Supplied by the Soo Greyhounds…
The Soo Greyhounds Hockey Club announced their leadership group for the 2019-20 season today.
RYAN O’ROURKE has been named the team’s captain while JACOB LEGUERRIER, COLE MACKAY and RORY KERINS will serve as alternate captains.
“As an organization we are excited to finalize our leadership group today and feel that all four players, led by Ryan O’Rourke, exemplify and understand what it is expected of a Greyhound” stated Head Coach John Dean.
O’Rourke is in his second season with the Greyhounds after being selected by the club in the first round of the 2018 OHL Priority Selection.
The seventeen-year old Pickering, ON native is one of five Greyhounds listed on the NHL Central Scoutings ‘Players to Watch’ list last month while this week he will represent the OHL in the Canada/Russia series.
This summer the 6.01, 169-lb rearguard won a silver medal with Team Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Last year he notched a 22 point campaign before being selected as the Hounds Rookie of the Year and was named to the OHL’s Second All-Rookie Team.
At the 2018 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge, O’Rourke averaged nearly a point per game and was later recognized as tournament all-star defenceman.
“I’m very honoured and gracious about this opportunity. It is a privilege that is not going to change the way I act in the room or change my play on the ice. I look forward to leading our club, and representing our community as Captain” said O’Rourke.
LeGuerrier is in his 4th season with the Hounds.
This past June the veteran defenceman was selected in the 5th Round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens.
In 179 career regular season games played, the Gloucester, ON native has 7 goals and 35 assists in his career to-date.
MacKay, a native of Sault Ste. Marie ON, is in his third season with the Greyhounds.
Originally a 5th Round Selection of the club in 2017, Mackay is coming off a 61 point season last year where he produced 27 goals and 34 assists in 65 games played. He would then go on to be a free agent invite to the NHL’s Las Vegas Knights rookie camp this past September.
The Greyhounds’ winger has previously been awarded the team’s Scholastic Player of the Year Award in back-to-back seasons.
Kerins is in his second season with the club.
Through 17 games played in 2019-20, Rory leads the Greyhounds’ offense with 10 goals and 10 assists (20 points. His goal output has surpassed his rookie totals, and he is mere points from setting a career-best season already.
Similarly to Captain Ryan O’Rourke, Kerins was rated on the NHL Central Scoutings ‘Players to Watch’ list for the 2020 NHL Entry Draft last month.
The four members of the Greyhounds’ leadership group will bring the club into action on the road this weekend for a pair of West Division match-ups against Sarnia (Friday) and Flint (Saturday).