Niagara IceDogs sign Broderick Kelly

Contributed by: Susan Tromanhauser (@tromansue)

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Section M of the Jack Gatecliff Arena can pick out a winner. Upon arrival at the Niagara Ice Dog Black and White game, section M was gearing up for another year of OHL hockey. The devoted fans known primarily for their rowdy game antics were all abuzz about Ice Dog rookie Broderick Kelly. While Kelly impressed the die hard fans in attendance it was obvious he had also impressed the Ice Dog organization. On September 2^nd Kelly officially signed with the team.

Last spring’s 5^th round, 100^th overall draft pick, Kelly is a 5'10", 180 pound defenceman. A native son, Kelly had one goal and 19 assists, to go along with 38 penalty minutes in 53 games with the St. Catharines Jr. B Falcons.

As the youngest player in camp Kelly may have had the edge over other rookies. His parents Vanessa and Sean Kelly billeted Ice Dog players since the inaugural season in St. Catharines. Kelly learned first hand what to expect at his first OHL camp. He was welcomed into the dressing room by players he knew from hanging around his house for the past few years. He was accepted into the fold like their kid brother. Kelly said seeing the guys in the dressing room was like “déjà vu all over again!”

Kelly has been well schooled to understand the atmosphere and the need for game preparation. Over the years the Kelly household has been the away from home hockey home for the likes of Matt Sisca, Chris DeSousa and Dylan Wood. From each player Kelly says he has learned things which prepared him for his opportunity to play in the “O.” From Sisca he learned the importance of good habits such as completing school homework and getting to bed on time. DeSousa mentored him on how to put on his game face and to bring intensity to the game. Wood taught him to always keep a positive attitude.

In spite of the first hand advice Kelly reported he felt training camp came with a quicker pace and he had to prove he could keep up. Broderick revealed Coach Marty Williamson indicated he needs to continue to play aggressive on the play and more physical. Kelly is confident he can contribute to the team by bringing his best game every night.

Being a local boy has it ups and downs. Kelly’s parents are thrilled their son can play hockey at this level and yet still live under their roof. Kelly is definitely pleased with his billets this year – Mom and Dad. Kelly will not suffer from homesickness or the pains of transitioning into a new household like so many other youngsters in the OHL. Playing for the home team is a definite advantage. He will also remain at his usual school, St. Francis but he will have to put up with chirping in the dressing room from his team mates attending Governor Simcoe where most of the Ice Dogs attend.  Kelly is quick to point out there will be pressure playing in front of the home town crowd. At a recent exhibition game in Erie, a 2 and half hour drive away, there were 17 members of the Kelly family in attendance. So far Kelly appears to be handling the pressure very well.

It has been a hectic September for Kelly, signing an OHL contract, celebrating his 16^th birthday and getting his “G1” beginner’s drivers license. While not yet ready to drive himself to the rink, no worries for Kelly, he has Team Canada’s goalie Mark Visentin to chauffeur him each day! For the youngest kid at training camp, Broderick Kelly seems to be fitting in quite well.

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And don't forget to check out the Audio interview with Susan and Broderick Here.

Will soft shoulder pads reduce head injuries?

As president of the President of the CHL and the Commissioner of the OHL David Branch has quite a bit of power. In fact I always think of the Spiderman line from Uncle Ben Parker, ‘with great power comes great responsibility.’ I have no doubt that the tough decisions that Mr. Branch has had to make in the past several seasons. When I became part of the media I recall David acting quickly to protect his players in making neckguards mandatory. There was no twitter back then so you had to resort to Facebook and texts as a way to get player feedback. I recall facebook going nuts from players calling the OHL a joke. They would make comments like, ‘whats next mandatory cages?’ ‘may as well play NCAA hockey now, there goes our freedom,’ and ‘whats the point of going pro if I have to wear a neckguard’.
Sure these are not the smartest comments to make. But it is the voice of the players that have to follow the new ‘kneejerk’ reactionary rule that came about due to an incident in the NHL. I remember talking to Branch that night via phone call and asked him why the rule was implemented without a vote or without further discussion. His response was simply (and I’m paraphrasing… it was 5 years ago) my job is to protect the players in this league. These 16-20 year old kids, their parents are entrusting me with their safety and it was necessary to protect players from such an incident. Maybe the next person wouldn’t have been as lucky as the player in Florida.
Fast forward to just a few days ago when it was made official that the OHL would be ‘experimenting’ with a soft cap shoulder pad to help reduce head injuries and prevent possible concussions. Will it help at all in curbing the amount of concussions in the OHL? Last year I believe every show featured an update on a players condition who received a concussion. Through the years I have amassed quite a rolodex of contacts. I figured I would get their input on the matter. Below is everyone who decided to respond back to my question that I sent out. That question was…

‘do you think that the soft shoulder pads will help reduce head injuries?’

