1952 Brand Changes

Introducing the Cape Breton Islanders

A few months after acquiring the Saint John Admirals, new owner Henry Walsh announced a press conference to reveal the team’s new identity. As he had previously made known, he wanted the team to represent all of Cape Breton Island, so he renamed the team the Islanders. He also revealed that the team’s new colours would be black, light blue and white.

He would then reveal the team’s new logo. The new logo still features a roundel but is now black with white and light blue borders. Gone is the STJ monogram, and in its place is the shape of Cape Breton Island in light blue.




The next step was to introduce the new uniforms. The references to the Canadian Navy were removed; the uniforms now only have one light blue stripe surrounded by two stripes: white on the black home jersey and socks and black on the white away jersey and socks.



Let me know what you think about the rebrand. You can also start ramping up the sending of prospects for the draft; I still need more skaters.

1952 Retirements

W Marc-Antoine Lacroix
Teams: Montréal Métros (1945-52)
Sound Cups: 1 (1946)
Awards: None

Lacroix was the first-ever star in the ECHO for the Métros, leading the team in goals in 1945-46 and was a consistent scorer for his hometown team. He was also an iron man for Montréal, having missed only two games over the 7 ECHO seasons he gave the Métros. Towards the end of his career, Lacroix was relegated to more of a depth role, and after scoring 17 pts over his last two seasons, the 36-year-old Lacroix decided it was time to hang up his skates.

W William Weber
Teams: Charlottetown Monarchs (1945-50), Trois-Rivières Tigres (1950-52)
Sound Cups: 1 (1947)
Awards: None

Weber had a successful 7-year ECHO career, playing 298 games split between Charlottetown and Trois-Rivières. He recorded 85 goals and 94 assists, accumulating 179 points. Weber was a strong skater and a valuable asset to his teams. He was a crucial player in the 1946-1947 season when he helped lead the Charlottetown Monarchs to a championship victory. Weber decided that at 38, he had played enough and hung up his skates to be with his wife and children back in his hometown of Charlottetown.

Other Notable Retirements

C Rob Marshall
Teams: CHA (1945-46), MTB (1946-52)
C Steven Prince
Teams: MON (1945-46), MTM (1946-50), FRE (1950-52)
W Robert White
Teams: QUE (1945-52)

1952 ECHO Draft

Round 1

1. QUE | W Nicolas Béland | Victoriaville, QC - Burmy87
Desperately needing some help on the wing, the Reds would select the Victoriaville native Nicolas Béland, who should be high in the depth chart with his incredible talent.

2. CB | G David Taylor | Saint John, NB - DireBear
After seeing Quebec pass on Taylor, the Islanders would make the easy choice and select the top goalie prospect with the 2nd pick. Taylor should start as a backup behind Andy Fox, but don't be surprised if he's the starter by the end of his rookie contract.

3. FRE | W Maxime Savard | Fredericton, NB - Kingsfan11
The Stars would take the hometown kid in Savard at number 3 despite better wingers still on the board. Savard should be a great help on the wing for Fredericton, who needs to improve in that department.

4. OTT | C Lee Harper | Hamilton, ON - Dan O'Mac
At number 4, the Knights would get the best center in the draft in Harper, who was slated to be a top pick in the OEHL draft but decided to declare for the ECHO draft instead. Harper is an excellent addition to Ottawa's roster with his quickness and remarkable ability to get goals from anywhere in the offensive zone.

5. TRV | C Emmanuel Gatewood | Richmond, QC - Kingsfan11
Trois-Rivières would follow by taking the 2nd best center in Gatewood, who should immediately impact a Tigres squad looking to improve their performance from last year.

6. CHA | C Yvon Robichaud | Granby, QC - FC Macbeth
Charlottetown would continue the run of centers by taking Yvon Robichaud. The Granby native should provide some depth at center for the Monarchs in his rookie season but could gain a more prominent role.

7. MTM | C Jacques Saint-Louis | Quebec City, QC - idm
The Métros would also select a center with their first-round pick, taking the small and speedy center in Jacques Saint-Louis. He should provide some depth at center for a Métros team looking to return to the Sound Cup Finals.

8. HFX | W Stephen Collins | Ottawa, ON - FC Macbeth
Halifax would make an easy decision and take the 2nd best winger of the class in Stephen Collins. The Highlanders will count on his playmaking abilities to get the puck in the net by any means.

9. MTB | D Martin Pickford | Val-d’Or, QC - Jayhawk
The Beavers would be the first team to select a defenseman in this draft, going with the interesting character that is Martin Pickford. The hard-hitting defenseman should add depth to the team's defence and has the potential to climb the depth chart quickly.

10. MON | W Samuel Lamothe | Saint-Agathe-des-Monts, QC - DireBear
The defending champs would end the first round by taking a winger in Samuel Lamothe, whose speed and playmaking abilities should help the Generals remain contenders.


