U SPORTS Report: 10 OHL alumni named to U SPORTS All-Stars
A total of 217 OHL alumni are playing in the U SPORTS men’s hockey ranks this season. Throughout the year the U SPORTS Report will keep tabs on former OHL names doing great things in the OUA, AUS and Canada West ranks on the road to the 2023 U SPORTS University Cup to be held from March 16-19 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
For the eighth time since 2015, a team of U SPORTS men’s hockey all-stars will be facing members of Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp as part of its preparation for the 2023 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.
U SPORTS has selected 10 OHL alumni exclusively from the Atlantic University Sport conference to represent the All-Star team and face Team Canada’s hopefuls in a pair of games at the Avenir Centre in Moncton, NB. on Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. AT and Dec. 12 at 12 p.m. AT.
STFX X-Men – Liam Hawel, Matthew Struthers:
With every player scoring greater than a point-per-game this season, the team will be led by former OHL champion Liam Hawel. The STFX X-Men forward leads the AUS in scoring this season with 12 goals, 15 assists and 27 points in 18 games. Hawel, who also played for Sault Ste. Marie, Guelph and Kitchener during his OHL career, was named Most Valuable Player following a conference-leading 37-point campaign with 18 goals and 19 assists in 24 contests last season. The Arnprior, Ont. native was also named AUS Rookie of the Year and a First Team All-Star.
Joining him is former Owen Sound Attack and North Bay Battalion forward Matthew Struthers. Struthers currently ranks second behind Hawel in AUS scoring, recording seven goals, 18 assists and 25 points in 15 games played. The Milton, Ont. native spent five seasons in the OHL, recording 217 points (91-126-217) in 298 contests.
UPEI Panthers – Matt Brassard, Kyle Maksimovich, Troy Lajeunesse:
The U SPORTS defence will be led by former Oshawa Generals blueliner Matt Brassard. Pushing the UPEI Panthers to sucess, the Barrie, Ont. native currently sits as the leading point-getter amongst rearguards in Canadian university men’s hockey with 23 points in 18 games (3-20-23). Brassard also spent parts of his OHL career with the Barrie Colts and the Niagara IceDogs.
Erie Otters alumnus Kyle Maksimovich will also lace up for the All-Star team, as the UPEI forward has tallied 12 goals, 11 assists and 23 points this season. The Hamilton, Ont. native ranks third among point-getters in the conference so far this season. Maksimovich spent five seasons in the OHL, finishing his final year with the Ottawa 67’s.
Former Sarnia Sting forward Troy Lajeunesse is the third Panther to join the lineup, sitting tied with his fellow teammates at 23 points (12-10-23) on the season. The 25-year-old centreman is embarking on his fourth season with the Panthers, recording 30 goals, 43 assists and 73 points over 99 U SPORTS regular season contests. Lajeunesse played four season in the OHL, splitting his career between Sarnia, the Erie Otters, and the Sudbury Wolves.
UNB Reds – Brady Gilmour, Austen Keating, Jason Willms, Noah Carroll:
The UNB Reds men’s hockey team continues to show their dominance, fueling the U SPORTS squad with four OHL alumni. Saginaw Spirit graduate Brady Gilmour has been his team’s leading point-scorer this season, recording three goals, 16 assists and 19 points over 18 games played. Following in his footsteps is Ottawa 67’s graduate Austen Keating (9-9-18), Barrie Colts alumni Jason Willms (8-10-18) and former Soo Greyhounds blueliner Noah Carroll (0-6-6). The UNB Reds rank 1st in the country as they remain atop the AUS standing with a 15-2-0-1 record this season.
Saint Mary’s Huskies – Justin MacPherson
Representing the Saint Mary’s Huskies, Kitchener Rangers alumni Justin MacPherson has had an outstanding start to the year. The second-year blueliner currently ranks second in points scored by a defenceman this season, recording two goals, 16 assists and 18 points in 18 games played. MacPherson spent four seasons in the OHL, splitting his career between the Rangers and the Niagara IceDogs.
For more details on the U SPORTS men’s hockey All-Star team roster, click here.
