For the love of the game
It’s all about the love of hockey for Ryan Robillard.
The 16-year-old defenceman for the Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs didn’t get selected in the 2022 Ontario Hockey League draft, but that hasn’t curtailed his enjoyment on the ice.
“Last year, since it was our draft year, I wasn’t allowed to play school hockey but I’m excited to play for my high school,” Robillard said Thursday, after scoring a goal as the Bulldogs doubled the Governor Simcoe Redcoats 6-3. “After so many years finally getting a chance to play is great.”
It was the opening game for both teams in Niagara Region High School Athletic Association boys hockey action.
Robillard loves being a Bulldog.
“It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “Being part of a school team is always great. You talk to your friends in the hallways, go to school and leave school talking about the game.
“It’s something special.”
Robillard said enjoyment has always been the most important thing to him when he laces on his skates.
“I’ve always played hockey for the love of the sport,” he said. “At a young age, I didn’t play because I wanted to get drafted, I played because I love the sport. It didn’t change much. It was a little discouraging to see some of my best friends get drafted and not me, but it didn’t change my love for the sport. I still kept wanting to play.”
Robillard’s brother, Cameron Robillard, was selected in the 15th round of the OHL draft by the Mississauga Steelheads and is currently playing for the Niagara Falls Canucks.
“I was overall happy,” Ryan Robillard said. “He’s my twin brother and he’s my best friend. I was excited for him because I know it was something he really wanted. Obviously, I wanted it too but you have to be excited for him.”
Ryan Robillard would love to suit up with his brother next year if things work out.
“Hopefully, next year if I continue with hockey I’ll definitely try to play junior B,” he said. “I’m looking at the Canucks because that’s where my brother plays and it would be great to play with him again this year. I’ve missed that this year. I’ve played with him my whole life. This is our first year playing on different teams.”
Ryan Robillard, who also patrols the blueline for the Niagara North Stars U18 AAA squad, scored a highlight real goal Thursday using his speed to go coast to coast.
“He does everything well,” Sir Winston coach Dave Kamatovic said. “He skates well — you saw the speed he has — puck skill and he’s got a cannon for a shot. He’s an all-around player.”
Kamatovic has high hopes for the Bulldogs this season.
“I think we can (contend) because we know our competition. We’ll play Simcoe for the zone final,” he said. “I think this could be our year to go fairly deep, but we’ll take it one game at a time. If we get through zone, then we’ll see what our competition is.
“We have a good balance of juniors and seniors this year and strong goaltending. We have a lot of key players in the right spots.”
Simcoe coach Chris Bolle said his squad is in a rebuild.
“Last year on our team we had half a dozen Grade 12s who were forces and we went undefeated,” he said. “We’ll still be competitive but we still have some things to work on obviously.”
Alexander Caiazza, Colin Walters, Jesse Cooper, David Greene and Matthew McMahon-Taubeneck also scored for the Bulldogs.
Matthew Coates had two goals and Cody Macneil one for Simcoe.
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