Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Bulls’ Barclay Branch Named Director of Operations for Ontario’s Under 17 Team

Press Release

Toronto - The Ontario Under 17 Program Policy Committee is pleased to announce the appointment of Barclay Branch as Director of Operations for Ontario's Under 17 Men’s hockey team. Mr. Branch takes over the helm from Rob Kitamura who has been hired as the Ontario scout for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL.

Mr. Branch is currently the Assistant General Manager and Director of Player personnel for the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League. He has also been an Assistant coach and Director of Scouting and Development with the Oshawa Generals and has been involved extensively with the Under 17 program as a guest evaluator over the last several years.

“The committee is pleased that Barclay has agreed to become the Director of Operations and is confident that his appointment will provide continuity, leadership and continued excellence within the Under 17 program, stated Ted Baker Chairman of the Under 17 Policy committee.”

"I am honoured that the committee has selected me to become the Director of Operations for Ontario’s Under 17 Team and I’m looking forward to the challenge of identifying and evaluating Ontario's high performance hockey players at this age classification. We will continue the process of evaluating our athletes at the upcoming Provincial Under 17 camp being held in Thunder Bay, Ontario from July 6-10, 2011 and I anticipate putting together the best team possible to represent Ontario at the upcoming World Hockey Challenge that is being held in Winnipeg Manitoba from December 27, 2011 through January 4, 2012, stated Branch.

The Ontario Under 17 Program is a component of Hockey Canada's Program of Excellence and is co-ordinated through the Hockey Development Centre for Ontario on behalf of their 3 Ontario Branches. The program receives financial support from the Ministry of Health Promotion & Sport. Approximately 1200 players have participated at regional Under 17 identification camps throughout Ontario this spring.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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