By Nicholas Carafa, @ncarafa
Photo by Dominic Repaci

Toronto Titans teammates Brendan Bonello and Joseph Garreffa, along with nine other Greater Toronto Hockey League players, have been doing a lot of hanging out lately – Google Hangouts, that is.

They are part of Team Ontario’s 20-player roster for the upcoming under-16 men’s hockey tournament at the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George, B.C.

With players from all over the province coming together for such a short tournament (Feb. 22 – Mar. 1), Team Ontario head coach Drew Bannister and his staff hosted Google Hangouts each week to bring the team together. The 15-minute sessions covered everything from systems to specific plays the club will apply during their time out west.

The Minor Midget AAA Kraft Cup champion Titans are the most well represented on Team Ontario, with goaltender Bonello, forwards Garreffa and Zack Jackson, and defencemen Markus Phillips and Reilly Webb all heading to B.C.

Toronto Marlboros teammates Ben Jones and Ryan McLeod are the only other teammates headed west, with forwards Brett Neumann (Don Mills Flyers), Owen Tippett (Toronto Red Wings), Simon Boyko (Toronto Jr. Canadiens) and Zachary Gallant (Mississauga Rebels) rounding out the GTHL contingent. Jr. Canadiens goaltender Kristian Hufsky was named an alternate.

“It’s going to be exciting for me, travelling across Canada and seeing another part of the country,” said Bonello, whose Titans dropped a seven-game series to the Marlboros in the second round of the Scotiabank GTHL Playoffs.

“[It’s] going to be a good time, but like the coaches are saying, this is a business trip. We can have some fun once we get the gold medal in our hands.”

Bonello represented Team Kypreos-Graves at the Scotiabank GTHL Top Prospects Game in December, winning that team’s MVP award for his efforts. A couple days later he received a call from Team Ontario Director of Operations Patrick Sweeney confirming his spot in the Games.

“There are times where he makes these crazy saves,” said Garreffa. “He’s one of the best in the league. He’s a great guy and he always seems to make that key save when you need it.

The opportunity to earn a gold medal couldn’t be more monumental for the players that account for 10 provinces and two territories (Nunavut does not have an entrant).

While the GTHL players showcased their skills for watchful scouts during the Top Prospects Game, a national stage serves as another chance to garner attention – especially with the OHL Top Priority Selection looming on April 11. A solid impression on the west coast could add colour to already impressive resumes.

Players like Bonello, Garreffa and others headed to the tournament are good examples for players gearing up for a jump to Minor Midget next season. These players know that reaching their highest potential – and being in the mix for the Canada Winter Games and Priority Selection – is about constantly assessing their game, because improvements can always be made.

For Garreffa, a small-statured former defenceman, speed kills. Bonello has seen his teammate take advantage of the transition to offence.

“He’s got great hands. He’s a fast, agile skater for not being the biggest guy so he relies on his shiftiness and his agility to separate himself from the pack.”

Bonello knew entering the season that it was his game outside the crease that needed development. He wanted to improve his ability to assess situations and help his tired defencemen by playing the puck.

“I used to be awful. I couldn’t play the puck if my life depended on it,” said Bonello. “I told myself, if I want to take my game to the next level, I have to work on it. In the last five minutes of practice, the coach would give us time to ourselves and I’d stick handle the puck, shoot it and just get the feel of it.”

So how are his hands now?

“I found the soft spot on the stick and as soon as I found that, there was no looking back,” Bonello laughed, joking that his hands are softer than those of his Titans teammates.

As the focus shifts to the Canada Winter Games, though, all jokes are on hold – at least until there’s a gold medal around his neck.