NEWS

A series of stories on the team captains in the Ontario Junior Hockey League during the 2017-18 season:

By Ron Valentine

There were 19 players from the Durham region on this year's edition of the PICKERING PANTHERS says team Captain JOSH ARGIER. (Photo by Andy Corneau / OJHL Images)

The 19-year old centre from Whitby had 17 goals and 49 assists for the Stouffville Spirit last season but is pleased to be playing closer to home again. The Panthers met up with the Spirit in Game 2 two of the season and Josh scored a goal but his new club was edged 3-2.

It's Josh's first time as a captain. He was dealt to Stouffville from Cobourg two years ago. He is helped by assistants Davis Teigen-Katsumi, Adam Wheaton and Joshua Jones.

Josh has got off to a fast start for his new team and he is excited about the prospects for the 16-19-1-2 Panthers, who is holding down a playoff spot.

There are a lot of young guys who are getting adjusted to the OJHL, Josh says and he is looking forward to helping them in any way he can.

Obviously, he has started out setting a good example on the ice. The Panthers have struggled in the last few seasons but Josh is optimistic that as the players gel and carry out the coaching staff's systems and stick to the structures they will be around this season come playoff time.

Although not wanting to give names he feels there is a lot of exciting young talent that will really come to the fore over the course of the regular season campaign.

After three years at Lake Forest Academy in the U.S. he feels Adam Wisco will be the go-to player in net with 16-year-old Ethan Langevin as a valuable future 1A.

Josh sees himself as a 200-foot centre. He has one more year of Junior remaining then hopes to continue his career on a scholarship.

There are a lot of tough teams in the North East Conference he says, but the Panthers are surprising a lot of people after the halfway mark of the season.