NEWS

This is the fourth in a series of short OJHL captain profile interviews from website contributor Ron Valentine.

Justin Brand & Luke Keenan - Whitby Fury
(pictured top left - Brand on left, photo credit: Ray MacAloney/OJHL Images & Keenan on right, photo credit: Shawn Muir/OJHL Images)
LUKE KEENAN is going to be the Whitby Fury captain at away games this season and JUSTIN BRAND will wear the C at home. Luke captained teams in minor hockey in Clarington. He feels the Fury will have a great season with a good mix of strong returning players and some exciting new additions. As captain he will lead by example but will be vocal in the dressing room and he looks forward to mentoring the younger players. He says the team suffered from inconsistency last season but that should not be a problem this time around. In a Division as strong as the East he says a fast start is essential. He prides himself on being responsible at both ends of the ice and feels he is capable of getting thirty goals this season. He is very happy to be at Princeton next season but his focus now is on helping to lead the club as far as it can go.

JUSTIN BRAND is in his final year with the team and thinks first and foremost of the defensive part of the game. He is an excellent student of the game. He has captained clubs in high school and midget hockey and he feels he can show his intensity but also a calm attitude to the other players. He says the group of forwards match up to any in the League and with a solid blueline core and experienced goalkeeping the pieces are in place. He says it's important to stick to the game plan and he contributes with his physical style and good positioning on the ice. He says the Fury will turn a lot of heads this season. Personally he would like to improve on his past points totals and will spend some time on the powerplay. After graduating he is looking for a chance to play NCAA or CIS hockey. Both he and Luke's only OJHL club has been the Fury.

A.J. D'Orazio - St. Michael's Buzzers
(pictured top right - photo credit: Mike Ivall/OJHL Images)
A.J.D'ORAZIO moves up from an alternate for the Buzzers last season to the captain for this term. He calls his teammates 'the brotherhood'. He feels he had a breakout season last year and wants to continue to get better. He was given the opportunity to play a lot last season and now he will be shooting for 70+ points but stresses that it's team first right the way through this club. He sees lots of goals coming from Cameron Wright but that there are also a lot of impressive new faces and guys who will really benefit from their experiences last season. He will be vocal in the 'room' and feels he can get the best out of everyone. He plans to be a voice for the quieter, younger guys.

James Thomson - Aurora Tigers
(pictured bottom left - photo credit: Shawn Muir/OJHL Images)
With the Tigers initial choice as Captain (Austin Kozluk) traded to the Soo Thunderbirds the club is going with three A's- Jacob Kotsopoulos, Eric Holland and James Thomson. I got a chance to speak to JAMES THOMSON. James knows that the team has gotten off to a slow start but sees much brighter things ahead for the rest of the season. He has been team Captain before in Midget hockey and feels that his experience will help in the room where although not the 'yeller' type he makes his points known. On the ice he enjoys playing an aggressive game and prides himself on being able to take care of his own zone first and foremost.  As players to watch for he is full of praise for ex-Blade Holland and rookie Mel Melconian who has already been the subject of many articles. James likens Melconian's style to Mike Hoffman of the Ottawa Senators. There are many other young players who just need time to get used to the League, he says.  James has one year of eligibility left with the Tigers but is unsure whether he will return as he awaits news on U.S. scholarship opportunities. Though he says 25 points would be nice from the blueline he puts little store in personal goals knowing that helping to achieve the consistency needed from a young team is number one priority. Despite the tough beginning he is looking forward to the season and getting to the Playoffs.

Brad Yowart - Milton Icehawks
(pictured bottom right - photo credit: Shawn Muir/OJHL Images)
BRAD YOWART has had lots of Junior Hockey experience with Guelph, his hometown, Listowel and Sarnia in the GOJHL but he is a 20-year-old 'rookie' in the OJHL. In his first time in the captain's role he sees an exciting season ahead with a very young team that is learning to play a 60-minute hockey game. He notes the club is getting the giveaways down and the takeaways up but still needs to work on consistency. He will be helped by able assistant captains in Noah Robinson, Braydon Munn and Alex Daigle. He is not naturally a loud voice in the dressing room but feels with his experience he knows when is the best time to be vocal. He sees the need to treat everyone equally and with respect. He is a fitness devotee and though as you would expect he puts the team first he personally would love to reach the 40-point mark this season. He already feels very at home in Milton's rink and believes the IceHawks will continue to improve as the season progresses and vital experience is gained and that they can make a strong run for a playoff spot in the South-West Conference. As a blueliner he loves to join in the rush but is fully aware of his defensive responsibilities. His goal after junior is to play College hockey in the U.S. When asked about names to watch on the IceHawks this season he mentioned two sixteen year olds- Justin Paul and Thomas Maia as well as Nick Leschuk who is back from injury and newly-acquired (from the Raiders) blueliner Chris Taylor.

The Captains Series is written by longtime Hamilton Junior hockey supporter and OJHL website contributor Ron Valentine. Follow Ron on twitter - @ronandlynda