Ontario Junior Hockey League resident writer Ron Valentine is profiling the 2025-26 team captains across The OJ.
BY RON VALENTINE
Adrian Bosev is back for his second season wearing the ‘C’ for the red-hot Leamington Flyers.
Adrian, who wears jersey No. 71, played on the Flyers’ 2022-23 Jr. B GOJHL Sutherland Cup winning team. Leamington, currently on a six-game winning streak, joined the OJHL the following season.
It is Adrian’s final year of junior hockey. In the 2024-25 campaign he posted 29 points. Four assistant captains include last-year players in blueliner Landon Bernard and Brayden Degelas along with two 19-year-olds: Griffin Grundner, who like the captain played on the Sutherland Cup squad, and Tyler McGuire, a 2022 selection of the Saginaw Spirit, who recently returned from an injury for his first game of the season.
Bernard (No. 21) was born in Michigan and is in his third year as a Flyer. In his previous two he has tallied 25 points.
Degelas, who wears No. 91 is from Blenheim and is a 2021 draft pick of the Sarnia Sting. He had 31 points last season, his second with the team after playing for the GOHL’s Sarnia Legionnaires and Chatham Maroons. Grundner (No. 13) from Riverside, is in his fourth Leamington season and has already surpassed his 2024-25 32-point total. His brother and teammate last season, Gavin, is now playing for U SPORTS Toronto Metropolitan University.
Captain Bosev comments on his assistants: “Bernard was an ‘A’ last season as well. He is the loudest voice on the team. This guy has been through a lot but he’s persevered and he’s a strong leader who backs up his words with his actions on and off the ice. Degelas is a skilled hockey player, quieter than some but a good leader. He can score but he’s also a set-up guy. He’s been given the opportunity to shine this season. He is excellent in stopping plays with his stick and he can strip the puck away from an opposition player, probably the best on the team at doing that. Grundner is small but powerful, he was a 16-year-old on our Jr. B championship team, so he knows what it takes to win. He’ll always put in that second effort and he’s a hard worker. He uses his body to get into a good position. It says a lot that McGuire has been given an ‘A’. He was hurt in the playoffs against Milton and he has had a long rehab, but actually he was able to come back a little earlier than was expected. He’s an Ontario Scholar, fully committed to the team and often has a different, but really interesting perspective on things.”
‘I was a 2005-born player on a team that had eight 2004s, but we had a good group and I was proud of what we accomplished..’
“From a personal point of view I found last season, my first as captain, to be a learning and sometimes a little bit of an intimidating experience. I was a 2005-born player on a team that had eight 2004s, but we had a good group and I was proud of what we accomplished although we ran out of gas against Milton in the (West Conference final). This season we got off to a slower start and ran into some major injury problems in October and November with McGuire already out, defenceman Ethan Tatomir breaking his leg after 11 games and still looking at some more time before returning. And others like Ashton Darocy, Bernard, Braedon Clark and myself, who spent time watching from the stands.”
“We were in a bit of a scoring drought but we are now starting to put that behind us. It was great to see Darocy score six goals in a game. He is an up and coming player and he was very humble about what he did in that game and always thanked his teammates for setting him up.” (According to recent OJHL records, the six goals tied the previous record set in February 2011 by the Brampton Capitals’ James Woodcroft). “Coach (Dale) Mitcchell and his assistants Richard Santos and Beau Hunter are always pushing the pace, our preparation is much better now and I feel we can make a charge, whether we can reach first place which we did last season, just our second in the league, or not, we will be there when it matters.”
“A lot of our success this season is due to our goaltending duo of Tre Altiman and Gannon Hunter. Tre was backup to Marcus Vandenburg (who had a 1.48 GAA with six shutouts) last year and got a chance to play more in King but he is glad to be back and we are pleased he’s back. Gannon Hunter has a great work ethic and has stepped in and he’s always ready to play. They are always urging each other on in a good way. They are competitive but always supportive of each other. I feel our defence overall, is second to none, We have the lowest goals against number in the league.”
“One of the main things I focus on is not to let the guys get too high or low after a loss. We know that we are a hardworking group with a lot of skill and a team that can overcome adversities. It all revolves around putting our best out there every night, studying the video and coming prepared to play. This is my last junior season and right now I’m taking courses at the University of Windsor and my aim is to play U SPORTS hockey.”
Adrian is not a pointscoring leader but he was chosen as captain for his all around play and leadership skills. Head coach Mitchell; “Adrian has been with us since the transition from Jr. B to Jr. A. He consistently shows up for work every day regardless of the circumstances. While he has faced ups and downs during his time with us he has always prioritized the team. He is someone you can really rely on and he embodies the spirit of the Leamington Flyers.”
Bosev and the fourth-place Flyers (27-11-1-0) are home to the King Rebellion Thursday night. They visit the Newmarket Hurricanes on Saturday afternoon.
Follow Ron Valentine on X @ronandlynda