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OHL Draft Selection Player answers…

‘Ya for sure’

‘Yeah I do but it will hurt more for the players going into the boards from a hit with soft ones’

Soo Greyhounds player answers…

‘Not necessarily because a hit to the head is a hit to the head. The impact of the hit will still give a head injury even with soft pads’

Sudbury Wolves Player answers…

‘I don’t think so, it needs to be a rule change but it is a step in the right direction forsure’

Brampton Battalion player answers…

‘I don’t think it’ll make a difference buddy. Everyone is so big and strong these days. We could go skins and it’d still be the same’

‘I think it’ll make it worse. By softening up the shoulder pads I think it’ll cause more shoulder injuries’

‘I’m sure it will reduce the amount of concussions for sure. As for mobility, I don’t think it will make much of a difference.’

OHL Alumni player answers…

‘Absolutely not’

‘Not to sure. Sounds like it should though. Wouldn’t that make sense? I’m going to say ya lol’

Belleville Bulls player answers…

‘I highly doubt it will reduce the outcomes of the hits. But its worth a try, I guess time will tell.’

‘Hey Brandon, I think that they will help reduce the damage caused from direct impact on hits to the head for sure. So in that aspect I would say that it would have to reduce the head injuries at least a little bit’

‘Doubtful, the change would have to be in the style of play not in the equipment. I have the new shoulder pads and they are huge. But if they want to change the equipment, make the shoulder pads smaller and maybe players wouldn’t think they were invincible’

‘I think it’s a start… I don’t think it’s the shoulder pads that cause the injury though. I believe it is the impact of the players head hitting the ice or the boards that cause the head injury in my opinion.’

‘Hey man, honestly I don’t think it will help very much, but it’s worth a try.’

Media answers…

‘I think it will, yes.’

‘Yes it’s a good start, also get rid of trapezoid so goalies can help dmen move the puck, and put the centre ice line back in.’

‘Hard to see it hurting. Those hard shoulder caps were weapons, basically.’

‘I think it will help big time! On both sides of the hit’

‘I think it’s a combination between equipment and education. Soft shoulder pads don’t slow down players, but that and education will help.’

Windsor Spitfires player answers…

‘Yeah I think it might slightly reduce head injuries. I don’t think it will be by much – but little bit can help especially when it comes to the head’

Barrie Colts player responses…

‘To be honest I wouldn’t really know but I would think softer shoulder pads would definitely help reduce head injuries.’

‘Anything that’ll prevent head injuries I’ll go for.’

London Knights player answers…

‘Yes I do.’

Saginaw Spirit player answers…

‘I don’t think so’

Niagara IceDogs player answers…

‘Haven’t seen the new shoulder caps to know the difference it will make. Seems like most hits now will cause concussions either way though…’

Ottawa 67’s Player answers…

‘I don’t think it will make too big of a difference. There’s only so much you can do to make the shoulder pads softer without strapping pillows on. The speed and size of guys these days are the biggest contributing factor. And that’s something we don’t really have control of.’

Sarnia Sting player answers…

‘I think it will produce more shoulder injuries. I don’t think much can be done about concussions aside from better head protection. Guys are bigger and stronger than ever and are learning how to hit and take dirty penalties. It’s more about awareness of hurting others’

Erie Otters player answers…

‘Honestly I have no idea… I guess time will tell... Don't know how much of an impact it will make’

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From current players, to media, to alumni players. It really appears to be a split decision. Will the soft cap shoulder pads help? Time and statistics will ultimately determine if this experiment will be successful or a failure. But now I have to ask. What do you think about switching to these soft cap shoulder pads? Do you think they will help reduce head injuries?
Leave your comments below, or tweet me (@intheoradio)

Exhibition thoughts

Training camp has come to an end and the exhibition schedule had begun for the Kitchener Rangers and the rest of the OHL's 20 teams. The Rangers cut 11 players after Wednesday's blue/white game which saw team white win it 6-5 in OT, on a Ben Thompson slap shot off an offensive zone faceoff.

