THE 2025 OJHL WISH LIST: PLAYOFF RUNS, TROPHY PRESENTATIONS, GOOD HEALTH WANTED BY PLAYERS, COACHES ALIKE

Toronto Jr. Canadiens Coach Dave Demarinis' wish for 2025: "Nothing less than the Buckland Cup." (file photo by Paul Mauceri / OJHL Images)

By Ron Valentine

Happy New Year, Ontario Junior Hockey League!

I asked players, coaches and other team officials across the 24-team OJHL: “What are you looking for in 2025?”

Some want their health. Others are banking on trophy presentations. A player or two mentioned ‘puzzle pieces’ and others talk about games 200 feet in length.

THE PLAYERS

Georgetown Raiders’ sophomore defenceman JUSTIN HUYNH is confident going forward: “2025 is going to be a big year for our team. We have a lot of important games coming up in the new year and every game is starting to feel like a must-win as we continue our playoff push. I believe that if we keep playing our game, especially out working our opponents and staying disciplined that we can make some major noise come playoff time. As for me, personally, in the new year, I’m focused on continuing to play solid defensively and providing offense from the blue line. As the games get tougher and more important I want to keep improving every game to help the Raiders clinch a playoff spot.

Burlington Cougars captain OWEN DAVIES is bullish on his club as they move into the new year: “I will be focusing on leading this team with our amazing leadership group to ensure we stay on the right path. We try to take it game by game as we continue to grow and develop as a team.When we stay on our game we are one of the top teams, if not the top team in the league. We will get more consistency as we have to excel at the fundamentals of the game and prioritize our defensive game.”

OAKVILLE, ON – Frank Castiglione of the Toronto Patriots celebrates scoring against the Oakville Blades at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex on September 7, 2024. (Photo by Spencer Smye / OJHL Images)

FRANK CASTIGLIONE of the Toronto Patriots is looking for a change of luck. He was out of the lineup from Oct. 30 to Dec. 21. “Being out injured has been tough physically and mentally but now I”m able to step on the ice again and to provide an impact for my team.” Frank scored on his first game back against the Niagara Falls Canucks.

St. Michael’s Buzzers captain and leading scorer DAVID ELMY: “My first wish is to finish the season strong and to win the divisional championship then move on to the final and take that as well. Secondly I will be heading into school soon after (at the NCAA’s Canisius University)  and one of my goals is to get into the lineup right away and make an impact as soon as I arrive. The last thing is that my family and loved ones stay safe and healthy.”

LEAMINGTON, ON – Griffin Grundner #13 celebrates a Leamington Flyers’ goal with Adrian Bosev #71 at Nature Fresh Farms Recreation Centre on November 7, 2024. (Photo by Tim Bates / OJHL Images)

ADRIAN BOSEV, captain of the West Conference-leading Leamington Flyers: “I’m going to do whatever it takes for my team to win. I want to be at my best every game, we have a good bond and want to win for each other. We had a tough stretch in November with our schedule and travel but came through it and stayed on top. Our playoffs will probably be very similar, three games in four days every weekend so it was good for us to get a taste of what was to come.” Teammate GRIFFIN GRUNDNER adds: “I need to continue to develop my game to earn a bigger role and as a team we need to continue to have everyone on the same page. We are here to win a championship.” 

Trenton Golden Hawks forward THOMAS KUIPERS, who has played some games with the Brampton Steelheads of the OHL, puts it simply: “I’m looking forward to making a lot of memories with the boys as we make a big push for the national championship. I look forward to every day at the arena.” Team captain and former Wellington Duke CORBIN ROACH knows his team is in a good place: “We had a great first half but we are not going to get over confident. I love our team, we just have to clean up some minor details. It gives us a big advantage playing at home in our small rink. I’m happy with my season so far after being selected for the (Battle of Ontario) and the 20-year-old game this month and we may just have a 100-point scorer this season in David Fournier. He is so consistent game in and game out.”  

Oakville Blades captain KYLE KUSSMAN succinctly sends out a warning to the other OJHL West Conference teams: “Look out, we are coming for that playoff spot.” The Blades have had some big wins and narrow losses in the month of December and they still cannot be counted out.

