Northern Ontario hockey teams see more international players join their ranks
Most pay between $4,000 and $6,000 a year to play — and they are hoping to catch the eyes of scouts
For decades, northern Ontario has been a place where hockey dreams are grown. But this season, the small towns of the north are instead becoming the places where players come to chase their dreams.
In South River, the Almaguin Spartans roster reads like the roll call at the United Nations, with players from the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Sweden and Iceland.
Eighteen-year-old Icelandic goal tender Nicolas Jouanne is still getting used to being a celebrity in a small town, where a good chunk of the population fills the arena bleachers on Friday nights.
"Going from 'Do you play the sport?' in Iceland to everybody knowing you here by your name," he said. "It's pretty weird."
The rosters of the other teams in the league, the Greater Metro Hockey League, are equally international.
They each pay between $4,000 and $6,000 to be on the team, with most hoping to catch the eyes of college or pro scouts and hoping that one day someone might pay them to play hockey.
"Canada is the best country for hockey. Why wouldn't you want to go?" said David Forde, the part-owner and general manager of the Spartans
"If you were a Canadian soccer player, you'd love to go to Italy or England or wherever, and that's their thought as well."
B.J. Chard grew up in the beachside resort town of Key West, Florida, where there are no hockey arenas.
"I had to drive three and a half hours up to Miami to play hockey. Every day."
The 17-year-old is now paying $4,500 a year to live in the small town of Noelville and wear the sweater of the French River Rapids, one of three players from the southern United States on the team.
"Hoping to go all the way," said Chard. "Trying my best to work hard and make it to the NHL."
