Ian Avery

Making the Dresden Jr Kings was the biggest goal of any Dresden area kid and I was fortunate enough to crack the lineup as a 16 year old in 1995. I remember my first Friday night game vs the Walpole Island Jr Hawks with the stands packed from end to end. We had a team loaded with eight twenty year olds and two overagers and we were expected to do damage in the Great Lakes Jr C League. Led by coach Pete Baker we were upset in the first round by the Mooretown Flags.

1996-97 was a long season as we endured much turnover in players and a coaching change from Pete Baker to Al Houston part way through the season. Though our record wasn’t pretty, a solid foundation of young Dresden, Bothwell, Petrolia and Glencoe kids was built for 1997-98.

My last year as a King I was named captain and we were not only very successful on the ice, but a close group off the ice. Current Dallas Star and former Belle River Canadien Steve Ott always said we were the best team in the league that year but in the end we fell short in playoffs, getting eliminated by Wheatley in 4 games. Coaches Al Houston, Than Badder and Bus Pray made that a memorable season in Dresden.

Flyers in 1998 – After leaving Dresden, Chris Sherman and I went on to play with the Leamington 99 playing with NHLers Steve Ott, Tim Gleason and Erik Reitz en route to a 44-5-2 record and fell victim to a still unbelievable comeback by the Chatham Maroons from a 3 games to 0 deficit. The following season I was traded to the Sarnia Bees where I was named an alternate captain and had a successful season under coach Kevin Hamlin.

In 2000 I headed to the University of Guelph to pursue a B.A. in Geography. I played varsity hockey under coach Jeff Reid for 3 years highlighted by winning the OUA Rookie of the Year in 2000-01 and captaining the Gryphons to the CIS championships in 2001-02.

Currently, I teach Geography at LKCS in Dresden and coach the Instructional Program for beginner hockey players as well as the defending Kent Champion boys hockey team at LKCS. I live in the community with my wife Julie and our two boys Max and Luke (aspiring Jr Kings!)

My experiences with the Jr King hockey Club led to a lifetime love of hockey and I only have the best to say about coaches and management in my years there. I also commend current management in their efforts to connect with the community as the buzz is definitely back! Good luck this year Kings!