Round 2
During the second round, Quebec chose center Ed Herring for their team despite some concerns raised by others. Following Quebec, Cape Breton selected winger Edmund Hull, while Fredericton chose Vincent Carroll as their goalie. Notably, for the second year running, Fredericton has selected a goalie whose initials are VC. Ottawa added James Vachon, known for his hard-hitting defensive skills, to their team. Trois-Rivières opted for center Antoine Verret, while Charlottetown chose defenseman Geoffrey Jeffries. The Métros selected talented hometown winger Philippe Trasolini, and Halifax added center Carl Blais to their roster. The Beavers team selected playmaking winger Leo Banks, and the round ended with Moncton choosing defenseman Anthony Campbell.

11. QUE| C Ed Herring | Richmond, QC - Kingsfan11
12. CB | W Edmund Hull | Yarmouth, NS - FC Macbeth
13. FRE | G Vincent Carroll | Moncton, NB - Burmy87
14. OTT | D James Vachon | Sydney Mines, NS - DireBear
15. TRV | C Antoine Verret | Beloeil, QC - Burmy87
16. CHA | D Geoffrey Jeffries | Moncton, NB - idm
17. MTM | W Philippe Trasolini | Montreal, QC - Kingsfan11
18. HFX | C Carl Blais | Ottawa, ON - Kingsfan11
19. MTB | W Leo Banks | Pembroke, ON - DireBear
20. MON | D Anthony Campbell | Yarmouth, NS - Kingsfan11

Round 3
In the draft's third round, the Reds picked winger Fred Twist, while Cape Breton opted for defenseman Roger Legault. Fredericton selected winger Thomas Welkin with their pick, and Ottawa made an intriguing decision by drafting defenseman Cooper Deebie, who was known to disappear in critical moments. Trois-Rivières then selected winger Nathaniel Cardinal, who has earned the "Radical Redbird" moniker for his flashiness on the ice, followed by Charlottetown, who picked the hometown goalie prospect Zach Soloway. The remaining four picks of the round were all defensemen: William Gray to the Métros, Tristan Monette to Halifax, Damian Stewart to the Beavers, and Felix King, son of Bernard King, to Moncton.

21. QUE | W Fred Twist | Sydney, NS - idm
22. CB | D Roger Legault | Trois-Rivières, QC - Kingsfan11
23. FRE | W Thomas Welkin | Summerside, PEI - FC Macbeth
24. OTT | D Cooper Deebie | Portland, ON - idm
25. TRV | W Nathaniel Cardinal | Bathurst, NB - Burmy87
26. CHA | G Zach Soloway | Charlottetown, PEI - idm
27. MTM | D William Gray | Lunenburg, NS - FC Macbeth
28. HFX | D Tristan Monette | Saint-Hyacinthe, QC - Burmy87
29. MTB | D Damian Stewart | Toronto, ON - DireBear
30. MON | D Felix King | Montreal, QC - Kingsfan11

Round 4
Quebec would grab another winger for the final round. They went with Stephen Muller, who hails from Montreal. The following two picks were from Rimouski. Cape Breton chose center Frank Fredericks, and Fredericton picked winger Eymeric Masson. Ottawa and Trois-Rivières followed by taking centers Alfred Lefebvre and Vincent Robertson, respectively. Charlottetown then took winger Eli Mullins, and the Métros also chose a winger, Tyler Bourne, with their final pick. Halifax went for defenseman Quinton Burchill, and the Beavers picked winger Nicholas Atkinson. Finally, Moncton went with defenseman Vincent Kirouac to conclude the draft.

31. QUE | W Stephen Muller | Montreal, QC - Kingsfan11
32. CB | C Frank Fredericks | Rimouski, QC - FC Macbeth
33. FRE | W Eymeric Masson | Rimouski, QC - Burmy87
34. OTT | C Alfred Lefebvre | Montreal, QC - Kingsfan11
35. TRV | C Vincent Robertson | Halifax, NS - Kingsfan11
36. CHA | W Eli Mullins | Fredericton, NB - Kingsfan11
37. MTM | W Tyler Bourne | Kentville, NS - Burmy87
38. HFX | D Quinton Burchill | Renfrew, ON - FC Macbeth
39. MTB | W Nicholas Atkinson | Sydney, NS - Kingsfan11
40.MON | D Vincent Kirouac | Saint-Agathe-des-Monts, QC - Burmy87


Undrafted
W Gideon Webster | Fredericton, NB - Burmy87
D Sully Morrison | Grand Falls-Windsor, NL - Burmy87
D Anthony Lavoie | Sherbrooke, QC - Kingsfan11
W Michael Grant | Ottawa, ON - Kingsfan11
C Jacques Beaudry | Montmagny, QC - Kingsfan11
C Leonard Wilson | Miramichi, NB - Kingsfan11

Last edited by Kingsfan11 (11/25/2023 8:30 pm)

sheesh, look at the metros with three of the top 5 free agents