Things got off to a rocky start for the Rangers as they were hammered 4-1 in their exhibition opener against the Brampton Battalion on Saturday afternoon at the Aud. Rangers goalie Frank Palazzese allowed 2 goals while Jack Moylan allowed one. Brampton's final goal was scored on an empty net. Ben Thompson scored the lone goal for the Rangers.

Monday's game got off to a much better start however, with the Rangers beating the Battalion 5-1 in Brampton. Palazzese kept the Battalion scoreless throughout a period and a half, while Moylan allowed one goal in the third. Matia Marcantuoni scored a beauty snipe in the first to make it 1-0, while Ben Fanelli picked up his first of the preseason on the power play to make it 2-0 before the period ended. Czech import player Radek Faksa scored on a 5 on 3 to start the second, followed by a quick play from Marcantuoni, Faksa and Thompson to make it 4-0. Josh Sterk picked up the final Rangers goal just before the midpoint of the second to make it 5-0 and close out the scoring for the Rangers.

As the regular season approaches (18 days =D), the time will come when trade rumours begin to circulate and the final roster begins to take shape. The Rangers had 10 defensemen listed on today's roster, along with 3 goalies and 17 forwards. At this point, it looks like Jack Moylan will be the Rangers third string goalie. John Gibson hasn't played a game in training camp or the exhibition schedule so far, however it is likely safe to say that he will be the number one goalie come September 23rd against Windsor.

Defenders Ryan Murphy, Jonathan Jasper, Jesse Young and Evan McEnemy did not dress for todays game. It goes without saying that Ryan Murphy will make the team this year. Jasper will either make the team as an over-ager and be expected to be a leader, or he will be traded, likely for some more scoring power up front. Young and McEnemy will likely be third string defenders this season. McEnemy really stepped his game up at the end of last season, and Young has a lot to prove after being sent home before the trade deadline last season. Cody Sol and Julian Melchiori both have potential to play for the Winnipeg Jets farm team this season. Both would be over-agers in the OHL should they return. As I said in my last blog, I think Sol will remain with the Jets farm team while Melchiori will return to Kitchener. Cory Genovese and Jarred Gilbert are two rookies in the league this season. Gilbert has impressed many but he still makes too many mistakes for me, such as taking too long to decide what to do with the puck. I think he'll be ready for the OHL next season. Genovese is not afraid to fight when need be, and he could very well be OHL ready if there is a roster spot open. Finally, Ben Fanelli will definitely be in the opening night lineup. For a guy who hasn't played in 2 years, he sure hasn't missed a beat. Can't wait to see him on the 23rd.

The forward situation is a little more complicated. All of the veterans have shown strong play so far, with notable play from Michael Hasson and Ben Thompson. Both players got bigger and stronger over the summer. Hasson definitely played in training camp like he wanted to prove me wrong and get one of the over-age spots. He had more goals in the blue/white games than he did all season last year. Hasson definitely proved that he can still play in this league, although he could be traded this season. Thompson has also finally shown that he may have made a good decision to not waive his no-trade clause last season. If you recall, he refused to go to Barrie in exchange for Taylor Carnevale, who instead went to Windsor. Thompson has played rough and tough hockey, which is exactly why he was brought here. The rest of the veterans are pretty much a lock to make the team, with all playing well throughout training camp.

Many of the new forwards are also playing very well. Coach Spott is definitely going to have some tough decisions to make. Brett Clampitt has showed he's not afraid to fight, and fight well. Brent Pedersen has also made a few good plays, however he could be the weak link. There's definitely strong potential for him to be a great player in the future, however I don't think he's there yet. Brandon Francisco, Josh Sterk, Brandon Lesway, Keli Grant, Curtis Meighan, and Radek Faksa round out the new names that Rangers fans will have to get used to hearing. All have potential to make the team. It certainly will be interesting to see how this all plays out over the next few weeks.

