NEWS

Ontario Junior Hockey League resident reporter Ron Valentine is profiling the 2020-21 team captains of The OJ.

BY RON VALENTINE

The Aurora Tigers will have co-captains this season with second-year forward ROCCO TESTA-BASI and veteran blueliner TREVOR GRASBY splitting the roles home and away. 

Rocco, 18, an Ottawa native, has just 15 regular season and seven playoff games under his belt in the OJHL last season with the Collingwood Colts. He had four goals in the seven-game playoffs series against the Stouffville Spirit.

He talks about his hockey career to date: "My first memories are of skating on the Rideau Canal before getting into organized hockey. I played for the Rockland Nationals under 18 AAA (he had 43 points in 41 games for them in 2017-2018) and then I was recruited by Gilmour Academy (near Cleveland) and spent the best part of a couple of seasons there. Prep school was a wonderful experience for me. It was a great learning experience and the hockey was at a very competitive level. "

"It was a different experience in Junior A but my teammates welcomed me quickly, I had no issues and although we just fell short in the playoffs losing in the final game at home to Stouffville it was a good start for me. The pace and physicality were both more intense but I was able to adjust pretty well."

"I am honoured to share the 'C' with Trevor who has had a ton of experience at this level. Of course, no one expected what would happen with COVID but we have been able to get quite a bit of ice time and, although we have not played any games, we have had time to practise drills and get together as a team as often as we are allowed. This has helped with everyone's conditioning and we are ready to go whenever we can."

"Jonathan Balah is going to be a big part of the leadership group for us this season from the blueline; he plays both defence and offence very well. And we have a lot of younger players who have shown tons of skill. I know Jonathan and Trevor want to put last season's results behind them."

"We have been able to continue some charity work in many areas particularly on behalf of Newmarket's 'Inn From The Cold' (hub for the homeless and at-risk) program. The club has always had a high profile in the community and I think that's very important."

"My goal right now is set on playing Division 1 hockey in the U.S. I am a dual citizen – my dad comes from Ogdensburg N.Y. – but right now helping the Tigers get back into being a top team in the League is my main goal.  I would like to be a bit more vocal this season. I was the captain in my second year at Gilmour and have always tried to play the same style. I like to think of myself as a 'go-getter' on the ice. I like to jump into the corners, protect the puck, use my speed and skill-set as much as I can."

"When not playing my first love of hockey I like to play lacrosse and get in a game of golf in the summer. I have an amazing billet family here and everyone is looking forward to the time we can start the season."

Rocco Testa- Basi may not be a household name yet in the OJHL but this young man's enthusiasm and drive on and off the ice will surely remedy that quite quickly. 

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"Coming off a seven-game win season there is only one way to go and that's up," joked veteran defenceman Trevor Grasby. "I wore an 'A' last season for the Tigers and I'm really looking forward to being the captain along with Rocco". 

"It will be my third year in the OJHL and I see my role as being a leader on and off the ice, especially for our new and talented younger players. I can already see that we will have a tight-knit group, we have already been able to run through systems with coach (Jim) Wells. We have a solid core of returning players and our goal is to be the top team in the North this time around."

Trevor, who lives in Holland Landing, played in the Barrie Colts minor system before spending two years at Stanstead College in Quebec for Grades 11 and 12. "In my second season I was named captain,” noted Trevor. "I learned and played with guys from all over the world. I wasn't sure that I wanted to go there at first but with a little prodding from my parents I did and it was great for my personal and hockey development."

"I'm not the biggest guy, five-feet-ten on a good day, so I have to use what I have. I like to think of myself as a relentless guy on the ice. In any puck battle I want to be the one coming out with it. I need to use my 'smarts' that I have learned along the way and always try to think one step ahead, that's the key to playing good hockey."

"Last year, our special teams struggled and I'm looking to lead the way to better performances this season. We all get treated very well in Aurora and we want to give the fans, whether they can see us live or not, a good experience". 

"Right now, I'm combining work – I am an instructor with NTR (National Training Rinks) – with doing third year on-line business courses. This is my first year since the start of high school that I have not played rugby football. Scrum-half was my position, You're always in the action there."

"I'd like to add a couple more players to watch out for this season: Luc Reeve will be a top sniper in his second season and we are getting goalie Christian Flippetti back and that is a big plus for us."

(I was on hand at the tail end of last season at Sixteen Mile in Oakville when Reeve got the buzzer-beater 3-2 winner over the Blades after Filippetti stood on his head for the Tigers, a highlight in a tough season for them).

The combination of youth and veteran leadership this season from Rocco and Trevor should stand the Tigers in good stead as they look to reclaim better days in the battle of the North.

Tigers' Governor Jim Thomson had this to say about Rocco, Trevor and the team: "Great choices by (Head Coach) Jimmy Wells. Both are all-in, character young men. Trevor is arguably one of the top character players my wife and I have had in our six years of ownership. He is a very caring individual. Rocco brings a no-nonsense attitude and what I like about him is he’s always trying to help teammates with positive reinforcement."

"Great choices for captains representing our team and town."

Follow Ron Valentine on Twitter @ronandlynda

Photos by Ray MacAloney and Andy Corneau of OJHL Images