Ahead of the Greater Toronto Hockey League’s 2026 Under-18 All-Star Festival fuelled by Gatorade on Saturday, January 24 at Scotiabank Pond, the ‘A’ All-Stars reflected on their minor hockey journeys. The U18 ‘A’ All-Star Game is set for January 24 at 10:00 a.m, and admission to the festival, including all games, is free.
U18 ‘A’ ALL-STARS: TEAM BLUE
#33 – G, RORY COVERT (North Toronto)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the Vaughan Silver Stick in overtime.
Who would you like to thank? My dad for coaching me all the way through.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Do not get too worked up if things go against you; try to focus on the next shot.
#31 – G, ANDREW WIGLE (Leaside Flames)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the 2025 Florida tournament.
Who would you like to thank? My parents and coaches.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Focus on developing a single skill at one time, opposed to many skills at the same time.
#31 – G, BEN COOPER (Forest Hill)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Playing mini-sticks in the halls at tournaments.
Who would you like to thank? I want to thank my parents and my coaches.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Stay back on ‘D’!
#3 – D, SAM TAYLOR (Toronto East Enders Ticats)
Favourite minor hockey memory: U18 Silver Stick and carpooling with friends.
Who would you like to thank? I’d like to thank my coaches and teammates for always making hockey something to look forward to, and my parents for always supporting me through the highs and lows as well as staying awake at the wheel for the early morning games.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Don’t take anything for granted. Enjoy every moment on and off the ice because they don’t last forever.
#6 – D, EVAN HILDEBRAND (Leaside Flames)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the Fort Lauderdale “Veterans Day on the Beach” hockey tournament.
Who would you like to thank? My dad and mom for always supporting me.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Be yourself.
#55 – D, ZACHARY LACHAPELLE (Markham Islanders)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the U17 ‘A’ GTHL Regular Season (Pro Hockey Life Cup) and Playoff Championships.
Who would you like to thank? My coach for most of my minor hockey career and the man who made me into the player I am today, Coach Richard, who I have the privilege of also calling dad.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Always blame the forwards when scored upon! Enjoy the highs and lows… it goes by so fast!
#21 – D, HAYDEN BERKOVIC (North Toronto)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Playing goalie in house league.
Who would you like to thank? My parents and all of the coaches that helped me along the way.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Enjoy the game and hanging out with teammates because it goes by quickly.
#5 – D, MAX TAFLER (North York Knights)
Favourite minor hockey memory: 2023 Silver Stick.
Who would you like to thank? My parents.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Always play with confidence.
#86 – D, JONAS FRYNTA (Toronto East Enders Ticats)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning International Silver Stick in 2025-2026.
Who would you like to thank? I’d like to thank my parents.
What advice do you have for the next generation? My advice to the next generation would be that winning is a lot more fun than losing.
#9 – D, LUCA STELLINO (Ted Reeve Thunder)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the Capital Fall Classic in U16 ‘AA’.
Who would you like to thank? Thank you to my coaches throughout the years that have pushed me to do better.
What advice do you have for the next generation? It goes by fast. Enjoy every shift and every game with your friends.
#9 – C, KEITH WAHL (Hillcrest Canadiens)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Tournaments with friends.
Who would you like to thank? Coaches, mum, and dad.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Play shiny and have fun.
#91 – C, RONAN DUFFY (Leaside Flames)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Going away to hockey tournaments and playing mini-sticks in the hallway.
Who would you like to thank? I’d like to thank my parents for taking me to games and practices.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Make the most of your minor hockey career because it’ll be gone before you know it.
#12 – C, ANDRE SCOTT (Markham Islanders)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning GTHL Championship in 2025.
Who would you like to thank? My parents for all of their support.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Work hard, and push through any obstacles that come your way.
#51 – RW, SIDNEY BERLINER (Markham Islanders)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the GTHL Championship in 2025.
Who would you like to thank? I would like to thank Elan Zusman for being a great coach for three years. My parents for always supporting me and driving me around.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Switching teams isn’t the end of the world.
