OFFSEASON RECAP
The action has continued following one of the most memorable seasons in Oshawa Generals franchise history. From a new head coach, to saying goodbye to fan favourites, it’s been a busy offseason with many changes so far. Check out the offseason recap below!
Some New Faces:
The Generals welcomed many new prospects after the 2015 OHL Priority Selection presented by State Farm occurred in April. Since June, there have been three Gens prospects that have committed to the club. Jack Studnicka, the Generals’ first round pick in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection Draft committed to the team on June 5, 2015. Studnicka is a solid centreman with a proven track record for scoring. The Generals’ second pick in the draft, Kyle Maclean, also committed to the team on June 12, 2015, while Jalen Smereck, a Gens pick in 2013, committed to the Generals in early July. Look out for Studnicka, Maclean and Smereck who will be back on the ice at the GM Centre for training camp in September.
A Few Goodbyes:
Will Petschenig: The 1995 born defenceman was traded to the Saginaw Spirit in exchange for draft picks on June 15, 2015. Will spent three seasons with the Gens after being drafted by the team in the third round in 2011. His leadership and defensive abilities are valued and will be important as an overage defenceman in Saginaw.
Bradley Latour: The Generals traded the right of the overage forward to the Windsor Spitfires in exchange for the rights of Anthony Kotsovos and a draft pick. Like Will, Latour spent three seasons in Oshawa after committing to the team in July 2011. He Latour recorded a total of 121 points (51 goals, 70 assists) in 203 regular season games with the Generals.
Aidan Wallace: The Scarborough native has accepted his offer of admission to study social sciences at the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus. Wallace spent three seasons with the Generals, playing a total of 125 games. He will join the University of Toronto Varsity Blues hockey team while attending U of T.
NHL Contracts:
The list of Oshawa Generals and OHL graduates continues to grow. Tobias Lindberg signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Ottawa Senators last month after being drafted by the club in 2013. He was a key player offensively in his first year in the OHL, ranked third among Generals in regular-season scoring. On July 2, 2015, Dakota Mermis signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes. Mermis spent half his season with the Gens and played a large role on defence for the Generals, shutting down top guys throughout the 2015 playoffs and in the Memorial Cup. The contracts kept coming as Hunter Smith officially signed his first entry-level contract with the Calgary Flames on July 5. Smith was drafted by the Flames 54th overall in 2014. During the 2015 regular season, the 6’7 right winger finished fourth on his team in goals, netting a career high 23 in addition to 26 assists for 49 points and a team high 122 penalty minutes. Good news continued for former General Chris Carlisle who signed a one-year two-way contract with the Binghamton Senators of the American Hockey League (AHL). Carlisle spent all four season of his OHL career with the Generals and developed into a leading defenceman for the club.
Coaching:
DJ Smith: After joining the Generals in June 2012, winning Coach of the Year in 2013-14, DJ lead the 2014-15 team to set franchise records and become OHL and MasterCard Memorial Cup Champions. Following the championship season, DJ was named the assistant coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He will work alongside Mike Babcock, Jim Hiller and Andrew Brewer. Congrats again DJ!
Bob Jones: After DJ’s departure, the Generals welcomed Bob Jones to the family as head coach of the team. Jones has an impressive resume with almost 20 years of OHL coaching experience as an associate coach, an assistant coach and as a head coach. He spent the last eight years with the Windsor Spitfires, working with DJ Smith for a few years. He will make his coaching debut with the Gens in the upcoming season.
Greg Nemisz: Nemisz is the Generals’ newest addition after joining the coaching staff on July 15, 2015. A native of Courtice, ON, Nemisz played for the Spitfires under Bob Jones and DJ Smith before getting drafted 25th overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He spent most of his career in the AHL, and has decided to pursue coaching instead of playing. Nemisz will make his official coaching debut with the team in September.
NHL Entry Draft:
Anthony Cirelli:Selected in the third round, 72nd overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Read the full story HERE.
Mitchell Vande Sompel: Selected in the third round, 82nd overall by tHe New York Islanders. Details can be found HERE.
Stephen Desrocher: Selected in the sixth round, 155th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Full article can be read HERE.
2015 CHL Import Draft:
First Pick: With their first pick, 56th overall, the Generals selected Lukas Lofquist. The 19-year-old right-winger from Sweden spent this past season playing with the Djurgården J20 of the SuperElit. He registered 43 points (22 goals, 21 assists) in 42 games played.
Second Pick: The Oshawa Generals selected Misha Moor with their second and final pick. Moor is a right defenceman from Savosa, Switzerland. He played for the Ambrì-Piotta U20 of the Elite Jr. A in the 2014-15 season and recorded 11 pojnts (4 goals, 7 assists) in 25 regular season games.
A reminder that the 2015-16 season home opener is on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 6:05p.m. Single game tickets are not available yet but season tickets are! With the season just around the corner, reserve your season tickets, flex packs, and group outings today. For more information, please contact the ticket office at 905-433-0900 ext. 2226 or 2238, visit the GM Centre box office, or go to oshawagenerals.com/tickets.
