Battalion overage forward Ray Huether, seen here in action against the Kingston Frontenacs last weekend, is on pace to set career-high OHL totals since joining the Battalion at the beginning of the season. North Bay is Huether's fourth OHL team, after previously being property of the Sudbury Wolves, Barrie Colts and Saginaw Spirit. PHOTOS BY TOM MARTINEAU
Call it a cliché, but the most trying times can often be the greatest opportunities in disguise.
Just ask overage North Bay Battalion forward Ray Huether.
His story thus far in his Ontario Hockey League tenure is that of a journeyman, having been property of four teams in his five-year major junior career.
Just over three months ago, after two full seasons with the Sudbury Wolves, Huether was sent home by the club's brass and told to await a trade. In compliance with OHL overage rules, the Wolves voted in favour of fellow overagers Nathan Pancel, Brody Silk and Jeff Corbett, leaving no seat for Huether when the music stopped.
Little did he know that the trade would be to a team he knew all too well: the Wolves' biggest rival and closest competitor, the Battalion.
“It was a bit weird at the start, finding out I was being traded to a big rival, but I was just happy to go anywhere at that point," Huether explained. "Since I’ve been here it’s been awesome; the team has been doing really well and the guys just welcomed me with open arms.”
Now, after that immense uncertainty and in a seemingly comfortable role with the Battalion, Huether has carved a niche and exceeded even his own expectations playing under the tutelage of head coach Stan Butler.
Less than half way through the campaign, Huether finds himself on pace for career-high totals in almost every statistical category. Through 29 games, the 6’ 2”, 200-pound centre has five goals, 16 assists with a plus-four rating, and is already on the cusp of overtaking his previous season totals.
“When I was going into training camp, I knew [Sudbury] could only take three overagers, so it was almost like being a 16-year-old again and trying to make the team for the first time,” Huether explained.
“When I heard the news that they were taking the other three guys, my confidence definitely took a hit,” he continued. “But when I got the call about the North Bay trade I was very happy. Now, when I look at the big picture, it just kind of worked out for me in the end.”
Just three weeks ago, in one of eight matchups against his former team this season, Huether reminded his old club of what they gave up when they shipped him out of town.
With the game tied in the final period between the Central Division rivals, Huether took advantage of a frantic scramble and open Sudbury net, burying the game-winner in front of the fans he used to call his own.
A quick look at his OHL journey is a testament to his tenacity as well. After being drafted in the fourth-round by the Saginaw Spirit in the 2010 draft, Huether played a mere seven games before being sent to the Barrie Colts. Barrie wasn’t exactly the fresh start he was hoping for though and, ultimately, never suited up for them in game action.
A year later, the Londesborough, Ont., native began his Northern Ontario tenure with the Wolves, where he began seeing regular ice time and established himself in a reliable depth position.
A one-time 39-goal scorer with the Stratford Cullitons of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Huether hasn’t exactly found his high-flying goal scoring ways that he did in the minor and other junior ranks.
Nevertheless, there’s something to be said for his ability to find a way to solidify his place on a top-tier roster after an arduous beginning to his OHL career.
And it wasn’t as though the Battalion had an overage vacancy with which to snatch Huether up originally. On the same day that Huether was acquired by the troops, North Bay traded overage incumbent forward Jamie Lewis to the Windsor Spitfires so as to free up a spot for Huether.
Three months down the line, coach Butler seems to be happy with the acquisition. When asked about his reaction to Huether’s performance so far this season, Butler drew comparisons to Battalion graduate Ben Thomson, who set career-high totals after being acquired by the troops early last season.
“Coming in here, he was playing third-line centre for us and has done a great job there,” Butler said of Huether last week. “With [Zach] Bratina out, we needed some help on the power play and he was the next guy in line.
“If you want to talk about opportunities, he’s a prime example of someone that’s taken advantage of those opportunities,” Butler said simply. “We never set limits on players; they set limits on themselves. When we look at players, we don’t know where they’re going to go.”
It seems a natural fit, really, given that Huether has been praised for his well-rounded game in the past. Given the imperative to play a sound defensive game under the Butler regime, Huether has embraced the role to the fullest.
“Stan has a great system; you play defense first and the offense will come from there,” Huether said. “Hopefully I can keep putting these points up, but my priority is to play a solid defensive game first and keep my plus-minus at a good level."
If you look at a different defintion of a journeyman though, you'll see that he is someone who has undergone a first-hand education in his trade and is nearing his peak performance. Huether seems to fit that bill pretty well.
With his playing days far from over and, arguably, his best OHL days still ahead of him, Huether seems poised to put himself in the best position for advancement in the months to come.