#16 – C, OLIVER ROTHMAN (North Toronto)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the Silver Stick tournament twice.
Who would you like to thank? I’d like to thank my coaches Mike Schrenk, Ian Covert, and all of my other coaches over the years. I’d like to also thank my parents for their support and all the driving.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Enjoy the time that you have playing hockey. Before you know it, it will be over.
#23 – RW, HARLEY ROSENTHAL (North York Knights)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Scoring a natural hat trick against my former goalie.
Who would you like to thank? Thank you to my mom and dad for getting me to those early morning practices and for always encouraging me to do my best.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Work hard every day, listen to your coaches, ask questions, and don’t forget why you started playing in the first place.
#55 – C, IAN CHAMBERS (Vaughan Rangers East)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Detroit Motown tournament.
Who would you like to thank? My dad.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Be a team player, don’t be selfish with the puck.
#90 – C, SEAN SMITH (Victoria Village Mustangs)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the GTHL Pro Hockey Life Cup in my U16 year.
Who would you like to thank? My mother, father, and both of my brothers who pushed me to try and succeed in hockey.
What advice do you have for the next generation? If you want something, work hard to get it.
#34 – F, SEAN MEHRZAD (Victoria Village Mustangs)
Favourite minor hockey memory: The opportunity to play in the Silver Stick tournament in Michigan.
Who would you like to thank? I would like to thank my parents who have always supported me throughout my hockey journey.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Don’t stress and have fun!
#6 – C, JAKE PITBLADO (York Mills)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the Leaside Flames tournament with the East York Bulldogs.
Who would you like to thank? My parents and brothers.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Thank the people who allow and support you to play hockey.
#12 – C, JACOB ROBINSON (North York Knights)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Beating the [Toronto] Aeros in double overtime of Game 7 of the 2023 playoffs.
Who would you like to thank? I’d like to thank my parents for giving me the opportunity to play GTHL hockey for so many years – it has been one of the major highlights of my childhood.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Use losing as your greatest motivator towards success.
U18 ‘A’ ALL-STARS: TEAM RED
#30 – G, THOMAS WHITESIDE (Vaughan Panthers)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Away tournaments playing mini-sticks in hotel hallways.
Who would you like to thank? Thanks to my mom and dad.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Never give up, no matter the obstacles.
#33 – G, HAYDEN FARROW (Toronto Royals)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the ‘AA’ Western Conference Championship with the Humber Valley Sharks in 2018.
Who would you like to thank? I want to thank my parents for always supporting me and pushing me to do my best.
What advice do you have for the next generation? The friendships you make during minor hockey will be lasting. Make the most of it.
#31 – G, SAM LOFTUS (Toronto Eagles)
Favourite minor hockey memory: My favourite minor hockey memory was winning the championship in the 2023-2024 season.
Who would you like to thank? I’d like to thank my mom and dad for taking me to every game.
What advice do you have for the next generation? My advice to the younger generation would be play for the team and the wins will come.
#9 – D, MAX DIMMELL (Avalanche)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Making my first [competitive-level] team.
Who would you like to thank? My former coach, Dom G.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Enjoy hockey in the [GTHL] for as long as you can.
#7 – D, COLE PATERSON (Humber Valley Sharks)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Going on the road to tournaments in Pittsburgh, Montreal, and Ann Arbour and coming home as champions.
Who would you like to thank? Thanks to my parents who continued to buy me new hockey sticks, even when I broke two in one week.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Play different sports during the year to develop new skills and always have fun.
#6 – D, MARCUS WILLIAMS (Lorne Park Clarkson Wild)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the 3 Rivers Cup tournament in Pittsburgh playing in the Penguins arena.
Who would you like to thank? I would like to thank my Lorne Park coaches, Derek Mori and Craig Lyn, as well as all of my other coaches that I have had along my minor hockey journey. I would also like to thank my parents for believing in me and giving me the confidence to play well.
What advice do you have for the next generation? My advice for the next generation is to surround yourself with a coach or team that believes in you, gives you confidence in your game, and allows you to love playing hockey.
