Young Chamberlain tipped to make his mark

The 16-year-old first impressed player-coach Sylvain Cloutier in a junior match 20 months ago, shortly after the former Coventry Blaze captain first arrived as the successor to long-time coach Rick Strachan.

A year at the Ontario Hockey Academy with fellow juniors Jack Musil and Jamie Chilcott has honed the youngster’s skills even further and - with the expected departure of third line British forward Lee Esders to Sheffield Steelers - Cloutier is expecting plenty of ice time for the local talent.

“He’s a big kid and he caught my eye when I first came here,” said Cloutier.

“He’s very talented, can play the physical game, and is going to get a lot of ice time for us.

“We have to be patient with him, but I can see him doing a similar job to what Ross Venus did in Coventry last season.”

Venus was the 16-year-old forward who was thrust into the limelight after injuries forced Coventry Blaze head coach Paul Thompson to call him into the 2009-10 champions roster. He remained for the rest of the season after a string of impressive performances, eventually finishing the season with 14 points - including six goals - in 52 games.

As for Chamberlain, he is simply delighted to be lacing up the skates for his hometowm team.

He said: “I am a Hull boy and when Clouts first arrived at the club he came and saw the first junior game of the season and asked me to come and practice with the team. It has gone from there.

“I went over to Canada last year but when I came back I practiced with the team too. I used to watch the Stingrays and to play for them is something I have always wanted to do.

“Canada was a great experience and I met a lot of people from different countries. I was staying right next to the gym too so I feel I have got stronger and faster as a player.

“It is a great opportunity for me.”

While Chamberlain has not long returned from North America, fellow new signing Andy Brummitt, will be heading back to Canada for a short spell before the Elite League season gets underway. The 18-year-old back-up goalie will once again attend the Jon Elkin goalie school in Toronto.

Elkin is a former goalie coach for Calgary Flames and has coached 21 NHL netminders as well as for teams in the American Hockey League, Western Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League.

Brummitt said: “I have been there before and it is really beneficial. A lot of NHL goalies have come through the school and I have managed to pick up a lot of tips which have helped me.”