Huron Expositor, 2007-01-17, Page 11Sports
Nesbitt selected to ECHL All Star team
The Huron Expositor • January 17, 2007 Page 11
Jeff 11euchert
In just his second season since
joining the East Coast Hockey
League (ECHL), Egmondville native
Derek Nesbitt has been selected to
represent the National Conference
at the All Star game.
"You're always surprised when
you get chosen for something like
this," said Nesbitt earlier this week.
"But at the time I was leading the
team in points, so it was in the back
of my mind."
At the All Star break, Nesbitt, 24,
is second on the Idaho Steelheads
with 13 goals and 23 assists. He
missed six games earlier in the sea-
son with a sprained ankle.
His 36 points is good for 26th in
the league.
Nesbitt was traded prior to the
start of the season to Idaho, after an
impressive rookie season with the
Gwinnett Gladiators (in Metro
Atlanta) — finishing 19th in the
league points race.
"It's different," Nesbitt said of
playing in Idaho. "It's more like
back home. It's a smaller city and
there's no other sports, so we're a
bigger deal here."
The ECHL All Star game will be
played tonight (Jan.
17) in Boise, Idaho —
the home of the
Steelheads and
Nesbitt.
"(The fans) have
been great at support-
ing us and hopefully
they'll get excited
about it," he said,
adding that two of his
teammates were also
selected for the All
Star game, which
should help lighten the
eressure he said he
expected to be feeling,
being one of the home
town players.
As part of the all-star festivities,
Nesbitt also participated in a .skills
competition, which took place last
night (Jan. 16).
The ECHL All Star game will be
broadcast live to over 30 million
homes, at 9 p.m. eastern time on
both the NHL Network and NHL
Centre Ice.
And for those in the area that do
watch, they might recognize anoth-
er familiar face.
St. Columban native
Mike Kelly, who works
as a broadcaster with
the South Carolina
Stingrays of the ECHL,
was selected to work
alongside the television
broadcast crew, provid-
ing player interviews
before and after the
game and during inter-
missions:
Kelly previously
worked on the broad-
cast crew for the
Mississippi Sea
Wolves, but was forced
from his home in
Biloxi, Mississippi
shortly before Hurricane Katrina
hit in 2005. He has since settled in
South Carolina with his wife and
child.
Felly has kept a close eye on
Nesbitt's career over the years, even
being in attendance when Nesbitt
recorded his first professional
career hat trick.
Derek
Nesbitt
"When I saw (Nesbitt's) name on
the roster list I was thrilled," said
Kelly last week while on the road.
"It's a small world this hockey cir-
cle. And to be meeting in Boise,
Idaho - who would have thought?"
"If I get an opportunity to mention
him (during the All Star game
broadcast), I definitely will," he
added.
Nesbitt said that since being
selected, Kelly and he have shared
some emails — both looking forward
to meeting up after the game.
He added that between Kelly and
the hometown newspapers, which
are printing a special with the three
Steelhead All Stars, he's receiving
more press coverage than ever
before.
As for the remainder of the sea-
son, the Steelheads sit second in
their division, at 19-15-1-1, yet find
themselves still eight points behind
division leading Alaska.
."We've definitely had our ups and
downs. We had some injuries to
some of our good players and we
struggled a bit early," he said. "But
we've got back going recently and
hopefully we can keep going."
Doig traded to third team since joining OHL
Seaforth native Tyler Doig was
traded last week from the Guelph
Storm to the Belleville Bulls - join-
ing what is now his third team since
coming up to the OHI, in 2004.
In return for Doigthe Bulls send
Guelph their second round draft
pick in 2007 and their second round
draft pick in 2008.
The addition of Doig gives the
Bulls another front line forward
who possesses excellent skating and
two-way abilities.
In 36 games with Guelph this sea-
son, Doig scored 20 goals and 29
assists while adding 35 penalty
minutes. He also led Guelph with a
plus 13 rating and three shorthand-
ed goals at the time of the trade.
Doig joined the Storm for the
04/05 season after playing one game
with the Barrie Colts the previous
year.
In his rookie season, Doig scored
19 goals and 41 points for the
Storm. The following season he
Everyone's invited to our annual
Open House &
Information Night
Central Huron
Secondary School
Opens its Doors To All
Grade Eight Students and their Parents
Tuesday, January 23rd
The excitement begins at 6:30 pm
Information Session in Large Gym
Many Great Tours and Interesting Activities
Refreshments Available
& Wonderful Prizes to be Won
•
returned to Guelph and finished
fourth in team scoring with 23 goals
and 26 assists in 68 games.
He has added two goals and six
assists in 18 career playoff games
with the Storm.
Prior to the 06/07 season, Doig
attended rookie camp with the
Toronto Maple Leafs.
In 171 career OHL games, Doig
has scored 62 goals, and 77 assists
for 139 points while also adding 181
penalty minutes.
Carol Mitchell, M.P.P
Huron -Bruce
Ontario Budget Consultation
As part of the pre -budget process, I wish to consult with the
people of Huron -Bruce.
A survey will be made available to you on the 2007 Ontario
Budget.
Please complete the survey online by Feb. 9th, 2007.
The survey may be done online at
www.carolmitchell.ca/prebudget
If you do not have access to the internet call the office & a
copy will be provided.
The results will be forwarded to the Minister of Finance and
be posted on my website.
Information on the 2007-08 budget is posted at
www.fin.gov.on.ca
For more information call
CLINTON
519-482-5630 or
1 800 668-9320
KINCARDINE
519-396-3007 or
1 866 396-3007
Let me hear from you
Carol Mitchell, MPP
Huron -Bruce