Craig ready to contribute
The Thorold Blackhawks have big plans for Michael Craig.
The 16-year-old defenceman is expected to receive a significant amount of playing time after playing in nine games for the Hawks last season and showing well.
“I think even last year he came in at the end of the year and we had to play him in the playoffs, he was just too good,” Blackhawks owner/coach Scott Barnes said. “It’s almost like I’m not even looking at him as a rookie because he has already established himself by being around us and practising with us a lot last year.”
Barnes sees Craig being used on the power play as well as taking a regular turn on defence.
“I think he’s going to step in and play a pretty big role, a prominent role,” he said. “He’s a guy who I think is going to play on the power play and do a lot of quarterbacking.
“I expect him to have a pretty good season.”
Craig’s experience last season told him all he needed to know about playing in Thorold.
“I thought it was good because there is an opportunity to play. I came here last year and had a lot of ice and played a lot so I thought it would be a great place to play at lot of games and have a good year,” he said.
Craig, a Grade 11 student at St. Francis, did not want to go to a team and sit on the bench.
“I think it’s important at this age to keep getting better and keep having fun with the game. It’s hard to have a fun season sitting on the bench so it was important to find somewhere where I could enjoy myself and have a good time playing hockey.”
Craig feels last season’s exposure to the Golden Horseshoe will be invaluable as he takes on a full campaign for the first time.
“I thought it helped me learn about the pace of the game and playing against older and bigger guys and about puck management and making smart plays. I thought it kind of helped me bring my game to the next level.”
Craig was drafted in the ninth round (172nd overall) of the Ontario Hockey League draft by the Niagara IceDogs. He went to camp with the Dogs before being reassigned to the Hawks.
“The camp was awesome. Everyone was great. I really enjoyed myself. The hockey was really good,” he said.
Craig admits it was a little overwhelming at times to look up and see he was on the ice with players who have been drafted to the National Hockey League.
“I was kind of star struck at times going up against guys like Akil Thomas,” Craig smiled. “It was kind of weird seeing them on the ice but once you get more comfortable, it’s just another hockey game and you have to adjust and play as hard as you can.
“I learned the way they handled themselves and to be a good teammate and good person on and off the ice.”
Craig isn’t sure where hockey will take him, but said he would love to be an IceDog one day.
“I’ve been an IceDogs fan my whole life so that would be awesome but whatever opportunity arises, I want to play hockey at the next level.”
Barnes said he’s confident Craig will thrive despite his lack of size. He is listed at 5-foot-9, 150 pounds.
“With him, he’s not the biggest guy so he has to get used to playing at the speed and the size and the strength of guys. He has to be able to that on a nightly basis where last year it wasn’t all the time,” Barnes said. “His compete level and stick and hockey IQ are very, very good. That’s how he can play this game, not being the biggest or fastest guy. He has a lot of hockey smarts.”
The Blackhawks began the 2018/18 Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League season Thursday with a 4-2 win over the visiting Lockport Regals.
Owen Allan scored twice for the Hawks while Camilo Rodrigue-Melo and Patrick McCluskey added singles.
Tim Lopez scored both goals for Lockport, including one on a penalty shot.
Thorold goaltender Chase Grsic made 20 saves for the win in his junior debut.
The Blackhawks are in Fort Erie Saturday.
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