By Ron Valentine
Going into the 2024-25 Ontario Junior Hockey League season, here is a look at the regular season *wins recorded by the current head coaches in the league either as head coach or assistant.
- RICH RICCI, St. Michael’s Buzzers, 651 wins recorded in 15 seasons as head coach and seven as assistant head coach. Rich started his OJHL coaching career in 1999. His two stints in St. Mike’s were split by two seasons with the OHL’s Oshawa Generals.
- MARK JOORIS, Burlington Cougars, 365 wins from 11 seasons as bench boss with the Cougars, Oakville Blades and Markham Waxers and then back to Burlington. Mark played 27 years of professional hockey after graduating from RPI.
- THOMAS MILNE, Aurora Tigers, 255 victories from nine campaigns including head coach and assistant in Aurora as well as the Couchiching Terriers, Newmarket Hurricanes, Trenton Golden Hawks and Collingwood Colts.
- MIKE GALATI, Markham Royals, 252 wins in a total of 11 seasons with the Pickering Panthers, Hamilton Red Wings and the Royals. Mike is an alumnus of the Bramalea Blues.
- DAVID DEMARINIS, Toronto Jr. Canadiens, 229 wins in eight campaigns as assistant coach with the Stouffville Spirit, head coach of the Pickering Panthers and assistant and now bench boss with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens.
- DEREK SMITH, Trenton Golden Hawks, 219 victories in five seasons with the Wellington Dukes and one in Trenton. Derek played in the NHL for Ottawa and Calgary and was captain of the Dukes.
- MARK JOSLIN, King Rebellion, 211 victories as assistant in Aurora and head coach for the North York Rangers, Toronto Patriots, Stouffville Spirit, Pickering Panthers and Brantford 99ers.
- VINCE BELLISSIMO, Toronto Patriots, 210 wins as assistant coach in St. Mike’s plus a season as head coach in Aurora and three with the Junior Canadiens before moving to the Patriots. He is a graduate of Western Michigan University.
- ROB PEARSON, Pickering Panthers, 169 wins for the Whitby Fury and the Panthers. Rob suited up for the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals and St. Louis Blues.
- SCOTT MCCRORY, Oakville Blades, 168 wins as head coach in Whitby, Wellington, Georgetown Raiders and Oakville. Scott had 332 regular season and playoff points playing two seasons for the OHL’s Oshawa Generals.
- ANDREW CAMPOLI, Collingwood Blues, 164 victories as assistant for the Markham Royals and co-head coach for the Stouffville Spirit and assistant and head coach in Collingwood.
- RYAN RAMSAY, Haliburton County Huskies, 156 wins in five campaigns as bench boss with Whitby and Haliburton.
- JOE WASHKURAK, Mississauga Chargers, 150 wins in 10 seasons.
- DAN DELMONTE, Milton Menace, 125 wins in four campaigns.
- SEAN WALLACE, Buffalo Jr. Sabres, 112 in four seasons as assistant or head coach .
*over 100 wins
This story was updated to included Mark Joslin’s time in Stouffville and Pickering.
Follow Ron Valentine on X @ronandlynda
