many guys are looking up to you."

For Grady, being handed an ‘A’ means being a role model, but he is quick to say that you do not have to wear a letter to stand out as a leader.

"There are a lot of guys on the team who are leaders," Grady says. "Just because you are a rookie doesn’t mean you can’t show leadership qualities. We are here to help and to be someone that the younger guys can go to if they need it. Every team needs leaders, but every team also needs all of its players to set an example for each other."

Willemsen agrees adding he is looking forward to seeing how the four players chosen will fit together.

"We are four guys with four different opinions about everything," he states. "The diversity between us is great and it’ll be that diversity that makes us the guys for the job. We will all bring something different and can help the team gel together."

As the season moves ahead, the Grads are left in the capable hands of Doelman, Baxter, Grady and Willemsen. What may seem like a young team on paper should prove to be rich in leadership and team unity.