NYR’s Currie commits to Adrian

NORTH YORK, ON - Oct 25, 2015 : Ontario Junior Hockey League game action between Oakville and North York., (Photo by Anna Matthews / OJHL Images)
March 22, 2016

1:49 PM EDT

North York Rangers defenceman Tyler Currie has confirmed his commitment to join the Adrian College Bulldogs beginning with the 2016-17 NCHA season.

“I am extremely happy to be going to Adrian,” said Currie.

“I am definitely relieved to have a spot, and a lot of guys don’t get to continue their education and getting to play hockey. I am pretty happy to be going to a great program. The coaching staff there is great, the facilities were fantastic. Their hockey program is fantastic; the schooling is well known and good as well, so I’m looking forward to it.”

The four year OJHL veteran has accomplished much during his tenure in the league, capturing back-to-back OJHL titles with the Toronto Patriots, while also making a trip to the RBC Cup, National Junior ‘A’ Championship in 2013-14.

A Bolton, Ontario native, Currie got his first taste of the OJHL as a 16-year old, playing four games for the Vaughan Vipers out of the Mississauga Reps Midget ‘AAA’ program.  He showed well, notching three assists in four games played and joined the then Toronto Lakeshore Patriots full-time in 2012-13, playing 52 games for the club and recording nine points on the season.  During their first round loss to Georgetown, Currie would begin to assert himself offensively, finishing third on the team in overall scoring with five points in six games played.

Returing as one of the club’s leaders on the blueline in 2013-14, he faced some adversity due to injury situations and would only play 33 regular season games, registering nine points.  The break might have kept him fresh for the post-season however, as the Patriots went on a dramatic run that saw them capture the first Buckland Cup in franchise history, culminating with a six game series victory over the Aurora Tigers.  Currie would also notch a pair of points in five games as the Patriots earned a spot in the national championship by defeating the host Wellington Dukes in the title game of the 2014 Dudley-Hewitt Cup, Central Canadian Junior ‘A’ Championship.

Last season, Currie was an offensive force on the Patriots blueline, finishing second behind teammate Niko Kovachis in scoring from the point with 10 goals and 32 points in 53 regular season games played to help the club capture a second consecutive OJHL South Division regular season crown.  Currie’s play throughout the season earned a spot on Team OJHL Hawerchuk that competed at the 2014 Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge that was held in Toronto, and he continued that play through the post-season to yet another league title.  En route to winning the Buckland Cup for a second consecutive year, Currie finished fourth in scoring on the Pats with 18 points in 22 games played.  One of the club’s most consistent performers, he also notched three points in four games during a disappointing result at the 2015 Dudley-Hewitt Cup held in Fort Frances, Ontario.

Returning for one final season of OJHL action, Currie was named the young Patriots captain entering the season, but after a slow start for the team, that saw Currie register 12 points in 14 games, he was moved to a contender and joined the nearby North York Rangers organization.  Setting career-highs with 42 assists and 50 points in 54 games played, he finished second in overall scoring on the team, which also tied for second and fourth respectively among all league blueliners.  Currie has continued his leadership role into a final OJHL post-season run and thus far has notched five points in eight games as the Rangers upset the Buffalo Jr. Sabres in the first round and currently lead the Conference champion Georgetown Raiders in round two.

“I am thankful to Mike Tarantino for bringing me in a shot in the league, for Jason Fortier for giving me the chance and teaching me a lot, and for Brent Hughes for bringing me in,” said Currie.

“North York trusted me to make a big impact in exchange for a young guy, but he is a great coach doing a great job and leading me a new way of playing when I first came here. Hopefully we can just keep it going through the playoffs.”

Congratulations to Tyler on the commitment and fabulous OJHL career!