AXEMEN WILL BE WITHOUT STRAKER IN '14
Posted January 27, 2014
In August 2013 the Phoenix Coyotes found themselves without an icemaker for the upcoming NHL season that was less then two months away. Like he did so many times for the Axemen in his five-year career, JJ Straker stepped up to the plate and came to the rescue.
Shortly after the Westlock Red Lions eliminated the Axemen in the NCABL Semi-Finals, Straker would continue his climb in the world of ice making. Since 2009 Straker has moved from running the facility in the small town of Killam then to Edson before heading to the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver to work with the ice team responsible for both men’s and women’s hockey before moving to Beaumont to manage the Ken Nichol Regional Recreation Centre. Now Straker can be seen managing the ice surface for the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale.
Making his debut for the Axemen in 2009, JJ became the undisputed grit leader on the team and put up solid numbers collecting 91 hits, 61 runs scored and 53 RBIs while holding a .346 average. Straker’s .346 career average is the best average by any Axemen during the 2009-2013 seasons and his .447 on base percentage is second to only Cal Zimmer over the same time span. Always willing to play the game hard Straker would never shy away from either delivering a hard slide or hanging in at second base to turn a double play or get a force out with an opponent bearing down on him. It is the kind of grit that the coaching staff will be asking of the Axemen to bring to the diamond every game in 2014, as they will be looking for their third consecutive NCABL Pennant.
In 2010, Straker was named to the NCABL All-Star as the starting second baseman. It was only the second time that an Axemen player was named as a starter in the NCABL All Star Game. Two seasons later Straker would be named to his second NCABL All Star Game in 2012 when he and Axemen teammate Paul Ofrim led all players in votes with 35.
The Axemen will miss Straker both on and off the field next season. We wish JJ and his wife Jamie all the best in Phoenix and in his role with the Coyotes.
Straker's Axemen stats:
