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07-16-2024, 06:13 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-27-2024, 12:09 PM by CptSquall . Edited 1 time in total.)
It's probably strange to even write about the history of the Ottawa Highlanders at this point. But props are due and they're due, and and what this expansion team has been able to do in two seasons is nothing short of impressive. Even if it all comes crashing down against Maine in the next few games, the season can still be looked as as a success. A Conference Finals appearance in their sophomore season, just one season after finishing 14th overall in the league. This season, they managed fifth overall, still only good enough for 4th in their conference but their conference is tough. So what changed? How did this team go from bottom feeders to contenders in the span of a season? There are really only two answers. Coaching and drafting. But that's the same thing that can be said about any team.
Ottawa's management decided to take a different approach to the draft. Since position is relative in the Junior league, they went very forward-heavy in the draft and had a few players conscripted to play out of position until true defensemen can be drafted. The scouts had conversations with players and seemed to value character over performance in some aspects. It's almost the anti-Moneyball but so far it has worked out. They players they drafted have all meshed well and will only get better. The veterans have been able to take them under their wing, as they usually do. Everyone has been contributing and supportive with only one or two locker room issues coming up but they were quickly squashed by leadership. "It's fairly simple," one player said. "You either buy into their philosophy or you get out of the way. While that might seem harsh, the results are there right now. Good vibes provide good results. The rookies seem to be buying in and looked at the big picture rather than their individual performance."
Ottawa have steamrolled through the playoffs so far, toppling Colorado in four games and Carolina in five. They currently have a two game lead on Maine but they are currently playing game three as I write this, so they probably won't win another game.
"The coaches take a game by game approach. We spend a lot, and I mean a lot, of time studying tape and watching these teams. It's paid off. We have been playing some of our best hockey in the playoffs, even if some players are struggling, probably nerves."
The fun thing about Juniors is that teams can usually change on a dime. Hit it big in one draft and your fortunes are changed. Lose all your veterans in one season and you go from the top to the bottom. The Highlanders are definitely not resting on getting another shot next season. "The only run that matters is the one that we are on currently. Next season might as well be a lifetime away. So many things change around here so fast, it's not like the SHL. We need to strike while we can, and that's right now."
Clarence Worley | LW | Ottawa Highlanders | Montreal Patriotes | 451 TPE
SMJHL Career
S77 - OTT (LD) || GP: 66 || G: 2 || A: 19 || Pts: 21 || PM: -1 || PIM: 34 || H: 88 || BLK: 115
