2016-17 OJHL ALL-PROSPECTS ANNOUNCED
“1st & 2nd All-Prospect Teams Named”
February 28, 2017, Mississauga, Ontario – The Ontario Junior Hockey League today announced the OJHL First and Second All-Prospect Teams.
The OJHL All-Prospect Team is comprised of 1999 and 2000 birth-year prospects and is selected by the OJHL General Managers, as well as an Awards Committee comprised of one media member in each OJHL market.
The 2016-17 OJHL First and Second All-Prospect Team recipients are:
1st Team All-Prospect
G – Jett Alexander (North York Rangers)
D – Matthew Kellenberger (Oakville Blades)
D – Gianfranco Cassaro (Toronto Jr. Canadiens)
F – Bryce Misley (Oakville Blades)
F – Finn Evans (St. Michael’s Buzzers)
F – Jack McBain (Toronto Jr. Canadiens)
2nd Team All-Prospect
G – Hunter Jones (Stouffville Spirit)
D – Joey Maziarz (North York Rangers)
D – Michael Mannara (Orangeville Flyers)
F – Justin Paul (Milton Icehawks)
F – Nick Campoli (North York Rangers)
F – Lucas Breault (St. Michael’s Buzzers)
1st Team All-Prospects
Goaltender – Jett Alexander (North York Rangers)
After leading the North York Rangers Midget ‘AAA’ squad to the Telus Cup, National Midget ‘AAA’ championship last season, Alexander joined the Georgetown Raiders to start the season, but was traded back to the Rangers organization after only seven games and continued to excel as one of the top young netminders in the OJHL this season. The native of Bloomfield, Ontario played 23 regular season games this year, finishing the season with a 2.49 goals against average, ranking fifth among all OJHL goalies. Posting a winning 13-6-1 record, Alexander registered four shutouts, tied for third best and a remarkable one shutout in every six games played. His .914 save percentage was also top 20 among all goalies.
Defence – Matthew Kellenberger (Oakville Blades)
Playing three games as a midget affiliate in 2015-16, Matthew Kellenberger joined the Oakville Blades full-time this season and did not disappoint, leading the club’s blueline with 10 goals to also rank top 15 in the entire league, while finishing second in scoring among Blades rearguards with 28 points in 51 regular season contests. Kellenberger was the OJHL’s top-ranked blueliner in NHL Central Scouting’s mid-season rankings for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, ranked 165th overall among North American skaters. Committed to the Princeton University Tigers for the 2018-19 season, Kellenberger was named a member of Team OJHL Coffey at the 2016 Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge held in Cornwall, Ontario, registering two points in six games played, as well as a member of Team East at the 2017 CJHL Prospects Game also held in Cornwall.
Defence – Gianfranco Cassaro (Toronto Jr. Canadiens)
Already having played two full seasons with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens, Gianfranco Cassaro was one of the club’s top performers and leaders on-and-off the ice this season. Named an alternate captain, Cassaro finished third in scoring on the Canadiens with 15 goals and 43 points in 50 regular season games played, which also ranked fourth and ninth respectively among all OJHL blueliners. Nearly quadrupling his output from his rookie season, the 17-year old also provided a physical presence, recording 123 penalty minutes to rank ninth among all league players. The Nobleton, Ontario native is committed to join the University of Massachusetts Minutemen beginning with the 2018-19 season and was a member of Team OJHL Nieuwendyk at the 2016 Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge held in Cornwall, Ontario.
Forward – Bryce Misley (Oakville Blades)
Named a 2nd Team All-Prospect in 2015-16, Bryce Misley returned even stronger this season to earn a spot on the 1st Team, while helping the Blades capture a second consecutive South Division title. The Calgary, Ontario native finished third on the club in scoring with 26 goals and 62 points in 46 games played, while leading Oakville with five game-winning goals, all of which ranked top 20 among all OJHL scorers. Misley’s eventful season started as he was named a member of Team OJHL Hawerchuk at the 2016 Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge which he followed up with a silver medal performance as a member of Team Canada East at the 2016 World Junior ‘A’ Challenge held in Bonnyville, Alberta. After being named to Team East for the 2017 CJHL Prospects Game, Misley would be the top-ranked OJHL player, 101st among North American skaters, in NHL Central Scouting’s Mid-Season Rankings for the 2017 NHL Draft. Misley is committed to join the University of Vermont Catamounts beginning with the 2018-19 season.
