Ontario Junior Hockey League resident writer Ron Valentine is profiling the 2024-25 team captains across The OJ.
BY RON VALENTINE
Nineteen-year old defenceman NICHOLAS BRADY has been named captain of the Eastern Conference Aurora Tigers.
He started his junior hockey career with the NOJHL’s Blind River Beavers in their 2022-23 campaign. The following season he suited up for the Markham Royals and the Wellington Dukes, before joining the Tigers this year. He was a third-round pick, 50th overall, by Barrie in the Ontario Hockey League’s U18 draft.
Tigers’ head coach Thomas Milne, who began his OJHL coaching career in Aurora in 2003 as an assistant and is in his third stint with the club, knows he has the right guy to head up his young team: “We got Nicholas in a trade with the Wellington Dukes. Our original plan here in Aurora was to start the season with assistant captains and see who would emerge as a leader who could wear the ‘C’.
“Nicholas, being the so-called elder statesman, having played for the Dukes, Markham and Blind River, stepped up and we could see he took the time to treat all the new players, and we have 23 on the roster, with respect and compassion. He has made them feel so comfortable as they have played in their early games, the first of many for these players in the OJHL. On a side note, he also works as a mechanic for Midas. This in turn teaches the players about real life and not just about hockey.”
Nicholas’ assistant captains are fellow defencemen Liam Longo, 19, from Oshawa, who was with the Pickering Panthers last season, Jack Rispin, from Innisfil and in his second season as a Tiger, and forward Antonio Cerqua, 18, from Sutton whose previous OJHL clubs have included the Collingwood Blues, Toronto Jr. Canadiens and Haliburton County Huskies.
“It’s great to have three quality players as assistant captains,” Nicholas noted. “I played most of my minor hockey career in Oshawa with Longo. He likes to speak up, which is good. He sets a high standard for himself and his teammates. Rispin has been battling some injury problems but he’s a reliable defenceman who plays good positional hockey. Cerqua has the most experience and he’s going to have a breakout season with us; he can score and is a top playmaker, and leaves it all out there on every shift. We all love playing hockey and we try to do things the right way.”
The club currently has just one 2004-born player, goaltender Chris Thompson, on its roster. That’s a challenge for the new captain: “We have probably the youngest team in the OJHL so it’s important that our leadership group tries to make them as comfortable as possible and get them used to what it’s like to be a junior hockey player. We have an advantage when playing in our own small rink but we have to make sure that we are ready for every game. Getting off to a slow start in a game puts the pressure on the younger players. It’s mentally hard to bounce back when you get behind quickly but it’s all a learning process that we have to go through. “
“The Tigers won just 13 games last season and we will definitely put that total way behind us. We have the talent here that should, hopefully, get us a playoff spot. The league is very competitive so preparation is really key. My job in a garage helps me to keep in shape and it keeps me busy along with the practices, off-ice training and games. I like to focus on physical play and making that good first pass which is key. This season I’m trying to work on my offensive game.”
A year before Nicholas was born (2004) the Tigers were Royal Bank Cup (now Centennial Cup) champions coached by Marty Williamson with Milne acting as assistant. Back at the helm the head coach is on a rebuilding effort in Aurora. Nicholas’ and his leadership group’s passion for the game will help point the club in the right direction.
The Tigers visit Markham Friday and host Burlington Saturday.
Follow Ron Valentine on X @ronandlynda