MARCUS LOUGHEED, who wears the ‘C’ for the Collingwood Blues and will be starting at Lake Superior State University in 2026: “I just want us to keep finding our consistency. When we play our game we are very dangerous, so we have to continue to play that way all the time but I like the way we are improving as we go into the new year.”

The Patriots’ CRISTIAN GIANCOLA, who will attend Clarkson University in 2026: “We have added some experienced players and have youth which will help us a lot. We plan to continue to compete with the best. From a personal standpoint I’m looking forward to keeping on developing. learning and making an impact on the ice.”

Buffalo Jr. Sabres’ forward MICHAEL KULL from Hamburg, NY: “As a team we are gearing up for a strong finish and a deep playoff run. For me team success leads to individual success and that’s what all of us are looking at for 2025. Team captain DYLAN MCFADDEN, who will be at the College of the Holy Cross in the Fall, added: “For myself going into the new year I’m still working on being the best team player I can be. We have a strong leadership group which should help us reach our goals.”

Stouffville captain DAVID PAGLIA: “I’m looking at a big playoff run from the Spirit this season. I know we have a lot of work ahead of us but I see a lot of drive and great potential in the dressing room and there is not another team in the league I would rather be with.” Teammate JULIAN DEMIGLIO, who has suited up for the OHL’s Brampton Steelheads this season and is heading to RIT in 2026, adds: “I want to get better as a player and develop every day and as a team we will be giving it all we have. We have to keep the momentum going and transfer the speed, skill and work ethic we have into the new year.”

TORONTO, ON – Cory Jewitt of the Wellington Dukes shoots the puck during a game against the Toronto Jr. Canadiens at Scotiabank Pond October 14, 2024. (Photo by Paul Mauceri / OJHL Images)

From the Wellington Dukes, captain CORY JEWITT, who leads the club in scoring with 45 points is hyped about the new year: “We are maturing as a group and in 2025 we want to continue to make that big push as we head into the postseason,”

Milton’s on-ice leader GRAEME MACAULEY, who has had a taste of OHL play this year with the Steelheads: “Our ownership has done a great job of bringing in some key players to help us reach our goals and we just want to keep it rolling. Personally I’m just looking to do whatever I can at both ends of the ice to help us become champions. If I’m able to get a commitment of some capacity along the way that would be great but winning a championship in 2005 is the absolutely No. 1 goal this year.” 

Pickering Panthers captain QUINN BINNIE is in the middle of a playoff race in the East: “I will be looking forward to a strong playoff push out of our team for sure. For myself, hopefully, to get a commitment to a Division 1 program in the U.S. or with a U SPORTS university.” Teammate COLE BOWDITCH started on the blueline this season as co-captain in North York and he feels comfortable with the Panthers: “We have some talented players on this team and I have been able to fit in well, it’s my last year and I want to show everyone that I can play a strong 200-foot game which will hopefully lead to some offers down the road.”

JORDAN KARAFILE returned to the Toronto Jr. Canadiens this year and in his final season he is optimistic: “I’ll be looking for our team to keep on a roll and to get to the Buckland Cup where we came up just short three years ago. We have the pieces so 2025 will be about putting that puzzle together over the final stretch of the season and into the playoffs.”

Blueliner MASSIMO NERI leads the Mississauga Chargers on the ice: “We want to end the season on a high note in 2025.  Additionally we all want to improve our game both individually and team wise. We all want nothing more than to change the culture of this team and the reputation it has in the league. Personally, I’m trying to improve my game and get a few more points under my belt. I also need to continue to help guide the younger guys that we have on our team so they will be ready for next year.”

It’s been a hectic couple of days for forward EVIN KOJOKARO who started his junior career with the North York Rangers, was traded along with Aaron Aandrade, from the Rebellion to the Patriots: “It has been kind of crazy but now things have settled down I see 2025 as an new opportunity and as a group we will be working hard to have success and I think that we will really surprise people on how serious this team is on making a big run in the playoffs.”

Blueliner RYAN O’DELL, from Stouffville, ON captains the Niagara Falls Canucks and he knows his final season in junior hockey is an important one: “In 2005 our team is going to be looking to come out and play even harder and faster than we did in the first half of the season. We’re going to be wanting to improve every game as we keep working towards chipping away at the standings so we can be in the best spot for the playoffs. Personally I want my game to be better every time I step on the ice. I would really like to secure a U SPORTS commitment for next year so that I can keep pursuing my goal to play professional hockey one day.”