Forward – Finn Evans (St. Michael’s Buzzers)
The Toronto, Ontario native completed his second full season with the Buzzers, nearly tripling his offensive production by finishing third on the club with 22 goals and fifth in overall scoring with 54 points in 46 regular season contests. The lanky 17-year old forward has been a key member of St. Michael’s attack throughout the season despite missing numerous games for various events. Committed to join the Princeton University Tigers beginning with the 2018-19 season, Evans first was a member of Team OJHL Oates at the 2016 Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge, before being named to Team Canada East and notching two points as they captured a silver medal at the 2016 World Junior ‘A’ Challenge held in Bonnyville, Alberta. He would also be named to Team East for the 2017 CJHL Prospects Game in Cornwall, Ontario and most recently was ranked 155th among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s Mid-Season rankings for the 2017 NHL Draft.
Forward – Jack McBain (Toronto Jr. Canadiens)
A top pick in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection, Jack McBain joined the Toronto Jr. Canadiens this season, but due to events and injury would only play 42 regular season games. Despite missing 12 games, he would finish fourth on the club in scoring with 12 goals and 41 points to rank among the league’s top rookie scorers. McBain first missed time as a member of Team Canada Black and was named alternate captain as they went on to win a silver medal at the 2016 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge held in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. He would be forced to miss some games due to injury, but returned in time to capture a second silver medal, this time as a member of Team Canada East at the 2016 World Junior ‘A’ Challenge held in Bonnyville, Alberta.
2nd Team All-Prospects
Stouffville Spirit netminder Hunter Jones posted a 7-7-0 record with one shutout during his rookie OJHL season as a 16-year old. Jones’ totals included a 2.74 goals against average and a .917 save percentage. He is officially signed with the OHL’s Peterborough Petes and was a member of Team Canada Black at the 2016 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, as well as Team Canada East at the 2016 World Junior ‘A’ Challenge, capturing a silver medal at both events.
North York Rangers defenceman Joey Maziarz joined the Rangers this season after playing four games as an affiliate with the Orangeville Flyers. He was his club’s second leading scorer among defenceman with 5 goals and 24 points in 48 games played. Maziarz also recorded 10 power play points for the Rangers, tied for third best on the team.
Orangeville Flyers defenceman Michael Mannara led the club’s defensive corps in scoring with 9 goals and was fourth in overall scoring with 22 points in 41 games played. Traded to the Flyers early in the season after spending his rookie year in 2015-16 with the Oakville Blades, the 17-year old is committed to join the Lake Superior State University Lakers beginning with the 2018-19 season.
Milton Icehawks forward Justin Paul was one of the club’s most consistent performers during a trying season that saw them finish in last place. Paul led the Icehawks with 29 assists and 45 points in 53 games played as a 16-year old rookie. Also leading the club in power play assists, shorthanded goals and shorthanded assists, Paul was named runner-up as the OJHL South-West Conference Player-of-the-Month in January.
North York Rangers forward Nick Campoli would miss the majority of the season with a serious injury, but upon his return looked as if he didn’t miss a beat. Campoli finished the season with 32 points and was sixth in Rangers scoring despite playing in just 20 regular season contests. He was a member of Team Canada East at the 2017 CJHL Prospects Game, was slotted 111th among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s Mid-Season rankings and is committed to join the Clarkson University Golden Knights for next season.
St. Michael’s Buzzers forward Lucas Breault finished third on the club with 40 assists and tied for fifth in overall scoring with 54 points in 47 regular season games played. The Woodbridge, Ontario native completed his second full season with the Buzzers and is committed to join the Union College Dutchmen beginning with the 2019-20 season.
The OJHL First and Second All-Star Teams will be announced on Thursday, March 2.
