Spirit defenceman David Paglia celebrates scoring at the Ontario Junior Hockey League Governors’ Showcase presented by MilkUP at the Gale Centre in Niagara Falls Monday. (Photo by Cameron Ernst of OJHL Images)
A two-day getaway to Niagara Falls, Ontario went swimmingly for the Stouffville Spirit, thank you very much.
The Spirit won both its games at the Ontario Junior Hockey League Governors’ Showcase presented by MilkUP at the Gale Centre in The Falls this week.
Playing in front of 170 scouts from NHL, OHL, NCAA and U SPORTS teams, the Spirit defeated the Caledon Admirals 8-0 Monday and the Buffalo Jr. Sabres 2-1 Tuesday.
The Spirit is now 5-2-0-0 and in second place behind only Trenton in the OJHL East Conference standings. The Toronto Jr. Canadiens and Haliburton County Huskies also have 10 points, but the Spirit has played one less game.
“I was very pleased with the last five periods we played this week,” said Spirit Head Coach TJ Hill following the Buffalo win. “We talked a lot about playing fast and playing together and being connected. Those last five periods, I saw a lot of what I envisioned our team would be. I was very pleased with the effort and hope to just build on it.”
THE SCORES
Stouffville 2, Buffalo Jr. Sabres 1, Sept 24 *
The Spirit came out hitting and didn’t stop. Danny Thomakos and Mason Dermastja scored. Stephen Toltl stopped 38 shots and was the player of the game, as selected by his teammates.
Stouffville 8, Caledon Admirals 0, Sept. 23*
Riley Clark scored two goals for the Spirit, who held period leads of 1-0 and 5-0. Danny Thomakos, Julian Demiglio, Ivan Mentiukov, David Paglia, Lachlan Wells and Mason Dermasja had singles. Maxime Morin had a three-assist game. Thomakos also picked up two assists and the player of the game belt. Kyle Downey earned the shutout.
Burlington Cougars 4, Stouffville 3, Sept. 21
The Spirit gave two unanswered goals in the third period to fall at home.
David Paglia, Evan Breckles and Maxime Morin had given the Spirit a 3-2 lead.
* games at the 2024 Ontario Junior Hockey League Governors’ Showcase presented by MilkUP count in the regular season standings.
Thomakos and Demigilio each have eight points to lead the team scoring parade.
NOTEBOOK: A long line of scouts greeted the Spirit players after both games…Players already with commitments beyond Jr. A include Julian Demiglio (RIT, NCAA DI) and Brady Smith (Sudbury, OHL)…At the 2023 Showcase played in downtown Buffalo the Spirit beat the same two teams, Caledon and Buffalo…Jacob Winsor makes his first return to Collingwood Friday since being traded by the Blues to the Spirit on Sept. 5. The former captain of the Ottawa Jr. Senators won the Centennial Cup national championship with Collingwood in May…Second-year defenceman Alex Pasternak was traded to the Lindsay Muskies for a player development fee earlier this week…The Spirit have added assistant coaches Bobby Berkenblit and Tom Plommer to the coaching staff this month. Berkenblit has experience at the AAA level with the Markham Waxers organization. Plommer was head coach of the OJHL’s Cobourg Cougars and an assistant in Cobourg and with the Whitby Fury before their move to Haliburton County.
THE SKED
Friday, Sept. 27 – Stouffville at Collingwood
Monday, Sept. 30 – Stouffville at Cobourg
Thursday, Oct. 3 – Toronto Jr. Canadiens at Stouffville
Media: Tune into 102.9 WhiStleFM or watch the broadcast on FloHockey (subscription required)
Spirit This Week is sponsored by Farmer Jack’s in Stouffville and Sharon.
