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Post by JPA on Oct 17, 2023 4:09:26 GMT -4
JESSE COLBORNE, Springhill Coal Miners Born: Sept. 9, 1992, Amherst NS Centre: Shoots L SEASON | TEAM / LEAGUE | GP | G | A | PTS. | PIM | 2008-09 | Weeks Major Midgets NSMMHL a; b | 35 | 19 | 23 | 42 | 18 | 2009-10 | Cumberland County Blues NSJHL c; d | 34 | 15 | 8 | 23 | 76 | 2009-10 | Amherst Ramblers MJAHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2010-11 | Cumberland County Blues NSJHL | 34 | 12 | 16 | 28 | 25 | 2010-11 | Amherst Ramblers MHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2011-12 | Cumberland County Blues NSJHL | 19 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 22 | 2011-12 | Bay Ducks NSJHL | 14 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 8 | 2012-13 | Cumberland County Blues NSJHL | 34 | 19 | 1 | 20 | 47 | 2013-14 | Cumberland County Blues NSJHL | 34 | 26 | 20 | 46 | 63 | 2014-15 | Miramichi Phantoms NESHL | 19 | 11 | 5 | 16 | 14 | 2015-16 | Memramcook Acadiens NESHL | 15 | 12 | 10 | 22 | 27 | 2016-17 | Lameque Au Ptit Mousse NESHL | 15 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 8 | 2017-18 | Memramcook Acadiens NESHL | 10 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 6 | 2018-19 | Kedgwick Dynamo CRL | 14 | 15 | 3 | 18 | 10 | 2019-20 | Bas-Madawaska Draveurs CRL | 15 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 2020-21 | Bas-Madawaska Draveurs CRL | - | - | - | - | - | 2021-22 | Bas-Madawaska Draveurs CRL | 11 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 0 | 2022-23 | Springhill Coal Miners BSHL | 18 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 6 |
a - Led Weeks Major Midgets in scoring. b - Drafted by Amherst Ramblers (1T-28-2009) c - Won NSJHL championship. d - Won Don Johnson Memorial Cup For a local player from Amherst, I don't really know a lot about Jesse Colborne. I knew that he basically grew up in the Ramblers' dressing room from the stories in the local papers, and that he was the son of former Ramblers' captain, Steve Colborne, but that was about it.
I do remember him playing for the Ramblers for a few games when Cory Crocker was still behind the bench. He had good speed and one thing that stood out was that he always had a smile on the ice. He loved to play the game.
Looking at his playing record, I didn't know that he had been playing Senior hockey every year since aging out of Junior, but it doesn't surprise me. Every single picture you see of him, there's a permanent smile - he loves being on the ice.
For a couple of years, Jesse, Steve and a few others used to sit at Ramblers' games just a couple of rows in front of where I sat, and I always noticed that he had an ever-present Tim's coffee cup. I used to wonder - where does he get the Tim's coffee at the rink? I figured that somebody must make the run to Tim's in between periods. Then one game, I realized that it was his chew cup - LOL. Not sure if he still enjoys a chew, but if so, guessing he refers to the team as the Skoal Miners.
Jesse starred for the Weeks Major Midgets where he led the team in scoring during his final season teaming up with players like Garrett Holmes, Ryan Vokey and Casey Babineau. The Weeks team had a very strong Cumberland contingent back then that included Wes Herrett, Robert (Bobby) Davis, Luke Warner and goaltender Tyler Ferdinand.
Jesse finished 2nd in Coal Miners team scoring last year, trailing only Rene George. As far as I know, he stands 2nd in Cumberland Blues career scoring, trailing only Cody Roach.
In a bit of a coincidence with the recent folding of the Cumberland County Blues franchise, Jesse played on the last Cumberland Blues Junior B team to win the NSJHL championship during the 2009-10 season. Other members of that championship team were Roach, Seth Crowe and Ryan Smith. The team was coached by Dave Hyatt and would go on to win the Don Johnson Cup.
In today's game, coaches often talk about players who come to the rink every day with a smile - and what they add to a team. Jesse Colborne brings that in spades to the Miners.
