THE CAPTAINS: PAGLIA GETTING NOTICED DURING BREAKOUT SEASON IN STOUFFVILLE

The Stouffville Spirit's leadership group: Julian Demiglio (from left), Riley Pope, David Paglia and Jacob Winsor. (Stouffville Spirit photo)

Ontario Junior Hockey League resident writer Ron Valentine has profiled the 2024-25 team captains across The OJ.  

BY RON VALENTINE

Veteran blueliner DAVID PAGLIA is having a breakout season as the captain of the Stouffville Spirit

The big defenceman is ‘assisted’ by fellow blueliner JACOB WINSOR, 18-year-forward JULIAN DEMIGLIO and veteran forward RILEY POPE.

David, 20, from King City ON, played minor hockey for the Richmond Hill Coyotes before joining the Spirit in 2022-23, putting up six assists in 48 games in that rookie season. He increased that point output to 16 for the following season and has already eclipsed that figure this term as the team’s leading pointgetter. 

David has seven goals and 19 assists in 37 games and is tied for 12th in the OJHL scoring race for defencemen.

It didn’t go unnoticed.

He was selected to play for:

  • An OJHL all-star team in last month’s Battle of Ontario against the Central Canada Hockey League all-stars.
  • One of two OJHL teams of top 20-year-olds that will face off against the Toronto Metropolitan University Bold this Saturday at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto.

Those assistants?

Winsor came to Stouffville after starting his junior hockey career with the Ottawa Jr. Senators and then he moved on to the Collingwood Blues last season. 

Pope, from Bolton ON, is like Winsor, in his final junior campaign. In 2023-24 Pope, who turned 20 on October 23, had 23 points last season and is on track to at least double that total. He saw time two years ago with the Sudbury Wolves, the Spirit’s Ontario HockeyLeague affiliate.

Demiglio, 18, from Richmond Hill had a 38-point season in 2023-24 and has committed to RIT for 2026. He signed with the Brampton Steelheads of the OHL, after representing the Spirit at the Junior A World Challenge in Alberta this month.

David on his A’s: “Winsor has played for two teams in the Centennial Cup. He is such a consistent player, you can always rely on him to give 100 per cent. He’s always pushing the guys and setting the example. Pope is a close friend who has really matured over the years. Our coach has called him ‘the best forechecker in the league’. He is a physical presence and all the players look up to him. Demiglio is mature beyond his years. He is hard on guys when he needs to be. He’s a very supportive person and he keeps everyone accountable. Outside of our official group, we have players like Zack Corte and Evan Breckles and Kyle Downey who are leaders in their own right.”

The captain on himself: “I would like to think that I’m a physical defenceman who plays a simple game and who will do what it takes to win. This season I’m concentrating on being quicker with my feet. Of course, being my last junior season it’s an important one for me so that I can continue my education and play hockey. It’s an honour to wear the ‘C’. The only other time that’s happened to me was when I was playing minor atom for the single-A Nobleton Knights!”

“This is the strongest Spirit team I have played on. Coach Hill takes the time to explain in detail what he’s looking for. He wants us to be the best we can be and holds us accountable.”

David looking back and forward: “Overall I thought we had a good season last year, but the quick exit to Trenton in the first round of the playoffs was a disappointment. But what was impressive to me was the amount of heart the team showed especially in the final, Game 4. Now we have players who are better for that experience. Our compete level has been there even when we have come out on the wrong end of overtime games. The young guys are getting it and they battle. 

“This is the strongest Spirit team I have played on. Coach Hill takes the time to explain in detail what he’s looking for. He wants us to be the best we can be and holds us accountable.”

Head Coach Hill, who starred for the OJHL’s  Ajax Axemen from 1997-99, was named Spirit bench boss on Nov. 27, 2022. The former assistant coach in Ajax, Newmarket and Pickering has the final say: “All of our leadership group are strong on and off the ice. David brings his on-ice experience and he is always the leader in community events. He has a great relationship with the staff and he knows the importance of community involvement. He is focused on team development. He’s a positive thinker.”

“Jacob brings a winning attitude to the team. We leverage that knowledge often and he is a top defenceman in the league. Julian’s compete level is through the roof and, although only 18, he has all the characteristics of a strong leader. Riley has gotten off to a great start. We always knew he had it in him, but sometimes it takes a guy to find his identity. He will not be outworked. There is no quit in this group…”

The Spirit (20-13-0-4) are in fifth place in the OJHL East Conference standings.

Their next game is on Jan. 9 when they host the Haliburton County Huskies.

Follow Ron Valentine on X @ronandlynda

 

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