Judson to play stint in OHL

Emo native Luke Judson is heading to the Ontario Hockey League.
Judson, a fifth-round pick (99th overall) by the Belleville Bulls, will get his first taste of Major Junior hockey this week when he faces the Kingston Frontenacs there Friday night.
The 16-year-old forward said he’s excited to head south, but in terms of goals has “nothing too specific.”
“Just to show I can fit in and that I can compete with the rest of the kids there. . . .” Judson remarked.
“It’s obviously a tough league, so I’m hoping to fit in as well as I can, and stay down there as long as I can,” he added.
Judson, who has five goals and three assists in six games with the Thunder Bay Bearcats of the SIJHL this season, found out about his call-up shortly before a trip back to the district to face the Fort Frances Jr. Sabres over the holiday weekend.
Head coach/general manager George Burnett said the move came after the Bulls (4-1) lost six players to long-term injuries.
Burnett said the decision to pick up Judson came after following his progress with the Bearcats after he had impressed during training camps over the summer.
“He had a good camp with us, and we were impressed by him as a young man and as an athlete, as well as his interest to improve and develop,” Burnett said.
Judson will participate in two practices with the Bulls before facing the Frontenacs on Friday, hosting the Peterborough Petes on Saturday evening, and then heading to face the Brampton Battalion on Sunday afternoon.
The three-consecutive games won’t be easy, Judson admitted, but said he’s more concerned with the level of play he’ll face.
“It’s going to be tough to get used to the lifestyle, I guess,” he shrugged. “It’ll be a little bit different, but that’s true of anyone coming into that league.”
Nothing’s been decided beyond the weekend, and the decision may hinge on Judson’s age, Burnett said.
OHL teams only are allowed two players born in 1991 taken after the second round to take up full roster spots (other players of the same age may play up to 10 games with the club or come up shortly before the playoffs).
Those rules—and Judson’s need for development—were the main factors in sending him back to Thunder Bay in the first place, Burnett said.
“We expected to be calling sooner than later,” he noted. “We expected he would be a full member of our club by next September, or sooner.”
Without a timeline, Judson’s focusing on the three games ahead. “They haven’t really told me the length I’ll be there, so I just gotta prove my worth and hope for the best,” he reasoned.
“If not, I can head back to the Bearcats and develop with them.”
Judson said he’s more than happy to spend the weekend getting to better know his Bulls’ teammates, soak in the big OHL crowds, and “play against some of the best young players in the world.”
“There’s a lot to look forward to,” he enthused.