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Post by JPA on Oct 17, 2023 6:56:58 GMT -4
ROBERT "BOBBY" DAVIS, Springhill Coal Miners Born: April 1, 1993, Truro NS Defence / Left Wing: Shoots L SEASON | TEAM / LEAGUE | GP | G | A | PTS. | PIM | 2008-09 | Weeks Major Midgets NSMMHL a | 35 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 58 | 2009-10 | Weeks Major Midgets NSMMHL b; c | 35 | 8 | 19 | 27 | 50 | 2009-10 | Weeks Crushers MJAHL | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2010-11 | Weeks Crushers MHL d | 35 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 59 | 2010-11 | Acadie-Bathurst Titan QMJHL | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 29 | 2010-11 | Amherst Ramblers MHL | 11 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 38 | 2011-12 | Acadie-Bathurst Titan QMJHL | 42 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 117 | 2012-13 | Acadie-Bathurst Titan QMJHL | 20 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 37 | 2012-13 | Amherst Ramblers MHL | 29 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 165 | 2013-14 | Amherst Ramblers MHL | 47 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 161 | 2014-15 | Columbus Cottonmouths SPHL | 23 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 77 | 2014-15 | Rapid City Rush ECHL | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 2014-15 | Huntsville Havoc SPHL | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 75 | 2017-18 | Memramcook Acadiens NESHL | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 76 | 2022-23 | Springhill Coal Miners BSHL | 16 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 80 |
a - Drafted by Pictou County (3-33-2009) b - Drafted by Acadie-Bathurst (6-92-2010) c - Named to NSMMHL 2nd All-Star Team d - Amherst/Pictou County Jan 10th, 2011 Amherst trades Jordan Escott and Eric Boudreau to Pictou County for Robert Davis and future considerations. Robert "Bobby" Davis is another of the Coal Miners who played Major Junior hockey, getting into 72 QMJHL games over three seasons with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. He would event- ually play minor pro in the ECHL and SPHL.
He played for the Weeks Major Midgets before being drafted by the Weeks Crushers and the Acadie-Bathurst Titan and played for both teams before being traded to the Amherst Ramblers in 2011. He played mostly defence early in his career but was often shifted up front when his teams needed a bit of size and muscle and a net presence.
During his days with the Ramblers, he loved to land the big open-ice hits, and if anybody wanted to drop the mitts, he was always more than willing to oblige. I can't remember ever seeing him on the losing end of a scrap. He always seemed to be in top condition as well.
Bobby was born in Truro but grew up in Five Islands along the Fundy shore, not far from Economy. I remember one time talking to his mother at a game in Amherst, and she told me that I should come over to Five Islands some time for the best clams and chips in Nova Scotia - and take Jimbo with me (who was the Ramblers' coach at the time).
Come to find out, the Davis family owned and operated Diane's Restaurant for many years, and sure enough, ask anybody from Bass River to Parrsboro to Springhill where to get the best seafood - and every single person says "Diane's in Five Islands."
Bobby wears the 'C' for the Coal Miners. He's always a fan favourite wherever he plays.
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Post by JPA on Oct 18, 2023 8:14:55 GMT -4
MICHAEL CLARKE, Springhill Coal Miners Born: May 20, 1993, Halifax NS Left Wing: Shoots L SEASON | TEAM / LEAGUE | GP | G | A | PTS. | PIM | 2008-09 | Cole Harbour Major Midgets NSMMHL a | 32 | 14 | 11 | 25 | 14 | 2009-10 | Cole Harbour Major Midgets NSMMHL b | 29 | 21 | 25 | 46 | 22 | 2009-10 | Amherst Ramblers MJAHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2010-11 | Montreal Juniors QMJHL | 34 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 2011-12 | Blainville-Boisbiand QMJHL | 41 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 10 | 2011-12 | Cape Breton Screaming Eagles QMJHL | 27 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 2 | 2012-13 | Cape Breton Screaming Eagles QMJHL | 67 | 19 | 19 | 38 | 28 | 2013-14 | Acadia Axemen CIS | 28 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 60 | 2014-15 | Acadia Axemen CIS | 15 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 26 | 2015-16 | Acadia Axemen CIS | 25 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 2016-17 | Acadia Axemen U Sports | 29 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 79 | 2017-18 | Acadia Axemen U Sports | 22 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 2018-19 | Rosetown Red Wings ACHW | 13 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2022-23 | Springhill Coal Miners BSHL | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
a - Drafted by Amherst Ramblers (T2-50-2009) b - Drafted by Montreal QMJHL (7-117-2010) Michael Clarke is one of the most talented and gifted players on the Coal Miners roster. Big, fast and gritty, he played three full seasons in the QMJHL with Montreal, Blainville and Cape Breton, and would then go on to play five seasons with the Acadia Axemen.
He was one of the top scorers in Major Midget with Cole Harbour, finishing 11th in league scoring his final season despite missing several games. He also got into a couple of games as an AP that season with the Ramblers.
He was drafted by the Ramblers in the 2009 draft, one of several players drafted that season who are currently on the Coal Miners roster. Others were Mitch O'Neil (Ramblers), Jesse Colborne (Ramblers), Bobby Davis (Crushers) and goaltender Jesse Cox (Crushers). Also selected in that same draft was current Ramblers coach and GM Phil Fife (Slammers).
As most people know, you really need to be an elite skater to play CIS hockey, and it speaks for itself that Michael played five full seasons at Acadia. He's an elite talent. He got into 4 games with the Miners last season, and word making the rounds is that he's fully committed for this season. It shouldn't be long before he's amongst the leading scorers in the league.
