Road to the 2016 OHL Cup

With four GTHL,  four OMHA and three ALLIANCE clubs all clinching OHL Cup berths heading into Tuesday, two representatives from Ontario’s northern reaches and a pair of entries from the United States round out the 15 teams with guaranteed spots in the showcase. The other five are set to be determined on Tuesday in Wild Card ‘Play In’ action.

The Thunder Bay Kings represent the HNO ranks while an assembled group of the NOHA’s top draft eligible talent joins forces to represent Team NOHA.

American entries in the Elite Hockey Group and TPH Hockey return to the showcase, the former for a fifth straight year while the latter has been competing since 2007.

While none of the above teams has captured an OHL Cup title since the showcase became a Minor Midget championship in 2003, each has produced quality OHL talent.

The Thunder Bay Kings played out of the NAPHL’s Under-16 division this season, finishing with a record of 8-14-3 in the 19-team circuit that features opponents from as far as San Diego, California and Dallas, Texas.

One of the hardest-working teams in the 2015 OHL Cup, the Kings quickly earned a reputation in the showcase for doing whatever it took to make a play or get in front of a shot. They played to a 1-2-0-1 record behind strong performances from Windsor Spitfires second round pick Kyle Auger, London Knights draftee Cole Tymkin, Kitchener Rangers prospect Alex Peterson and leading scorer Hunter Buzzi.

The 2015-16 Kings were led in scoring by 5’10”, 165Ib. centreman Quintin Loon-Stewardson who had 22 points (11-11–22) in 25 games.

With former Windsor Spitfires and Saginaw Spirit blueliner Mitch Maunu (2002-07) behind the bench, the Kings will have to be opportunistic offensively and avoid costly mistakes against their offensively gifted opponents if they want to make things interesting this week.

Thunder Bay’s nothern combatants from Team NOHA will compete in the Nash Division alongside the Toronto Marlboros, TPH Hockey and the Southern Tier Admirals.

The northern conglomerate is led by Great North Midget League leading scorer Lucas Theriault of the Soo Thunderbirds who finished the season with 31 goals, 34 assists and 65 points in 34 contests against older Midget-aged players. He is joined by Thunderbirds teammate Keegan Stevenson, a 5’10”, 161Ib. winger who collected 29 points (17-12–29) in 21 contests.

Team NOHA will also include some of the top talent from the Sudbury Minor Midget Wolves team that played against older competition in the GNML. High-end talent in Damien Giroux, sturdy two-way centreman Billy Moskal and big power winger Chad Denault combine with Theriault and Stevenson to give the NOHA one of it’s stronger OHL Cup entries of the past several years.

“Team NOHA will be an interesting team to keep an eye on,” noted Director of OHL Central Scouting Darrell Woodley. “They’ve got a nice blend of size and skill on their roster and I look forward to seeing how they come together as a group. Talent-wise they are right there with a number of teams in this showcase.”

Moskal and Giroux won a GNML championship with the Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves over the weekend as they swept the Kapuskasing Flyers to advance to the Central Regional Championships in Waterloo that begin the week of March 27th. Giroux finished tied for the lead in Wolves playoff scoring with five goals, two assists and seven points in six games.

Looking south, the U.S. entry Elite Hockey Group returns to the OHL Cup with a solid crop of forwards looking to make their mark when they hit the ice on Wednesday.

The Buffalo Jr. Sabres connection of Kevin Wall and Trevor Peca led their club to a first place finish of 19-12-1 in the Tier 1 Elite League’s Ohio Division. The 5’10”, 180Ib. Wall led the Sabres in scoring with 16 goals, 12 assists and 28 points in 32 games while Peca, who is the son of OHL graduate and retired NHL forward Mike Peca, had 11 points (6-5–11) on the season.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights forwards Sam Steele and Jake Goldowski will be sure to draw some attention as well. The 6’2″, 171Ib. Steele led the Knights’ NAPHL U16 team in scoring with 43 points (15-28–43) in 25 games while Goldowski trailed close behind with 39 (16-23–39).

Doug Connor provides Elite Hockey Group with some stability in the crease, returning to the OHL Cup after playing underage last year.

TPH Hockey played to a 2-2 mark at the 2015 OHL Cup, marking the third straight year they’ve won at least twice.

The hockey academy based in several U.S. locations brings some big names to Toronto this week including underage standout Tag Bertuzzi, the son of Guelph Storm grad and long-time NHL power winger Todd Bertuzzi.

TPH will rely on the contributions of Michigan High School Hockey top performers in forward Josh Maine and blueliner Alec Regula while also leaning on 6’2″, 165Ib. rearguard Jack Tucker, who is the son of former Kitchener Rangers two-time 100-point scorer and NHL veteran John Tucker (1981-84).

“Both of our American entries have quality prospects on their rosters,” said Woodley. “We’ve seen some real talented kids join the OHL ranks after playing for these teams at the OHL Cup showcase and I expect we might see a few more down the road.”

Prominent past Elite Hockey Group talent in the OHL includes Kitchener Rangers forward Jeremy Bracco, North Bay Battalion standout blueliner Cam Dineen and Mississauga Steelheads forward Marcus Dickerson.

TPH Hockey graduates in the OHL include leading scorer Kevin Labanc of the Barrie Colts, Oshawa Generals 2015 first round pick Jack Studnicka and Steelheads defenceman Austin Osmanski.

Here’s a look at what’s happening across Ontario as clubs have now qualified for the 2016 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament.

GTHL:

*** Toronto Marlboros, Mississauga Rebels, Toronto Red Wings and Toronto Jr. Canadiens have qualified for the 2016 OHL Cup. The Don Mills Flyers, Mississauga Senators, Markham Majors and Vaughan Kings will play Wild Card games on Tuesday March 15th.

GTHL FINALS
(1) Toronto Marlboros vs. (2) Mississauga Rebels
Series begins Thursday March 24th

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Marlboros – (F) Allan McShane
Rebels – (D) Peter Stratis

ALLIANCE:

*** The Waterloo Wolves are ALLIANCE Minor Midget champions for a third straight year after defeating the London Jr. Knights in a six game series. The Windsor Jr. Spitfires defeated the Kitchener Jr. Rangers in the ALLIANCE Wild Card series. Waterloo, London and Windsor have secured OHL Cup berths while Kitchener will play a Wild Card game on Tuesday March 15th.

ALLIANCE CHAMPIONSHIP
(1) London Jr. Knights vs. (2) Waterloo Wolves
Waterloo wins series 7-5 in points

ALLIANCE CONSOLATION SERIES
(4) Kitchener Jr. Rangers vs. (6) Windsor Jr. Spitfires
Windsor wins series 2-1

OMHA:

***The York-Simcoe Express defeated the Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs in the 2016 OMHA Championship. The Barrie Jr. Colts placed third and the Southern Tier Admirals finished fourth. All four teams have earned OHL Cup berths. The Quinte Red Devils, Kingston Jr. Frontenacs, Niagara North Stars and Halton Hurricanes will play Wild Card games on Tuesday March 15th.

OMHA Finals
(1 – ETA West) York-Simcoe Express vs. (1 – SCTA) Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs
York-Simcoe wins championship final 5-2

York-Simcoe: Cameron Hillis 3A, Richard Wittaker 1G, 1A
Hamilton: Wesley Weir 1G, Jared Froese 1G

OMHA Consolation Finals
(3 – ETA West) Barrie Jr. Colts vs. (2 – SCTA) Southern Tier Admirals
Barrie wins consolation final 1-0 in OT

Barrie: Caden Maher GWG, Parker Simpson SO

For more information on the 2016 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament, visit ohlcup.ca.