More North York Rangers were recognized for their amazing play this past season. Defenceman Joey Maziarz, goaltenders Jett Alexander and forward Brandon Yeamans were voted on the OJHL First All-Star team, while defenceman Harrison Rees cracked the Second All-Star Team.
The 2018-19 OJHL First and Second All-Star Team recipients are:
1st Team
F Brandon Yeamans, North York Rangers
F Andrew Rinaldi, Wellington Dukes
F Alessio Luciani, Markham Royals
D Garrett Pyke, Oakville Blades
D Joey Maziarz, North York Rangers
G Jett Alexander, North York Rangers
2nd Team
F Adam Kim, Kingston Voyageurs
F Eric Ciccolini, Toronto Jr. Canadiens
F Brett Bannister, Cobourg Cougars
D Harrison Rees, North York Rangers
D Devyn Mayea, Markham Royals
G Mitchell Weeks, Newmarket Hurricanes
1st Team All Stars
Forward – Brandon Yeamans
Brandon Yeamans, 20, closed out an impressive five-year career in the OJHL with a 70-point season split between the Mississauga Chargers and North York Rangers. He added 13 more points during 16 playoff games with the South Division champion Rangers. He was named Kewl OJHL South-East player of the month for September 2018. In the previous four seasons with the Chargers, the 20-year-old from King City has amassed 121 points in the OJHL. Yeamans also played 11 games with the Mississauga Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. At the minor pro level, he had 11 points in 13 games with the Danville Dashers of the Federal Hockey League last season. Yeamans played minor hockey with the Mississauga Reps organization.
Defence – Joey Maziarz
Joey Maziarz is the 2018-19 recipient of the Defenceman of the Year award in the Ontario Junior Hockey League. In his third year with the Rangers, Maziarz had a breakout season netting 54 points (13 goals/41 assists) in 53 games. The rushing blueliner’s previous seasonal point totals were 24 and 19. Maziarz had 16 points in 16 games for the South Division champion Rangers to lead all defencemen in scoring in the OJHL playoffs. The 20-year-old Waterloo resident was named to the OJHL All-Prospect second team in 2016-17 and played for Team Canada East at the 2017 World Jr. A Challenge. NCAA coaches and recruiters took notice, especially at the Eastern Canada Cup and World Jr. A Challenge. Maziarz will join Rangers teammates Ashton Stockie and Dante Spagnuoulo at Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA next fall. Maziarz played minor hockey with the bantam Toronto Jr. Canadiens, minor midget Vaughan Kings and the midget Toronto Marlboros, all in the GTHL.
Goalie – Jett Alexander
Jett Alexander of the North York Rangers is the Most Valuable Player of the Ontario Junior Hockey League for 2018-19. He’s also the recipient of both OJHL goaltending awards: one voted on by the awards committee, the other awarded to the netminder with the lowest goals-against average. The North York netminder led the OJHL with a 1.67 goals-against average and .945 save percentage. His league-best 30 wins, included 10 shutouts – breaking an OJHL record that dates back to the early 1970s. In the 2019 playoffs, he helped North York win the South Division title. The native of Bloomfield in Prince Edward County played his early minor hockey in Wellington and Belleville before moving to the GTHL for his bantam year. He tended goal for the Don Mills Flyers and North York Rangers AAA teams then signed with the Georgetown Raiders of the OJHL in 2016. Alexander was dealt to North York during the 2016-17 season. Alexander, who has one more year of junior eligibility, was the OJHL Kewl Goaltender-of-the-Month and Canadian Junior Hockey League first star for October 2018.
2ND Team All Stars
Defence – Harrison Rees
Harrison Rees helped North York top the Ontario Junior Hockey League South Division during the regular season and playoffs. In his second year with the franchise, his points total jumped from 14 in 2017-18 to 44 (six goals/38 assists) this season. Rees, who turned 19 last month, added 13 more during 16 playoff games. Rees, an 11th round draft pick by the OHL champions Erie Otters, played the 2016-17 season with the Hill Academy’s U16 Prep team. He is committed to NCAA Division 1 University of Connecticut last season for the 2019-20 campaign. The 6-foot-2 Oakville product also played minor hockey for the Mississauga Rebels and Oakville Rangers.
