Caleb Cameron came to the Listowel Cyclones hoping to get a year of Junior B hockey under his belt. What ended up happening was 3 seasons, a Cherrey Cup run and a Junior B player of the year award.
A native of Sundridge, a 4 hour drive from Listowel, Cameron made the choice to play in town due to its proximity to Guelph. The Storm picked him in the OHL priority selection. It has hoped the move would be a way to showcase his talent but it became so much more for him as it went on.
"The fact that it is a community run team makes it so fun to play for." He said from Rochester, where he currently plays in the NCAA. "Amazing support from the fans and staff is what kept bringing me back."
Cameron got a full dose of the local support when the Cyclones made it to the Cherrey Cup finals in 2011. Some of his best hockey memories come from that season.
"I remember scoring the goal in OT to send it to game 7 against Stratford(in the first round)." He said. "You want to say the Listowel is a small town but once we got to the finals and the arena was packed you realize that it's really not like that."
What would follow that run was two straight seasons as the Cyclones leading scorer, including a fantastic 90 point year in 2013. He was named the GOJHL Midwest MVP that season. That's when he caught the eyes of scouts south of the border.
Cameron was recruited by the Rochester Institute of Technology, playing for the RIT Tigers hockey team. After a respectable freshman season in 2014, this year was successful for himself, and his teammates. The Tigers found themselves in the NCAA final 16, hoping to move forward to the coveted Frozen Four.
Standing in their way was top ranked Minnesota state, RIT pulled off the upset, winning 2-1.
"It was big for our pride and proves we can contend against the top teams." Cameron said, that game was also broadcast nationally on Canadian television.
Finishing this year with 15 points in 31 games, Cameron is eligible for another 3 years in the NCAA. He says he intends to keep his hockey career alive past that window. With that in mind it is safe to say while he hopes to put Sundridge on the map, he will look to do the same for Listowel.