Three members of the Stouffville Spirit have been selected to play in a new series pitting teams of 20-year-old, graduating players from the Ontario Junior Hockey League against Ontario University Athletics teams.
Captain David Paglia, assistant captain Riley Pope and Lachlan Wells will represent the Spirit in a game against Toronto Metropolitan University at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto January 4 at 6:15 p.m.
Another team of OJHLers will play the Ontario Tech University Ridgebacks at Campus Ice Centre in Oshawa on January 5 at 4 p.m.
The goal of the two-game series is to expose the OJHL’s top 20-year-olds to U SPORTS hockey scouts to facilitate their advancement and to give OJHL players the student-athlete experience.
Aside from the game, the day will also include a:
- Morning skate
- Pre-game meal
- Seminar
- Facility tour
- Postgame meet-and-greet
Both university teams are coached by OJHL grads.
TMU Head Coach Johnny Duco played for the Spirit in 2003-04.
JULIAN MAKES AP DEBUT IN OHL
Spirit forward Julian Demiglio signed as an affiliate player with the Brampton Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League.
He made his debut with the Ontario Hockey League team in a 7-4 loss at Brantford Wednesday.
He’s expected to see action with both teams during the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
Demiglio has an NCAA Division I commitment to RIT.
The NCAA Division I Council approved a rule last month allowing players with Canadian Hockey League experience to compete at U.S. colleges starting next season.
Demiglio was drafted by the then Mississauga Steelheads in the third round (45th overall) of the 2023 OHL U18 draft from the Toronto Marlboros U18 AAA program, while playing as an affiliate with the OJHL Spirit.
The speedy forward has skated in 29 games for the Spirit, totaling 29 points (7G, 22A). He recently represented the Spirit on Team Canada East at the Jr. A World Challenge in Alberta.
SO CLOSE
The Spirit received an Honourable Mention in this week’s OJHL Power Rankings. The new coaches’ poll ranks the top 10 teams in the league.
SCHOOL CHALLENGE
Spirit players were treated like rock stars and NHLers at Oscar Peterson Public School Wednesday. Before taking on the Oscar Peterson staff in a charity ball hockey game outside the school, Spirit players visited classrooms, where they signed autographs and posed for photos with some of the 750 students.
Students donated a truckload of food at the event, which was presented to the Whitchurch-Stouffville Food Bank.
Players will return to the Hoover Park Drive school in the new year for a reading event.
THE SCHEDULE
The Stouffville Spirit visits Toronto and the St. Michael’s Buzzers in Ontario Junior Hockey League action Friday night.
It’s another proverbial ‘four-point game’ in the tightly-packed OJHL East standings.
The Spirit (18-12-0-4), coming off a weeklong break in the schedule, are in sixth-place in the 12-team division, one spot behind St. Michael’s (19-11-1-2 ) – six points out of third place.
Dec. 20, Stouffville at St. Michael’s (Toronto), 7 p.m.
Dec. 22, Stouffville at Pickering, 7:30 p.m.
Christmas break
All games broadcast on 102.9FM whistlefm.ca radio and FloHockey TV https://www.flohockey.tv/leagues/10826657-ontario-junior-hockey-league-ojhl (subscription required).
Spirit This Week is sponsored by Farmer Jack’s in Stouffville and Sharon.
Spirit players with teacher/organizer Sara Dart and food collected by students at a charity road hockey game at Oscar Peterson Public School Wednesday. The food was presented to the Whitchurch-Stouffville Food Bank.