#87 – D, SEBASTIAN SOLTYSIK (Meadowvale Hawks)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Scoring the tournament winning goal in Quebec.
Who would you like to thank? My parents and coaches for their time and support.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Play hard during every shift and never give up.
#8 – D, ALEXANDER PIGEON (Toronto Eagles)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Celebrating a playoff championship with my Toronto Eagles teammates remains a special memory.
Who would you like to thank? Thanks to my Mom and Dad for always supporting me on and off the ice.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Work hard, trust the process, and stay committed.
#29 – D, ROWAN RAJHANS (Toronto Royals)
Favourite minor hockey memory: My favourite minor hockey memory is winning the GTHL West Finals in [U9] with Humber Valley.
Who would you like to thank? I would like to thank my parents for being able to give me the opportunity to play hockey and for always allowing me to play the sport I love at the cost of their time and resources. I am forever grateful for the support I have gotten from them through it all.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Don’t let failure get to your heart and never let success get to your head.
#71 – RW, ALEXANDER MEDEIROS (Applewood Coyotes)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the MHL’s President’s Trophy.
Who would you like to thank? I would like to thank my parents for their support throughout my hockey journey. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Listen to your coaches, be a great teammate, and don’t cut corners. The work you do when no one is watching is what truly separates players.
#3 – C, NATHAN MEDINA (Applewood Coyotes)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Spending time with my teammates during away tournaments.
Who would you like to thank? I want to thank my parents for all the sacrifices they’ve made over the years — the early mornings, long drives, and constant support never went unnoticed. I’m also incredibly grateful to my coaches, Jeff, Monica, Joe, and Brian, for pushing me to be better, holding me accountable, and helping me grow both as a player and as a person. Lastly, a huge thank you to my teammates — they are what make hockey fun for me, and I couldn’t ask for a better group.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Always give your best effort in everything you do. If you’re going to commit to something, give it your all. Work hard, support your teammates, and don’t be afraid to learn from mistakes — but most importantly, remember to have fun!
#91 – C, COLE RYDER (Humber Valley Sharks)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the CANAM tournament in Montreal in U15.
Who would you like to thank? I’d like to thank my parents for always supporting me and all of my coaches and teammates over the years.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Enjoy yourself and have fun, it goes by fast.
#88 – LW, GEORGE EAVES (Humber Valley Sharks)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Ann Arbor, Michigan tournament win.
Who would you like to thank? My coaches.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Enjoy every minute of minor hockey.
#89 – C, JOSHUA LEE (Lorne Park Clarkson Wild)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the tournament final at PPG Paints Arena.
Who would you like to thank? I would like to thank my parents for their constant support.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Work hard and have fun.
#12 – F, TRAVIS SINCLAIR (Toronto Eagles)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the G [championship].
Who would you like to thank? My parents.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Have fun.
#18 – C, MATTHEW CASTELLARIN (Toronto Royals)
Favourite minor hockey memory: ‘AA’ West Championship.
Who would you like to thank? My dad.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Hard work beats talent.
#93 – LW, LUCIANO TORRESAN (Toronto Royals)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the GTHL Pro Hockey Life Cup.
Who would you like to thank? I would like to thank my mom and dad.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Enjoy it while it lasts, make sure you don’t lose the joy of playing hockey.
#11 – C, VINCENT SANTORSOLA (Vaughan Rangers)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Away tournaments.
Who would you like to thank? My dad and mom! For driving me to all my practices and games, especially the early morning ones, for always supporting, encouraging, and believing in me; and for being my biggest, loudest supporters!
What advice do you have for the next generation? Always keep your head up in hard times and play every game as if it’s the finals.
#17 – C, MICHAEL O’DORICO (West Mall Lightning)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the Silver Stick.
Who would you like to thank? My parents.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Just remember to have fun while you are playing.
#96 – F, TANNER BEASLEY (West Mall Lightning)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the Silver Stick with my team.
Who would you like to thank? My parents, brother, and sister.
What advice do you have for the next generation? Play hard, pass the puck, and have fun.
