The Timmins Rock will be relying upon two uber-talented young goalies to man their crease for the 2024-25 NOJHL campaign. Dryden Riley, foreground, takes over as the Rock’s starting netminder after serving as the understudy for Patrick Boivin last season. He will be backed up by 16-year-old Graham Gee, who comes to the Rock from the OMHA U16 league’s Greater Kingston Gaels. THOMAS PERRY/THE DAILY PRESS jpg, TD, apsmc
For the past two seasons, the Timmins Rock teamed an older No. 1 goalie with an uber-talented 16-year-old who was on the radar of an OHL franchise.
Thomas Perry
The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
And it worked, producing an NOJHL championship and Centennial Cup berth in 2022-23 and a first-place finish in the East Division standings in 2023-24.
Rock coach and general manager Brandon Perry is confident this year’s strategy — employing two uber-talented young goalies — will be just as effective.
“We have all the confidence in the world in Dryden Riley and Graham Gee is on the same plan as Jacob Brown was, the same plan that Dryden Riley was,” he said.
“We will get him his starts and bring him along here. We are super confident in what we have in net.”
Patrick Boivin was the main man in net for the Rock during the past two seasons, but he has exhausted his Junior ‘A’ eligibility.
That leaves Riley, last year’s 16-year-old phenom, as the Rock’s No. 1 netminder and he is looking forward to the opportunity to carry the freight and mentor Gee during his first campaign in the NOJHL.
“There are a lot of things I already know,” he said, during a break at one of the Rock’s training camp sessions as the Whitney Arena earlier this month.
“I already know my billet family, I already know most of the guys, so I am a lot more comfortable than I was at this time last year. Knowing what I did last year and what is expected of me this year as a leader and the No. 1, really helps a lot.”
Riley is looking forward to sharing the Rock crease with Gee in 2024-25.
“I really hope he takes advantage of the opportunities he is going to be given,” he said.
“All it is going to take is a couple of good games and he will be on a roll. I think we will make a great combo this year and our team will have a lot of success.”
Speaking from his experiences as a 16-year-old rookie in 2023-24, Riley acknowledged his confidence grew with each victory he recorded during the campaign.
“I had Patrick, who was a veteran and an elite goaltender for many years, and he taught me how to be a better person on and off the ice,” he said.
“That’s my goal, to be able to do that for Graham this year. I just want to work as hard as I can, so that I am ready for the start of the season.”
Riley was happy to see so many familiar faces on the Rock blue-line when training camp got under way.
“Because I played behind them last year, I really know what I am doing on rims, chasing pucks, if I am going for them, or not, they are really good at communicating with me,” he said.
“Our captain, Tenzin (Nyman) is very, very good at communicating. I have good chemistry with our D, so that will help me a lot this year.”
The Rock have five regulars back on the blue-line, including Nyman, as well as two players (Zach Secord and Thomas Sefton) who were with the squad as affiliate players.
Riley, drafted 204th overall in the 11th round of the 2023 OHL Priority Selection by the Erie Otters, is coming off superb rookie campaign that saw him post a 2.55 goals against average (fourth in the NOJHL), .913 save percentage (seventh best), 21 wins (fourth best) and two shutouts (tied for fifth most).
The 6-0, 158-pound Belleville product, who won’t turn 17 until Oct. 11, spent the weekend at the Otters training camp before joining his Rock teammates in Collingwood for the start of the 2024 Cottage Cup Tournament on Tuesday.
Gee, a 6-0, 155-pound Kingston product, got his first taste of NOJHL action on the weekend when he backstopped the Rock to a 9-2 exhibition win over the Gold Miners in Kirkland Lake.
Like Riley and Brown (now with the OHL’s Flint Firebirds) before him, Gee was an OHL Priority Selection, going to his hometown Kingston Frontenacs with the 298th choice in the 15th round in 2024.
Last season, Gee played for the Greater Kingston Gaels (3.50 goals against average, one shutout), of the OMHA U16 league.
Like most visitors to the City with the Heart of Gold, Gee has been impressed with Timmins.
“It’s awesome and I am excited to be here and I am excited for the season to start,” he said, during a break in training camp.
Gee admitted the opportunities presented to Riley and Brown, as 16 year olds, and the success they had led to his desire to begin his Junior ‘A’ career in a Rock uniform.
“I have known Dryden and I have trained with him for a while and things worked out for him, like they did two years ago for Jacob Brown as a 16 year old,” he said.
Gee sums up his style in net in two words — “calm and quick.”
Growing up, he tried to pattern his game after Minnesota Wild goalie Marc-André Fleury.
Gee’s unique face mask is a dead giveaway of what team he plays for, as it features the Rock symbol front and centre, but the design goes beyond the logo.
“The fish and corn are for my pop, who passed away about a year ago, and the Sponge Bob (on the back of the helmet is something I grew up watching,” he said.
“I have always had it on my helmet. It was my favourite show.”
One of the lesser known members of the Rock organization, goaltending consultant Mike Murphy has been responsible for the flow of young goalies to the organization.
“Shout out to Mike Murphy,” Gee said.
While no paperwork has been signed yet, Perry confirmed Timmins U18 Majors goalie Alex Hall will be their primary affiliate in case of either injury or illness to Riley or Gee.
