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J.C. Lemieux is able to proceed his hockey travel with the Windsor Spitfires.
3 years nearest his people moved from Quebec to Ontario, Lemieux has now formally signed on with the Spitfires, who made him the primary select of the second one spherical of this 12 months’s Ontario Hockey League Draft.
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“We’re happy he was sitting there at (pick No.) 22,” stated Spitfires’ common supervisor Invoice Bowler, who signed Lemieux to an ordinary OHL participant promise on Tuesday. “He’s a competitive, two-way player that can play in all situations.”
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For the six-foot-one, 160-pound Lemieux, Ontario used to be the land hockey alternative. His people settled in Ontario the place the younger centre play games two years in Quinte and one in Kingston.
“I think the hockey’s better in Ontario,” stated the 15-year-old Lemieux, who nonetheless carries an pronunciation. “It’s more fast and physical. In Quebec, there’s not really physical. It’s just a speed game and not much contact.”
He grew up observing the Quebec Primary Yongster Hockey League, however stuck London successful the Memorial Cup in 2016 and later the Spitfires successful the identify in 2017.
“I cannot believe this,” Lemieux stated of now being a member of the Spitfire. “It’s weird, but fun.
“(Signing) was something I was waiting for. I wanted to sign and be part of Windsor for sure. It’s just fun for dreams coming true.”
No person at the Spitfires is aware of Lemieux higher than associate mentor Kris Newbury. The previous NHLer coached him in Kingston terminating season and used to be training him in contrast 12 months in Quinte when he used to be leased through Windsor simply sooner than Christmas.
“It was hard when he left,” Lemieux stated of Newbury’s depart. “He was a big piece. He’s a good coach. He’s positive and gives you everything he can to make you a better player.”
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Newbury didn’t assemble the choice, however does take into accout chatting with Bowler and Spitfires’ director of scouting and hockey operations Frank Evola sooner than the draft about Lemieux.
“I had an idea they were interested from where he was ranked and I had a little chit-chat with Bill and Frank,” Newbury stated. “By not means did I make the decision, but I was all for it. I was very excited.
“He’s a good kid with a tremendous skill level and a good shot. He plays the game hard and plays better when it gets more physical. That seems to get him more involved and he has elite talent. He makes plays kids his own age can’t.”
Lemieux posted 24 targets and 60 issues in 35 video games with Quinte terminating season and, with future, the Spitfires hope to look that manufacturing display within the OHL.
“I think he’s real good in tight, small areas,” Bowler stated. “He just seems to generate in traffic. He’s got a little bit of an edge to him and can play any style of game.”
However past he’s been a standout in his date staff, Lemieux will want future to regulate to taking part in used and extra skilled avid gamers which are bodily larger and extra mature than he’s.
“I like to play with the challenge of people older than me pushing me to be better,” Lemieux stated. “I just need to work harder in the gym and next season and next year give 100 ear cent every time. I think I’ll get used to it.”
Lemieux is the second one participant from a promising 2024 OHL Draft to signal with the Spitfires nearest first total select Ethan Belchetz and the younger centre is concerned to look the crowd develop in combination.
“I think, in the future, we’ll be a young team that will do a lot of progress together,” Lemieux stated.
jpparker@postmedia.com
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