67's could be a Locke to shine
By CHRIS STEVENSON -- Ottawa Sun
The fog was swirling over the ice as the 67's emerged for practice yesterday afternoon at the Civic Centre, but one vision was clear.
Once again, this has the makings of another season in which the 67's will be contenders. Maybe, if things work their way, serious contenders.
In the cyclical world of junior hockey, 67's coach and GM Brian Kilrea continues to defy the inevitable.
"I've never been shy about saying what I think about our chances," Kilrea said yesterday in his office, looking at the depth chart he keeps across from his desk.
"We should be one of the teams to beat."
Out on the ice a few minutes later, the 67's were swirling around the ice, the fog dissipating around them.
"I think this team has a chance to go all the way," said defenceman Will Colbert. "I'm excited."
Also on the ice yesterday was Corey Locke, the 2003 Canadian Hockey League player of the year, who could be the biggest key to the 67's potential this season.
How good the 67's can be could depend on the success of talks between Locke and the Montreal Canadiens.
Locke leaves this morning for the NHL rookie tournament being held in Montreal featuring the top prospects of the Canadiens, Senators, Panthers and Maple Leafs.
Locke still hasn't agreed on a contract with the Habs, though he said yesterday talks are continuing and he remains hopeful a deal could be finalized sometime early next week.
If he can't reach a deal with the Habs, Locke said he will be disappointed, but has no problem returning to play with the 67's this season as an overager.
"Obviously you want to sign an NHL contract and move on," he said. "I've done a lot in the OHL, but there's one thing I haven't done and that's win a Memorial Cup. If I'm sent back, that's the first thing on my mind."
Locke likes what he's seen in the 67's camp this year.
If he comes back, he'll play on a line with the two big head-turners in camp, Czech imports Lucas Kaspar (19 in a couple of weeks) and Jacub Petruzalek, 19. They played against men in the Czech elite league last year, so they automatically give the 67's what potentially could be the best line in the OHL.
It was a master stroke by Kilrea to bring them here at the price of a roster spot for a good young defenceman in David Halasz, but the 67's are deep on the blue line and could afford it.
"I think we've got a little bit of everything," said Locke. "We've got two really solid lines that will compete for ice time. We have a lot of character players and rookies who look good. We're not a one-line team this year. We have the same defence as last year, except now they've got another year under their belt. We've got two goaltenders who can be No. 1 on any night. It should be interesting."
Kilrea thinks Locke will face some challenges if he has to return to the 67's, but having the chance to play with players of the calibre of Kaspar, who was taken 22nd overall in June's NHL draft by San Jose, and Petruzalek, whom Kilrea called a blend of Locke and former agitator Lance Galbraith, could fire him up.
"You can always improve and he'll be with better players," said Kilrea. "Last year was a tough year mentally for him. This year he'll have to work to be better than he was last year. I think it was tough for him to push himself last year because he knew he was better than everybody else.
"If he comes back, it'll be a different challenge for him to show he's as good or better than (Kaspar and Petruzalek)."
NOTES: D Elgin Reid has impressed Kilrea in camp. "He came in here and played every shift like he was trying to make the team," said Kilrea ... 67's C Peter Tsimikalis has been offered a tryout by the Senators and will attend the rookie camp in Montreal ... 67's top pick Matt Lahey was told yesterday to stay off the ice for another week to rest his injured shoulder ... Former 67's W Rodney Bauman has signed a contract with the Corpus Christie Ice Rays of the Western Professional Hockey League ... The 67's open their pre-season schedule tonight in Kingston.
