LNAH to EPL

LONDON,U.K- Over the last few years there has been a high number of players coming over from the North American leagues to ply their trade in Europe. Rarely do players from the higher leagues in North America come over to the UK to start playing in the second tier, however Andrew Sharp was one of those players. Sharp signed for the Romford Raiders from the Thetford Mines Prolab in the ultra-tough Ligue Nord Américaine de Hockey (LNAH) based in Quebec. In Thetford Mines he played alongside and against players like Michel Picard and some names familiar to British hockey fans such as Jason Rushton, Ian McIntyre, Jonathan Delisle and Christian Gosselin. The LNAH

is famed for the tougher aspects of the game, however this does not stop the skilled players from playing their game. People have a misconception that the LNAH is an out and out ‘goon’ league. To an extent it is, however there are many players in that league who have been drafted to the NHL, proving that there is a place for skill in amongst the fighting. Players like Remi Royer (Drafted 31^st overall in 2002), Philippe Audet (52^nd overall in 1995) and Simon Lajeunesse (48^th overall in 1999) all play in the LNAH. There are also a fair number of players who come from Quebec’s extensive junior set up and make the move into senior hockey via the LNAH. I asked Sharp which of the players he has played alongside in North America he feels would be a good fit in the British leagues.
“I’d love to see Kurtis Swanson in the EPL, not because he would fit into the league but more because he would make things interesting and constantly be a topic of conversation,” Sharp said “He would definitely hold people accountable for their actions much like I tried to do in my time in the EPL.” Former linemate Marcus Forsberg is also a top consideration to play in the UK. “Marcus would really excel in UK hockey, I lived with him in Knoxville and he is a very fast Swede who did well in the U.S. because he is also very gritty and physical much like (Romford import forward) Andrej Sporina,” Sharp said “He is an intense character and would put up good numbers in the EPL. Sharp continued his evalutation. “A good friend of mine Gabe Yeung, who played in the Central Hockey League last season would be a stud in the EPL, there are no players like him in the league,” Sharp said “Gabe is a 6’5” 245lbs defenceman who skates very well, is very physical and likes to fight, he would be a top line defenceman on any team who would put up good points and penalty minutes while being a fan favourite.”
As Sharps career has took him across various league the fiesty forward developd a certain circle of friends. “A couple of other players who would be superb for raising the profile of the British game would be the line mates I had at the St-Jean Chiefs, It was a line of me, Steve Bosse and Patrick Cote,” Sharp said “That line would certainly get the tongues wagging.” Its not only North Americans and higher ranked Swedes who would make the East to West Atlantic Ocean crossing. Many young British and European players make the annual trip across the big pond to ply their trade in the land of the free. Many have tried and failed and asking Sharp, who has made his name over there after moving there as a young lad, who he played with at the Romford Raiders that he thought could do a job in North America and benefit from going there, he had this to say about his team mates
“Mark Williams and Norm Pinnington are looking at retiring in the next few years as they have already had lengthy and successful careers in the UK but to send them in their prime to the LNAH would have been interesting, they conduct themselves like a North American enforcer and it would have been fascinating to see them develop in a league where players share their mentality,” Sharp said   Sharp highlighted the skill players that could hold thier own in the LNAH. Not all players in the LNAH are there to be physical and (Romford defenceman) Pavol Valko would have been able to make a good name for himself in his prime in North America,” Sharp said “He is calm and smart with the puck, doesn’t play fancy and would be a great skilful defenceman in any North American league.”  Turning his attention to netminding Sharp spoke highly of former team mate Mark Lee. “Quebec develops some of the best goalies in the world, the LNAH is not only the most physical league in hockey but carries some of the best goalies, To send Mark Lee to Quebec to test himself and learn from former NHL goalies would be great as he is still very young and would make his already impressive skillset even better once he came back over to the UK,”  Sharp said
What happens to those tougher players when they get here. I asked a few of the perceived tough guys from the EPL what their view was on fighting players from abroad. Popular Romford Raiders defenseman Mark Williams spoke.
“I don’t think you can say imports are different but definitely players from different countries fight differently, for example Finnish hockey is very skilled and there are not many tough guys in their leagues, but there are some,” Williams said “Canadians on the other hand, most know how to drop the gloves.” “Brits, I feel the majority grew up watching the NHL and were trained by Canadian coaches and try and play a Canadian style hockey, the truth of it is if you have a player in front of you who is 6″ 220lb who knows what he is doing it does not matter if he is from Toronto or Slough, Sweden or Essex you can get your nose broke in a minute,” Williams said “I was always told going into a fight it does not matter who it is assume you’re going to get hurt, then if you don’t it’s a bonus.”  
Young British forward Nathanael Williams was of a similar mind.
“I think fighting is fighting It makes no difference whether it be an import or a Brit, If an import is a fighter then they do tend to bring over there ‘legacy’ with them,” Williams said “British guys are much more likely to drop them with you because imports are usually either a) A skill guy or a Euro and is not going to want to fight or b) A tough guy who only fights you if your tough too because he doesn’t want to get shown up nobody want to lose to a 17 year old face-cage who been in the gym all summer.”  
I asked Sharp to sum up fighting in hockey.
“No matter how you play you earn respect by backing your actions, If you play a certain way you shouldn’t hide or adjust your game because you are playing against a player that will finally hold you accountable,” Sharp said “If you talk the talk, you have to walk the walk on the ice just like in life.”   Contact the author at Pete.lewis@prohockeynews.com