Bobby House, the team’s leading goal scorer the last two years in a row and who represented the Leafs two years ago at the AHL All Star-Classic and was co-captain of the Leafs with Nathan Dempsey the last two seasons is heading to Europe to play with the Hamburg Freeze of the German Elite League. He asked the Leafs organization to release him from his current deal which would have had him play one more season in the Newfoundland capital.
House told Brendan McCarthy of the St. John’s Telegram that he couldn’t take another year of being passed over for promotion to Toronto and he decided to accept the European offer instead.
He also had high praise for St. John’s hockey fans in the interview,telling them that the three seasons he spent in St. John’s were “the best years of his career” and “was treated as good as gold” by local fans.
The loss of House only exemplifies the need for some goal scoring. After passing on opportunities to sign local guys Dwayne Norris and John Slaney, one has to wonder if Bob Wren will be able to lead the Leafs in Scoring or if WHL scoring champ Nathan Barrett can make a mark at the pro level like he did at junior. A Whitehorse, Yukon native, Bobby House has been a true leader and fan favorite in St. John’s and will be missed, especially that hard shot that put opposing goaltenders on notice.
Best of luck to Bobby from all fans of the Baby Leafs!
