Notre Dame Hounds News

Press Release

The Notre Dame Hounds will have a new face behind the bench this season and it appears as though they'll have plenty of new players as well.

Darren Evjen was hired this past spring to succeed Mike Vandenberghe and he's busy putting his own stamp on the franchise with the announcement that a large chunk of the recruiting class has been determined for the club for 2009-10.

1990 F Trevor Milner (North Vancouver BC) put up decent numbers with the Grandview Steelers of the PIJHL last season, potting 20-goals and 27-assists in 45-games. Milner is said to be a good skater who looks after some of the finer details of the game in addition to being a scorer at the Junior ‘B’ level.

1991 F Riley Pikor (Saskatoon SK) has a sandpaper style to him. He scored 5-goals and 6-points in 41-games with his hometown Saskatoon Contacts this past season. He also spent 98-minutes in the penalty box. “He has a real good work ethic,” says Evjen.

1991 D James Howden (Edgeley SK) suited up for the Regina Pat Canadians in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League and scored 7-goals and 11-assists in 40-games. Evjen says Howden plays the defensive part of the game well and looks forward to seeing him develop into a type of player that can jump into the play.

1991 F Brennan Dishko (Saskatoon SK) was a teammate of Pikor's with the Contacts and scored 4-goals and 2-assists in 28-games. “He projects to be somewhat of a power forward and I really like his leadership qualities,” said Evjen.

1991 D/F Tristan Houde (Swift Current SK) will try to make the jump from the Midget AA Swift Current Hurricanes, where he collected 5-goals and 5-assists in 23-games. Houde is a skilled player with a great deal of versatility.

1991 G Russell Abbot (Millbay BC) toiled for the Notre Dame Argos of the SMAAAHL last year and had a 2-15-1, 4.72, .866 record playing behind a young, struggling club. “He had a breakout season and is committed to being a starter at this level,” said Evjen.

1991 F Todd Christian (Norwalk CT) brings size, a good shot, and a nice set of wheels. He had 19-goals and 18-assists in 40-games with his club team and was also selected to Team USA Under-17 and Team New England.

1991 D Dylan Babe (Lethbridge AB) is a first-pass type defenseman, who played in his hometown with the Y’s Men of the Alberta Midget AAA Hockey League last season. Offensively, he had 2-points in 32-games.

1992 F Trevor Cameron (Mission BC) comes from the Telus Cup champion Notre Dame Hounds in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA League. “He is an excellent two way player and capable of putting up numbers as a 17 year old,” said Evjen. Cameron had 13-goals and 15-assists in 42-games. He averaged a point per game in the playoffs.

1992 D Carson Grolla (Prince George BC) is another player from the Telus Cup champion Hounds. Evjen describes him as a strong defenseman who moves the puck. Grolla had 6-goals and 13-assists in 44-games.

1991 G Matt Smidt (Saskatoon SK) played for the ND Argos, with Abbot. Evjen says, “Matt is a smaller goaltender with great athletic ability. He is a true competitor.” He went 8-16-2, 4.09, .882.

Evjen, himself, spent almost a dozen seasons coaching in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League, mostly with the Saskatoon Contacts before catching on in a Director of Player Personnel capacity with the SJHL Hounds. Evjen has also filled in on the bench with Notre Dame as an interim coach in the last two and a half seasons.



(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)