Dundas also reloading with some very nice additions - some good previous pro experience. And most important a commitment to play, not just be on the roster. Looking forward to a great year with Stoney Creek and Dundas both loading up. Thorold, Whitby and Hamilton also look to be improved. Only question mark, in my opinion, judging by the lack of signings - at least publicly, is Brantford...
Question- looks like Dundas had a full lineup Saturday night with many of the new guys and all of the key returning players. Anyone at the game that can report what happened? Looks like Mike Mole had an "un-Mole" like performance - 5 goals against in first period.
Article from Hamilton News with the new McCoys signings:
www.hamiltonnews.com/sports-story/6905061-dundas-real-mccoys-literally-bigger-and-better/There will be some important new faces on the ice for the Dundas Real McCoys this season, but a new commitment from everyone will be key to bouncing back from last year’s disappointing fifth-place finish, says president and general manager Don Robertson.
Dundas opens the regular season of the Allan Cup Hockey League on the road against the Hamilton Steelhawks – the only team with a worse record than the McCoys last season. Dundas travels to Brantford on Friday, Oct. 28, to meet the league’s second best team last season, then heads to Stoney Creek to face the defending league champion Generals on Saturday, Oct. 29.
The Real McCoys host Hamilton in Dundas’ home opener on Friday, Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. at J.L. Grightmire Arena.
Despite the return of several key pieces of the previous season’s Ontario champs, the 2015-16 McCoy’s managed just seven wins, and 16 losses — eight points ahead of the last-place Steelhawks — in the team’s first season.
“You want to get better and it’s nice when you can get bigger and better at the same time.”
“The first thing we’re going to change is attendance,” Robertson said, not in the stands but in the number of players who show up consistently.
“In past year’s we’ve been deep enough and good enough, that we’ve been OK. The league is too deep now and we need our full line-up to be successful.”
Robertson said the key issue has been addressed with all returning players, and the new additions.
He said the commitment wasn’t there last year, and he blames himself for that.
“The fault lies at my feet and I accept it, so we’re going to fix it.”
Veteran McCoys leaders, including goalie Mike Mole, defenceman Simon Mangos and forward Cam Watson, Shawn Snider and Matthew Bragg, are back.
Bragg had 23 points in 14 games last season, Watson 17 goals and 27 points in 20 games, and Snider 30 points in 17 games.
Joining the squad this year are a number of young, experienced and big players who hopefully will bring a new excitement and commitment to bolster the McCoys after a rare off-year.
Matt Foy, 33, comes to Dundas with 56 NHL games as a member of the Minnesota Wild. He also had several solid seasons in the AHL. The six-foot two-inch, 225-pound forward finished a four-year pro career in Germany last season with 34 points in 31 games.
Also joining the McCoys this season is 32-year-old forward Adam Henrich who had a 10-year professional career with stints in the AHL, ECHL, Germany, Britain and Italy. Most recently, he had 51 points in 38 games with Coventry of the British Elite Ice Hockey League. He also brings size, as well as skill, at six-feet four inches and 225 pounds.
Cohen Adair, turning 25 later this month, also brings youth and size, and joins the McCoys after completing four seasons with Northern Michigan University earlier this year. Adair was a point-per-game player in two seasons with the Junior A Powell River Kings from 2010-12.
“You want to get better and it’s nice when you can get bigger and better at the same time,” Robertson said.
He figures a change in the scheduling of Wednesday night practice might help in building commitment and regular attendance by players. Practice times are moving from last season’s late 10 p.m. start time to 9 p.m., getting players on the road and back home an hour earlier.
Robertson pointed out McCoys players have full-time jobs they need to get to each day, and the extra hour could potentially make a tremendous difference with improving attendance at practices, developing good habits and getting the whole line-up to all games.
Robertson also suggested the team isn’t done yet with its roster, suggesting there will be more additions before the puck drops for the home opener.
“We’re a long way from done.”
Craig Campbell is a Reporter for the Dundas Star News. He can be reached at ccampbell@hamiltonnews.com