There’s a pipeline running 375 kilometres through central Ontario from Stouffville to Sudbury.
It carries defenceman, specifically left-shooting junior hockey blueliners from the Stouffville Spirit of the Jr. A Ontario Junior Hockey League up one level to the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League.
The two teams have a long-standing affiliation and somewhat storied history. In the past seven years, four Wolves draft picks have been assigned to Stouffville for a year of seasoning before moving north. All are defencemen:
- Isaak Phillips, who has played 56 games in the NHL, started the trend playing in Stouffville in 2017-18. A fifth-round pick of Chicago in the 2020 NHL Draft, he was traded to the Winnipeg Jets earlier this season. Phillips is currently playing for their AHL farm team, the Manitoba Moose.
- Andre Anania played in Sudbury for three seasons after spending 2019-20 in Stouffville and being named to the OJHL’s 1st All-Prospect Team. He’s a rookie in the pro ranks this season, with the Savannah Ghost Pirates of the ECHL.
- Nolan Jackson played big minutes in Spiritville last season and was named to the OJHL’s 2nd All-Prospect Team. After starting the year in Sudbury, he was traded to Ottawa last month. Jackson, who like Phillips is from Barrie, played in the inaugural Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game in January.
Brady Smith is the latest entry in the story.
At 16, he’s easily the youngest player on the Spirit roster But he’s also mature and articulate beyond those years. Facing Jr. A players, some of whom are four years his elder, has been an adjustment.
“It’s been a jump in a couple of different ways,” Smith said this week, as the Spirit prepares for three games in four days beginning tonight in Aurora. “At the forefront is the speed and physicality. Everyone is bigger, stronger and faster than in previous years. I think the game is played at a lot higher pace and there’s a lot more compete in every aspect, every 50/50 puck. every race…
“You have to execute all the time in every game to have success. Having a good team community, having everyone buy into the same cause is super important. It’s something we work on every day and every team has to do this to have success in this league.”
Spirit rookies are paired with veterans each season. Smith has high praise for his mentor, team captain “Mr. David Paglia”.
Sudbury Wolves scouts have also been watching Smith’s closely this season, critiquing his game and preparing him for the OHL. They’ve also talked about the pipeline.
“One of the first things they talked to me about was how much success they’ve had with it,” Smith said. “They have a lot of trust with the Stouffville connection to develop their players and bring them up to OHL speed. All four of us bring different things to the team but Stouffville has been able to let us develop our game and find our identity at the junior level and that’s been really beneficial for me this year.”
Smith has been called up to Sudbury during the regular and preseason.
Spirit Assistant GM Thayne Hallyburton liked what he saw and heard of Smith during his U16 season (2023-24) captaining his hometown Oshawa Generals.
“When Ken (Burrows, Spirit GM) and I first started doing our homework on Brady last March the one thing everyone said was he has great character,” he said. “Phenomenal leader. And as an organization we value that greatly.
“We were scouting Brady at the OMHA Championships and then, as we do, we waited for the draft. We were thrilled when Brady was selected by Sudbury (6th round/111 overall) and we were able to work with them to give Brady a chance to play important minutes and develop. Brady has been up with the Wolves a few times and it has been great to watch him grow this season.”
Smith, who turns 17 on March 27, says his veteran teammates “have been very kind and they all treat me like I’m their little brother. There have been no awkward moments. I fit right into the room.”
“I did get a little heat for being young. Everyone thinks I’m a baby-faced little kid. I get on the ice and throw my body weight around and try to change the game with my physicality. That catches them off-guard. But in the end it’s just good for the whole team.”
GRADUATION CEREMONY
The Spirit will honour its five graduating (2004 birth year) players during a pregame ceremony before the Family Day game at the Stouffville Arena.
Captain David Paglia, assistants Riley Pope and Jacob Winsor as well as Lachlan Wells and Kyle Downey will be joined on the black carpet by members of their family.
THE STANDINGS
The Spirit (27-17-0-4) clinched a playoff spot last weekend. Now, it’s a matter of where they finish in the OJHL East.
The season ends March 1. Playoffs begin the weekend of March 7.
The Spirit is ranked 10th in this week’s poll of OJHL coaches.
THE SCHEDULE
Feb. 14, Stouffville at Aurora, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 16, Stouffville at Lindsay, 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 17, Pickering at Stouffville, 2:30 p.m.
Feb. 20, Markham at Stouffville, 7:30 p.m
THE SCORES
Feb. 8, Trenton 2, Stouffville 1
For the second time in two weeks, the Spirit came close against Trenton, the top-ranked team in the Canadian Junior Hockey League and the OJHL at the Stouffville Arena. Griffen Boyle’s eighth goal of the season kept the score tied until Trenton scored the game-winner with 4:56 remaining in regulation. The Spirit outshot Trenton 32-24.
Feb. 10, Cobourg 2, Stouffville 1
Riley Pope’s team-leading 28th goal of the season with 1:06 to play was all the offence the Spirit could muster in Cobourg.
MEDIA
All Spirit games are broadcast on 102.9FM whistlefm.ca radio and FloHockey TV.
https://www.flohockey.tv/leagues/10826657-ontario-junior-hockey-league-ojhl (subscription required).
Chris Mayberry and Jason Rehel anchor the broadcasts.
Spirit This Week is sponsored by Farmer Jack’s in Stouffville.
