Colton Point's early-career achievements as a goalie make him an excellent choice to be the 2016 recipient Judge Harry J. Reynolds Memorial Trophy for dedication to the sport of hockey.
Point, one of the youngest to ever win this award, will receive the honour at the 37th annual North Bay Sports Hall of Fame Induction and Awards dinner May 6 at the Best Western on Lakeshore Drive.
Point, a six-foot, four-inch, multi-sport athlete was drafted by the NHL Dallas Stars in June last year, taken in the fifth round and 128th overall, which was a well-earned testament to the hard work and burning desire it takes to be successful in that position.
Point, who turned 19 years old this past March 4, is attending Colgate University, New York and playing against NCAA Division I teams on a full scholarship this season.
But the road he traveled to get there was long and tough, requiring unwavering perseverance and outstanding work ethic.
As a Chippewa Secondary School student, he played basketball, volleyball and baseball while also a track and field athlete in Grades 9 through 11.
Point's first love, however, was between the pipes and while initially passed over in minor atom as he was still gaining coordination of his large frame, he was the front-running choice of North Bay's budding AAA system, joining the major peewee Trappers for their inaugural 2010-11 season.
He continued playing on North Bay's top minor bantam AA and major bantam AAA teams. And while some local prospects went to southern Ontario for additional exposure, Point played his minor midget year with the North Bay Midget AAA Trappers 2013-14.
Point was rewarded for his efforts when the Erie Otters drafted him in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection.
Erie, unfortunately, already had several older prospects in their stable. Point returned to be the Midget AAA Trappers starter and led the team into a tough semifinal match against the Soo Thunderbirds the spring of 2015.
Point shone under the pressure, forcing a fifth and deciding game with a 107-save triple overtime win at the Sam Jacks Recreational Centre. And despite missing top players, such as league-leading scorer Jeffry Jordan to an ankle injury, Point once again stood tall in net to take the team into double overtime before the Thunderbirds eventually won and continued on to be league champions.
Still not finding a suitable spot in the Otters' goalie depth chart that summer, Point elected to join the Carleton Place Canadians of the Central Canada Junior 'A' Hockey League for the 2015-16 campaign.
He earned a position on Canada East's U19 team at the Worlds Junior A Hockey Challenge and came out of the experienced more determined than ever, winning the starter position with the Canadians in the campaign to three-peat as CCHL champions.
Enroute to the finals, Point set a franchise record of seven regular season shutouts and over 16 post-season games (winning 12 of them) set a stingy 1.82 goals-against-average and .933 save percentage. He was honoured as the league's rookie of the year.
He continued with a hot-hand through the regional championships, helping the Canadians three-peat as the Fred Page Cup winners allowing just two goals per game with four straight wins.
And while the Canadians didn't manage to win the RBC Cup at the national championships, Point raised his stock to the point Colgate moved up his projected freshman year from 2017 to 2016. His majors are biology and chemistry.
Point was ranked fourth among North American goaltenders by Central Scouting heading into the draft after moving up from an initial ranking of 17th.
In 10 NCAA games so far, Point has a 2.14 GAA and .918 save percentage.
Point will receive his award at the North Bay Sports Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Dinner on May 6th at the Best Western (Lakeshore). Tickets are available from any Executive Committee member, by calling Chair Bill Jacko at 705-476-1429, or emailing Karen Cobb at cobbjk@onlink.
