By Nicholas Carafa
Photos by Terry Wilson / OHL Images (above) and Dominic Repaci (below)
Defenceman Elijah Roberts is a game-breaker. He proved it during the championship series in the 2015 Scotiabank GTHL Playoffs when he scored in overtime of Game 8 to lift the Toronto Marlboros to a 1-0 victory over the Don Mills Flyers. Eight days later he helped the Marlboros capture the OHL Cup at Mattamy Athletic Centre and soon after that he was selected in the second round (32nd overall) by the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL Priority Selection.
At five-foot eight, Roberts has relied on his smooth skating, awareness and offensive instincts to excel in a position often dominated by hulking six-foot machines. Those attributes, along with someone else’s bad luck, allowed the Brampton, Ont., native to take advantage of an opportunity to play for Canada White at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge earlier this month.
Roberts’ name was left off the list of 111 players invited to July’s development camp and also was absent on the final 66-player roster announced by Hockey Canada on Oct. 9. But when a few players withdrew due to injury, Ryan Jankowski, Hockey Canada’s director of player personnel, jumped at the chance to have Roberts at the event. In an interview during the tournament, Jankowski said it was Roberts’ constant ability to adapt and improve that earned him a spot.
“There’s always a concern with [a player who didn’t attend camp], but you also do your due diligence and make sure that the kid has character and he’s open to learning,” Jankowski said. “You make sure you dot the i’s and cross the t’s on that. What we’ve seen with his start with Kitchener being so strong is that if he could come into that situation and have success, he could come into our situation and have success.”
Former NHLer Scott Walker was head coach of Canada White and had the opportunity to witness first-hand what Roberts brings to the table.
“He was a treat to watch,” Walker recalled to Sportsnet. “He could skate, he’s undersized but never loses a battle. He’s a new-age hockey defenceman. He’s a warrior, too. You look in the room when you’re talking to the team and he’s right on the edge of his seat; he’s a gamer. I’m really glad they went with him, because those are the kind of guys you want to go to battle with.”
Roberts has helped the Rangers win five of seven games since returning from the tournament, collecting three points (1-2—3) – including his first OHL goal on Nov. 15 against the Erie Otters – and a plus-6 rating in that span.
Roberts is the second Rangers player to be named Breakout Star of the Week. Adam Mascherin took home the honour in the first edition on Oct. 30.
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BREAKOUT STAR OF THE WEEK: SAM BENNETT
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