Ones to Watch – Wildcats VS Raiders 7th January

Wildcats One to Watch

Name: Colby Tower

The Wildcats player to keep an eye out for this evening is new to the team this year and he’s definitely made an impression with his speed, stickhandling and all-round good play. Colby Tower was born in Nova Scotia; Canada and he grew up playing hockey in the Nova Scotia junior system.

At the age of 17 Tower was signed in the QMJHL for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, the QMJHL is one of the best junior hockey leagues in Canada and this is just one example of Tower’s pedigree. In total he played 96 games for the Screaming Eagles, scoring 28 points before being moved to the Quebec Ramparts during his second year and Tower played a further 19 games here.

After his two seasons in the QMJHL Tower spent the following two years playing in minor junior leagues scoring 54 points in 63 games. By this point he had finished his junior hockey days and had a decision to make, Tower chose to enrol at Nipissing University and he played for 3 seasons in the Canadian USports system. Similar to the NCAA in the United States the USports system is the top level of university sport in the country.

Tower spent 3 seasons playing with Nipissing University and in that time, he played in 64 games, scoring 38 points including 13 goals.

This now brings us to the current season and while Tower’s previous scoring numbers have not been spectacular, he has played a lot of games at a very high level. So far this year Tower’s point return has been very encouraging, he has scored 31 points in 27 games, and he gets better every week so the second half of the season should be a great one for both Tower and the Wildcats. 

Raiders One to Watch

Name: Aaron Connolly

Tonight’s One to Watch is British forward Aaron Connolly, he is a product of the Invicta junior system and is in his fourth year with the Raiders and he is once again the club captain.

Connolly stayed with the Invicta system up until he was 16 and then he made the switch to Chelmsford to continue his development and make his first appearances in senior hockey with the ENL Chieftains. He played for two seasons with the Chelmsford Chieftains in the ENL and scored 75 points in 66 games and this earnt him a call up to the EPL with Slough.

During the two years with Slough Connolly established himself as an EPL level player while also commanding the respect of his teammates, at just 19 years old he was handed an “A”. in this season he also captain GB at the under 20s world championship.

In 2013 he made the move to Basingstoke and was once again given a leadership position right away, he was an alternate captain for two years before being given the “C” when only 22 years old. During his time in the EPL up until its ultimate demise Connolly scored at an impressive rate, he scored 203 points in 297 games but given he started playing EPL hockey at 17 this is a very good record.

Following the collapse of the EPL Connolly stayed with Basingstoke for a season in the NIHL and had his best points total for a season, scoring 49 in 31 games.

The following season, having moved into their new rink, the Raiders made a statement signing by getting the signature of Connolly. During his time with the Raiders Connolly has kept up his point production to add to his qualities as a character off the ice, illustrated by holding captain roles at multiple clubs. In the past three seasons he recorded 140 points in 130 games and so far this season he has 26 points in 24 games including 14 goals.