By Dave Dawson, Orillia Packet & Times
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
The North Central Predators AAA bantams have ambitious goals this year. They want to become the league champions, earn a regional title and they would love to win the Ontario Hockey Federation championship they have been chosen to host. But they also dream of sharing the ice with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
For most teams, skating with the Leafs at the Air Canada Centre is just a dream. But for this talented squad, it's a real possibility thanks to its participation in the Under Armour Storm the Centre competition, a seven-week program open to all bantam teams within 75 kilometres of Toronto.
This week, the Preds took a giant skate stride toward reaching their big-league goal when they were named the Storm the Centre team of the week in the competition's fourth week. Not only do they win highly sought-after Under Armour gear; the weekly honour puts them in the running for the grand prize: a chance to play in the Armour Cup.
The two teams ultimately chosen to compete in that contest will earn a "game-day experience," when they will be treated like pros, have a chance to participate in the morning skate with Maple Leafs players and receive tickets to a Leafs game for the whole team.
"We decided to undertake the task of the Storm the Centre contest when it was released in early October and, honestly, I am not sure most players and parents understood what I had signed us up for," quipped Michelle Quevillon, manager of the Predators team. "We started not long after the decision was made to go for the win "¦ by filming clips and videos of the players taking on the challenge of all the various tasks."
The competition is broken into five categories. In each one -- Meet the Team, Practice Makes Perfect, Get Tricky, Team in the Stands, and Drop the Puck -- players and, at times, coaches and parents must do certain tasks and try to impress the judges. For example, there are various clips of the drills you would expect in the Practice Makes Perfect component, but there are some dazzling displays of dexterity in the Get Tricky portion as various players are filmed doing physics-defying tricks with their sticks.
"The coaching staff has totally come on board and allowed us to film during on-ice practice time and during game times, which I believe helped us have some great videos as features this week," said Quevillon. "It has been great watching the boys pull out all their special moves for the camera and do some extra work at home getting in the tricks."
For the players, it "has been a great team-building exercise," said Quevillon, who noted the boys were "very stoked" to win team of the week honours. But this is bigger than the players. "Everyone from our oldest fan at the young age of 90 to our youngest fan and the parents have really helped pull this all together."
Erin O'Driscoll, co-ordinator of Storm the Centre, said team-of-the-week winners have a shot at making it to the finals.
"The team of the week is selected based on creativity and enthusiasm displayed in the uploaded content," said O'Driscoll. "The Predators landed the prize (last) week by submitting the most creative content and showing their determination and enthusiasm."
The team of the week recognition has given the Predators confidence they can win the competition.
"We still have a little ways to go to complete all tasks and we are completely up for the job," said Quevillon. "Our goal is definitely to be the top team and our players' dedication to going over and above what has been asked of them with unique ideas has been phenomenal."
The grand prize is worth more than $6,200. In addition to skating with the Leafs and getting tickets to the Leafs game, the victors will receive off-ice training with a Leafs fitness instructor, will enjoy a video-room session with Leafs personnel, enjoy a pre-game meal at an Air Canada Centre restaurant, play a three-period game and receive Under Armour apparel.
The contest ends Nov. 18 and the winner will be announced soon after. It is expected the two winning teams will compete for the Under Armour Cup Dec. 7 in Toronto.
For more information, visit mapleleafs.com/stormthecentre.
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