Sutherland Cup champ joins Essex 73's

A month after winning the Sutherland Cup with the Leamington Flyers forward Kale Couvillon has decided to join the Essex 73's. "For me, I just want to stay close to home."

The 19-year old isn't joining the Flyers when they move up a level to join the Ontario Junior Hockey League this fall. Couvillon is happy to join the 73's, although he would have liked a shot at repeating. "It would have been great to go back to Leamington and try to go for back to back but it is what it is." said Couvillon, who will have two years of eligibility at the junior C level.

Couvillon scored 17 goals and added 15 assists in 99 games with Leamington. The Amherstburg native, who was going to sign with the 73's as a 16-year, looks forward to reuniting with some of his friends. "It's kinda cool coming back."

He also looks forward to the challenge of the Essex-Lakeshore rivalry which has seen the Canadiens win the last four Stobbs division titles, "I want to play against them and help Essex to the best of my ability to try and win that conference with them."

For now the former Windsor Clipper is playing Junior A lacrosse for Kitchener-Waterloo. "It's something I've always wanted to do. It's really fun."

Here's Kale scoring a playoff goal vs Chatham this spring.