Forwards Mason Dermastja (left) and Maxime Morin and the rest of the Stouffville Spirit players will distribute poppies on behalf of the Royal Canadian Legion at stores throughout Stouffville Sunday afternoon. The Legion colour party will take part in ceremonies before the Spirit game Nov. 9 at the Stouffville Arena. (Photo by Jim Mason)
The Stouffville Spirit and Stouffville Branch 459 of the Royal Canadian Legion are teaming up to commemorate Remembrance Day again this fall.
- Spirit players will distribute poppies and accept donations to the Legion’s Poppy Campaign at retail locations across Stouffville this Sunday afternoon. It’s the fourth year the team has held this campaign.
- Branch 459’s colour party will take part in pregame ceremonies ahead of the Spirit’s game against the North York Rangers at the Stouffville Arena on Nov. 9.
- Proceeds from 50/50 draws at home games early this month will go to the Poppy Campaign.
Donations collected during the Poppy Campaign are held in trust at the branch level to directly support veterans and their families
“In this community, we are all well aware of the fine work our Legion branch does,” Spirit Governor Kenny Burrows said. “This is the least we can do to honour the Legion and our veterans.”
Stouffville’s Remembrance Day service takes place at Legion Branch cenotaph, 150 Mostar Street, on Nov. 11 at 10:55 a.m.
THE SCORES
Stouffville 3, Cobourg 2, 2OT, Oct. 24
Julian Demiglio received the Player of the Game belt after scoring the game-winner with 50 seconds remaining in double overtime at the Stouffville Arena. Riley Pope made the sweet pass to set up the goal. It was Demiglio’s second goal of the game. Danny Thomakos had the other goal. It was the Spirit’s fourth double OT game of the month; they went 2-2-0-0.
Aurora 2, Stouffville 1. Oct. 25
Thomakos’ first-period goal wasn’t enough as Aurora scored two third-period goals at the Aurora Community Centre.
Stouffville 3, North York 1. Oct. 26
Playing in goal for the third night in a row, Kyle Downey allowed only a last-second goal in the first period for the Spirit. Captain/Player of the Game David Paglia scored twice on blasts from the point. Thomakos added an empty-netter with one second left on the clock. The Spirit outshot North York 50-14.
THE STATS
The Spirit are now 10-7-0-3 and in third place in the OJHL East.
- Lachlan Wells leads the team in points (22) and Evan Breckles has the most goals (11).
- Paglia has 18 points, two more than he had all of last season and good for sixth highest of all defencemen in the 24-team Ontario Junior Hockey League. He has six goals, one off of the lead for blueliners.
- Thomakos received kudos from OJHL feature writer Ron Valentine on X: “Breakthrough players in @OJHLOfficial #12- DANNY THOMAKOS of @SpiritJrA. The Georgina native had 14 goals and 31 points last season. So far this term he has contributed 9 goals, including two shorthanded, and 17 points. He was a Kitchener Rangers draft pick in 2022.” *in only 14 games.
THE SCHEDULE
November 1, Stouffville at Trenton, 7:30 p.m.
November 2, Stoufville at Toronto Jr. Canadiens, 8 p.m.
November 7, St. Michael’s at Stouffville, 7:30 p.m.
November 9, North York at Stouffville, 7:30 p.m.
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).
THE BATTLE OF ONTARIO
The Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) and Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) will honour NHLers who played in the two leagues during the 2024 Battle of Ontario, in Smiths Falls, Ontario November 19-20.* (The dates have been adjusted due to a scheduling conflict.)
The Battle of Ontario will see two all-star and two prospect teams from each Junior A league play a total of 12 games during the tournament-style event.
CCHL teams are named after NHL greats Larry Robinson and Steve Yzerman. Robinson played for the Brockville Braves of the CCHL while Yzerman is an alumnus of the Nepean Raiders.
The OJHL’s squads are named for current NHL players: Evan Rodrigues (Georgetown Raiders) of the Florida Panthers; Chris Tanev (Markham Waxers, Stouffville Spirit, Durham Fury) of the Toronto Maple Leafs; Zach Hyman (Hamilton Red Wings) of the Edmonton Oilers and Jack McBain (Toronto Jr. Canadiens) of the Utah Hockey Club.
Rosters will be announced shortly
Spirit This Week is sponsored by Farmer Jack’s in Stouffville and Sharon.
