Express stays local
Three local/area products will be returning to the Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for the 2016-2017 season, HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed.
They are Espanola residents Riley Nadeau and Jason Bednarski and M’Chigeeng native Mitchal Payette.
Nadeau, who has a 1998 birth date, had 8 goals, 13 assists, 21 points in 54 games last season.
“Riley found his offensive game in the second half of the season where he scored 14 of his 21 points,” noted Express coach Jason Rapcewicz. “We’re looking forward to Riley picking up where he left off last year and continue to develop at the rate he has.”
Bednarski, a power forward and fan favourite with a 1997 birth date, produced 13 goals, 13 assists, 26 points in 48 games last season.
“Jason scored 18 of his 26 points last year in the second half of the season,” Rapcewicz pointed out. “He has the tools to be a very productive forward in this league and as a 19-year old we are looking for him to have a break-out year.”
Payette, meanwhile, was a pillar of strength on the Express blueline in 2015-2016.
A physical defenceman, Payette also showed an offensive touch by tallying 7 goals, 11 assists, 18 points in 53 games.
“Mitchal developed into a strong defenceman over the course of last year and we will be looking for him to continue developing and dominating the puck this year,” Express president Chad Clarke said of the 1997 birth-year defender.