NEWS

The Milton Icehawks announced today the hiring of Chris Vanstone as the team’s new President of Hockey Operations and General Manager.

“With the last couple of seasons being very challenging and most recently the 2015 – 2016 season seeing the club in last place in the very prestigious OJHL, the organization recognized gaps both on and off the ice within our operations.  To address these gaps the club has developed a new structure for the hockey department and has decided to hire a individual who is well known around the hockey circles and in particular the OJHL”, stated Icehawks Governor, Robert DeVincentis.   

For the past three years Chris has worked as a Scout and Representative with Uptown Sports Management, during which time he also coached the Toronto Jr Canadians 1999 birth year for two seasons from Bantam to Minor Midget.  Prior to that Chris was General Manager and Director of Hockey Operations in the OJHL with the Markham Waxers where the team continued its winning ways.  Chris was with the Oakville Blades where he was instrumental in building a championship team appearing and winning two Buckland Cup Championships as well as two Dudley Hewitt Cup Championships in 2008 and 2010 and both years moving on to the RBC Cup which is the National Championship for all of Junior A hockey in Canada.

“I am extremely excited about this newly created role within the Milton Icehawks organization and I am looking forward to start the process of icing a competitive team”, stated Vanstone who has since resigned his position with Uptown Sports and has already begun his new duties with the hockey club.  

“I recognize the challenges with taking over a club that is currently is last place in the OJHL.  The OJHL is an extremely competitive league that moves a lot of players to the next level”, said Vanstone.  “We have a lot of work to do for the 2016-2017 season however with the new structure of the hockey department by the club it will allow for us to address the areas most concerning within the organization”.

The club also announced today that Jennifer DeVincentis has been named Director of Community Engagement.  Jennifer’s main responsibilities will be to grow a greater partnership and connection between the hockey club and the community of Milton, Ontario.  “I am very passionate about the Icehawks and I want to share that passion with the community of Milton,” stated DeVincentis.  “The OJHL provides a great brand of hockey and has strong clubs within our league that have a tremendous relationship with their respective communities.  My goal for the upcoming season is to have our players out in the community supporting various community initiatives.”

“Our hockey club recognized that we not only needed to address the on ice product of our organization but also the way in which we interact with the community of Milton.” said Robert DeVincentis.  “Jennifer will be responsible for all community engagement opportunities and we look forward to having our players out in the community in the 2016-2017 season”