SMJHL Playoffs
S77 - OTT (LD) || GP: 21 || G: 1 || A: 9 || Pts: 10 || PM: 2 || PIM: 6 || H: 27 || BLK: 57
Career Notes
Drafted 19th Overall by OTT in S77 SMJHL Entry Draft
Drafted 22nd Overall by MTL in S78 SHL Entry Draft
Josef Kubinec | LW | Texas Renegades | Retired
SMJHL Career
S46 - HAL || GP: 43 || G: 4 || A: 2 || Pts: 6 || PM: +2 || PIM: 6 || H: 22
S47 - HAL || GP: 50 || G: 10 || A: 10 || Pts: 20 || PM: -7 || PIM: 38 || H: 34
S48 - HAL || GP: 50 || G: 20 || A: 22 || Pts: 42 || PM: +10 || PIM: 10 || H: 24
S49 - HAL || GP: 50 || G: 20 || A: 26 || Pts: 46 || PM: +17 || PIM: 35 || H: 53
SMJHL Playoffs
S46 - HAL || GP: 13 || G: 0 || A: 1 || Pts: 1 || PM: -2 || PIM: 0 || H: 2
S47 - HAL || GP: 4 || G: 2 || A: 0 || Pts: 0 || PM: 0 || PIM: 4 || H: 3
S48 - HAL || GP: 16 || G: 6 || A: 7 || Pts: 13 || PM: 0 || PIM: 10 || H: 5
S49 - HAL || GP: 7 || G: 3 || A: 2 || Pts: 5 || PM: +2 || PIM: 2 || H: 10
SHL Career
S50 - TEX || GP: 50 || G: 10 || A: 13 || Pts: 23 || PM: -15 || PIM: 10 || H: 15
S51 - TEX || GP: 50 || G: 24 || A: 22 || Pts: 46 || PM: -7 || PIM: 20 || H: 45
S52 - TEX || GP: 50 || G: 16 || A: 16 || Pts: 32 || PM: -18 || PIM: 20 || H: 56
S53 - TEX || GP: 50 || G: 15 || A: 18 || Pts: 33 || PM: -21 || PIM: 20 || H: 48
S54 - TEX || GP: 50 || G: 18 || A: 33 || Pts: 51 || PM: +6 || PIM: 26 || H: 25
S55 - TEX || GP: 50 || G: 13 || A: 22 || Pts: 35 || PM: -1|| PIM: 12 || H: 35
S56 - TEX || GP: 50 || G: 21 || A: 41 || Pts: 62 || PM: +22|| PIM: 18 || H: 44
S57 - TEX || GP: 66 || G: 22 || A: 47 || Pts: 69 || PM: +6|| PIM: 10 || H: 48
S58 - TEX || GP: 66 || G: 35 || A: 30 || Pts: 65 || PM: +47|| PIM: 12 || H: 75
S59 - TEX || GP: 66 || G: 14 || A: 33 || Pts: 47 || PM: +31|| PIM: 6 || H: 41
S60 - TEX || GP: 66 || G: 27 || A: 32 || Pts: 59 || PM: +24|| PIM: 21 || H: 54
S61 - TEX || GP: 66 || G: 22 || A: 28 || Pts: 50 || PM: +25|| PIM: 8 || H: 29
Total || GP: 680 || G: 237 || A: 335 || Pts: 572 || PM: +99|| PIM: 183 || H: 515
SHL Playoffs
S55 - TEX || GP: 4 || G: 0 || A: 1 || Pts: 1 || PM: -1|| PIM: 0 || H: 3
S56 - TEX || GP: 4 || G: 0 || A: 0 || Pts: 0 || PM: -7|| PIM: 0 || H: 1
S57 - TEX || GP: 5 || G: 1 || A: 1 || Pts: 2 || PM: -2|| PIM: 0 || H: 5
S58 - TEX || GP: 12 || G: 3 || A: 2 || Pts: 5 || PM: -4|| PIM: 2 || H: 10
S59 - TEX || GP: 16 || G: 3 || A: 12 || Pts: 15 || PM: +13|| PIM: 0 || H: 14
S60 - TEX || GP: 9 || G: 6 || A: 4 || Pts: 10 || PM: +9|| PIM: 0 || H: 10
S61 - TEX || GP: 19 || G: 8 || A: 5 || Pts: 13 || PM: +5|| PIM: 0 || H: 17
Total || GP: 69 || G: 26 || A: 25 || Pts: 51 || PM: +13|| PIM: 2 || H: 60
Career Notes
Signed to Halifax as Free Agent, S46
Drafted 53rd Overall by TEX in S47 Entry Draft
Aidan Richan Award Nominee - S51
Named Alternate Captain for Texas Renegades - S54
Aidan Richan Award Winner - S56
All-Star - 3rd Team - S56
Won S59 Challenge Cup with Texas Renegades
IIHF Bronze Medal With Finland - S61
Retired after S61
4th all time in points for Texas Renegades*
5th all time in goals for Texas Renegades*
(*) At time of retirement
Approved @
Leoben
Brooklyn Physt || LD/RD || Colorado Raptors
Height: 5'11" || Weight: 162lbs
Number: 7
Birthplace: New Orleans, US of A
August Von Hecht || G || Tampa Bay Barracuda
