July 16 2012 – Even if he will only be celebrating his sixteenth birthday in next December, the young Kameron Kielly  could well come help the Olympiques sooner than later. 

First ranked at the beginning of the second round (19^th overall) by the support Center of recruitment (CSR) QMJHL, the forward native of Sherwood finally became the property of the Gatineau Olympiques towards the very end of the first round (18th overall), on June 9, at the Colisée Pepsi of Quebec.  "I was very excited and honored to be selected by the Olympiques, he admitted.  It was unreal.  I had only heard positive things of the organization and I knew that they have the gift of developing their players.  I’m impatient to the idea of joining this team." 

"After meeting with the management team, I had the luck of learning a little bit more on the rich history of the Olympiques as well as on the expectations of the coaches, he adds.  That allowed me to realize that during the 40 last years, the team has had enormous success and that all the players that have gone through Gatineau have known a very beautiful career." 

Although he had talks for the less positive with the high Gatineau management, he wasn’t necessarily expecting to end up in Gatineau.  In fact, according to what was allowed us to learn, the majority of the teams of the QMJHL had come into contact with him during the preceding months of the draft.  "I knew that most of the teams were interested in my services, indicates Kielly.  My destiny was between the hands of the 18 teams of the league and of no one else.  I was conscious that there was nonetheless a minimum possibility that I landed in Gatineau and I really hoped that the Olympiques throw their choice towards me." 

A road map well garnished

Since few fans of the Gatineau Olympiques had the luck to see him play since the beginning of his career, Kameron Kielly describes himself as being an offensive forward that could cause several damages in the QMJHL during the next seasons.  "I am an eager worker that takes pleasure in producing offensively, indicates the one that would compare himself to the forward of the New York Rangers, Brad Richards.  I am able to do the work in both directions of the ice and I’m always concerned as much by my offensive then my defensive game.  I always will give the best of myself, I never let go and I have the success of my team to heart.  I always want to win." 

During the last season, Kielly played with the Islanders of Charlottetown, team evolving in the Midget AAA hockey League.  In spite of a 15-19-1 stats and of a harvest of only 31 points in 35 games, the troop of Jeff MacDonald concluded the 2011-2012 calendar in fourth place overall of the league.  "For the team that we had, we had a good year, he analyzes.  We had a lot of young players and we were decimated by the injuries.  During the playoffs, the Islanders offered a good opposition every night and they simply loss to a more experienced team." 

Even if the young man of 5’11 and of 175 pounds would have preferred to taste the joys of the victory a little more uniformly, nevertheless we can’t pass under silence his 45 points (20-25) in 35 games.  This total allowed him to finish second scorer of his team.  "On the individual plan, I must admit that it went pretty good for me last year, he grants.  For a guy that had to wait till December before celebrating his 15th birthday, I believe that I well adapted myself to the style of game of the league.  I had a lot of ice time and I had the luck to evolve on the power play." 

A few days before Christmas, Kameron Kielly had the opportunity to participate in the World Championship of the under 17, in Windsor, Ontario.  An experience that will remain forever engraved in the memory of the young forward.  "I will remember it all my life, confesses the one that defended the colors of the Atlantic team.  This was a true honor for me to have the luck to play for this team and there could be not a better sensation than the one to slip on the red jersey with the Canadian maple leaf in front of it." 

Kameron Kielly finally finished the tournament with a harvest of one single point (1-0) in five games. If these statistics have nothing to have with the one that he obtained with the Islanders, this is simply because he was confined to a support role.  "I was a lot younger than the average and my responsibilities were defined consequently, he explains.  I was there to obtain a luggage of experience and more the tournament advanced, more I obtained ice time.  Game per game, I felt that my coach began having more confidence in me and during the last games, I even had the luck to play a little on the power play." 

The next step

We can conclude, rare are the young hockey players of his age that can praise themselves to have a curriculum vitae as charged.  Even if Kameron Kielly says being proud of the of the 2010-11 season, he wishes now to move his things to the Robert-Guertin  Centre as quickly as possible.  "The two last years will have been beneficial for me, he admits. They will have allowed me to take part in the Winter Games of Canada, in 2011, as well as the World Championship of the under 17, in December, and this, even if I did not have the required age to participate in these events.  I believe that it simply gave me a bigger visibility with the scouts and that proved me that I was now ready to cross the next step." 

But before having the luck to show his new Gatineau fans what he can do, Kielly will have first of all to assure himself a place in the starting lineup of the Olympiques, on September 21, in Baie-Comeau.  "For this to happen, I’ve been training about five days a week, he reveals.  I work currently on my physical force as well as on my shot.  Since the goaltenders are quicker and more imposing in the Q, I will absolutely have to have a stronger shoot and be a little more intelligent with the puck." 

"To evolve in another province then mine always represents an interesting challenge, but I am excited to the idea to move in a beautiful city such as Gatineau, he concludes.  I had the luck to play some games to at the Robert-Guertin Centre with the Islanders last year and I do not believe to be too out of place when the training camp will start.  I’m ready to do the big jump, to cross the barrier that separates me to junior hockey and I will attempt to seize this opportunity." 

As what the talent does not have any age…

Special collaboration, Simon Bédard