Introduction to Gong Show Hockey aka… Preseason OHL Hockey

Saturday September 3^rd, London Knights in Sarnia to take on the Sting in what is now quite possibly, the hottest rivalry in the OHL. Quite possibly better than the LDN/KIT Rivalry.

Last night at the RBC Centre may actually have been the first time that I got disgusted at the rink. And that is a little harsh for me to say considering prior to becoming ‘media’ I was a HUGE London Knights fan dating back to before the turn of the century.  With a Team Roster in hand, I awaited anxiously to find out who would be scratched for tonight’s contest. I already knew a few Knights players that were going to be sitting out since they were in section 111. But to find out Knight, Houser, Namestnikov, Griffith, Rupert, Athanasiou and a few others were watching the game. Right there the alarm bells went off. When it was announced that the Sting were basically playing with their full team (minus Conor Murphy, Kujawinski and Harrison) the question was not if it would turn into a Fight Night but when. Throw in a Twitter message by former Knight Chris Desousa that read,

‘Whoever is at the @golondonknights game in Sarnia.. Send me updates on how Chris Maton is doing! #defdroppingthegloves’

And this game was going to be a match of brawn instead of a contest of talent in front of the Sarnia fans.

To a degree, I do not blame the London Knights for getting frustrated with the play of the Sarnia Sting. With a full lineup of 'A' caliber talent basically playing the Knights ‘B’ Team it wasn’t a contest. Considering it was 3-0 after 12 minutes without London getting a shot on net, it just added fuel to the fire that would eventually erupt.

Fast-forward to the second half of the game. Around the 15 minute mark of the second period and the wheels fell off. A few Knights players began to assert their physical dominance and hack, and slash and punch the Sting players in hopes that they would become frustrated and retaliate. That wasn’t the case.  Sarnia kept their composure and continued to add tallies to the scoreboard.

Enter the third period and it was all out attack any Sarnia Sting player that you saw. After the game I wasn’t able to talk to a London Knight player in person as they left the RBC Centre as fast as they could. But thanks to the power of text/instant messaging I was able to discuss this game with two London players. Of course they wanted to be known as anonymous but they were willing to answer my questions.

From the stands every time something would happen that resulted in a Knights player being sent to the penalty box, Head Coach Dale Hunter just stood on the bench. No emotion as if he either instructed his players to do so or just wanted to get the heck out of Dodge.

When asked about whether or not Hunter said anything to his players in the dressing room during the second intermission the Knights player responded,

‘well our coaches did say not to be getting so wound up. I mean like it was a frustrating game’

I asked about whether it was a game plan decision amongst the players or if it was just mental mistakes, ‘again, it was just a frustrating game. Especially after winning like we did last night (Friday) Then come out and lose like this tonight… just frustrating.’

By the sounds of it Hunter didn’t really want to control his boys either. Afterall there was a time, and still is a time where London Knights hockey is based on two things. An absolute beating on the scoreboard and a beating on the ice. Last night was the latter.

Sarnia coach Jacques Beaulieu didn’t help the matters by continually marching his top guys out on the ice to add to the Stings lead. But you can not blame a coach for wanting to use the preseason as a way to evaluate his talent and line combinations can you. All in all, when I now think back to last nights game it was nothing but a despicable display of lack of discipline and control by the London Knights. How else do you explain trying to mob and attack the Sting’s best players, ‘well I mean we were also trying to frustrate them and get them off their game.’

Well I have to say, It didn’t work when you spent the last 7 minutes of the game down a man… But then again it is only preseason. I mean Gong Show Season.

Ben Fanelli is All He Ever Wanted to Be....Again

Special thanks to Bryan Thiel for the article.


Ben Fanelli is a triathlete. He is a soon-to-be student at Laurier University, the face of his own campaign to raise awareness for brain injuries, and a pretty snappy dresser to boot.

He is also, once again, a hockey player.

Nearly two years after Fanelli was driven head-first into a stanchion behind the Kitchener Rangers’ net by then-Erie Otter Michael Liambis, Ben and the Rangers shone a light amidst the darkness of hockey and it’s violent history of recent head injuries when they announced that he was officially cleared for the 2011-12 Ontario Hockey League season.

