Stacey showcasing talent for Grenadiers

Kahnawa’kehró:non goaltender Pryor Stacey is working hard in high-level hockey to make his dream of going pro a reality.

“What drives me is that I could always be better,” said Pryor. “I always want to be as best as I can, and I always want to play at the highest level. I think that’s what pushes me the most to keep playing at a high level.”

Pryor is in his fifth year of AAA hockey, having started in Peewee.

The 15-year-old plays for the Midget Espoir AAA Lac St. Louis Grenadiers – meaning he is considered a prospect for the regular Midget AAA team.

“The head coach told me that he wants me to play as many games as possible, to be more experienced for Midget next year,” said Pryor.

His father, Mikey Stacey, said that it is normal that 15-year-old goaltenders do not make the Midget AAA team immediately.

“There’s three years for Midget: 15,16, and 17,” said Mike. “Usually not a lot of players make Midget AAA their first year. Three or four players might make it every year, and it’s usually a team of mainly second year players, and you’re allowed to keep five third-year players.”

The Grenadiers are not off to a very good start this year, with only four wins in 15 games. But, in eight games played, Pryor accounts for three of those wins and has only allowed an average of 2.5 goals against this season.

“The goaltenders are keeping them in a lot of these games. If it wasn’t for them, they would be a lost worse,” said Mike.

“I think it’s going very well, I’m very confident in my play,” said Pryor of his season so far.

Pryor is in a program where half of his day is spent at school, and the other half is spent training, either on or off the ice.

“He’s in the gym doing stuff that is unbelievable,” said Mike. “He’s very committed. He works out with a personal trainer three times a week outside the rink, and he’s on the ice five times a week.”

Pryor said that his flexibility training focuses on the hips, keeping the lower body flexible and making sure that the movements needed to be a goaltender are both possible and won’t cause injury.

“As a goalie, having to be very flexible is really important, because of the desperation saves, and if I’m ever behind on the play, I always have to be the most flexible I can,” said Pryor.

As far as next steps for Pryor’s career, after playing Midget, the options would either be being drafted by - or trying out for - a Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) team or going to a prep school and afterwards applying for American colleges with National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) hockey programs.

“It would be his QMJHL draft year this year,” said Mike. “The likelihood of making a QMJHL team as a 16-year-old goalie is very rare, but he can still be drafted.”

Recent changes in NCAA rules will now allow players with Canadian Hockey League (CHL) experience - of which the QMJHL is a part - to play NCAA Division 1 hockey, starting for the 2025-2026 season. Previous to the change adopted on November 8, CHL players were not considered eligible due to not having amateur status, as they receive a stipend from their teams for living expenses.

“That opens doors to more players to be able to play maybe two, three years in the QMJHL and then go play two, three years in the NCAA after that,” said Mike.

Pryor is keeping an eye on his options for the future, but for now, he is focused on the here and now.

“I’d like to make it far in some of the tournaments that we’re going to be playing in and make it far in the playoffs. That’s what we all are working for right now,” said Pryor.

“I’m just trying to stop as many pucks as I can.”

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