LUKE JOHNSTON of the Milton Menace started out the season as captain of the Jr. Canadiens before being traded in mid-November. He is having fun with the West Conference club: “As a team we just went on a big run and going into the new year we are looking for more of the same. We are a deep club up and down the lineup and that has been the key to our success over that stretch. We play a physical game and we try to make it so other teams hate to play us. That’s just what we have to keep doing and we will continue to trend in the right direction.”

THE COACHES AND MANAGEMENT

BLAKE RICCI, GM of the Patriots: “We are still looking for a couple of pieces that will fill our needs. Obviously we are very happy to have picked up Aaron Andrade and Evin Kojokaro from King and this will really help us in the new year as we move forward and look to keep getting stronger.”

Jr. Canadiens head coach DAVID DEMARINIS puts it in a few words that tell it all: “Nothing less than the Buckland Cup.”

St. Michael’s Buzzers head coach RICH RICCI feels we have not seen the best of his club yet: “What we need is a more consistent game and playing to higher expectations.”

Leamington’s bench boss, DALE MITCHELL: “I’m looking for more consistency in our game and in our structure. I want us to continue to grow as a group and to build that chemistry needed for a long playoff run and, of course, to stay healthy.”

Mississauga Chargers’ head coach JOE WASHKURAK: “We have a very young group with a lot of positives but we have to find more consistency in our games going forward.”

Cobourg Cougars GM ADAM HOLZMANN looks forward to 2025: “We are looking to get healthy and climb in the standings. Cobourg has a history of being dedicated to winning. We hit a rough patch with injuries and losses early in the season that has put us lower in the standings than we would like to be but we pride ourselves on dealing with adversity and we look forward to making a push right into the last game of the season to get as high in the standings as possible.”

ANDREW CAMPOLI, head coach of the defending Centennial Cup champion Collingwood Blues: “As a team we have battled adversity since the first game of the season. We have had a number of injuries but other guys have stepped up night after night. I truly believe we have found our stride now and our focus going into 2025 is getting one percent better every day and ensuring we play Blues hockey for the remainder of the season.”

MARK JOSLIN, GM and bench boss of the King Rebellion who will be moving into their brand new digs, the Zancor Centre this month. The first game is scheduled for Jan. 26: “I am looking for our younger players to step up with some confidence to try and help us make another playoff push as we did last season. They will be getting good opportunities moving forward and hopefully they can take advantage of it.”  

DEREK SMITH, bench boss of the Trenton Golden Hawks who recently saw their run of 19 games without a regulation time loss end: “I know it sounds like a cliche but in 2025 we just have to keep getting better. We have a good group of young men but we just have to keep pushing ourselves to get better every day.”

BURLINGTON, ON – Burlington Cougars Associate Head Coach Kirby Tokarski “think the OJHL is wide open again this season and we believe we will be right there.”(Photo by Michelle Malvaso / OJHL Images)

Associate coach KIRBY TOKARSKI knows the new year will be a continuing battle for his Burlington Cougars: “I’m looking forward to a high compete level and the jockeying for position in the West as we near the playoffs. Every club is trying to add to get over the top. I think the OJHL is wide open again this season and we believe we will be right there. Competition to be at the top is at its finest.” 

In Pickering AGM and assistant coach MITCH BINNIE, Quinn’s big brother, says the Panthers are in it for the long haul this season: “We are happy with the work ethic that the boys have been putting out over the last few weeks with lots of one goal games that could have gone either way. The biggest thing we are looking for in 2025 is more scoring that will have those games finishing in our favour.”

TJ HILL, head coach of the Stouffville Spirit, is looking for more following his team’s recent good run: “In 2025 we are chasing consistency. We know what works. We know if we play to our identity we will be successful. Our goal is to play to that identity every time we step on the ice and if we can do that then we have a great chance to win every night.”

The Ontario Junior Hockey League season resumes this evening.

And to end on a personal note I would like to wish all the players, staff and great volunteers of the 24 teams plus the OJHL executive and all the involved media all the best for this holiday season and for the New Year.

Follow Ron Valentine on X @ronandlynda

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