TRURO, N.S. – For the third straight year and fourth time in five years, a Colchester County player will lead the charge for the Weeks Major Midgets.
Ben Fraser, 16, a second-year forward from Pleasant Valley, was named captain of the Nova Scotia Major Midget AAA Hockey League team for the 2018-19 season following spring camp last month.
“It’s gonna be pretty sweet, I think,” said Fraser, a Grade 10 student at South Colchester Academy in Brookfield. “I’m very excited for it.”
Last season, Stewiacke’s Carson Lanceleve was Weeks captain, while in 2016-17, G. Blackmore of Millbrook wore the ‘C.’ Two years before Blackmore, Truro’s Lucas Holman was team captain.
“Their on-ice abilities, they speak for themselves, but the leaders we had in place, and even Ben now, it’s their work ethic, it’s their determination,” said Weeks coach Kyle MacLennan.
“I think through good mentoring, through good coaching and the community they’re coming from, they’re obviously doing something to not just produce good players, but good people who are capable of leading a group.”
MacLennan said his newest captain has all the tools needed to guide the team on and off the ice. He said Fraser displays a tireless work ethic, a passion for the game and he treats others with respect.
Fraser led the Truro Bearcats major bantam team in scoring two years ago with 24 goals and eight assists in 33 games. Last season, as a rookie in Pictou County, he had one goal and 11 assists in 36 games. MacLennan called him “one of our most responsible defensive players that we had all season.”
“We played him in the middle of the ice because you got to have strength and stability in that area and as a 15-year-old he stepped right in and he provided that.”
Fraser was also one of the team’s top penalty killers, a role he relished.
“I love the penalty kill; it’s fun,” he said. “And considering our team took quite a few penalties last year, it was definitely a role that needed to be filled.”
On Monday, the Truro Bearcats of the Maritime Junior Hockey League added Fraser to their list of protected players by making him a territorial selection in advance of Saturday’s midget draft in Berwick.
Fraser has grown up watching the Bearcats and is thrilled to be part of the club’s future.
“I was pretty excited,” he said. “They have a great organization and I’d definitely like to be a part of that.”
Fraser said his off-season training will include on-ice sessions and mountain biking, all in an effort to stay sharp and game ready when the puck drops in the fall.
