Joey Payeur
Whether it was in the hearts and minds of those who played for him and coached with him, or be it the home tournament renamed in his honour, the spectre of Scott Clendenning undeniably hung over the Muskie girls’ hockey team last season.
It was understandable considering the 2015-16 campaign began only seven months after Clendenning passed away suddenly of a heart attack just four days after coaching the Muskies to the program’s first-ever OFSAA medal (silver) in Kenora.
While he won’t soon be forgotten (a certainty with the annual Scott Clendenning Memorial Showcase tournament on the calendar each year from now on), his former best friend, Muskie boys’ teammate, and assistant coach with the girls’ team said a new season brings with it a new mindset.
“I think the memory of Scott, because we all missed him, was a bit of a dark cloud over the team last year,” admitted Todd Hamilton, who starts his second season at the helm this weekend at the Sturgeon Heights Huskies tournament in Winnipeg.
“Now I think we’re ready to put that behind us, and I sense a different and more positive feeling on the team this year,” he noted.
That doesn’t mean the Muskie bench will be absent of Clendennings.
Last year, it was former goalie Calie Clendenning working with the netminders as an assistant coach. This season, oldest sister and ex-Muskie Hailey Clendenning will bring her playing experience to the coaching staff.
Sitting on the bench in front of them waiting for her next shift will be the youngest female in the clan—Grade 12 forward Jenna Clendenning.
“I believe it’s a rule there has to be two Clendennings on the team at all times,” Hamilton joked.
“Seriously, though, Hailey went to the last two national championships with the Rainy River Community College Voyageurs women’s team and came within a goal of winning it all last year,” he noted.
“She has an interest in athletics and conditioning, and I think she can really help our kids that way.
“She was a great player and I believe she’ll be a great coach, too,” Hamilton added.
The Muskies come in as the solid favourites after capturing their third-straight NorWOSSA crown last season.
As well, they lost just seven players from last year’s team that finished 12th at OFSAA in Stratford after losing the bronze-medal game in the consolation bracket.
In a slight change from last season, Hamilton—who tends to change the makeup of his lines frequently—decided to step away from having four forward lines.
Instead, he’s opting for 11 forwards after losing graduating captain Rachel Jean and tough-as-nails centre Rylee Redford, along with Emma Noga, who chose not to play this season.
For at least the start of the campaign, each member of what should be his top offensive line of veterans Annalise (CC) Hayes, Lauren Hamilton, and Janelle Kaemingh will rotate into the centre position on a second line featuring second-year winger Hanna LeDrew and Grade 12 newcomer Jessica Steele.
“CC put in a lot of work over the summer and I think she’s on the verge of having a fantastic year,” Hamilton said of his leading point-getter last season.
As for Steele, the coach has grown fond of her hard-nosed approach on the doorstep of opposing goalies.
“I told Jess she lives five feet around the net and she’s not afraid to do that,” lauded Hamilton.
“I’ve seen her play her whole life and she has a knack for scoring from in close.”
LeDrew was moved from her linemates of last season, Kelsey Langtry and Reece McQuaker, who now will be centered by Grade 9 rookie Jillian Calder.
“Jill showed in camp she could really do some good things for this team,” said Hamilton.
Another veteran line with promising scoring potential will be the combination of Clendenning with the physical presence of Taylor Croswell and the lighting-quick weapon of Siobhan Mackintosh.
“We’ve got three solid goal-scorers there on that line,” Hamilton noted.
On the blueline, the Muskies took a significant hit with the graduations of Sam McKinnon and Moriah Carradice while veteran Lauren Vold joined Noga in choosing not to return for her Grade 12 season.
As such, veterans Abby Plourde, Avery Cates, and Sara Jackson will be tasked for bringing along rookie Grade 10 blueliners Emily Kaun and Alex Gartzke and Grade 9 newcomer Lillie MacKinnon.
Hamilton knows the reliability provided by his experienced rearguards, but had plenty of good reviews on the first-timers.
“Emily will help us in the corner in our own end and has a good shot,” he remarked.
“Alex has a big slapshot and has left a few bruises on rib cages in practice already,” he chuckled.
“Lillie is pretty consistent and works very hard.”
Meanwhile, the goaltending rests upon the shoulders of Grade 11 veteran Syd Beck, who was steady throughout her first year with the team, and Grade 9 newcomer Kamryn Sandelovich.
“When the chips are down, we know we can lean on Syd,” said Hamilton.
“As for Kam, technically, she’s a very sound goalie and very competitive,” he added, noting that, like Beck last year, Sandelovich also will get some ice time as a forward this season.
“She fights to keep the pucks out and has a good understanding what a shooter is going to do when they come down on her.”
Hamilton sees a formidable battle ahead in the Muskies’ efforts to claim NorWOSSA gold for the fourth-straight year.
“I expect Dryden to push us to the limit, as usual, and St. Thomas Aquinas is right on the edge of breaking out,” he predicted.
“The [Kenora] Broncos have apparently made some interesting additions to their team, and Sioux Lookout just might be the sleeper team and could be a hard team to play this year,” he warned.
The Muskies open play against the Shaftesbury Titans (Winnipeg) on Friday, with the tournament wrapping up Sunday.
