More locals crack ‘AAA’ hockey teams

Fort Frances hockey talent continues to be recognized as five more players secured berths on ‘AAA’ teams.
Last weekend in Thunder Bay, Michael Jourdain, Kyle Herr, Steven Boileau, and Andrew Easton all were chosen for positions on the Thunder Bay Thunder travelling teams.
Meanwhile, Jared Catholique-Bruyere earned a berth on the 87 All-Stars, a Manitoba-based PeeWee ‘AAA’ squad.
Jourdain, a nine-year-old who played Tom Thumb this past season for the Times Tigers, was selected as a centre for the Novice Major team.
“The coaches were really impressed with Michael’s backchecking, something they don’t see a lot of at this age,” said Amanda Jourdain, Mike’s mom, who added about 30 players tried out for 17 positions on the team.
Herr, 10, made the Atom Minor team as a right-winger in his first ‘AAA’ tryout. Herr, who played for the local Sunset Country Ford Atom ‘AA’ team this winter, battled more 25 players to claim one of nine forward spots.
“Kyle said they did many of the same drills they used this winter so the tryouts were hard but he enjoyed them,” said his mom, Pat.
Also grabbing an ‘AAA’ berth for the first time was Easton, who had a big season with the Sunset Country Ford ‘AA’ Atoms here. He will play centre/forward for the Atom Major Thunder which will travel to tournaments in Duluth and Ottawa later this spring and summer.
Easton will be joined by Boileau, who earned a spot on defence. Boileau, who captained the Mustangs this winter, played for the Atom Minor Thunder last summer.
“Five of the 17 positions on the team were claimed by out-of-town players, and the competition was strong,” said Richard Boileau, Steve’s dad, who added the boys will take a break for a few weeks before resuming practices Victoria Day weekend.
For Catholique-Bruyere, the ‘AAA’ experience is nothing new–he played this past winter for the Kenora Thistle AAA’s and the Fort Frances KC PeeWee AA’s.
“There was some scouting of players done at Brandon and Winnipeg PeeWee tournaments this winter so ‘AAA’ coaches were familiar with some of the players that tried out,” said Wallace Bruyere, Jared’s father.
“They liked his size and speed,” added Wallace, who said the 87’s will play two Winnipeg tournaments before heading for Calgary and the Stampede Challenge on Canada Day weekend.
Last weekend, another area player, Jamie Davis of Devlin, was chosen as a forward for the Thunder Bay Northern Hawks ‘AAA’ Bantam Minor team.
Davis, 14, a grade nine student at Fort High, played for Tagg’s ‘AA’ Bantams this past winter and was the only area player to make the Bantam ‘AAA’ squad.