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Ryan Doucette is coming home.
The 18-year-old forward was traded to the Kam River Fighting Walleye of the Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL) on June 13th in exchange for a player development fee (PDF).
Doucette compiled 15 points in 41 regular season games with the Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) to go along with two points in five post-season contests.
Doucette told Acadia News that having friends on the team sold him on choosing the Fighting Walleye.
Ryan Doucette (left) as a member of the Blind River Beavers (courtesy of the NOJHL)
“While I was away, we stayed in touch and they told me nothing but good things (about the program),” added Doucette. “I had my advisor reach out to the (Fighting) Walleye for me as soon as I found out I was going to be on the trade wire. I went out and skated with them in their prospect camp, and I met a lot of the guys, who seemed super cool, and met the staff this year and it all clicked for me. This will be a good fit this year and possible next as well.”
Prior to heading to Blind River, Doucette spent a pair of seasons with the Thunder Bay Kings program and even skated with the Neebing Hawks during the 2018-2019 season.
“The physical play, going from midget to junior hockey, you start to get hit more and it hurts more,” mentioned Doucette, when asked about some of the takeaways from playing in the NOJHL. “Just being away from friends and family. Having a new family take you in with open arms is a cool experience. I have a great relationship with my billet family to this day.”
Doucette is committed to doing whatever he can on and off the ice to help the Kam River Fighting Walleye win the Bill Salonen Cup in 2022-2023.
