Carleton Ravens hockey fans will be seeing some unfamiliar faces and numbers on the ice next year. The men’s team has bolstered their lineup over the summer, adding six new players and counting for the 2015-16 season.
New to the team this year are forwards Brandon Belding, Alexandre Boivin, Brett Gustavsen and Curtis Meighan. Defencemen Connor Boland and Jeremie Fraser round out head coach Marty Johnston’s summer recruits thus far.
The Ravens, who fell to the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) East semi-finals last season, are looking to replace their top defensive pairing and over 50 goals on offence from its eight departed players.
“It’ll be extremely hard to replace those guys who left, but we aren’t really putting that on a particular player. We’re doing it by committee. We’re going to be a different looking team up front but we’re confident,” Johnston said.
Among those leaving are three of last season’s top scorers, Joe Pleckaitis, captain Damian Cross, and Jeff Hayes.
“The biggest change you’ll see is on defence with Matt Stanisz and Tim Billingsley leaving. Our number one and two defencemen are obviously big holes to fill,” Johnston said. “The additions of Jeremie Fraser and Connor Boland will certainly have an impact on our back end.”
“[Fraser has] been to Leafs development camp and Boland’s been to Edmonton’s camp before. We feel like those guys in particular are big pieces,” Johnston said.
Boland, who is 6’3″, arrives after a five-year junior career spent primarily with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Fourth-year Ravens forward Joey West played with Boland for two years on the Petes, and recalled his teammate’s on-ice play.
“He’s a mature guy for his age,” West said of Boland. “He’s a solid, physical defenceman who can shut down the other teams and make a good first pass.”
The dynamic Fraser comes to campus fresh off five years in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. As an overage player for the Val d’Or Foreurs, last year Fraser racked up 56 points in 51 games, good enough to be second in the league in defensive scoring.
Despite his impressive offensive output, the Cantley, Quebec native said he thinks he can help out the Ravens in all situations.
“I’d say I’m more of a two-way defenceman. I’ve been the guy coaches use on the penalty kill in the last two minutes and I’ve been the guy put 1to run the powerplay. I’ve been successful at both,” Fraser said.
With the exception of Boland, the rest of the members of Johnston’s 2015 recruiting class share a common trait: all are either from the Ottawa area or have played locally for the OHL’s Ottawa 67s.
Alexandre Boivin led the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) in points per game last year for the Pembroke Lumber Kings. Boivin tallied 67 points in just 38 games played, impressing. Johnston said he is “the best player at the tier-two level this year.”
“I truly believe Carleton’s the place where I have the most chance to win. I knew some of the guys on the team and they’ve all loved their experience thus far,” Boivin said. “The fact that the school itself is great and in my hometown is just the cherry on top. Ottawa produced good hockey players and I think it shows with all the guys coming locally.”
Forward Brett Gustavsen played four years for the 67s. Despite Gustavsen’s small stature, Johnston said he has the opportunity of placing the 5’7” winger anywhere in the lineup.
“He’s a guy who’s real hard to play against,” Johnston said. “He can score, he can check and do whatever is needed. He can fit whatever role is given.”
Centre Curtis Meighan arrived to play for his hometown 67s in a midseason trade this year after spending four years with the Kitchener Rangers.
Power forward Brandon Belding played last year with the CCHL’s Nepean Raiders.
“It’s a different style from junior hockey,” West said of CIS competition. “The games are more up-tempo and there are only 26 games in a year as opposed to 68. Definitely more hitting and stick work as well.”
“They go from playing three games a week in moderately intense practices to a real work-like week in terms of the intensity and number of practices in relation to games,” said Johnston.
The first game of the season will be October 10, when the Ravens play against the McGill Redmen at the Ice House.
