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Clarke still looking for elusive first OHL goal

Rookie Colts defenceman says he'll just continue to play his game and knows that first one will come soon enough
2019-09-02 Colts Attack RB 014
Barrie Colts rookie defenceman Brandt Clarke is still looking for his first OHL goal, but continues to impress on the ice. Raymond Bowe/BarrieToday

One couldn't blame Brandt Clarke if he had a special request for a present from Santa Claus this Christmas.

Perhaps jolly old St. Nick can do the rookie Barrie Colts defenceman a solid and gift wrap his first Ontario Hockey League goal. And with four games still remaining before the league heads out on its annual holiday season break, the earlier the better.

"It's not the greatest feeling not having scored yet," admitted the talented 16-year-old blue-liner, who has nine assists in 22 games this season. "It'll be nice if I can get that weight off my shoulders."

A fourth-overall selection in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, Clarke was easily the top-rated defenceman in this year's draft.

A gifted skater armed with the speed to lead and support a rush, a heavy shot and the ability to race back in time to defend his zone, Clarke dominated minor midget last season racking up a stunning 35 goals and 113 points in 73 games for a powerhouse Don Mills Flyers 'AAA' club.

His introduction to the OHL was just as impressive, recording five goals and 10 points in five pre-season games to finished tied atop the exhibition scoring leaders with Niagara IceDogs forward Jonah De Simone.

Yet that elusive first OHL career goal continues to evade him. It's certainly not been from a lack of effort. Clarke has rung shots off the post, off the cross bar and even slid a couple of near misses through the crease.

He knows it's coming and is confident that, when he does find the back of the net, others will soon follow, which is why he tries to keep his focus on his game.     

"I don't think about it too much," the six-foot-one, 181-pound star prospect said. "When I come to a game, I don't feel like I have to force shots on net, take bad shots just to get a goal. I just try to play may game. I've hit multiple posts and even in overtime (in a game against Niagara late last month) if I brought it in an inch more to the right, it would have gone over the goalie's shoulder.

"I've had chances and I just keep telling myself once one goes in there, a lot more are going to go in and I'll feel perfectly comfortable again," Clarke added.

Colts assistant coach Todd Miller can see how much Clarke wants to get that first one. He's had him in the coach's office and reminds him that he's hit posts, bars, beat goalies and had tap ins for empty nets and while it's not worked just yet, it's a process and that goal will come and be followed by many more.

"He's gripping his stick too tight," Miller said. "He really wants that first goal, so that's a big thing for him. He's pushing it, so sometimes you have to tell him that less is more.

"With his skill set and how great he is with pucks, if he just keeps it simple everything will open up for him."

Miller has seen the young defender take a big step in his development already. An avid listener, Clarke also spends time watching videos, seeing what he needs to do to get better.

Pair that with his confidence to take the puck and go, it's no wonder NHL scouts are already keeping a close on eye on him.

"He's got no fear with the puck," Miller said. "We were in Sudbury (earlier in the season) and he lugged pucks and found guys, and created a lot. You're seeing these big forwards coming at him and he doesn't care. He makes sure he protects it pretty well and he reads when he can go."

Miller talks of the conversations he and head coach Warren Rychel have when Clarke has decided to take the puck and go.

"Warren will look at me on the bench and say, 'What's he doing?'," Miller explained. "All of a sudden he's beaten three guys and we just turn to each other and shake our heads and laugh at how special he is.

"He needs to be that offensive, creative guy, but we always talk about the process and learning to get back at certain times."

Clarke admits he was a little more hesitant at the start of the season, wanting to let the older players lead the way. Now that he feels more comfortable with some games under his belt and his teammates more comfortable with him knowing they way he plays, he's willing to head up the ice.

The coaching staff haven't held the youngster back, giving him a regular shift and playing him in key situations, including the power play.

"It's a big confidence booster for me," Clarke said of the faith they have shown in him. "I'm really happy that the coaches have that trust in me and when I go out there the older guys don't feel I'm out of place or anything.

"They've brought me in as one of their own pretty much. I feel pretty good out there and we're going to keep this rolling."

In last Sunday's loss in Sudbury, Clarke found himself having to defend a charging Quinton Byfield one-on-one. Regarded by many scouts as one of the top prospects for the 2020 NHL Draft, Byfield tried to slip the puck past the rookie, but Clarke wasn't biting and turned him away.

"He's the first guy back when he does rush it up the ice," Miller said. "Sometimes he gets caught a little when we're really pushing for something, but just his instincts alone, even defensively, I'm not afraid to put him up against anybody."

Miller has only worked with one other Colts rookie defender as talented as Clarke. Aaron Ekblad turned heads as Barrie's first-overall pick in 2014. Granted special status to come into the league a year earlier, Ekblad would dominate in junior before being taken with the top pick by the Florida Panthers in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft and making the immediate jump to the top league in the world.

While Ekblad's game was more developed defensively and Clarke's is more developed on the offensive side, both are similar says Miller in their elite skill set and ability to quickly adapt to any challenge they face on the ice.

"(Brandt's) special and his confidence is probably the main reason, but also his skill set," Miller said of Clarke, who played for Canada at this year's 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Alberta and Saskatchewan early last month. "Other teams know when he's out there. They're watching him. The scouting report on him is to get into him, but teams are trying and he'll shake and bake them and get into their zone.

"He's a special player. To be successful you want him joining the rush, you want him taking pucks down the wall and faking instead of shooting sometimes and creating off that. He's learning. It's a process and he's a guy that I'm not afraid to put out against anyone."

Clarke recognizes that process. Learning what does and doesn't work is key. It's a big step to the OHL from minor midget.

"When I got into the corners, last year I usually outsmart a guy before I go into that corner. But this year not so much," said the native of Nepean, Ont., just outside Ottawa. "Everyone's big, everyone's strong and everyone's smart. You really got to get your nose deep in there and got to take a hit to make a play sometimes.

"I feel like I've done a good job so far and I'm adapting my game to the scenario. I'm willing to take a hit if I need to."

Clarke has had plenty of support along the way in his first year and a big part of that is from his older brother, Graeme, a forward with the Ottawa 67's. The third-round pick of the New Jersey Devils was off to another great start with seven goals in nine games before damaging the labrum in his left shoulder in mid-October and the ensuing surgery will keep him out at least four months.

Who else better to talk to about scoring than Graeme.

"We talk a lot," Clarke said. "(Graeme) texted me before the game and he texts before 90 per cent of the games. It's upsetting with the circumstances right now. He's out for months with that shoulder surgery, but he's still following me all the time and giving me tips.

"I owe a lot to him. He's been a great role model in my life and I couldn't thank him enough."


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Gene Pereira

About the Author: Gene Pereira

An award-winning journalist, Gene is former sports editor of the Barrie Examiner and his byline has appeared in several newspapers. He is also the longtime colour analyst of the OHL Barrie Colts on Rogers TV
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