WJHA, Reds hold skills competition outdoors in Providence

Pete Fontaine
Posted 3/5/15

The Warwick Junior Hockey Association did more than just rewrite the Rhode Island Reds Heritage Society’s storied history book early last Saturday morning in Providence.

On a morning when the …

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WJHA, Reds hold skills competition outdoors in Providence

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The Warwick Junior Hockey Association did more than just rewrite the Rhode Island Reds Heritage Society’s storied history book early last Saturday morning in Providence.

On a morning when the temperature dipped to 11 degrees – and was possibly lower – the WJHA added yet another chapter to the state’s already steeped in history record book.

For openers, the WJHA became the first-ever group – and that includes the youth, high school and collegiate levels – to ever hold an American Hockey League-like Skills Competition.

For toppers, the WJHA became the first-ever group – and that includes the three above mentioned divisions – to hold an actual hockey competition at the Downtown Providence outdoor ice rink that’s now known as the Alex & Ani Center.

Equally as impressive, Saturday’s Skill Competition marked the first time that the Reds’ Heritage Society has teamed with a youth group for such a high level event that featured 34 players from the WJHA’s Pee Wee and Bantam Division traveling teams.

“It went off really terrific,” Buster Clegg, the long-standing president of the Reds’ Heritage Society, offered. “If there were any mistakes, they weren’t noticeable. The people at the rink were very cooperative, (WJHA President) Chris Orton is a peach of a guy to work with and there are some pretty darn good skaters among those Warwick youngsters.”

That statement spoke volumes for the WJHA, seeing as how Clegg has been around the game of ice hockey – at the high school, college and professionals levels – for upwards of six decades plus.

He played and starred at one-time Rhode Island powerhouse Burrillville High School, then went on to play at the University of New Hampshire, before assuming a number of years with the former Providence and Rhode Island Reds of the American Hockey League.

Clegg, who at one time served as the Reds’ General Manager, said he was impressed with the way the WJHA’s coaching staff handled their players who, displaying great “people management that’s ever so big in any game of coaching.”

Likewise, Clegg – who served as the event’s emcee with assistance from spotter Sherri Leander – also noted “we saw some very good skaters this morning. I love to watch the kids skate and was impressed by the way they handled the puck.”

The WJHA players competed in the Skills Competition just like the event that’s held annually at the AHL All-Star Game. There were nine categories that featured everything from puck control and skating around cones that were placed at various areas in the rink to speed skating and shooting.

Clegg said that one Bantam was clocked at firing the puck 66 miles per hour and a Pee Wee player recorded a speed of 44 miles per hour.

The Blue and White teams wound up tied after 10 events, while two players in each division won individual honors. They were: Hardest Shot: John Cardi, Bantam and Ben Sayles, Pee Wee; Fastest Skater: Chris Leander, Bantam; Dylan Gallagher, Pee Wee; Fastest Goalie: Calvin Orton, Bantam; Anthony Oliveira, Pee Wee.

“I’d like to team up with them next year,” Clegg announced. “Although it’s so soon after a successful event, we felt good about the day. And if it weren’t for Chris Orton, we wouldn’t have had such a great program. He’s the only (youth) hockey league president I know who lists his home telephone number on the organization’s website.”

The Reds’ Heritage Society presented each of the WJHA players with a DVD of the Emmy Award winning “When the Reds Ruled the Roost,” that was produced and directed by former WJAR-TV sportscaster Joe Rocco.

Orton was also pleased with the Skills Competition.

“We enjoyed it,” said Orton. “This was a good thing all around for everybody; we’d absolutely love to do it again.”

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