Huron Expositor, 2006-12-17, Page 16Page 16 December 27, 2006 • The Huron Expositor
Do you have a sports tip?
CaII our newsroom at 527-0240
O'Reilly signs contract -with Predators
Twenty -year-old playing season with AHL affiliate Milwaukee Admirals
Jeff Heuchert,
Cal O'Reilly received an
early birthday present this
past September.
Just weeks before his 20th
birthday, the Brucefield cen-
tre for the Milwaukee
Admirals was signed to a
two-way contract with the
NHL's Nashville Predators.
O'Reilly was selected by
the Predators fifth overall in
the 2005 draft. The team
had two years to sign him
before O'Reilly would have
become a free agent or re-
entered the draft.
The deal will earn O'Reilly
both an . AHL (American
Hockey League) and NHL
salary for the next three
seasons, as he plays with
the Admirals - the
Predators AHL affiliate.
The deal came after a busy
summer of negotiations
between O'Reilly's agent
and the Predators organiza-
tion.
"It feels great," said
O'Reilly from his apartment
in Milwaukee last week,
where he lives with two of
his teammates.
"I've been waiting for this
for awhile. I'm happy it
finally happened."
O'Reilly said it's likely he
will play. the entire 06/07
season in the AHL, since
this is only his first full sea-
son with the team.
O'Reilly joined the
Admirals last season for
only six games during the
playoffs.
Prior to that, he enjoyed
three successful seasons
with the Windsor Spitfires
in the OHL (Ontario Hockey
League) in which he led the
team in points during his
final season.
In 05/06, O'Reilly finished
with 18 goals and 81 assists
- good for eighth in the
OHL.
And although the AHL
has older, stronger, more
experienced players than in
the OHL, O'Reilly said the
transition has gone smooth-
ly.
"It takes- time, but I'm
learning more each practice
- each game," he said,
adding that the coaching
staff has been great to him,
providing him with lots of
ice time to help adjust.
When he left the Spitfires,
O'Reilly was one of the old-
est members of the team.
He's now the youngest mem-
ber of the Admirals.
Yet, O'Reilly has recorded
20 points, with five goals
and 15 assists so far this
season.
"I knew if I came in I could
be one of their top offensive
guys. I'm still expected to
put up numbers. It doesn't
matter what age you are, if
you're playing better than
an older guy, then you'll get
more ice time," he said.
Scott Paulus photo
Brucefield's Cal O'Reilly with the Milwaukee Admirals during a recent game. O'Reilly recently
signed a two-way contract with the Nashville Predators, whose AHL affiliate is Milwaukee.
The biggest change that
came with the move to the
AHL for O'Reilly, was mov-
ing to Milwaukee, a far cry
from Windsor and the three-
hour drive from his family.
However, since the majori-
ty of players in the AHL are
Canadian, O'Reilly said he's
had no problems adjusting,
and he's not about to let
some homesickness get in
the way of his desire to win.
"1 just want to do what I
can and hopefully help them
go far in the playoffs," he
said.
The Admirals, which play
in a division against teams
from Houston, San Antonio,
Iowa, Chicago, Peoria and
Omaha, currently sit fourth
at 14-11-2-2.
The Admirals have gone 7-
0-2 in their last nine games.
And as for what the imme-
diate future holds, O'Reilly
said his focus is on con-
tributing to the Admirals -
but you can bet he's keeping
a close eye on the Nashville
Predators.
"Anytime I could get called
up. It's all up to me," said
O'Reilly.
"It depends on how I play.
I could be there next year, or
the year after, or never. It's
a difficult league to crack."
Scoreboard
SHUFFLEBOARD
Dec. 20
Men's high: Harry Pennings, Bert Bachert 4
wins, Hank Dorssers, Cor DeCorte, Gerry
Martene 3 wins.
Ladies' high: Eunice Wolfe, Joyce Matzold 4
wins.
BOWLING
ST.. JAMES
Dec. 18
Men's High Single: Lyle Haney 253
Men's High Triple: Neil Beuerman 656
Men over 200: Lyle Haney 253, 223; Bob
Dinsmore 246; Neil Beuerman 214, 209, 233;
Gord Murray 232; Mike Beuerman 208, 226;
Wm. Fraiser 2255; Geo. Love 212; Mark
Higenell 201.
Men over 600: Neil Beuerman 656; Lyle
Haney 632; Mike Beuerman 612.
Ladies High Single: Gayle Schellenberger
281
Ladies High Triple: Gayle Schellqnberger
731
Ladies over 200: Gayle Schellenberger 206,
281, 244; Julie Geddes 235, .214; Linda
Kirkham 223.
Ladies over 600: Gayle Schellenberger 731;
Julie Geddes 606
Standings: Ling 62 1/2, Leopards 56, Tigers
54, Bears 52, Panthers 47, Cougars 43 1/2.
Atom Rep
Dec. 20
Seaforth 5 VS Mitchell 0
Goal Scorers: Jordan Pepper 2, Logan
Lammerant, Luke Melady, Brett Williamson
Coaches Comment: - Again the boys played a
great game and showed how well they can pass
and stick handle. Eric Ryan had a great shut
out game. Team effort came from players Tyler
Morey, Luke Melady, Will Marcy, Robert
Campbell, Brett Williamson and Morgan
Bennewies. Good game boys.
See more SCOREBOARD, Page 17