It's Mother's Day, but for the fathers of Simon Rose and Payton Vescio, this weekend's North Bay Battalion Orientation Camp had a nostalgic feel to it.
Lee Rose, who hails from Powassan, left the area 16 years ago to pursue a teaching career in Renfrew, where he and his wife Louise (who is from Verner) settled with daughter Daphne, and two-month-old son Simon. Simon was a second-round pick in the OHL Priority Selection by the Battalion last month.
When Lee's minor hockey playing days were through, he began officiating, eventually working his way up through the ranks to where he served as both a linesman and referee at the OHL level for much of the 1990s, officiating many games at Memorial Gardens.
The Roses have family in the area and visit often. "When pick number 35 came up during the draft and North Bay selected Simon, our whole family was thrilled," said Lee, Saturday, after the first of two scrimmages to be held during the orientation camp.
"We have fond memories of North Bay. I went to school and officiated hockey here," offered Lee.
Asked if his experiences as a high-level official have made him a different kind of hockey dad, Lee agreed, saying, "For sure. You have those talks on the way back from practices and tournaments. If Simon was frustrated with officiating, I would either agree with him or disagree with him but, ultimately, the officials are one of the three teams.
"I think Simon is very mindful and respectful of the officials. I've seen him in his capacity as a captain or an assistant approach officials for clarifications, but never questioning judgment."
Another way that Lee's time spent as an OHL official has helped is his exposure, at a fairly unique angle, to players who went on to play in the NHL, especially defencemen. Lee named several former Centennials, including Derian Hatcher, Brad Brown and Drake Berehowsky from whom he gleaned knowledge, insights that he would pass down to Simon.
Said Lee, "When the kids were little, they used to ask me who I was cheering for and I always told them 'the refs.' They thought that was hilarious."
Simon, listed at 6'0" and 161 pounds, said after Saturday night's scrimmage was pleased with his performance. "I felt great, playing at the OHL level, it was fun," he said, "I didn't have any trouble keeping up my speed with the faster guys."
When asked for his impressions of first-round pick Brandon Coe, Simon responded: "he has great hands, very fast, an unreal player."
Asked about a second-period check that took Coe out of the play and broke up a potential scoring chance, Simon said: "you have to finish your checks on anybody, doesn't matter who it is."
Simon added that he has spent many summers visiting his grandparents in the area, but would like to experience North Bay on a more permanent basis, especially during the winter months.
Team White coach Adam Dennis, whose squad won the game 7-3 on Saturday night said he saw some good things from both sides. Speaking about defencemen such as Rose and Vescio in orientation camp scenarios, Dennis said, "I think probably it's a compliment when you don't notice them too much."
As for Rose, Dennis said, "I know the family, he's a great kid. They have some roots in North Bay. Simon's kind of your do everything type of defenceman, moves the puck well, he's a great skater. He had some injury trouble, so maybe he goes earlier if not for that. We were thrilled to get him at 35 in the draft."
Continuing the paternal connections, Payton Vescio, a fourth-round pick in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection, is a slick puck-moving defenceman who starred with the midget North Bay Trappers last season.
Payton's father, Kevin was a second-round pick of the Centennials in 1982. Kevin played four full seasons with North Bay, scoring 50 points in 51 games as a defenceman during the 1985-86 campaign. Kevin was drafted by the NHL New York Islanders in 1983, in the 9th round. Kevin also served as an assistant coach with the Nipissing University men's team for two seasons, ending in 2013.
Payton was pleased with his showing at Saturday's scrimmage. "I think I kept up well, skating with faster guys, bigger guys, but I think I held my own."
Known for his on-ice smarts, Payton said that he "tried to treat it just like any other game. You have to make quicker decisions."
Asked about the differences between his last season with the Trappers and what he saw on the ice Saturday, Payton responded: "everybody's good, everybody knows what they're doing, everybody's a smart hockey player, everyone knows how to be in the right place at the right time."
Payton pointed out that although it is odd to play, not just practice, against former teammates, as soon as the puck drops, they are "enemies."
Payton said father Kevin told him to play his game, to be calm, and have fun, advice that he took to heart. Payton said that his goal for the summer is to get stronger and gain some size, and looks forward to camp at the end of the summer.
The quietly confident Payton, when asked whether he can make the Battalion, said "I think I can. I think I have as good a shot as Brandon Coe."
