Hard work pays off for goalie
It has been a case of mother knows best for Liam Edgcumbe-Applebee.
The 15-year-old Grimsby resident has gone from an A/AA goalie three seasons ago to an AAA keeper who is invited to this weekend’s OHL Combine by following a motto given to him by his mother, Kaylan Lee Edgcumbe.
“My mom has been telling me hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard since minor novice,” the Grade 10 student at West Niagara said.
That adage will come in handy at the combine where he is one of 16 goalies taking part in the showcase. He is taking the same approach at the combine that he did going into the OHL Cup.
“There are some big names there that are very highly touted and I am more unknown than most of them. I will take that attitude with me and the worst I can do is still show better than if I wasn’t there. The amount I played and the way I played this year pushed me to that and if it wasn’t for that, I wouldn’t be there. I am proud of myself and no matter what I do, I am fine with it.”
He started playing house league hockey in Grimsby when he was five and played with Grimsby minor hockey until major novice where he suited up at the single travel level with Grimsby. When Grimsby amalgamated with West Niagara, he competed at the AA level for two seasons before joining the AAA Niagara North Stars three seasons ago.
“It is still kind of surreal to think about it, especially three years ago jumping into triple A and being not even sure I belonged there. It feels like yesterday that I joined and it’s crazy to think about it.”
Halfway through last season, he had a breakout performance at a Silver Stick tournament in Port Huron, Mich., and his thoughts began to turn towards having a chance to get drafted into the OHL.
“I talked to some people afterwards and it was kind of the start of thinking I could do more than just playing minor hockey.”
His first time talking to OHL scouts has been in the last month and he had a conversation with a general manager a few months ago. He is clearly interested in major junior hockey.
“Even since I was six or seven going to IceDogs games in Niagara and watching the big guys in the red jerseys, I’ve loved every minute of watching it. It’s pretty cool to be grow up and be able to have it as a possibility. It has been one of my dreams since I was six or seven.”
This past season, Edgcumbe-Applebee posted 2.05 goals against average and three shutouts in 16 regular season games with the North Stars and recorded a shutout over Halton to help the North Stars qualify for the OHL Cup.
“Liam really worked hard this year on his off-ice strength and conditioning and mental preparation and his compete level is always high,” Niagara North Stars head coach Jay Glenney said. “He loves the game and since joining the North Stars three years ago, he has developed into a top level goalie in the OMHA (Ontario Minor Hockey Association). He always wanted the crease when the team needed a win.”
Edgcumbe-Applebee feels his game has continued to evolve this season.
“I have gotten a bit more athletic and coordinated and that has helped with my style of play. I’m not as stretched out and I am staying more composed and it has worked really well for me.”
Part of that was growing into his 6-foot-3, 165-pound frame and the rest was working with goalie coaches Jason Barron and Lucas Lobsinger.
The next step in development is to get a little stronger in the offseason and he will do that by working with trainer Stacy Gough in addition to his goalie coaches.
“Hopefully I can crack a junior roster this fall and go from there.”
He has already had a taste of junior hockey this season, starting an exhibition game and seeing the ice in a regular season game with the Hamilton Kilty B’s of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.
That experience was an eye-opener.
“It was a lot of bigger guys and it was a lot different than playing against other 15-year-olds. It was cool,” he said. “It was good to see the level I have to get to to compere with those players. It is going to be a lot of work but I am excited for it and it was a great experience.”
He is eagerly anticipating next weekend’s OHL draft.
“I’m pretty positive going into it and I am getting a bit nervous now that it is a week away. Again, anything is better than I would have expected two years ago so I am looking forward to it and hoping to hear my name called.”
