by Warren Rappleyea
After being among the final cuts prior to the 2018-19 season, defenseman Brendan Bays was determined to make the Ottawa Junior Senators roster for the current campaign. That timetable was, however, abruptly accelerated.
Bays appeared in five regular season matches a year ago primarily to fill in for injured players. The Junior Senators again struggled with injuries during the post-season and Bays was recalled as more than just a temporary replacement.
The 6-0, 180-pounder acquitted himself well, helping Ottawa to a second successive Fred Page Cup and a second-place finish in the National Junior A Championship. Just as important, Bays’ solid play did indeed help him earn a regular role on Walkley Road.
“That was a great experience for me,” he said. “It was exciting, but I didn’t really feel any pressure. I was motivated all year at midget to prove I belonged in Junior.”
After returning to the OJS Midget AAA Club a year ago, Bays turned in a stellar campaign. As captain, he not only played solid defensively, but was an offensive force as well. In 45 games, Bays scored 13 goals and added 24 assists. As a newcomer late last year in Ottawa, the righty-shooter was asked to play a different, more defensive role, which has continued this season.
“The game is much faster and more physical in junior and there’s definitely an adjustment period,” Bays said.
This season Bays has again focused on the defensive side of his game and the coaching staff has gradually given the local product more ice time.
“I’m glad to be here,” he said. “It’s definitely a lot different from the way I played in midget, but here you have to play whatever role the coaches ask. I’ve learned a lot and I’m working to be a shut-it-down defender. I actually think being stronger defensively will make me a better offensive player in the long run.”
Head Coach & GM Martin Dagenais, understands the challenges, “Brendan is a two-way defenseman that can also play a physical brand of hockey. The main thing with him right now is consistency. We’re not sure what we’ll get from him from game to game, and we’re working with him on that. At the same time, he’s a 17-year-old rookie, so that was to be expected.”
An aspect of the game Bays particularly enjoys is the intensity level of Junior A. He noted that as defending champions opponents are always looking to knock off the Junior Sens. In addition, he enjoys the atmosphere when playing at visiting rinks like the Ed Lumley Arena in Cornwall and the raucous Memorial Centre in Pembroke.
While he considers himself a team-first player, one of Bays’ most memorable moments came on October 23 when he scored his first Junior A goal to tie a game with the Kanata Lasers in the third period. The Junior Senators scored two more goals in the final stanza as Ottawa scored seven unanswered goals to rebound from a 6-1 deficit en route to an 8-6 triumph.
“That first goal was a big moment for me and it was kind of a long time coming,” Bays said. “It was a really wild game, but it showed what our team is capable of doing.”
Following a good start to the season, Ottawa struggled through November and December, but following a flurry of deals at the trade deadline, the Junior Senators have been playing well.
“Our chemistry is starting to come together,” Bays said. “We have a winning mentality here and I think the guys have a lot of character. We’re playing a lot better and we’re really looking forward to the playoffs.”
A fifth-round pick by the Junior Sens in 2017, Bays learned much from his dad, Mike, who is also responsible for his son becoming a fan of the Winnipeg Jets. The younger Bays likes to watch Colorado Avalanche rookie Cale Makar to pick up different aspects of the game.
Bays is still learning the ropes as a CCHL rookie and his future is a bright one, with the likelihood of more offensive freedom on the horizon that will, hopefully, attract the attention of NCAA scouts.
“We hope he uses this year’s experience to become a more dependable defenseman, someone we can trust in any situation, Dagenais said. “That’s very important for us as we will rely on him to lead a young group of defensemen next season.”
