Lakers add defenceman Crawford

KEN PAGAN THE NUGGET
Thursday August 26, 2010

The Nipissing Lakers have added some hockey acumen while continuing to add to the roster for the 2010-11 season.
Corbin Crawford, the nephew of Dallas Stars head coach Marc Crawford and son of former Belleville Bulls head coach Lou Crawford, has accepted an offer to study at the university and play for the hockey team.

The five-foot-11, 210-pound defenceman played most of his major junior career with the OHL's London Knights and Kingston Frontenacs. In 138 OHL games over four seasons, the 21-year-old Crawford recorded eight goals and 24 assists.

In 64 games with the Frontenacs during the 2008-09 OHL season, he had six goals and 18 points.

I am looking forward to attending Nipissing University and playing for the Lakers," Crawford said in a media release.
I hope to add more depth and competitiveness to an already strong defensive core."

Lakers head coach Mike McParland -- who has added six other former major junior players in Grant McGee, Doug Clarkson, Paul Cianfrini, Lucas McKinley, Sean Stagles and Conor O'Donnell -- will get a look at Crawford when camp opens Sept. 2.

I am happy that Corbin has decided to study at Nipissing and play for the Lakers," McParland said. I am very pleased with this year's recruitment class. We have add important pieces to the puzzle that will help the team take a step forward in year two.

MCGEE, CIANFRINI ON ICE

A few of the 2010-11 recruits have taken the ice at Memorial Gardens to help out with the first week of Lakers Hockey Camp. Sessions for players aged six to 13 are on at Memorial Gardens this week, with more sessions lined up next week.

Veteran defenceman John Quarrie has been joined on the ice by Cianfrini and McGee, each of whom are preparing to make an impression in their first season of CIS hockey.

McGee, a six-foot-three forward who scored 14 goals and 25 points last season with the OHL's Owen Sound Attack, will ease his way into the lineup after undergoing shoulder surgery in April.
He was just cleared to skate a few weeks ago and doesn't expect to be cleared for contact during the pre-season, but will work toward a mid-October debut.
We have a great group of guys," McGee said. It's pretty similar to the (OHL). There might not be those big-name skilled guys, but it's older players and tough hockey, so I'm expecting a good, competitive camp.

I think (the Lakers) are going to have a more skilled team than last year. Most of the guys have played major junior at some point in their career. It should be a good squad."
Cianfrini, who spends much of his summer with family on a cottage on Lake Nipissing, has also put in a lot of time with off-ice conditioning over the summer, working through a Peter Twist conditioning program.

Cianfrini spent the past four full seasons with the Erie Otters and Belleville Bulls and expects to see many of his former OHL opponents now playing CIS hockey.

It sounds like there will be some older, stronger guys than what we've faced," he said. I think guys are probably smarter and stronger. A lot of the older players, especially the OHL guys, have only gotten better over the years, so you'd expect them to be better than they were in the (OHL)."

The Lakers will play a Blue-and-White game Sept. 10 before their first preseason 'Real Men Wear Pink' game against the Western Mustangs at 3 p.m., Sept. 18.