Cleveland Barons

 The Cleveland Barons Midget Minor Team has received attention from  NCAA Programs, OHL Programs and the US NTDP has also taken notice. In this weeks MY Hockey Rankings,  the Barons are ranked as the Nations Top Team, a first ever for this Barons Team. "It's a great accomplishment for our kids" said Head Coach Brett Harkins in his 2nd season with this group of kids."We were never ranked any higher than 6th last season so we are taking strides and getting better" added Harkins. "We made a few roster changes from last season, and as a staff, felt  like we upgraded at certain positions and also lost some key players as well" added Harkins. "My brother Donnie, Director of Scouting for the Plymouth Whalers has a great eye for talent and really identfied and recruited some key players for our team this season." "I felt we needed to upgrade our size and speed and we did that with the additions of Blake Siebenaler, John MacLeod, Taylor Vickerman and Paul McAvoy" added the older Harkins. "Scouting comes easy for me" added Harkins. So identifying the right players is a natural for Harkins, after all the Plymouth Whalers had 3 1st round NHL Draft picks in last June's NHL Draft under Harkins Scouitng guidance. "The hard part is convincing players and their families to have them move away from home to pursue their hockey dreams" added Harkins. The Barons are being led offensively by Nick Magyar (G11 A12 PTS23), Sonny Milano (G13 A6 PTS19), Max Rasberg (G5 A11 PTS16), and Grant Meyer (G3 A12 PTS15) along with Steven Merl (G6 A7 PTS13) and Cam Ashley (G7 A4 PTS11). The Barons have been getting great contributions in many other ways from Taylor Vickerman, Beau Rossbach, Paul MacAvoy, Gordie Harwood. The Defense is led by John MacLeod, Shawn Brennan, Joe Immormino, Blake Siebenaler, Gordie Myer, Michael Ragone and Connor Sunkle who has been out since game one of the season is now healthy for a return to lineup. Solid goaltending has been a key for the team as well with Jordan Severo and Chis Krotz getting the job done. Not many Midget Minor teams have NCAA Division 1 Programs at their practice, but the Barons have attracted those programs. "I don't blame them" added Brett Harkins. "I have been contacted by most of the top teams in the NCAA regarding my players and its fun and exciting for my boys.  Miami (OH), Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan to name a few are interested in our players" added Harkins. Harkins knows after this well deserved weekend off his team has a grueling schedule leading up to the Christmas break and believes his team is ready for the challenge and the oppourtunity to continue to improve.