The Citizen, 2015-08-27, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2015.
Despite a number of setbacks over
the years, in addition a late start as
far as hockey is concerned, Brussels
defenseman Luke McCutcheon
continues to turn heads on the ice.
McCutcheon was signed by the
London Lakers last week, a Junior A
hockey club that will begin
competing in the Greater Metro
Junior A Hockey League this season.
The league consists of 32 teams, 31
of which are based in Ontario, with
one in Temiscaming, Quebec.
The Lakers announced the signing
of McCutcheon, as well as Josh
Zlatinszky of London, on their
website last week, saying the team
was pleased to welcome the two new
players to the team.
McCutcheon didn’t start playing
hockey until he was nine or 10 years
old, he said, which is very late by
hockey standards. He then lost an
entire season when he hit a deer
while driving an ATV and suffered
serious head injuries. That was
followed by the loss of the majority
of last season when he broke his
ankle on the ice.
Despite these setbacks,
McCutcheon has continued to
impress scouts and succeed on
skates.
“I’m really excited to get this
opportunity,” McCutcheon said in an
interview with The Citizen.
While McCutcheon hasn’t had the
best of luck in terms of injuries,
whether it be on or off the ice, he has
always been part of successful
teams, first in Brussels and then with
Blyth Brussels after the two local
hockey associations partnered, with
his teams placing second in the
province for a number of years.
When asked what he thinks has
caught the interest of several teams,
McCutcheon says it’s most
definitely his size. At 6’5” and 230
pounds, he’s tough to miss on the
ice, especially when he’s on skates.
One of his strengths over the
years, he says, has been his skating.
He’s been told by numerous coaches
and scouts over the years that he has
a “beautiful” and “effortless” skating
style. In the same vein, however,
McCutcheon acknowledges that
there are aspects of his game that
need work, specifically his puck-
handling skills.
McCutcheon says he had never
heard of the league, but was first
noticed by scouts when he was
trying out for another team.
While trying to make the
Burlington squad, scouts for the
London team noticed McCutcheon
and gave him a call, inviting him to
try out for the Lakers.
McCutcheon says he’s already
impressed by the diversity of those
in the league. Because Canada is
such a hockey hotbed, McCutcheon
says a lot of talented hockey players
from the U.S. make their way up to
the league in an attempt to find
competitive leagues in the strongest
hockey nation in North America.
While he’s excited about a number
of aspects of the experience,
McCutcheon says he’s really just
hoping to sharpen his skills and
compete against a wide variety of
players.
The signing has been especially
satisfying for McCutcheon after last
year’s injury.
After only the first eight games of
the season while playing for the
Goderich Flyers, McCutcheon broke
his ankle, keeping him off the ice
until just before the playoffs began.
In order to work his way back, he
said, he would frequently spend
hours on the Clinton Community
Centre ice, beginning at 5 a.m.
before his classes at St. Anne’s
Catholic Secondary School began
for the day. Skating all on his own in
an attempt to strengthen his injured
leg and speed up his recovery,
McCutcheon said he was determined
to play hockey as soon as possible.
The Lakers open their 2015/2016
season on Sept. 15 in Brantford
against the Steelfighters and then
return home on Sept. 18 for their
first contest in London against the
Halton Ravens.
For more information on
McCutcheon or the Lakers, visit
www.londonlakersjrahockey.ca.
Bieman heads up fair
McCutcheon optimistic about Lakers season
Hitting the ice
Luke McCutcheon, shown above in his one season with the
Goderich Flyers, is now a member of the London Lakers, a
team McCutcheon thinks can open a lot of doors for him,
and help to sharpen his skills. The season begins next
month with a game against Brantford. (Photo submitted)
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
Continued from page 18
promoting the fair as ambassador, as
well as being in the parade.
Bieman lives near Belgrave with
her parents Shannon and Blair and
her brother Austin.
The Elementary School Fair, now
in its 95th year, will be held at the
Belgrave Community Centre on
Sept. 19. Students looking to drop
off exhibits can do so on Thursday,
Sept. 17 from 7 to 8 p.m. or Friday,
Sept. 18 from 4 to 7 p.m.
For more information, look for the
Elementary School Fair on
Facebook.