NEWS

(pictured - Third year OJHLer and Mississauga Chargers captain Stefano Alonzi looks to continue the club's improvement with hopes of achieving personal success along the way - photo credit:  Jay Johnston/OJHL Images)

The Mississauga Chargers as a team took a big leap last season, making the playoffs for the first time in 7 seasons. Behind the bench, Head Coach Joe Washkurak was able to get the most out of his players, helping him on the ice, and leading off the ice was the teams Captain Trevor Warnaar. The former Chargers Captain has moved on to CIS and this year an assistant becomes the new captain. Stefano Alonzi has the 'C' on his chest after playing with his former captain for two full seasons. 

“Playing for Trevor the past couple of years and having those teammates beside me really impacted the person I am on and off the ice. The coaching staff and Trevor made those teams so great because everyone was so close it was just easy to come to the rink, prepare and play for everyone else on the ice, knowing that they were playing for you too.”

Stefano is a 3 year veteran of the OJHL and has come along way since he first came into the league as an AP back in 2011.

“Stef played for me a long time before becoming a full time OJHL player,” Coach Joe Washkurak continued, “He hasn’t exactly changed his game from when I first started coaching him, but he has become a more physical type player as the years went on. He was always willing to do those little things that go overlooked. He likes to out work his opponent, get into the corners and fight for every inch of ice.”

But the Chargers captain viewed his jump differently, “coming to the OJHL was a little tough at first, but I found my role on the defensive side of the puck and started to focus on building that side of my game: Winning face offs, winning puck battles, blocking shots, finishing checks. That was my focus. Then my offensive game began to develop and it all felt complete again”

Leading a team on the ice and making it one off the ice takes a special kind of person to balance everything that comes with wearing the C,
“I have had some great people influence who I am today. My parents have had such an impact on me, they deserve a lot of credit. They have given me so much support throughout the years, criticism and encouragement, all the highs and lows, I wouldn’t be the hockey player or person I am today without them by my side. Growing up in hockey and having great coaches like Joe and Captains like Trevor to learn from, it has given me a strong base to be the leader I am now.”

To be a successful leader you have to have goals for the team, you need to be able to chart a course and be able to focus on the positives while managing the negatives. If the team isn’t working toward the same goals, you have a bunch of individuals and a general disconnect.

Stefano discusses his mantra as Captain, “my main focus is positivity and accountability of the teammates beside you. Having the close teams in the past has helped make this ‘job’ easier this year now that the team is looking at me for leadership. I rely on every single guy in that room. Accountability in yourself along with your teammates is huge, as it is going to take each and everyone of us to achieve what we want and that is not only the playoffs, but a have a really strong team to compete for the Buckland Cup.” 

Even his younger teammates are on board with the Captain’s thinking. Scott Docherty is playing in his first year of Junior A hockey and sees what his Captain is trying to accomplish, “positivity and encouragement has been big with Alonzi, he can easily kick some of us while we are down, but he has really taken the time to talk to me and other rookies, help breakdown plays and given us points on how to learn from our mistakes instead of throwing it in our faces.”

At the end of the day, each player has their own set of goals that they want to achieve. Only one team can raise the trophy at the end of the year, but many players have additional goals. Captain Alonzi mixes the team goals with his personal goals, “The fundamental goal is to get to the next level. For the team, it is building upon our playoff appearance from last year, and for me to help them. My focus is on playing in the NCAA, but I can’t do it alone. I rely on my teammates to help me achieve my goal as much as they look to me to help them get to where they want to be. It is a TEAM, and they will give me that extra push to help me obtain my goals. The personal success I have, and a potential scholarship that comes from it will be reflective in the teams winning ways, and guys putting up career bests, and achieving their own goals.”

The year is not as young as the Mississauga Chargers would like, but the team believes in the coaching staff and more importantly their on ice leader, Stefano Alonzi.

“The compete level along with the heart shown on most nights, is extremely positive for where we want to be as the season progresses. Hopefully this is a sign for a strong finish and I am confident that the 20 guys in the room can get the job done.”