Ontario Junior Hockey League resident writer Ron Valentine is profiling the 2023-24 team captains across The OJ. (Photo by Tim Bates / OJHL Images)
BY RON VALENTINE
Local boy Cameron Lowe is the captain of the Niagara Falls Canucks for the 2023-24 campaign – their first at the Junior A level. The centre iceman had 34 points in 23 games last season for the GOJHL’s Jr. B St. Catharines Falcons.
Cam talks about his minor hockey career and his time before the Canucks.
“I have worn the captain’s jersey before when I was with the AAA Niagara Rivermen. In my final three seasons in minor hockey I played with the Southern Tier Admirals, wearing an ‘A’, with players from all across the Niagara region. I was really pleased to be drafted by Erie (the Otters selected him in 2020, in the seventh round, 128th overall) and I played over 50 games there. I started last season in Erie but I thought I would get more playing time and better exposure in St, Catharines. Plus it was closer to home and we did have a very good season winning the Golden Horseshoe conference before losing in the second round of the playoffs to Caledonia in seven games. After that series, I went up to Sudbury to play for the Cubs in their NOJHL playoffs but I only played one game before they were eliminated.”
Now a Canuck.
“I was really happy when our head coach Frank Pietrangelo (also owner and president of the club) appointed me to be the captain in our first season in the OJHL. We got off to a decent start and our goal in our first season is to make the playoffs and it’s my job to make sure everyone is accountable on this club. I have three very capable assistant captains: Connor Thomson-Dick, who played in the league last season with Burlington and also played Junior B with Welland, he brings strength to the blueline and he’s a very creative player; Alex Hebblethwaite, who had 55 points for the team last season and who got off to a very strong start, he’s a goal scorer and he’s really effective in the offensive zone and Tighe Frazee, who is very vocal in the dressing room, he brings his best in all situations.”
The Canucks are a new team to the OJHL what should fans look for?
“We have assembled a group that knows the value of being together as a team, the coaching staff are hard on us as they should be but also very supportive and Frank is a players’ coach who instills the work ethic into all of us. It’s that kind of commitment that will get us a playoff place at the end of the season. We know there will be ups and downs in our first season but we are gaining in confidence. It also helps that several players are from the Niagara region and our fans really appreciate our efforts. Look for a big season from Adrian Diodati who spent some time playing for Navan in the CCHL. Not only is he a skilled player on the ice but also a leader in the room.”
Hebbelthwaite, who is committed to NCAA Division I RIT for 2025, has got off to a really fast start with 25 points in 16 games while captain Cam has seven goals and 21 points. Hebblethwaite and Thomson-Dick will represent the club at the Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge in Trenton next week.
If you haven’t seen Cam play, what should you look for?
“A big guy who can play 200-foot hockey, a player who takes pride in working both ends of the rink, who can be relied on to win those important faceoffs, who can be effective in both powerplay and penalty killing situations.”
Coach Pietrangelo on his on-ice leader: ” Cam is one of our older players, he’s from Niagara Falls, loves the area. He played a year plus in the OHL so he is one of our most experienced players. He was the obvious choice to be our captain.”
The new kids on the block have quickly got to know what hockey is like in the OJHL and with Cameron and his leadership group at the helm teams will quickly get to know the Canucks as a tough opponent every night and as their fans already know, as a hard-working group who know where they want to be.
The Canucks are home to the Mississauga Chargers on Friday night.
Follow Ron Valentine on X @ronandlynda
