North York Rangers forwards Kegan Blasby and Nick Campoli have been selected to represent the Ontario Junior Hockey League at the 2016-17 All-Star Eastern Canada Cup Challenge.
The event, which runs from Nov. 14-16 in Cornwall, ONT., pits four OJHL all-star squads in a round robin tournament along with two teams from the Central Canadian Hockey League, two from the Maritime Hockey League, and one each from the Quebec Junior Hockey League, and the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.
The OJHL teams have each been named after NHL stars of the past that also participated in one incarnation or another of what is now known as the OJHL: Adam Oates, Joe Nieuwendyk, Dale Hawerchuk, and Paul Coffey.
Blasby has been named to Team OJHL Hawerchuk, along with former Ranger Chris Sekelyk, while Campoli has been named to Team OJHL Oates.
Blasby, 20, has been a force all season, posting 24 points in 17 games thus far, with two of his five goals counting as game winners. A native of Markham, Blasby has 70 points in 79 career OJHL games between the Rangers, Aurora Tigers, and Hamilton Red Wings. The power forward’s resume also includes 14 games in the Ontario Hockey League with the Kitchener Rangers, and 40 games in the German national junior league with Starbulls Rosenheim.
Campoli, 17, has been named ‘C’ list NHL draft prospect after breaking out as a rookie last year. Campoli was selected in the sixth round by the Saginaw Spirit in the 2015 OHL draft out of the Toronto Jr. Canadiens minor midgets. He has 41 points in 47 career OJHL games, all with the Rangers.
Both are attending the first Eastern Canada Cup of their careers.
Please see below for league press release and rosters.
The Ontario Junior Hockey League today unveiled its four rosters for the 2016 Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge that will be hosted by the CCHL’s Cornwall Colts.
Eighty OJHL stars from 21 of the 22 clubs will represent our league, looking to bring home a title for the third time in the tournament’s five-year history.
This year’s event will be held for the second consecutive year at the Cornwall Civic Complex in Cornwall, Ontario, home of the CCHL’s Cornwall Colts, from November 14-16, 2016. Entering its sixth year (previously called the Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge), the OJHL has won the tournament two times, including the OJHL South Division in 2012 and Team OJHL Oates in 2014.
Leading the way with All-Star selections is the Georgetown Raiders, who have nine players taking part. The Raiders are followed closely by the East Division Trenton Golden Hawks with eight players and the Oakville Blades and Whitby Fury, who have seven players each. The league-leading Cobourg Cougars are just behind with six of their players named to rosters this year.
Once again this year, the OJHL will pay honour to some of the greatest Legends to ever play in the OJHL by naming the four teams; Team (Paul) Coffey, Team (Dale) Hawerchuk, Team (Joe) Nieuwendyk and Team (Adam) Oates.
Also announced today were the staff for each of the four OJHL teams.
Behind the bench for Team Coffey will be a crew from the Burlington Cougars, including Co-Coaches Mark Jooris and Kirby Tokarski, Athletic Therapist Adam Houston and Equipment Manager Mike Aloe.
Team Hawerchuk will feature co-coaches Joe Washkurak of the Mississauga Chargers and Garrett Rutledge of the Oakville Blades, along with Athletic Therapist Amanda Gilroy and Equipment Manager Cameron Crawford of the Whitby Fury.
Coaching Team Nieuwendyk will be Dave DeMarinas of the Pickering Panthers and Jon Campbell of the Lindsay Muskies, along with Athletic Therapist Dr. Alex Hawkins from the Panthers and Equipment Manager Andrew Groombridge of the Georgetown Raiders.
Finally, Team Oates will be coached by the Toronto Jr. Canadiens tandem of Jeff Angelidis and Michael Henrich, who are joined by Athletic Therapist Jason Izraelski of the North York Rangers and Equipment Manager Craig Clayton of the Oakville Blades.
Congratulations to all our participants and remember you will be able to watch all the OJHL teams in action of FastHockey!
For the full list of Rosters, please CLICK HERE.
