The Q looks at Valley boys

BY JOHN DECOSTE

Kings County Register

June 6 was a red-letter day for the Valley Sport Swappers Wildcats.

Four of its players were chosen in the 2009 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft.

Defenseman Steven Woodworth of Middleton was the first Wildcat chosen, by the Lewiston Maineacs in the fourth round.

Nick Parker of Brooklyn was picked by the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in the fifth round, Colby Harris of Bedford by the PEI Rocket in the eighth round, and goalie Charles Grant of Berwick by Lewiston in the 10th round. “It’s a great day for the kids and their families, and a great day for the Wildcats’ organization,” says head coach Nick Greenough, who attended the draft with goalie coach Joe Johnson.

Harris and Grant, born in 1992, each have one year of midget eligibility left; Woodworth and Parker, born in 1993, each have two years.

Even though it might mean losing all four players (if they don’t make their respective teams, the players have the option of returning to midget), Greenough couldn’t be happier. “We’re in the business here of grooming kids to move on to the next level,” he says. “I expect all four players to have bright futures in the QMJHL; if not this year coming, then certainly the year after.”

Greenough, a Valley native himself, was especially pleased three of the four players (Woodworth, Parker and Grant) “are Valley boys.” Harris is from Bedford. “As much as we’d love to have them all back this fall, we can’t hold them back,” Greenough says. “I had the opportunity to play at that level, to realize my dream, and I know how they’re feeling right now.”

Harris was the Wildcats’ leading scorer in 2008/09, with 43 points on 15 goals and 28 assists in 35 games. Parker had 30 points while leading the team with 16 goals, Woodworth was rock solid on defense, and Grant was the NSMMHL first all-star goalie.

Greenough confirms the Wildcats “had the most players drafted of any NSMMHL team. There were 19 Nova Scotians drafted in all.

The results “prove that good players can come out of smaller areas. They don’t all have to come from Metro Halifax.”

Greenough adds the entire Wildcats organization is very happy with the draft. “It not only looks really good on us as an organization, but hopefully it can be a good recruiting tool for us as well.”

Woodworth, Parker, Harris and Grant are not only good players, he says; in fact, they were “consistently our best players every night” in 2008/ 09. “They’re all great kids as well, with great character and a great work ethic.”