From the Patch to the Jungle: Transitioning from the OHL to the ECHL

A hockey player’s career is seldom defined by a smooth upward trajectory to the NHL from major junior. More common than the long term contracts signed immediately after the draft are free agencies, players’ additional work to justify a possible contract, and movement between teams and leagues. Often, a player will see time in the ECHL in his path through pro. 

Commonly referred to as “the jungle”, the ECHL provides affiliate teams for their respective AHL and NHL clubs in smaller cities scattered across North America. The style of play has developed a reputation for being fast and gritty while maintaining a grass roots fan culture.

Over the last five years the jungle has seen an influx of Petes alumni, including Nelson Armstrong (‘12-’14), Steve Lorentz (‘13-’17) and Clark Seymour (‘10-’14), who all played for the Florida Everblades, Matt Spencer (‘15-’17) of the Adirondack Thunder, and Greg Betzold (‘12-’16) who suited up last season with the Kansas City Mavericks.

Serving as an extended family, the Peterborough Petes and its fellow OHL teams are hands-on in the development of their players, monitoring things like routine, curfew, emotional and physical health, school and life with billets. According to Seymour, it was here that he developed structure to his life as he prepared to enter the next stage, “Major junior is where the lifestyle and the habits you develop begin; in junior there are a lot of people looking over you, who can guide you in the right direction.”

Included in the transition from the OHL to the ECHL is the addition of free time allowing guys to tailor their off ice-training and sleep routine to match their personal preference. With the rewarded freedom comes increased accountability – a reality of playing professional hockey, “The OHL does a phenomenal job of preparing players to being in that lifestyle. No billets, no school though, it changes your everyday life,” noted Seymour.

“I used to blame Sharpie (Don Sharp, Greg’s Peterborough billet) for everything,” laughed Betzold, “If I wasn’t skating fast enough I would tell people he cooked me ribs before the game.” The former Petes forward cut his humour with a moment of sincere gratitude for the active guidance of his junior team, “In all seriousness the Petes were good about that, we always had rides and people knew where we were.”

Greg finished, stating “It’s definitely different going and living on your own, you’re getting paid to play and you’re expected to perform, to show up on time, no excuses, no school to blame.”

Although the transformation from student-athlete to professional athlete provides a flexible schedule and an opportunity to live alongside your buddies it removes the comfort of a steadfast support system like a billet family.

Betzy continued to rave about Don Sharp, his billet dad, “They were so happy and they put me in a great atmosphere. If I didn’t have a good game they would always cheer me up. One night we were playing Niagara and before the game I said if I score what celebration do you want me to do and he told me to wave to him. Two minutes were left and we were tied and I scored.”

Congrats to Greg Betzold, who is playing his 200th @OHLHockey game this afternoon! #GoPetesGo pic.twitter.com/KZf87yZq7G

— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) November 15, 2015

In addition to increased independence, larger questions of a player’s presence lingers around a team, with the potential to shift leagues at a higher frequency- a trait unique to the Coast.

“The fact that it is your job. Every position in the organization is trying to move up: coaches, trainers, that changes everything,” explained Seymour.  

ECHL teams often lay in saturated hockey areas or markets dominated by sports like baseball or football, creating a hockey culture juxtaposing that of the Petes fan base.

Clark highlighted the reality of playing in a hotter climate, “Florida has its snowbirds who just like to watch hockey for the sake of it, where Peterborough was a passionate fan base.”

Although their time away from the Petes continues to get longer, the duo of Seymour and Betzold recalls vivid memories like the comeback series against the Kingston Frontenacs in 2015-16 playoffs and participating in events throughout the community. Both Seymour and Betzold expressed immense appreciation for the environment and structure provided by the Petes. It was the foundation here, that helped to foster success in their transformation into adulthood, going from the Patch to the pros.

Want to hear more about former Petes captain Zach Gallant? Click here to learn more about Gallant on ice and off ice.