Brendan Harrogate Signs With The LaSalle Vipers
Brendan Harrogate of Chatham, who played for the Chatham-Kent Cyclones last year, has signed with the GOJHL’s LaSalle Vipers – Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Harrogate, who was a 7th round selection, 128th overall by the Mississauga Steelheads in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection Draft, spent last season with the Chatham-Kent Cyclones Minor Midget ‘AAA’ team, and also played five games up as an affiliate with the Junior B Chatham Maroons.
“Brendan has a offensive upside, it’s what we find intriguing,” says LaSalle Vipers head coach and general manager Bill Bowler of signing Harrogate. “We think he can step in and contribute offensively immediately.”
According to Bowler, the Vipers plan to give Harrogate the opportunity to develop this season and pursue his OHL goals.
“His goal is obviously to play in the OHL,” says Bowler. “Being a mid-rounder he isn’t guaranteed that, but definitely has that ability, and we can help him get there.”
For now however, Bowler says the Vipers’ expectations of Harrogate will remain low, as they do with all 16-year-olds the team signs, in order to allow them to develop without undue pressure.
“We don’t put too many exceptions on young players,” says Bowler. “He’ll be given every opportunity, but then it will be up to him and how hard he works. We have no time frame for development, but we’re willing to work with him, and think he can contribute this year.”
In 17 playoffs games last season, Harrogate topped all Chatham-Kent Cyclones scorers with 11 goals and 12 assists, good enough for first overall in Alliance Hockey playoff scoring, leading the Cyclones to a semi-final position in the OHL Cup. In 32 regular season games with the Cyclones, Harrogate tied for the team lead with 22 points, collecting 9 goals in that time.
After being rumoured for months to be headed for the Chatham Maroons, Harrogate was snapped up by LaSalle after the Maroons traded away two of their three underage cards for Alex Morgan and Steven Beenackers during the offseason, forcing the youngster to find another team.
Harrogate played his first preseason game with LaSalle Saturday night, picking up a goal and an assist in their 6-0 win over Lambton Shores.
LaSalle opens their 2014-2015 GOJHL campaign Wednesday, September 10 against the London Nationals.