Story and photo submitted by Vision Hockey
Aaron Brand is a perfect example of someone who has had to work hard to succeed.
Not considered an elite player coming out of minor hockey, he was a 13th round pick in the Ontario Hockey League draft in 1992 by the Newmarket Royals and was a long shot to make the team.
But his tenacity and perseverance propelled him to the OHL scoring title with the Sarnia Sting just three short years later. At the time, the Sting was coached by current London Knights Owner, President and General Manager, Mark Hunter. For his efforts, Brand was awarded the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy. The Toronto native had 46 goals and 73 assists for 119 points in 66 games and was named the league’s Overage Player of the Year and was honoured with the Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy and chosen to the Second All-Star team.
The Sting captain went on to sign a free agent contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs and had a 10-year pro career where he made three All-Star game appearances. He attended six NHL training camps with the Toronto Maple Leafs (four times), Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers.
Now, he wants to take his experience and pass it along to other aspiring players with his Vision Hockey program.
“I’m totally impressed with the way he handles the kids,” said Jamie Galbraith, the father of 2001-born Brant, a goaltender with the London Junior Knights AA team who has been with Brand since the program began. “He is so level-headed and loyal to the kids. He’s not a screamer or a yeller. He’s just awesome.”
Those sentiments are echoed by Wayne VenHuizen, whose son Luke is a defenceman with the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs and also a Vision hockey player.
“He’s as good as any coach you’ll find in Toronto,” says VenHuizen. “He really does care about the kids. No one says anything negative about Aaron.”
The Spring Hockey Program began in 2011 with just one team and has since expanded to seven teams in four short years. There are two teams for 2001-born players, along with teams for players born in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007. They play in tournaments in London, Stratford, Detroit, Niagara Falls, Brantford and Sarnia throughout the month of May.
Brand says he purposely keeps the number of players on each team low, so that kids get more ice time in order to improve and develop.
“Our teams are invite-only and we look for kids who love the game and display passion,” said Brand. “We now have players from all over Southwestern and Midwestern Ontario, including London, Strathroy, Chatham-Kent, Clinton, Goderich and Sarnia.”
For more information about Vision Hockey, call 519-402-8466 or visit: www.visionhockey.ca.
