North Bay over the years has been able to call itself home to many great hockey players.
Going through the history books you can find Craig Rivet to Larry Keenan, to more recent players such as Ken Appleby, to Colton Point to Brady Lyle. You can even mention current OHLers such as Ben Gaudreau, Pacey Schlueting, and Lucas Edmonds as players who once called the Gateway to the North home. Not to mention the countless players from out of town who have suited up for the Centennials and Battalion through the years.
But, one name to look for isn’t plying his trade in the OHL or NHL as of yet, but the NOJHL with the French River Rapids, Chase Lefebvre.
“We’re very lucky that he fell in our lap, essentially,” explained head coach and general manager of the Rapids, Paul Frustaglio. “He was looking for a place to play and he came to us and I went ‘wow, thank you for an early Christmas present’ not going to lie.”
Lefebvre, a former North Bay AAA Trapper, was taken in the 15th round, 29th by the Peterborough Petes in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection. So far in 38 games with the Rapids, he has posted 16 goals to go with 22 assists for 38 points, hopefully opening some eyes at the next level.
“I went to Peterborough and practiced with them for two weeks and then got sent down and found French River,” Lefebvre stated. “I think playing with my teammates who have helped me out and gotten points has helped. We need to keep battling.”
“It took him three weeks, maybe a month, to get used to the Junior “A” game regardless of where he was,” Frustaglio echoed. “Now he’s found his rhythm and he’s comfortable. He works hard in practice and in games. He has a bright future ahead of himself wherever the game will lead him.”
Playing in Noelville might seem like a far cry from the bright lights of Scotiabank Arena in Toronto for some, but for Lefebvre, he says the fit is natural.
“It’s quite nice. We get two practices a day and the small-town community is nice because every one knows who you are.”
“He was just a little lost at the start of the season,” added Frustaglio. “As a result of one his best friends being on the team, Owen Ethier, they’re very close, and that’s how it all happened. Owen said to me ‘I have a friend who isn’t happy, would you have a place for him?’ and that’s how it all started.”
“So, when he got here, he and his family were just grateful for the opportunity, and I am grateful back that they entrusted me and my small community to take their son. To me, it has been a great deal for both sides and he’s had a great adjustment.”
On the ice, the deal has worked out great for both sides as well. Lefebvre’s 38 points has him sitting at second on the team leaderboard. Those points have also helped French River to 17 wins through 31 games, their most in their six plus year run in the NOJHL.
“It’s been great,” Lefebvre said. “All the guys are so nice and welcoming and playing with them has been easy.”
“Every year the reason why Powassan (Voodoos) have been so successful, aside from management and coaching, that’s obvious, but they are able to accumulate significant depth,” Frustaglio stated. “They have one good lines, then two, then three good lines, so it was very difficult to play because you could never get a break. So by having players like Chase and a few of the others who have come along, they have provided us with the most depth we have had and that has been key.”
Frustaglio says he knew from the moment Lefebvre laced them up with the Rapids, he knew he was going to be a good player in the league.
“It was a matter of when he was going to rip it up. As soon as I saw him in the drills, or scrimmages, I was able to identify all these great tools. He’s got size, he’s got reach, he’s a 200-foot player, he can finish, he shares the puck and he’s a very intelligent player. I simply said ‘when he understands the pace of Junior, that you can’t take a shift off, he’s going to have a really good season.’”
“He has lots to learn, but I believe his ceiling is wherever he wants to take it. This young man will have a future in hockey.”