Height: 5'8" || Weight: 179lbs
Number: 89
Birthplace: Frankfurt, Germany
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SMJHL Season Career Statistics
S66: ANC GP: 62 W: 29 L: 25 OTL: 5 SO: 1 GAA: 3.30 SV%: .895%
S67: ANC GP: 58 W: 29 L: 20 OTL: 7 SO: 3 GAA: 2.86 SV%: .902%
S68: ANC GP: 56 W: 30 L: 21 OTL: 5 SO: 4 GAA: 3.02 SV%: .893%
S69: ANC GP: 33 W: 14 L: 14 OTL: 1 SO: 4 GAA: 2.97 SV%: .884%
TOT: ANC GP: 209 W: 102 L: 80 OTL: 18 SO: 12 GAA: 3.05 SV%: .895%
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SMJHL Playoff Career Statistics
S66: ANC GP: 6 W: 2 L: 3 OTL: 1 SO: 0 GAA: 2.85 SV%: 0.906%
S67: ANC GP: 5 W: 1 L: 2 OTL: 1 SO: 0 GAA: 4.36 SV%: .863%
S68: ANC GP: 10 W: 5 L: 3 OTL: 2 SO: 0 GAA: 2.77 SV%: .884%
S69: ANC GP: 8 W: 3. L: 3 OTL: 2 SO: 1 GAA: 3.79 SV%: .873%
TOT: ANC GP: 29 W: 11 L: 11 OTL: 6 SO: 1 GAA: 3.33 SV%: .882%
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SMJHL Hardware
S67 Cedric Robinson Trophy Nominee
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SHL Season Career Statistics
S70: TBB GP: 57 W: 13 L: 39 OTL: 1 SO: 0 GAA: 4.87 SV%: .885%
S71: TBB GP: 58 W: 17 L: 29 OTL: 6 SO: 1 GAA: 4.14 SV%: .900%
TOT: TBB GP: 115 W: 30 L: 68 OTL: 7 SO: 1 GAA: 4..50 SV%: .893%
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SHL Playoff Career Statistics
S70: TBB GP: 0 W:0 L: 0 OTL: 0 SO: 0 GAA: 0.00 SV%: .000%
S71: TBB GP: 5 W:1 L: 4 OTL: 0 SO: 1 GAA: 4.41 SV%: .899%
TOT: TBB GP: 5 W:1 L: 4 OTL: 0 SO: 1 GAA: 4.41 SV%: .899%
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SHL Hardware
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Ruslan "Sparkplug" Zaporozhets || LW || Toronto/Calgary
Height: 6'1" || Weight: 200lbs
Number: 18
Birthplace: Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine
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SMJHL Season Career Statistics
S50: STL GP: 50 G: 15 A: 12 PTS: 27 +/-: -9 PIM: 20 SH: 114 SH%: 13.16% Hits: 33 SB: 8 Fighting: 0-0-0
S51: STL GP: 50 G: 19 A: 21 PTS: 40 +/-: +1 PIM: 21 SH: 122 SH%: 15.57% Hits: 50 SB: 6 Fighting: 0-0-1
S52: STL GP: 50 G: 16 A: 30 PTS: 46 +/-: +11 PIM: 12 SH: 149 SH%: 10.47% Hits: 71 SB: 9 Fighting: 0-0-0
S53: STL GP: 50 G: 17 A: 25 PTS: 42 +/-: -10 PIM: 20 SH: 161 SH%: 10.56% Hits: 47 SB: 34 Fighting: 0-0-0
Tot: STL GP: 200 G: 67 A: 88 PTS: 155 +/-: -7 PIM: 73 SH: 546 SH%: 8.15% Hits: 201 SB: 57 Fighting: 0-0-1
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SMJHL Playoff Career Statistics
S50: STL GP: 13 G: 4 A: 3 PTS: 7 +/-: -1 PIM: 0 SH: 24 SH%: 16.67% Hits: 11 SB: 1 Fighting: 0-0-0
S51: STL GP: 12 G: 4 A: 6 PTS: 10 +/-: 7 PIM: 6 SH: 34 SH%: 11.76% Hits: 14 SB: 2 Fighting: 0-0-0
S52: STL GP: 17 G: 3 A: 5 PTS: 8 +/-: -3 PIM: 6 SH: 56 SH%: 5.36% Hits: 16 SB: 6 Fighting: 0-0-0
S53: STL GP: 14 G: 5 A: 3 PTS: 8 +/-: 0 PIM: 2 SH: 47 SH%: 10.64% Hits: 19 SB: 5 Fighting: 0-0-0
Tot: STL GP: 42 G: 16 A: 17 PTS: 33 +/-: 3 PIM: 14 SH: 161 SH%: 10.06% Hits: 60 SB: 14 Fighting: 0-0-0
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SHL Season Career Statistics
S54: TOR GP: 50 G: 16 A: 22 PTS: 38 +/-: -20 PIM: 28 SH: 109 SH%: 14.68% Hits: 111 SB: 56 Fighting: 0-0
