Bidgood settles in
Caleb Bidgood has been a consistent performer for the Fort Erie Meteors this season. Photos: ALEC MURRAY.
Caleb Bidgood has found his niche with the Fort Erie Meteors.
The 19-year-old native of Courtice (near Oshawa) isn’t a huge goal scorer, but he does chip in on offence from time to time, not to mention being one of the team’s most reliable defensive forwards and a natural leader.
“He’s such a good kid that’s been here for three years now,” Meteors coach/general manager Nik Passero said. “I think right now he’s coming into his own. He came into his own last year in the playoffs but got hurt, but this year he’s got a good role.”
Passero considers Bidgood a top penalty killer and he is also giving him some time on the power play.
“We put an A on his jersey,” Passero said. “He’s just a really good kid that deserves the best.”
Bidgood is the first to say he is much more comfortable in the league now with two full seasons under his belt.
“Obviously coming in as a 17-year-old is different than now being 19,” he said. “I think a lot of it is having to do with Nik and Anthony’s (assistant coach Anthony Passero) coaching style helping me be confident with puck and how I’m distributing it, the way I’m playing, finding my role. I feel now I’m a leader on this team. It’s given me that extra jump to bring my game to another level to play with these guys after having a good season last year too.”
Bidgood is happy to be a cog in the machine, whatever that role may be.
“I think we had a lot of guys last year like that, this year too, that have accepted that role and who they are. I think I accepted the role last year that I need to get the pucks out, I need to block the shots, I need to get the penalties,” he said. “I think having that helps teams win championships.”
The occasional goal here and there never hurts either.
“Yeah, it definitely feels good to help,” he smiled. “I like to take pride in how I play in the zone with the puck, but chipping in offensively definitely is a good feeling with this group. When guys know their role, that’s when guys start to glue together and the team gets better.”
Passero said while Bidgood never complains about his role, he is far from complacent.
“It’s funny with Caleb. He accepts his role, but he’s always pushing for more. He always wants to expand on it. He accepts his role for us to win,” Passero said. “We’re lucky to have him here.”
Passero also appreciates Bidgood’s willingness to go above and beyond, no matter how small or inconsequential a task may be.
“Caleb is a guy that when I need something done in the community, he’s the first person I call. When the goalie coach needs someone to shoot on young goalies, he’s the first person that they call. He’s just an all-around great kid and he’s getting rewarded for it.”
Bidgood has fond memories of last year’s championship run.
After missing several games with an injury, he returned to play in Game 7 as the Mets topped the Caledonia Corvairs to capture the Golden Horseshoe championship in dramatic fashion.
“It wasn’t easy sitting and watching the team play,” he recalled. “Being able to put the pads on and get ready and go through that routine with the guys for Game 7 just knowing that I was ready to battle with them no matter what. That was an unreal feeling and then having that big third period comeback, you can’t draw it up any better.”
The Meteors, who have won three straight and sit in third spot of the Eastern Conference of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League with a 12-5-1 mark, have a lull in their schedule. Their next game isn’t until Wednesday, Nov. 20 when they host Brantford.
“We’re going to practise for four days and then send the guys home for a weekend and then come back and ready to go for next week,” Passero said. “We need to use this four days to get better, but we also are a little bit banged up, so this is coming at a nice time.”
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