Evan Le Conte is ‘a true leader and exactly what we were looking for in a captain’
Ontario Junior Hockey League resident writer Ron Valentine is profiling the 2025-26 team captains across The OJ.
BY RON VALENTINE
Second-year forward Evan Le Conte is the captain of the Oakville Blades this season.
High-end hockey is in his blood.
Younger brother, Tyler, is also a Blade, in his first season as a 16-year-old. Cousins Alyn and Matt Robson played in the OJHL. Alyn, a defenceman for the Mississauga Chargers, and Matt Robson, a goalie for the Lindsay Muskies and Toronto Patriots, who is now playing in the Elite Ice Hockey League in England for the Coventry Blaze.
“As well as my brother being on the roster this year, which is great,” Evan told the OJHL, “my dad’s cousin, Andy McDonald, played 12 seasons, mainly as a centre, in the NHL with Anaheim and St. Louis.”
Evan had nine goals and 26 points and finished third in team scoring last season.
The Milton resident graduated from the U18 Oakville Rangers and before that suited up for teams in the Halton Hurricanes minor hockey system. Evan attended Bishop Reding Catholic Secondary School in Oakville.
“As well as my brother being on the roster this year, which is great, my dad’s cousin, Andy McDonald, played 12 seasons, mainly as a centre, in the NHL with Anaheim and St. Louis.”
This year’s Blades assistant captains are Marcus Hookong, Luke Allison, Lucas Tye and Theron Tsiapalis.
Hookong, born in Paris, France, is also in his second season in Oakville and his final in junior hockey having put up 24 points in their last campaign. His younger brother, 16-year-old Andre is also with the organization.
Allison, a defenceman, is in his second season as a Blade. He played Jr. B with the Hamilton Kilty Bees in 2002-23.
Tye, 18, is another sophomore. He started out his junior career with the Milton Menace.
Tsiapalis, 19, played Jr. B last season with Strathroy, London and Sarnia in the GOHL.
Evan talks about the assistants: “Marcus is a very smart player both on and off the ice, he is always willing to help and correct, if necessary. Luke is a big presence for us on defence, he’s a strong skater, a veteran with lots of energy. He helps the younger players adjust to the speed of the OJHL. We started out the season with just Marcus and Luke but we added Lucas and Theron because of their strong leadership capabilities.”
Assistant coach/assistant GM Dean de Fazio talks about Evan’s positively: “He’s a true leader and exactly what we were looking for in a captain. His work ethic and his passion are contagious and his teammates respect him.”
“I’m looking to improve my scoring if I can over the course of this season,” the captain said. “I think I’m better known as a two-way forward who is responsible but producing more offensively would be a plus for me. I’m always working on my skating. Since our home rink is Olympic size, being a good skater is very important. We have to make the most of our big ice at home and make it tough for our opponents when they come to Sixteen Mile.”
The 9-19-0-2 Blades have had a tough start to the season currently being outside of a postseason place in the very competitive West Conference but Evan is not discouraged: “We are still working extremely hard to secure that playoff spot. The team is really galvanizing, especially in the last few weeks.”
The Blades are home to the Toronto Patriots tonight at 7 p.m. They visit the Mississauga Chargers on Saturday night.
Follow Ron Valentine on X @ronandlynda
