2013-14 OJHL SEASON KICKS-OFF
(pictured - Oakville Mayor Rob Burton drops the ceremonial puck between Oakville's Greg Campbell & Milton's Kane Eliot - photo credit: Tim Bates/OJHL Images)
The 2013-14 Ontario Junior Hockey League season kicked-off tonight with four games taking place in Oakville, Pickering, Lindsay and at historic St. Michael’s College School Arena. The regular season consists of a 583 game schedule, featuring a full interlock schedule within the 22 team loop.
For the first time in many years, there is a full interlock schedule between the two conferences that will see every team play a home-and-home series during the regular season.
Opening night featured some great action to kick-off the OJHL season.
The 2012-13 champion St. Michael's Buzzers opened defence of their title versus division-rival Toronto Jr. Canadiens by raising their championship banner. Anthony Filoso notched his first OJHL goal early in the first period, which proved to be the game winner en route to a 3-0 victory. Netminder George Argiropoulos stopped all 35 shots he faced to be named first star of the game.
A battle of the netminders took place in Oakville with rookie Milton Icehawks netminder Ben Blacker squaring off against the Blades' Evan Buitenhuis. Rookie Ryan Garvey's first career goal proved to be the 2-1 game-winner in Oakville's favour.
In Lindsay, Richard Court potted a goal and added two assists as the Georgetown Raiders defeated the hometown Muskies 6-2 on opening night.
A penalty-filled affair saw the hometown Pickering Panthers open their season with a 4-2 victory over the Burlington Cougars. Veteran Brodie Tutton recorded one goals and two assists to lead his squad to victory.
Highlights of the OJHL’s 2013-14 season include:
• Sunday sees a rematch of the hard-fought South-West Conference series between the Buffalo Jr. Sabres and North York Rangers.
• A rematch of the South-East Conference Final takes place on Friday, September 13 as the North York Rangers return to St. Michael's College School Arena.
- After their game seven thriller in the League Championship Series, the Newmarket Hurricanes return to St. Michael's looking to redeem that final game loss on September 20.
• The 2013 OJHL Governors’ Showcase will be hosted by the Oakville Blades at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex from September 28-29, 2013. Each team will play one game with a plethora of NCAA, OHL and CIS scouts in attendance, taking notes and hoping to improve their squads. Also taking place on Friday, September 27 will be an AHL exhibition match between the nearby Hamilton Bulldogs (Montreal Canadiens affiliate) and Toronto Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs affiliate).
• The 2013 World Junior ‘A’ Challenge will take place in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia from November 4-10 as Team Canada East, with Mario Cicchillo of the Toronto Jr. Canadiens behind the bench as assistant coach and numerous OJHL stars attempt to improve on last year's fourth place finish.
• The 2013 CJHL Prospects Games will take place on November 8-9 in Digby and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia respectively.
- The Kingston Voyageurs host the defending North-East Conference champion Newmarket Hurricanes, who they lost to in game seven overtime, on November 30 at home.
• Four OJHL All-Star squads will travel to Quebec to participate in the 3rd Annual Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge hosted by the QJAAAHL.
• The Buffalo Jr. Sabres will host the first-ever OJHL Outdoor Game on December 15, 2013 in Rochester, New York versus the defending champion St. Michael's Buzzers. They will also play two games, November 12 versus Milton and January 14 versus Pickering at First Niagara Center, home of the Buffalo Jr. Sabres.
• The OJHL regular season wraps up with five match-ups on Saturday, February 23 and potential playoff spots on the line. The final game of the regular season, game #605, sees the Milton Icehawks visiting the MasterCard Centre to play the Toronto Lakeshore Patriots.
• The Ontario Junior Hockey League Playoffs kick-off on February 26, 2013 as the chase for the OHA Buckland Cup begins.
• The 2014 Dudley Hewitt Cup will take place in Welllington, Ontario, hosted by the OJHL's Wellington Dukes, from April 29 to May 3, 2014.
• The 2014 RBC Cup, National Junior ‘A’ Championship will take place in Vernon, B.C. from May 10-18, 2014.