S55: TOR GP: 50 G: 6 A: 15 PTS: 21 +/-: -41 PIM: 41 SH: 102 SH%: 05.88% Hits: 136 SB: 58 Fighting: 0-1
S56: TOR GP: 50 G: 15 A: 21 PTS: 36 +/-: -20 PIM: 24 SH: 121 SH%: 12.40% Hits: 115 SB: 40 Fighting: 0-0
S57: TOR GP: 66 G: 17 A: 31 PTS: 48 +/-: 5 PIM: 35 SH: 212 SH%: 8.02% Hits: 126 SB: 36 Fighting: 2-1
S58: TOR GP: 66 G: 37 A: 34 PTS: 71 +/-: 33 PIM: 20 SH: 216 SH%: 17.13% Hits: 159 SB: 40 Fighting: 0-0
S59: TOR GP: 66 G: 24 A: 39 PTS: 63 +/-: 14 PIM: 44 SH: 194 SH%: 12.40% Hits: 152 SB: 33 Fighting: 0-2
S60: TOR GP: 66 G: 22 A: 30 PTS: 52 +/-: 20 PIM: 48 SH: 179 SH%: 12.30% Hits: 274 SB: 17 Fighting: 0-0
S61: TOR GP: 66 G: 20 A: 22 PTS: 42 +/-: 11 PIM: 12 SH: 172 SH%: 11.60% Hits: 148 SB: 22 Fighting: 0-0
S62: TOR GP: 66 G: 16 A: 25 PTS: 41 +/-: 3 PIM: 38 SH: 165 SH%: 9.7% Hits: 182 SB: 28 Fighting: 0-0
S63: CGY/TOR GP: 65 G: 18 A: 21 PTS: 39 +/-: 7 PIM: 65 SH: 145 SH%: 12.40% Hits: 210 SB: 14 Fighting: 1-0
S64: TOR GP: 66 G: 18 A: 26 PTS: 44 +/-: -14 PIM: 22 SH: 139 SH%: 12.90% Hits: 183 SB: 64 Fighting: 0-0
S65: TOR GP: 66 G: 11 A: 19 PTS: 30 +/-: -29 PIM: 8 SH: 139 SH%: 7.90% Hits: 106 SB: 45 Fighting: 0-0
S66: TOR GP: 66 G: 17 A: 30 PTS: 47 +/-: 6 PIM: 16 SH: 170 SH%: 10.00% Hits: 85 SB: 78 Fighting: 0-0
Tot: TOR/CGY GP: 809 G: 237 A: 335 PTS: 572 +/-: -25 PIM: 401 SH: 2063 SH%: 11.49% Hits: 1987 SB: 531 Fighting: 3-4
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SHL Playoff Career Statistics
S54: TOR Did not qualify
S55: TOR Did not qualify
S56: TOR Did not qualify
S57: TOR Did not qualify
S58: TOR GP: 19 G: 4 A: 7 PTS: 11 +/-: 5 PIM: 2 SH: 49 SH%: 8.16% Hits: 51 SB: 5 Fighting: 0-0-0
S59: TOR Did not qualify
S60: TOR GP: 4 G: 1 A: 0 PTS: 1 +/-: -3 PIM: 0 SH: 3 SH%: 33.33% Hits: 12 SB: 0 Fighting: 0-0-0
S61: TOR GP: 5 G: 0 A: 3 PTS: 3 +/-: 3 PIM: 0 SH: 6 SH%: 0.00% Hits: 8 SB: 4 Fighting: 0-0-0
S62: TOR GP: 4 G: 0 A: 2 PTS: 2 +/-: -7 PIM: 0 SH: 7 SH%: 0.00% Hits: 12 SB: 1 Fighting: 0-0-0
S63: TOR GP: 5 G: 2 A: 1 PTS: 3 +/-: 1 PIM: 4 SH: 11 SH%: 18.2% Hits: 21 SB: 2 Fighting: 0-0-0
S64: TOR GP: 5 G: 2 A: 0 PTS: 2 +/-: -3 PIM: 0 SH: 8 SH%: 25.0% Hits: 10 SB: 6 Fighting: 0-0-0
S65: TOR GP: 6 G: 1 A: 5 PTS: 6 +/-: 4 PIM: 0 SH: 15 SH%: 6.07% Hits: 9 SB: 4 Fighting: 0-0
S66: TOR GP: 6 G: 1 A: 5 PTS: 6 +/-: 4 PIM: 0 SH: 15 SH%: 6.07% Hits: 9 SB: 4 Fighting: 0-0
Tot: TOR GP: 48 G: 10 A: 18 PTS: 28 +/-: E PIM: 6 SH: 99 SH%: 10.10% Hits: 123 SB: 22 Fighting: 0-0-0
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SHL Hardware
S54 Ryan Jesster Nominee
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SMJHL Hardware
NOTHING
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IIHF Awards/Medals
S53 Won Silver with Czechia
S54 Won Bronze with Czechia
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Richard "Big Dick" Physt || RD/LD || Alumni of Kel/Tor/Nola || Retired/CoGM of Toronto
Height: 6'1" || Weight: 202lbs ||
Number: 62
Birthplace: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
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SMJHL Season Career Statistics
S38 Kel GP:50, G:0, A:8 P:8, +/-:-1, PIMS:27, H:48, SB:32 fight rec: 0-0-1
S39 Kel GP:50, G:2, A:22, P:24, +/-10, PIMS:57, H:81, SB:39, fight rec: 0-0-1
