HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2005-08-10, Page 12Sports
Cal O'Reilly attains boyhood
dream and is drafted by NHL
By Jason Middleton
Expositor Staff
Although being drafted into the NHL was
Cal O'Reilly's boyhood 'dream, the
Brucefield hockey star was a little worried
that the 2005 draft was not going to happen
this year because of the lockout.
When the rookie draft ended up
happening at the end of July, the 18 -year-
old O'Reilly went in the fifth round of the
draft, going 150th overall, to the Nashville
Predators.
"I was a little worried that they wouldn't
come to an agreement and there wouldn't
be a draft this year," said O'Reilly, who is
in his first year of being eligible to play in
the NHL.
Because the NHL draft was held so late
this year, only the top 15 prospects were
able to attend the event held in Ottawa.
O'Reilly was told to watch the draft on
the internet, but admitted he wasn't on-line when he was
drafted to Nashville Predators in the fifth round.
"I didn't actually see it on the internet, but my agent called
me and said, `Congratulations,"' O'Reilly said.
When it came to what team he wanted to be drafted by,
O'Reilly said that it did not really matter. He just wanted a
chance to play in the NHL.
"I've been waiting for this day for a long time and finally it
happened," O'Reilly said. "I'm really happy it happened."
After he found out where he was drafted to, O'Reilly
celebrated with his friends and family.
"The phone's been ringing off the hook the past couple days
with people congratulating me and stuff," he said.
While he hasn't received his Nashville jersey yet, O'Reilly
Cal O'Reilly
has been told it is in the mail.
After being drafted by Nashville, the
team has two years to sign O'Reilly to
their team.
"I don't sign with them in two years,
I can sign with another team or go
back into the draft."
Now that he is drafted, O'Reilly
must attend training camp in Nashville
for the next two years and will be
eligible to play for the Nashville's
farm team in Milwaukee.
"I love playing hockey," O'Reilly
said. "It's what I want to do and I've
been doing it since I was young."
While he wants to play on an NHL
team sometime in the next five years,
O'Reilly doesn't discount the idea of
playing in Europe.
"There's lots of. other places other
than the NHL that you make a living
(playing hockey)," O'Reilly said.
"The only thing I've been doing my whole life is training
for hockey and playing hockey," he said. "So I might as well
make a living."
As for this year, O'Reilly plans on returning to his OHL
team, the Windsor Spitfires, for a third consecutive year.
Last year with the Spitfires, O'Reilly totalled 74 points (24
goals and 50 assists) in 68 games during the 2004-05 season
and played in the 2005 OHL all-star game.
After being scouted last, year by the NHL's scouts, O'Reilly
knew that he was rated as a fourth round draft pick, but isn't
worried about being picked up in the fifth round.
"I feel I'm as good or better than most of the other guys
who went in the top couple rounds," O'Reilly said.
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Jennifer Hubbard photos
Squirt girls'
baseball
At left, Andrea Rowntree,
of the Seaforth girls' squirt
team gets ready to hit the
ball while below, Seaforth
pitcher Rikki-Lynn Wilson
aims for the strike zone
during the minor baseball
squirts year-end
tournament in Londesboro
on the weekend. Seaforth
won the B division after
losing to Londesboro 19-9
and winning against
Kincardine 17-9.
THE HURON EXPOSITOR, Aug. 10. 2005-12
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1
Notice to Patients
DR. CAROLIN SHEPHERD
WILL BE AWAY
AUGUST 1 - AUGUST 26
Dr. Jason Datema will be
covering all patients during this time
All medication renewals
must be done in the office
For an appointment please call Jill at
519-527-1707
DOMINION DRIVER TRAINING &
CAROL BLAKE, COURSE PROVIDER
are offering you a Ministry
Approved Driver Education
4 DAY COURSE
beginning August 22, 2005
to be held in Clinton
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
in our new classroom at the Betty
Cardno Centre Highway #8, West of Clinton
Call to book space.
1-800-665-3027 or 519-527-1891 or
www.dominiondrivertraining.on.ca
1
1
Thank You
On behalf of the Seaforth 'Come
Home to the Country' committee,
I would like to congratulate and
thank all of the volunteers for
working so hard to makethe
weekend such a great success!
A special 'thank you' to the
Seaforth/H.E.' Community
Development Trust for
their support.
JULY 29-31, 2005
Thanks also to:
• Mayor Joe Seili and the Huron East staff
• Council for their support and participation in the scarecrow contest
(Congratulations Grey Township!)
• B.I.A. & businesses for their colourful decorations and participation in the
scarecrow contest (Congratulations Seaforth Golf Course!)
• Legion members
• Optimist members
• Arena Board
• Van Egmond Society
• Seaforth Agricultural Society
• Kevin Cardno & volunteers with ball tournament
• Seaforth Co-operative Children's Centre & volunteers
• Bruce & Marg. Whitmore & volunteers for the beautiful church service
• Judges of Scarecrow contest (Mary, Connie, & Helen)
• Local Talent for their fantastic entertainment at the Hospitality Tent
• Volunteers at the 'Come Home to the Country' headquarters
•Residents who entered the scarecrow contest:
1st prize - Scott Dow 2nd prize - Dave McGregor family
3rd prize - Diane Muir
• Gayle & Diva Graphics
• Huron Expositor
And anyone who helped to make the weekend such a success!
A personal 'Thank you' to two great ladies (Ann Wood & Gwen
Harburn) who are an inspiration for their dedication and enthusiasm
to 'Come Home to the Country' and the town of Seaforth!
Watch for the date for our wind-up meeting in September!
Wasn't that a party! Thanks again to everyone and to any that I
might have missed.
/y%aurtee# 4Qd