Barry Wright
The Independent

Carson Peer was surprised to the point of being speechless when he was named Rookie of the Year by the Sarnia Legionnaires for the 2019-20 season.
“I didn’t expect it at all,” said the Oil City product when the announcement was made online last weekend.
The Grade 11 student at LCCVI had seven goals and six assists in 49 regular season games in his first season with the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League club. He added two assists in four playoff games against the top-rated London Nationals.
The Lambton Jr. Sting graduate said the speed of the game, both mentally and physically, was the main difference in moving up from minor hockey to Junior B.
“It’s a lot faster and there are stronger players out there,” he said. “You’ve got to make smarter decisions.”
Despite not being able to workout at a gym due to COVID-19 precautions, the 16-year old is running five kilometres every day and trying to access online workouts to stay in shape during the offseason.
Peer, who attended the OHL Combine in 2019 but was not drafted, hopes to receive an invitation to the OHL mini-camp later this summer. He says Sarnia, Niagara and Sudbury have shown an interest to this point.
“That’s my plan–to play in the OHL.” But, if that doesn’t happen, Peer could be counted on to contribute more offensively in his sophomore season with the Legionnaires. “We’re losing a whole bunch of guys from this year,” he said. “I’m pretty sure we’ll be a really young team next year.”