S40 Kel GP:50, G:2, A:16, P:18, +/-14, PIMS:65, H:76, SB:48, fight rec: 0-0-5
SMJHL Season Career Totals: Teams: Kel GP:150, G:4, A:46, P:50, +/-:23, PIMS:149, H:205, SB:119, fight rec: 0-0-7
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SMJHL Playoff Career Statistics
S38 Kel GP:6, G:0, A:1 P:1, +/-:-0, PIMS:2, H:8, SB:7 fight rec: 0-0-0
S39 Kel GP:4, G:0, A:2, P:2, +/-0, PIMS:4, H:11, SB:1, fight rec: 0-0-0
S40 Kel GP:10, G:2, A:1, P:3, +/-3, PIMS:6, H:17, SB:14, fight rec: 0-0-0
SMJHL Playoff Career Totals: Teams: Kel GP:20, G:2, A:4, P:6, +/-:3, PIMS:12, H:36, SB:22, fight rec: 0-0-0
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SHL Season Career Statistics
S41 Tor GP:50, G:4, A:10, P:14, +/- -3, PIMS:120, H:83, SB:66, fight rec: 1-2-3
S42 Tor GP:50, G:2, A:14, P:16, +/- -9, PIMS:71, H:100, SB:82, fight rec: 1-0-2
S43 Tor GP:50, G:2, A:24, P:26, +/- 0, PIMS:44, H:109, SB:68, fight rec: 0-0-0
S44 Tor GP:50, G:6, A:10, P:16, +/- +10, PIMS:66, H:149, SB:76, fight rec: 1-0-1
S45 Tor GP:50, G:2, A:24, P:26, +/- +7, PIMS:44, H:123, SB:44, fight rec: 0-0-2
S46 Nola GP:50, G:4, A:28, P:32, +/- +27, PIMS:64, H:139, SB:54, fight rec: 1-0-1
S47 Nola GP:50, G:6, A:26, P:32, +/- +26, PIMS:67, H:119, SB:55, fight rec: 0-1-0
S48 Nola GP:50, G:6, A:29, P:35, +/- +14, PIMS:96, H:132, SB:62, fight rec: 1-1-1
S49 Nola GP:50, G:5, A:21, P:26, +/- -7, PIMS:59, H:101, SB:76, fight rec: 0-1-0
S50 Nola GP:50, G:4, A:29, P:33, +/- 14, PIMS:48, H:115, SB:74, fight rec: 0-0-0
SHL Season Totals: Teams: Tor/Nola GP:500, G:41, A:215, P:256, +/- +79, PIMS:679, H:1170, SB:657, fight rec: 5-5-10
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SHL Playoff Career Statistics
S41 Tor Did Not Qualify
S42 Tor Did Not Qualify
S43 Tor Did Not Qualify
S44 Tor GP:7, G:2, A:2, P:4, +/- 0, PIMS:8, H:25, SB:14, fight rec: 0-0-0, Finish: Semi Finals
S45 Tor GP:5, G:0, A:3, P:3, +/- 0, PIMS:6, H:16, SB:9, fight rec: 0-0-0, Finish: Semi Finals
S46 Nola GP:20, G:1, A:5, P:6, +/- -8, PIMS:32, H:55, SB:25, fight rec: 0-0-2, Finish: Cup Finals
S47 Nola GP:7, G:0, A:3, P:3, +/- 0, PIMS:15, H:20, SB:5, fight rec: 0-1-0, Finish: Semi Finals
S48 Nola GP:13, G:2, A:2, P:4, +/- 0, PIMS:30, H:29, SB:21, fight rec: 1-1-0, Finish: Conference Finals
S49 Nola GP:11, G:1, A:4, P:5, +/- -1, PIMS:8, H:19, SB:17, fight rec: 0-0-0, Finish: Conference Finals
SHL Playoff Totals: Teams: Tor/Nola GP:63, G:6, A:19, P:25, +/- -9, PIMS:99, H:164, SB:91, fight rec: 1-2-2
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GM Season Statistics
S61: Tor W: 33, L: 29, OTL: 4, Cups:0
S62: Tor W: 32, L: 29, OTL: 5, Cups:0
Total: Tor W: 65, L: 58, OTL: 9, Cups:0
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SHL Hardware
Turd Ferguson Trophy (S41)
Mathias Chouinard Trophy (Western Conference Champions) (S46)
Bojo Biscuit Award (Best Defensive Defenseman) Nominee (S47)
Bojo Biscuit Award (Best Defensive Defenseman) Nominee (S50)
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SMJHL Hardware
4 Star Cup (S40)
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IIHF Awards/Medals
S43 Won Bronze with Austria
S45 Won Bronze with Austria
S47 Won Bronze with Austria
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