RHA NATIONALS
We want to
win gold. That’s
our goal. We all
think we can do it
with this group
we have
the youngest players on the fledgling program’s midget prep team.
Despite averaging a point per game, Greyeyes admits he struggled
early in the campaign.
“I got off to a slow start. The speed of the league we play in is a
lot different,” he said. “It’s a lot quicker and the guys are a lot bigger
than in bantam.
“I had to adjust. I had to make
some big changes in my prepara-
tions. That was maybe the biggest
thing. I had to learn how to always
be focused and be thinking about
all kinds of situations. I was really
happy with the second half of my
season.”
So was Nationals head coach
Rob Smith. Smith says one of the
things that impressed him most
about Greyeyes was his ability to
contribute in all areas of the game. In addition to playing five-on-
five, he was also a regular on the Nationals’ power play and penalty
killing units.
“He was probably one of our hottest players in February and
March,” said Smith. “He kept on getting better and really produced
for us.”
“He’s a very intelligent player. He understands the game. You only
50 GAME ON
2017 CHAMPIONS EDITION
have to tell him something once. He gets it. He was ahead of a lot
of players his age in terms of the game away from the puck. That’s
one of those things it takes a lot of kids time to learn. He’s an excel-
lent two-way player, but at the same time he’s a very good offensive
player too.”
The 2016-17 season was some-
thing of a learning experience
for the entire RHA program. It
was the first time the academy
competed in the Canadian Sport
School Hockey League. The Na-
tionals midget prep team finished
with a 17-9-4 record and 38 points
in 30 regular season games, miss-
ing out on a playoff berth by just
two points -- just six points out of
third place.
“We were right there. It was
very positive in that way,” says Smith, who was joined on the coach-
ing staff by assistants Denis Bosc and Ian Duval.
“Of course, every player and coach likes to win but we saw a lot of
development. At the end of the year we were very pleased with how
the players progressed,” he continued. “We’re proud that every one
of the 18 players on the program’s midget team is now listed by a
Junior A or WHL team.” n