UNDER THE C'S: SEARLES EXCITED ABOUT YOUTH MOVEMENT AT ST. MIKE'S
A series of stories on the team captains in the Ontario Junior Hockey League during the 2017-18 season:
By Ron Valentine
Surprisingly, it took 12 games this season for CAMERON SEARLES (Photo by Shawn Muir / OJHL Images)
to register his first goal for the ST. MICHAEL'S BUZZERS – he scored 18 and assisted on 48 more in 2016-2017.
It did not really worry the fourth-year forward who was named captain for this campaign and he is back in his groove now, with eight goals and 29 assists in his team’s first 35 games. The Markham resident prides himself on being a two-way player, the type that wins a team many hockey games. He likes to lead by example as well as picking and choosing his moments to be more vocal. His assistant captains this term are blueliner Michael Pellegrini and sniper Colton Trumbla. Both are returnees who make his job easier, he notes.
It's a young St. Mike’s team this season, he says, but there is an abundance of skill and despite the team's decent start he looks for improvement as the season continues to roll along. It will not be easy in the South Division, he says.
He is very excited about three 2001-born players – Ty and Dylan Jackson, who have already committed to Northeastern University, and Nicholas Zabaneh, who is penned in for Michigan. They have already become major contributors.
Cameron feels veteran Cosimo Lazzarino is set for a stellar season in goal and 17-year-old Jack Watson is a very capable young 'keeper. He also notes the addition of well-travelled vet Carm Alberga is a plus. This well-spoken young man with the 'C' will be an asset to any NCAA team after his career in junior is done.
