Former Cougar invited to Alaska Junior A summer camp

April 8, 2015 · 0 Comments

By Jake Courtepatte
For some, chasing their athletic dream means travelling to the ends of the earth to do so.
Francesco Corona will be one step closer when he takes to the ice in Minnesota this summer, looking to earn a spot on the roster of the Kenai River Brown Bears based in Soldotna, Alaska.
If successful, he would be packing up and moving over 6,000 kilometres from his hometown of Barrie to join the Tier II Junior A team of the North American Hockey League.
The small-but-fiery forward, a veteran of the Junior C Schomberg Cougars of the GMOHL, has earned an invite to their main training camp, set for the end of July in the more convenient state of Minnesota.
But there’s more behind the invite than just a letter – it’s an unconventional practice to bring an undrafted player directly to team camp, without proving his worth in rookie camp.
“It means a lot to me that they have that level of interest in me,” said Corona. “You always hope others will notice what you’re doing.”
Physically, it’s hard to notice Corona. His five-foot-seven, 134-pound frame is towered over on the ice by both teammates and opponents.
Where he makes his presence is in his ability to blow past defenders, sidestepping hits and otherwise buzzing around the ice untouched.
“I’m not the biggest guy, but I have a lot of heart and I think my skating is definitely an asset,” said Corona. “I can skate and play against the toughest opponents.”
Short but sweet, the 23 times Corona put on a Cougars uniform were consistently productive. Between the months of September and December 2014, he skated for six multi-point nights and 20 points in total.
From there he has also spent time with the Rama Aces of the Greater Metro Hockey League, a recently developed Junior A league looking to make its mark. He added 27 points to his repertoire, boosting his value even further.
For Corona, the Alaskan club provides him with one more chance at hockey glory. By the time the July training camp rolls around, Corona will be one month into the age of 20 – his final year of junior eligibility.
Back in Schomberg, the Cougars are gearing up for their own summer camp starting in June. Details can be found at www.schombergcougars.com.