SPIRIT THIS WEEK: WEREK PLAYING FOR CHINA AT OLYMPICS
Former OJHL rookie of the year Ethan Werek (back row, centre) at practice with the Chinese national team in Beijing. (Photo: Kunlun Red Star)
A former star player with the Stouffville Spirit is playing for host China at the Beijing Olympics.
Ethan Werek played one season (2007-08) for the Spirit, accumulating 70 points in 37 games and winning the OJHL’s rookie of the year award. The native of Goodwood, just east of Stouffville, then played three seasons with Kingston of the Ontario Hockey League. He was selected by the New York Rangers in the second round of the 2009 draft.
Every member of China’s first Olympic men’s hockey team played club hockey this season for Kunlun Red Star, a Beijing-based KHL team. That made it easier for players with no Chinese heritage to become eligible to represent China.
Werek is in his third season with the Red Star. His father is Spirit co-owner Zeev Werek.
China, ranked 32nd in the world, was given a spot in the 12-nation Beijing Olympic tournament as host nation without having to qualify.
China is grouped with the U.S., Canada and 2018 Olympic silver medalist Germany.
RETURN OF THE SPIRIT
The Spirit plays its first game since Jan 1 tonight - Saturday, Feb. 5. The Aurora Tigers are the visitors. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at the Stouffville Arena
The OJHL Board of Governors approved extending the end of the OJHL regular season to April 7, 2022 to allow for the rescheduling of all OJHL postponed games.
The OJHL season wa son pause from Jan. 5 to Feb. 1. The regular season was to end March 5.
A total of 125 OJHL regular season games have been postponed due to the Ontario government's recent shutdown and OJHL COVID 19 protocols. Approximately 50 per cent of those games have already been rescheduled with the remaining games to be rescheduled within the next few weeks. The league will continue to update the league’s schedule on its website as rescheduled games are confirmed.
