Last Tuesday, the Childerley family headed out from their hometown of Stratford to make the 9 hour drive to Sault Sainte Marie where Brendan would be taking part in the
Soo Greyhounds training camp.
As a member of last season's Lakers Minor Midget team, Brendan was the Greyhounds 5th Round pick in the OHL Priority Selection & had already secured a spot with this year's Stratford Cullitons Jr B team. So what started out as a 3-4 day road trip turned into an emotional but extremely exciting goodbye when parents Glen & Colleen were told they would be leaving Brendan behind in the Soo to play for the Greyhounds this season.
"We've had a successful training camp, but this is a long process." says the Soo General Manager, Dave Torrie. "We're not the same team as last year, but within our walls (at Essar Centre) we're expecting to find success....Childerley surprised us because we projected he'd need a year of development. But he came here to make this team and he did." That is the same message that Glen got from his son before they left Stratford. Brendan had packed everything & told his parents he wasn't coming back because he was determined to make the team.
"Chilly" also has a bit of successful Lakers history on his side as former Laker Cody Thornton was the Team Captain of the Greyhounds before moving on to play University hockey for
Saint Mary's Huskies.
Please join us in wishing the best of luck to Brendan & on behalf of the entire Lakers Organization - Congratulations, Chilly!!