Timmins forward Maxx Hamelin, shown here in Game 4 of the 2026 NOJHL finals against the Greater Sudbury Cubs, feels the Rock have some unfinished business. The Winnipeg native is determined to see his squad take care of that business after the Cubs swept them in four-straight games to claim the 2026 title. Photo by FILE /The Daily Press
New Rock assistant coach Reasbeck was most recently head coach of Skautafélag Akureyrar, in Iceland
Thomas Perry
The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
After being swept from the NOJHL finals by the Greater Sudbury Cubs in four-straight games, the Timmins Rock have some unfinished business.
And Maxx Hamelin is determined to see that business gets taken care of, as he returns to the Rock lineup for his second season.
“I am really excited, I’m fired up,” he said. “We have some unfinished business and I am looking forward to getting after it again.”
Hamelin (23, 16-10-26, 20) averaged more than a point a game for the Rock during the 2025-26 campaign after being acquired from the MJHL’s Winnipeg Monarchs on Jan. 2.
But it was the 2026 playoffs where Hamelin (15, 9-20-29, 6) truly dominated, topping all NOJHL scorers in points — even those from the high-flying Cubs.
“I am excited to come back and see all the guys again, find some more success and chase a championship,” he said.
“Maxx was such a big piece for us,” said Rock coach and general manager Brandon Perry.
“Obviously, his offensive talents are the best part of his game, but he is also a real good guy in our locker room, a real good person, the kind of character we want in our dressing room.
“We are just super happy to have him back here.”
As good as Hamelin’s numbers were in the regular season and how he elevated his game in the playoffs, Perry feels Rock fans may not have seen the best of him yet.
“If you just watch the progression he had when he got here, it took him a little while to get comfortable, get him in the right spots, with the right linemates,” he said.
“Once we did that, he kind of took off. He has what, (almost) 30 points in 15 playoff games. We expect to see a lot of that this season and if he can get off to a good start, I think he is capable of having a monster year. He is going to be a really big piece for us.”
For the most part, Hamelin played on a line with Kaeden McArthur and Lucas Lowe — both of whom are too old to return to the Rock lineup in 2026-27.
Perry doesn’t think it will be too hard, however, to find new linemates to compliment Hamelin’s talent.
“We are going to have some good pieces returning, obviously, (Matteo) Paradiso (31, 17-19-36, 4; playoffs 14, 2-3-5, 0), (Ashton) Beriana (35, 5-13-18, 20; playoffs 15, 2-2-4, 8), (Evan) Katic (49, 10-20-30, 24; playoffs 15, 3-9-12, 8),” he said.
“There are going to be some good options for him to play with.”
Hamelin is confident he can develop chemistry with whomever the Rock pair him in 2026-27.
“It will be different, but I have played with those guys before,” he said. “I trust them and I know we can play well together. I am not worried.”
The Rock’s four-game sweep at the hands of the Cubs in the 2026 NOJHL championship series still doesn’t sit well with Hamelin.
“I think we just need to do more of the same, sticking to our systems,” he said. “It just comes down to scoring a few more goals. That’s the bottom line.”
Hamelin, a 5-10 and 170-pound right-shot forward, is back home in Winnipeg for the summer but Timmins is still on his mind.
“I talk to a lot of my teammates (from this past season), even the ones who have graduated,” he said. “We talk often and I know the other guys who are coming back are just as excited as I am.
“Obviously, we will have some new guys this year and it will take some time to adjust, but that’s not an excuse. We have a standard and anything below it is not acceptable.
“I have no doubt we will be there (at the top of the standings) and getting out to a good start is important. We want to show teams early we are here to play and we are here to win.”
Hamelin plans to spend as much time as he can this summer with his friends and family — including his younger brother Lukas.
“I am going to take a little break and enjoy it with them,” he said. “My little brother has some big things coming up, so we will enjoy those and be there for him.
“With regards to prep (for the upcoming season), I will be in the gym every day and on the ice whenever I can as we get a little closer to training camp.”
Might fans one day see Lukas in a Rock uniform?
“I think he could be,” Hamelin said. “He is a good little player. He scores goals. He does it all. He might be a little bit better than I am. He’s a talent, for sure.”
Lukas Hamelin (32, 31-36-67, 14), who won’t turn 14 until July 11, put up some impressive numbers in 2025-26 playing for the Winnipeg U15 ‘AAA’ Bruins.
“He is as big as me, as tall as me,” said the older Hamelin brother.
In addition to the four forwards, the Rock have also resigned blue-liner Ben Climenhaga (45, 1-10-11, 68; playoffs 15, 0-2-2, 12).
While more Rock veterans are likely to return in 2026-27, the team is looking to add to its talent pool, as well.
“We are putting a prospects team in the TEP Tournament, from June 25-28, in Oshawa,” Perry said.
“That is kind of what we replaced our (tryout) camp with. We have a good young roster right now and I am excited to see some of these guys play.
“Then, I will watch a ton of video, like I have done the last five years here, talk to a lot of people and find the right guys.”
The Rock will also have a new assistant coach behind the bench for the upcoming season, as Sheldon Reasbeck will be joining James Daschuk, Marc Bisson, Eric Robichaud, Mitch Knight and Lisa Tremblay on Perry’s staff.
Reasbeck was most recently head coach of Skautafélag Akureyrar, in Iceland.
“Before that, he was head coach of the (GNU18L’s) Kapuskasing Flyers and that’s where I first met him when I was coach of the Timmins Majors (now U18 Rock),” Perry said.
“We developed a very good friendship and have kept in contact over the years. When he mentioned he was planning on coming back home, it was a no-brainer.
“He has an incredible hockey mind, he is a really good person and he always had really good teams in Kap. We always had some good battles.
“He is going to be a great addition to our staff.”
The Rock coach describes Reasbeck as a good all-around coach, but noted his focus will be mainly on the defensive side of the game.
“Obviously, he has been a head coach of many programs, he has coached in world championships as an assistant coach and he has kind of seen everything,” Perry said.
“He is going to have a lot to add to our staff and I am sure he is going to have a lot of ideas.
