At the ripe age of 15, R. J. Heath is considered a good enough goaltending prospect to have been considered for the Ontario Hockey League.
Heath, a Brandon High School freshman who stands 6? and weighs 195 lbs., has spent four years with the Plymouth-based Compuware youth hockey program, and played for the Midget Minor AAA Compuware 90 team in 2005-06. He will compete at the midget major AAA level for the 2006-07 season.
The OHL Web site listed last season’s statistics for each draft candidate. Last season, Heath played in 27 games and logged a total of 1,548 minutes. He tallied a 2.77 goals-against average, including three shutouts.
His dad, Bob, said R.J. was one of a select few players from the United States to be considered in the OHL draft. He was one of 12 American goalies, along with 36 Canadian goalies, that was on the draft list.
At this point, mom Patti said R.J. will likely compete another year with Compuware at the midget major level, Although he was not selected in the 2006 draft May 6, she said R.J. will still be eligible for the OHL priority selection draft in 2007. She said it was amazing that R.J. was even considered for the draft at his young age.
‘To be scouted and put on the priority selection list was an accomplishment in and of itself,? she said.
She said R.J. was scouted by several OHL teams prior to the draft. ‘The exciting moment was when he got a letter from the Petersbourough Petes,? she said. ‘He also got a phone call from the Brampton Battalion. R.J.’s head coach at the time in midget minors, Randy Paquette, said several teams expressed interest.?
The OHL, previously known as the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League, is a semipro league consisting of 20 teams, with 17 based in Canada and three in the United States, including the Plymouth Whalers and the Saginaw Spirit. The league came into existence for the 1980-81 season.
In addition, the OHL one of the three Major Junior ‘A? Tier I hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.
Heath has also tried out for the Leamington Flyers of the Western Junior B Hockey League and received a letter of interest from head coach Leigh Mendelson of the Marquette Rangers, a first-year team in the Northern American Hockey League. The Rangers will be hosting tryouts in Detroit June 23-25.
‘He’s come so far,? Bob Heath said of his son.
The hockey bug has also bitten R.J.’s younger brother, Jacob, 11, who plays forward and defenseman with the Lakeland Hawks youth hockey team.