U SPORTS Report: Oct. 11, 2023

A total of 228 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 2024 U SPORTS University Cup to be held from March 14-17 in Toronto, Ont.

 

OHL GRADS TO LEAD REIGNING NATIONAL CHAMPIONS IN 2023-24

To get us started this season, the reigning 2023 University Cup champions University of New Brunswick Reds announced their leadership group last week, naming solely OHL alumni as captains for the 2023-24 season.

Our 2023 Leadership Group:

C – Jason Willms @jasonwillms88
A – Brady Gilmour @bradygilmour9
A – Austen Keating @AustenKeating
A – Kade Landry @kadelandry pic.twitter.com/f5oP8XxAXN

— UNB Men’s Hockey (@UNBMHockey) October 6, 2023

Jason Willms – London Knights, Barrie Colts

An AUS Second Team All-Star, Willms scored 15 goals and 14 assists (15-14-29) while serving as the Reds team captain last season. Helping UNB skate to their ninth National title, the Kitchener, Ont. native has provided leadership and depth to the program over the last four years. Playing five seasons in the OHL, Willms spent four seasons with the Colts, before splitting his overage year between Barrie and the London Knights. The left-shot forward recorded 181 points (82-99-181) in 264 games played, just eight shy of surpassing the ironman record due to the 2020 Covid-19 shutdown.

Brady Gilmour – Saginaw Spirit

Spending four seasons with the Saginaw Spirit, Gilmour recorded 57 goals, 77 assists and 134 points in 231 games played over his OHL career, adding an additional 18 points (3-15-18) in 17 post-season games during the 2018-19 season. A former AUS All-Rookie Team selection in 2019-2020, the Grafton, Ont. native led the Reds in points last season, notching five goals and 25 assists in 26 regular season games, good for fourth in AUS scoring. A draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings, he helped Canada win gold at the 2023 FISU World Winter University Games in Lake Placid, NY. this past winter.

Austen Keating – Ottawa 67’s

The former OHL Overage Player of the Year enters his fourth season with the Reds, recording 27 points (16-11-27) in 25 regular season games last year. Named to the U Sports men’s hockey 2022 all-star team, Keating also faced members of Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp as part of their preparation for the 2023 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. The Guelph, Ont. product suited up in 309 games for the Ottawa 67’s from 2015-20, third in franchise history, scoring 113 goals and 325 points.

Kade Landry – Hamilton Bulldogs, Barrie Colts

Helping earn UNB’s 19th AUS Championship with the Reds last season, the second-year defenceman tallied 19 points (2-17-19) in 30 games played to help lead the champions to success. A native of Gowanstown, Ont., Landry spent five seasons in the Ontario Hockey League between the Barrie Colts and the Hamilton Bulldogs, recording 15 goals, 118 assists, and 133 points in 248 regular season matchups.

The defending U Sports Champions opened the 2023-24 season with two wins over the weekend, defeating the Moncton Aigles Bleus 8-0, and the UPEI Panthers 1-0.

 

QUEEN’S, BROCK, TORONTO METROPOLITAN OUT TO 2-0 START IN OUA RANKS

The Queen’s Gaels, who feature 20 OHL graduates on their roster this season, got off to a strong start with road wins over UOIT and York, outscoring their opponents 15-4. Nolan Hutcheson (Sudbury Wolves) and Dalton Duhart (London/Barrie/Saginaw) are early-season scoring leaders in the OUA, each registering six points in their first two games.

The Brock Badgers scored consecutive home wins over Lakehead, with Tyler Burnie (Kingston Frontenacs) scoring twice in a 5-2 win on Friday before Jacob Roach (Guelph Storm) tallied a goal and an assist in a 3-2 overtime triumph on Saturday.

Hosting this year’s national tournament, the Toronto Metropolitan University Bold beat Windsor and Waterloo, each by scores of 3-1. Chris Playfair (Windsor Spitfires) scored the deciding goal in Friday’s defeat of Windsor on home ice. Kyle Bollers scored the game-winner on Saturday in Waterloo.