Both Head Coach and General Manager Steve Spott and Chief Operating Officer Steve Bienkowski were quick to point out though, that this day was far from their minds on October 30^th, 2009.

‘That drive down to Hamilton (following the incident), I wasn’t a coach. I was a parent.’ Spott recalled. ‘The furthest thing from our minds that night was celebrating his return to hockey.’

‘Today is an exciting day. A wonderful day.’

It was an incident that turned the hockey world on its head, as a chilling hush fell over the Aud at the time of the hit. People would quickly become aware of what had happened in Kitchener that night, as the violent impact circulated the airwaves of TV and the internet, leaving the viewers to formulate their own opinions about the hit and about the sport of hockey. Well wishes were passed on to the Fanelli family from all over as strangers hoped for the well-being of the boy who wore number four in blue and red. Once the recovery process started though, Fanelli wished for more than just that.

‘A week or so after the accident I felt I’d be back to ‘regular’ life. But a regular life for me is playing hockey and trying to make the NHL.’

And so Ben made his way back to school to try and live a life that everyone else found ‘regular’. But it wasn’t good enough for him. As he rehabilitated his injuries and waited for his post-concussion symptoms to pass, he dreamt of his hockey playing life. By the time he was well enough to come to games it was impossible to separate Ben from the rink. Soon enough it was nearly impossible to separate him from the weight room…just not by his choice.

“Ben would walk into my office and ask ‘Can I play today?’ a number of times I’d put have to my head down and say ‘No Ben, not today”, Spott remembered. After that he’d “make the lonely walk down to the weight room or to the bike room.”

It was during that time spent in the gym that Ben looked towards cyclist and seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong for inspiration. Armstrong of course, had overcome various forms of cancer to become the most dominant athlete in his sport. Fanelli just wanted to overcome.

So it was partway through the 2010-11 season that Fanelli re-worked his training regime with teammates Gabriel Landeskog and Ryan Murphy to train for his first triathlon. He had been working out and skating with the team during the season, but with no concrete date to return, Ben re-concentrated his efforts into something where he could view his results in a way to help cope with his loss of the game he loved.

It was at that same time that Fanelli, with the support of Landeskog, Murphy, and the Kitchener Rangers, announced the launch of his new initiative, Head Strong. A movement to raise both money and awareness for brain injuries, in the same way as Armstrong’s ‘LiveStrong’ foundation does for cancer.

Three months later, Ben completed the Milton Subaru Triathalon in just over two hours, carrying with him the new physical abilities he had gained from training, but the mental stability that came with overcoming all of his struggles of, what was then, a battle of more than a year-and-a-half.

Ben found a way to relate the triathalon to his life and how, while his body screamed at him to, he wasn’t going to stop biking, swimming or running to the finish line. While others suggested new careers and ideas away from the rink, he wasn’t going to stop pushing until he got to lace up the skates for real.

And following a summer of training, exploding on to the social media scene (Fanelli’s account BF4HeadStrong has 605 followers and is gaining recognition from some of social media’s finest), a golf tournament or two, and countless hours spent in the gym, Ben was finally where he wanted to be the morning of September 1^st: On the ice in the Rangers’ first Blue vs. White game of training camp.

“It felt amazing to play. It was amazing to get out there with the players and just have fun” Ben gushed, hours after his first game. “I learned a lot watching from up top and seeing the ice. Now I’m out there trying to earn a spot on this team.”

For Spott and his coaching staff, they know exactly what they need to concentrate on with Ben. “The last thing we need to worry about is his conditioning” Spott quipped, “but there will be a degree of teaching and we all have to remember that he’s missed two years. That’s the important thing here.”

“We don’t (have very good perspective) in this sport. We lose perspective of things fairly quickly in hockey” Bienkowski stated in regards to his young defenseman’s return, highlighting it as one of the franchise’s proudest achievements.

You don’t have to talk to Ben Fanelli about perspective. He’s got that. And through that perspective has come a world full of new experiences and possibilities. He’s a leader now, a strong-willed young man who wasn’t even rendered speechless when he rode bikes alongside his idol, Lance Armstrong, in late August.

Now, as he looks out silently onto the ice he so longs to slice through in the heat of a game, he’s a strong-willed young man who’s a hockey player again.