Locals stand out at CCM Challenge
Camden Jackson (top row, third from left) and the U18 AAA Chateauguay Grenadiers won the CCM Challenge on home ice, defeating St. Eustache 5-2 in the finals. Courtesy Chateauguay Grenadiers U18 AAA
The CCM Challenge, a yearly tournament featuring some of the top U18 AAA teams in the province, was held in Chateauguay this year, and featured two Kahnawake players in prominent spots.
Kingston Delisle was handpicked to play on one of the two Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) prospect teams that participated in the tournament. Those two teams are made up of slightly younger players than the other regular U18 teams in the tournament.
Goaltender Kingston Delisle was in net for the QMJHL Cup, a game between two hand-picked Major Junior prospect teams at the CCM Challenge. His team, the QMJHL White, won 4-3 in overtime. Courtesy Programme Hockey Grenadiers
Delisle, for example, is 15 and currently plays with the Lac St. Louis U17 AAA Grenadiers.
Although neither QMJHL prospect team advanced to the CCM Challenge elimination rounds, they still play their own finals game no matter what, the QMJHL Cup.
It was Delisle’s team, QMJHL White, that won the Cup, 4-3 in overtime.
Delisle made two starts in four games, including in the finals.
“It was a great experience competing with and against that calibre of player. I enjoyed every second of it,” said Delisle.
“It was really meaningful, I’m very proud to represent the Grenadiers, Hockey Quebec, and my community, Kahnawake.”
QMJHL White head coach Nicolas de Grandpré said it was obvious for him to start Delisle for the QMJHL Cup game.
“In my evaluation, and in the evaluation of many people I know who follow his league, he’s the best goalie playing in that league right now,” said de Grandpré.
He was very impressed with Delisle’s play in both games he started in.
“He’s very calm, in control, he has a very good technique, very good hands, he’s very good outside his net, he is great at outlet passes, many good, key saves, and he’s a very good game manager,” said de Grandpré.
In particular, being able to work with his defenders was impressive, considering the small amount of time the team has had to practice together, and the fact that Delisle was the only anglophone on a team featuring more than one unilingual francophone, de Grandpré said.
Delisle said he even learned a little French, and that team bonding activities off the ice helped bring them together.
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“It translated well to the ice and we performed well,” said Delisle.
His head coach agreed, as normally the QMJHL Cup teams struggle a lot in the CCM Challenge. Although they were winless during group play, de Grandpré said they could have won at least two more games, if not three.
The CCM Challenge was won by the U18 AAA Chateauguay Grenadiers, which has Camden Jackson on the roster. Jackson, a defender, scored two goals and added four assists for six points in six tournament games, second among defenders on the team and tied for fourth in points.
The Grenadiers went 5-1 in the tournament, losing their opening game against the Trois-Rivières Estacades 4-2 but going undefeated the rest of the way, culminating in a 5-2 finals win against the St. Eustache Vikings.
