Four players who have been turning heads on the west coast for a couple of years were upbeat about their participation in the 2018 Quebec Excellence Challenge as members of Team Newfoundland and Labrador’s Under-16 male hockey team.
Mark Hillier, Lucas Park, Skyler Coates and Lucas Robinson suited up for Team NL in a tournament that featured six teams compiled of players eligible for the 2018 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Draft.
Hillier, who just finished up his rookie season with St. Andrew’s College Saints, got the nod as Most Valuable Player for Team NL, who finished up in the cellar in sixth spot with an overall 1-3-1 record.
Hillier picked up an assist for Team NL in a 4-3 overtime loss to Nova Scotia in the seeding game for fifth and sixth place after the provincial squad went 1-3 in round-robin play.
The six-foot centre had a goal and finished +3 in a 4-3 overtime win over New Brunswick for the team’s only win, while also scoring a goal in his team’s 7-2 round-robin defeat at the hands of Quebec White.
Coates had a goal and an assist in a 5-2 loss to Nova Scotia in round-robin play, while Robinson, playing a stay-at-home defenceman role, picked up a goal in Newfoundland and Labrador’s 2-1 loss to Prince Edward Island.
Park finished with an 0-3 record between the pipes, on the books as the losing goaltender in the two games against Nova Scotia and round-robin encounter with Quebec White.
The Star asked the four players what was their biggest takeaway from playing in a showcase tournament designed for the recruitment of players for Quebec Major Junior Hockey League franchises.
Mark Hillier
It’s a time where you really have to focus on your game. It was definitely the biggest tournament I’ve ever played in and I just really had to focus on my game and I think I did a good job of it. I think I played well, but the competition was definitely a big step up so I realized you have to put in a lot of hard work to get better.
Skyler Coates
I learned that you should never take anything for granted because it’s really fast hockey up there. I learned that you have to work your hardest because there’s always somebody who is willing to work their hardest and have the chance to become better than you. If you don’t work hard somebody will want to take your place.
Lucas Park
I realized that teams who bond together more they work better on the ice. As the week went on we got a lot closer and the games got a lot closer and we played a lot better.
Lucas Robinson
I learned the importance of playing the whole game. Teams up there don’t give up. They keep going for 60 minutes. You have to work for what you want.
