CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — When Eastern Express head coach Cody McPhee needs a goal late in the game or to ensure his squad is strong in its own zone, he can tap Harry Clements on the shoulder and know he’ll get the blue-liner’s best effort.
“He’s just our go-to guy,” McPhee said. “He’s a workhorse.”
Clements has been a stud defenceman for the Express all season. He has 14 goals and 18 assists for 32 points in 22 games during Prince Edward Island Major Bantam AAA Hockey League season.
“I play with speed and physicality,” the five-foot-11, 170-pound High Bank native said.
Clements, the son of Troy and Alexis Clements, was key as the Express made it to the final of The Chronicle Herald East Coast Ice Jam in Bedford, N.S., in January. He scored two overtime goals and was named the tournament’s top defenceman.
“It was pretty special. I was very surprised when … they said that, but it was a great feeling,” Clements said.
It garnered him a lot of attention from teams and scouts, but McPhee said Clements doesn't allow the outside noise to impact his play.
“He comes out every night and gives it 100 per cent from the first whistle to the last whistle it doesn't matter who is watching or who is there,” he said.
Clements and his teammates are one of the teams competing in this week’s Source for Sports Spud Minor Hockey Tournament in and around Charlottetown.
He’s played in the tournament since peewee with the Kings County Kings but has never won the event.
“It would be a great feeling to win it,” he said. “We’ll see how it pans out.”
The Express (16-6-0-0) and Central Attack (17-6-0-0) have been the cream of the crop in the Island bantam league so far this season. They have a strong rivalry with each team winning three of the six head-to-head meetings this season.
“We have a great group of kids,” McPhee said. “Everyone is buying into our systems, our structures, how we want them to play. Overall, it’s one of the best teams I’ve got to coach.”
Clements said his team wins with good old-fashion hard work.
“It's not big fancy plays, it’s just get the little things done right and work your arse off,” he said.
The Attack was 2-0 while the Express was 1-1 after two games at the Spud with Eastern losing 3-1 to the Dartmouth Whalers on Friday. The Express plays the Northern Blackhawks today at 1 p.m. while the Attack meets the Truro Bearcats at 5:15 p.m.
Clements comes from a hockey family.
His sisters, Ally and Kelly, are members of the UPEI Panthers team, which is ranked fourth in U Sports this week and will host the nationals next month.
Acadie-Bathurst Titan defenceman Cole Larkin is one of his cousins while Evan Nicholson is a younger cousin, who is also playing the Express.
Clements started organized hockey in Murray River.
“We have some great memories from back then,” he said. “We had a blast.”
He has played the past two seasons with the Express and said his game improved greatly.
His puck skills have progressed this season while he’s bigger, stronger and more vocal. He continues to work on aspects of his game, including his shot accuracy and breaking out of his own zone.
Clements appears to be a pretty grounded young hockey player. He will try out for major midget next season but isn’t getting too far ahead of himself.
“I’d love to play junior, but we'll see what plays out,” he said.
While this weekend is another important measuring stick for his team, Clements knows the season is all about building towards the end of the season.
“That’s our main goal to get that Island belt,” he said. “We’ll see how it goes.”
Need to know
Harry Clements
Who – A defenceman with the Eastern Express major bantam AAA hockey team. The High Bank native recently turned 15.
Size – Five-foot-11, 170 pounds.
Away from hockey – Clements spends the winter on the ice while the summers are spent fishing and farming. “I usually put the skates away for a little bit … but then it’s right back to it after the summer is over.”
Head coach Cody McPhee said: “He’s just a great kid. He loves hockey and loves being around the boys. He’s one of the nicest kids to be around and everybody loves him.”
