The Sudbury Wolves will face the Kingston Frontenacs in the first-ever Ontario Hockey League preseason game played in Stouffville.
The game goes Sunday, Sept. 14, at the Stouffville Arena. Puck drop is at 4 p.m.
The Stouffville Spirit of the Ontario Junior Hockey League – one level below the OHL – and the Whitchurch-Stouffville Minor Hockey Association are hosting the game.
In conjunction with the game, the WSMHA is hosting a public skate on the evening of Saturday, Sept. 13.
Tickets for the OHL game will go on sale shortly.
Both OHL teams open the regular season at home on Sept. 19. The game in Stouffville is the final game on the OHL’s preseason schedule.
“Both teams will have nearly finalized their rosters by Sept. 14 so fans will see a lot of players who have been drafted by NHL teams or will be drafted.”
“It’s an opportunity to show area hockey fans another level of junior hockey,” said Spirit Co-owner and General Manager Kenny Burrows. “Both teams will have nearly finalized their rosters by Sept. 14 so fans will see a lot of players who have been drafted by NHL teams or will be drafted.
“Our connection with Sudbury goes way back to when Jonathan D’Aversa graduated from our team and played for the Wolves (from 2004-07). And there was our Brennan Serville, a Wolves draft pick who was drafted from the Spirit by the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets (in 2011). ”
There are connections to the Spirit with both OHL teams.
The Spirit is a longtime Jr. A affiliate to the Wolves.
Spirit grads Nolan Jackson and Tayjon Street played in Sudbury last season. Brady Smith, the youngest player on the Spirit last season, also played three games with the Wolves.
They were the latest in a long line of players who have suited up for both franchises.
“Ken and I have talked about an exhibition game in Stouffville for the last couple of years,” said Rob Papineau, Sudbury’s GM and Vice-President of Hockey Operation. “We’ve had such a great relationship with the Spirit, Ken and the people of Stouffville that we’ve developed some really good players with the Spirit, that we thought it would be a great opportunity. Teams have been doing neutral site games for the last couple of years and here was an opportunity to bring OHL hockey into Stouffville for all the hockey fans into the community.”
There’s an excellent chance that Smith, a 2024 Sudbury draft pick, will be in the Wolves lineup Sept. 14.
“We really like the path that Brady took,” Papineau said. “He’s the next in a long line of guys who have gone into Stouffville and really developed: Isaak Phillips, Andre Anania, Nolan Jackson… Brady’s on that path.”
Kingston added draft pick Riley Clark to its roster from the Spirit last fall. Stouffville resident Bob Breckles, a former member of the Spirit hockey staff, is on the Frontenacs’ scouting staff.
“We’re excited about the opportunity to play a preseason game in Stouffville,” said Kingston GM Kory Cooper. “Stouffville is an organization we’ve had the pleasure of working with over the years.
“We’ve been able to get players from Stouffville, like Riley. He was a great pick-up for us. He certainly played a big role on our team and should play a significant role going forward.
“The opportunity to go places such as Stouffville, play an exhibition game and allow players like Riley an opportunity to play in front of fans he’s played in front of is great. I know he’s excited for it. And it’s a great opportunity for us to build on our relationship with Stouffville.”
Former Spirit forward and OJHL rookie of the year Ethan Werek played three seasons for the Frontenacs. He was drafted by the New York Rangers ahead of a 14-year pro career.