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Post by JPA on Oct 18, 2023 19:20:21 GMT -4
TREVOR LAYTON, Springhill Coal Miners Born: Sept. 24, 1991, Wheaton Settlement NB Right Wing: Shoots R SEASON | TEAM / LEAGUE | GP | G | A | PTS. | PIM | 2008-09 | Amherst Ramblers MJAHL a | 51 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 37 | 2009-10 | Amherst Ramblers MJAHL | 44 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 27 | 2010-11 | Amherst Ramblers MHL | 52 | 13 | 34 | 47 | 54 | 2011-12 | Amherst Ramblers MHL | 46 | 17 | 23 | 40 | 55 | 2012-13 | Univ. of Ottawa OUA | 24 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 2013-14 | Univ. of Ottawa OUA | 19 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 2016-17 | Elsipogtog Hawks NESHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2017-18 | Elsipogtog Hawks NESHL b | 9 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 2021-22 | Saint John Flames SSHL | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 2022-23 | Springhill Coal Miners BSHL | 7 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 6 |
a - Drafted by Amherst Ramblers (9-108-2008) b - Won NESHL championship Trevor Layton is possibly the only member of the current Coal Miners who has already won a playoff championship in Senior hockey, having done so with the Elsipogtog Hawks of the NESHL during the 2017-18 season.
He was drafted by the Amherst Ramblers in the 2008 MJAHL draft from Moncton AA Midget. Corey Crocker also selected Kody Orr in the same draft, as well as an unusually large crop of local players that included Wes Herrett, Justin Matthews, Shane O'Byrne and Josh Coleman.
Trevor always had really good size, even as a 17 year-old rookie. He didn't have blazing speed, but his hockey IQ, playmaking and scoring skills were plain to see right from the start.
After a bit of an adjustment period to get used to the faster pace of Junior A, it seemed only a matter of time until he started to light up the scoreboard. For many of us on the board back then, we often talked about what he needed to do to get to the next level.
Whether imagined, or real, I can vaguely remember one time posting that Trevor needed to start going through opponents and using his big size (6'2"-185 lbs.) to his advantage, and that he needed to hit everything in his path.
Now, I don't want to BS anybody, and I know it was probably only a coincidence, but the very next game after I posted that, Trevor went in heavy on the forecheck early in the game, the goalie came out to play the puck behind the net, and Trevor made a bee line for him.
It seemed like slow motion and I was sitting there in the stands thinking - no - not the goalie - but he didn't stop and flattened him. We laughed about that for days on the board. Just one of those things that you never forget. It didn't come as a big surprise, at least to me, that when he started playing more aggressive - his production went up significantly. I'm really not sure to include this, but it's just too good of a story not to include. I hope he doesn't see it and get pissed. I'll actually never forget that hit - but couldn't name the goalie without going back through the archives.
It appears that Trevor has never lost that goal scoring touch. He got into 7 games last year with the Coal Miners and scored 6 goals (7-6-2-8-6). He can lift you out of your seat when he gets in close and goes to the big, wide dekes - often walking around goalies and sliding the puck into a wide-open side. He's a goal scorer.
Trevor is the younger brother of Nick Layton who won a scoring title in the NSPEIMMHL with the Moncton Flyers. Nick would go on to star in the QMJHL, at UNB and then played Pro for a few seasons, including a stint in the AHL.
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Post by JPA on Oct 21, 2023 10:39:30 GMT -4
MITCH O'NEILL, Springhill Coal Miners Born: January 13, 1992, Glace Bay NS Centre: Shoots L SEASON | TEAM / LEAGUE | GP | G | A | PTS. | PIM | 2007-08 | Cape Breton NSMMHL | 31 | 5 | 19 | 24 | 10 | 2008-09 | Appleby College CAHS a | - | - | - | - | - | 2009-10 | Amherst Ramblers MHL | 48 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 27 | 2010-11 | Amherst Ramblers MJAHL | 52 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 65 | 2011-12 | Amherst Ramblers MJAHL | 52 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 40 | 2012-13 | Amherst Ramblers MJAHL | 19 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 2013-14 | Dalhousie Tigers U Sports | - | - | - | - | - | 2014-15 | Dalhousie Tigers U Sports | 28 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 16 | 2022-23 | Springhill Coal Miners BSHL | 9 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 2023-24 | Springhill Coal Miners BSHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
a - Drafted by Amherst Ramblers (9-17-2009) Mitch O'Neill is another of several former Amherst Ramblers on the Coal Miners' roster. I got to see him play a lot of games over his four seasons in Amherst and he was always one of the most hard working and dedicated players on the team.
He was solid defensively and could chip in with some timely scoring. He also had good size and could add a good level of grit and physicality. The more important the game, the better he seemed to play.
I never knew Mitch, but I was introduced to both him and Kody Orr once - the year after they aged out of the league. It was the only time I met either player. They probably wouldn't remember that, but they were back in Amherst for the season opener along with Kody Orr's parents and they happened to come over and say hello. Both seemed like really good kids, and I remember Kody saying he was going to study journalism at St. Thomas University.
Mitch won several Ramblers' awards over the years including the Most Improved Player Award twice (2009-10 and 20011-12); the Player's Choice Award (with Orr in 2012-13) and the Most Dedicated Player Award (2012-13). He's a character player who adds a lot more to a team than the numbers show.
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