Michigan product hopes to return from injury soon
Ontario Junior Hockey League resident writer Ron Valentine is profiling the 2025-26 team captains across The OJ.
BY RON VALENTINE
Michigan native Travis Rekar is the captain of the Markham Royals during this 2025-26 season.
The native of Shelby Township is in his second season with the club. Last year the now 19-year-old blueliner had three goals and 11 points.
In minor hockey, Travis played in the Oakland Jr Grizzlies and Little Caesars organizations. The stay-at-home defenceman is still looking for his first goal this season to go with his eight assists.
Travis is positive about the Royals for the rest of the way: “I can see that this team is driven to succeed, we have a good group of returning players along with some very exciting new talent. We are a strong skating club who plays heavy hockey. It’s been very positive playing for our new head coach, Steve McSwain. I enjoyed playing for Mike (Galati) and he is still very much involved with the club.
“We have two guys back this season who are wearing the “A”, Philip Govedaris (34 points last season) and Athan Miwa (whose elder brother, Ashton, played two seasons with the Royals and was assistant captain last season and another brother, Adam, played for the Lindsay Muskies and Toronto Patriots).”
Govedaris’ father, Bill, played in the early 1990s for the St Michael’s Buzzers and the Pickering Panthers.
Philip has played a dozen games this season for the OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs but he leads all Royals’ scorers with 21 goals and a like number of assists for 42 points. He has potted four game-winners. Miwa has been consistent with 11 goals and 30 points to date.
The Royals (17-27-2-2) are in ninth place in the OJHL’s East Conference, seven points back of the Lindsay Muskies and the final playoff spot in the conference.
Travis on his career so far: “My minor hockey was all played in the U.S. all at the AAA level. I learned a lot of things last season, my first with the Royals. Becoming captain was definitely a step in the right direction for me. What we are striving for is consistency from game to game. If we can achieve that, we can make the postseason. I’ve been preaching about the importance of taking things game to game. We really want the eighth place and if we get it I really think we can do some damage in the playoffs. I think we match up well with Trenton. We have beaten them once this season and it would make for a good series.”
“I spent last summer doing intensive training to get in the best shape I can be. It’s a very important thing for me.”
Travis is currently out with an injury and is looking to be back in the lineup soon.
“He has led the team the right way this year and he is the definition of consistency. We’ve played a lot of close games this season, 15 of them have been one-goal games.”
Both GM Mike Galati and Head Coach McSween are high on their captain/
Galati notes: “Travis has been a very positive force for us both this season and last, he sets a good example on and off the ice, he is a very steady defenceman that we rely on in every situation. We miss his presence right now.”
Coach McSween added: “His work ethic and discipline are what makes him a good leader. He has led the team the right way this year and he is the definition of consistency. We’ve played a lot of close games this season, 15 of them have been one-goal games. We are really starting to dig in now and if we can continue to get some good bounces and play a full 60 minutes we should be good.”
The Royals have eight games left on their regular season schedule beginning with Friday night’s home game against Cobourg.
Follow Ron Valentine on X @ronandlynda
