Ontario Junior Hockey League resident writer Ron Valentine is profiling the 2023-24 team captains across The OJ. (Photo by Spencer Smye / OJHL Images)
BY RON VALENTINE
Final-year forward Nick Athanasakos is the captain of the resurgent Pickering Panthers for the 2023-24 campaign.
The Unionville, ON native had 10 goals for the Haliburton County Huskies in 2021-22 and last season he netted 20 for the Panthers, including five game winners.
He scored his first OJHL hat trick last February against the Stouffville Spirit.
He was drafted in 2019 by the Ontario Hockey League’s Niagara IceDogs.
Will the natural progression continue for him with a 30-goal campaign for Pickering?
Looks like it. Athanasakos is in fifth place in the OJHL scoring race with 21 goals and 26 assists in 33 games.
Nick talks about his early hockey career.
“I played for the Markham Waxers in the OMHA for three seasons and my last two in minor hockey were with the Toronto Red Wings AAA. I really enjoyed my time with Ridley College In St. Catharines starting in 2019 in my Grade 11 and 12 years. We had a full schedule and we travelled a lot for tournaments and showcases. Their home rink was just around the corner from the IceDogs arena and at that time my goal was just set on playing in the OHL and I really wanted to get noticed by that club’s scouts. But I’m really glad I chose the OJHL route and now my goal is to get a good scholarship.”
Looking back on his OJHL career to date.
“I really enjoyed my time in Minden with the (Haliburton County) Huskies. Small town, small rink and avid fans. I have learned a lot from Rob Pearson and the coaching staff in Pickering. We had a very young team last season and lost out in a competitive playoff series with Milton. Not where we wanted to be.”
…and forward
“Once again we have a lot of new faces in the Panthers’ lineup… It’s really an honour being named captain here, I wore the ‘C’ with the Red Wings and at Ridley and relish being a leader. Among the new players that will really make an impact this season is Kieran Litterick. It’s his first OJHL season. He is a big presence and scored in his first game, he plays hard every shift, has tons of skill and it will be fun to watch his development this season. The 30 goals, or more, for me this season, well that would suit me fine. No-one seems to be expecting a lot from the Panthers this time around, but it’s my job to make sure that we are the hungriest team. Our group is speedy and always ready to do the little things right.”
What should fans look for in Nick?
“A strong, two-way forward with lots of energy. I’m eager to keep improving my defensive game and carry on with my physical style, get to the net and create some space and keep picking up the goals, finish my hits, block shots and be effective on the special teams. Jamie Benn is an NHL player that I have modeled myself after.”
As a captain
“It’s really important to get to know your teammates, to get to know their personalities, sometimes it’s tough love that one player might need while another one may react well to a tap on the bum and a word of encouragement. First and foremost, it’s all about setting a good example and seeing the successes of players when they follow that, especially the younger ones as they gain confidence in their abilities at the OJHL level.”
Athanasakos accurately predicted the Panthers would recover from a slow start. They won their seventh game in 11 starts last night, 5-2 over the Georgetown Raiders in Georgetown. Athanasakos had a goal and two assists in the win.
The assistants
The Panthers named Hunter Svicki as their first assistant captain. The big blueliner has worn the uniforms of the Toronto Patriots and Burlington Cougars previously. At 6-foot-4 and 196 pounds he is a big presence.
They added Ben Pickell as an assistant. Ben started out in the OJHL in 2021-22 with Pickering and ended the season with the OHL’s Barrie Colts who drafted him in the third round, 55th overall. He started 2022-23 in Barrie before returning to the Panthers. He did not play his first game this season until Oct. 6 but has an outstanding 17 goals and 17 assists in the 21 games since then.
Pickell played for OJHL Team Oates at the Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge in Trenton last month and was named to Team Canada East for this month’s World Jr. A Challenge tournament in Nova Scotia.
The Panthers play at Wellington Friday and Haliburton Saturday before hosting Wellington Dec. 15.
Follow Ron Valentine on X @ronandlynda
