Ahead of the Greater Toronto Hockey League’s 2023 Under-18 All-Star Festival fuelled by Gatorade on January 27-28 at Scotiabank Pond, the ‘AA’ All-Stars reflected on their minor hockey careers. The U18 ‘AA’ All-Star Game is scheduled for Saturday, January 28 at 4:00pm. Admission to the U18 All-Star Festival, including all games, is free.
U18 AA ALL-STARS: TEAM BLUE
#1 – G, NOAH SANTOS (Humber Valley Sharks)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning city championships.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? Meant the world to me, to be able to learn and grow as a teammate and human being. I built lifelong relationships that I will cherish forever.
#30 – G, JOSHUA PAQUIN (Leaside Flames)
Favourite minor hockey memory: I’ve had some amazing experiences like winning the OHFs, International Silver Stick, travelling to China to climb The Great Wall, and play teams from Russia and the US – but my favourite memory of playing hockey is when I won my first tournament in U8.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? Minor league hockey has been very important in my life. It has taught me many skills like determination, perseverance, and resiliency. It shaped who I am today and has been the best decision of my life.
#31 – G, NICHOLAS SPOGNARDI (Greater Toronto Capitals)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Being awarded the U17 ‘AA’ West Regular Season Champions with a win record of 17 games straight.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? Growing up playing minor hockey, and being able to experience the many joys of playing the wonderful sport at such a young age all the way to my adulthood, has opened my eyes looking back and realizing how many friendships, personal qualities, memories, life skills and so much more from the enjoyment of playing hockey throughout my minor hockey career.
#2 – D, ADAM AWREY (Humber Valley Sharks)
Favourite minor hockey memory: My favourite hockey memories are winning the U17 AA City Championships and going to the International Silver Stick Finals in Sarnia.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? Hockey means teamwork, dedication, and fun. I have built memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.
#3 – D, WILLEM PANGRETITSCH (Humber Valley Sharks)
#4 – D, NATHAN GRAFSTEIN (Leaside Flames)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning our last tournament in Nashville.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? My minor hockey career has allowed me to meet so many great people who I share amazing memories with.
#5 – D, TYLER GILBERT (Greater Toronto Capitals)
#6 – D, TREVOR ICZKOVITZ (York Mills)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Playing in the Ottawa Bell Capital Cup tournament in both my U11AA and U12AA hockey seasons, which included ringing in the New Year as a team watching fireworks and a concert at Parliament Hill.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? My minor hockey career has meant a lot to me. I met a lot of people through hockey that I became good friends with and it opened up opportunities in school to connect with different people.
#7 – D, ETHAN KUMAR (Goulding Park Rangers)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Going to Pittsburgh for an away tournament on a travel bus with my team.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? My hockey career has allowed me to make lifelong friendships and lifelong memories.
#8 – D, JACK BROOKS (Mississauga Jets)
Favourite minor hockey memory: I do not have just one favorite memory of playing minor hockey. The friendships I have developed over the years from being at tournaments, practices and games will be lifelong.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? I have had the opportunity to meet and train with some amazing coaches and players. Playing minor hockey has taught me some valuable life lessons.
#9 – F, AARON DENNIS (Humber Valley Sharks)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Playing mini sticks with my teammates for hours at an away tournament was I was in U11.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? Minor hockey has been a huge part of my life since I was five years old. It has brought a lot of good memories of playing the game and meeting a lot of different people.
#10 – F, TOMAS GALLIPPI (Humber Valley Sharks)
#11 – F, DANIEL GLOVER (Humber Valley Sharks)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the 2022 GTHL Championship.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? Lots of friends; lots of good times.
#12 – F, AARON KATZ (Leaside Flames)
Favourite minor hockey memory: My favourite hockey memory is winning gold at our tournament in Nashville this year.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? My minor hockey career has meant the world to me. It’s allowed me to create memories and friends that I’ll never forget.
#14 – F, AIDEN PITBLADO (Leaside Flames)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Scoring in a shootout to win the game.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? Minor hockey career has meant: a lot of fun, making new friends, learning life lessons, and of course playing hockey.
#15 – F, NOAH HO (Leaside Flames)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Playing in overtime at a Silver Stick Final.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? Hockey has been a place where I could make great memories with good friends.
#16 – F, JUSTIN RODRIGUEZ (Greater Toronto Capitals)
#17 – F, ADAM FIORUCCI (Greater Toronto Capitals)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the 2021-2022 Pro Hockey Life Cup.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? My hockey career has allowed me to make great friends and build lifelong relationships.
#18 – F, CHRISTAPOR GOSDANIAN (York Mills)
Favourite minor hockey memory: My favourite minor hockey memory would probably have to be winning the championship and MVP in my first year of hockey at nine years old. I would always watch hockey with my father and it was the coolest thing to me getting to carry the cup and celebrating with my teammates just like I would see on TV.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? My minor hockey career means the world to me. Hockey is way more than just a game but rather my passion. It is what I love to do and helps me escape the outside world. I am proud of the fact that I was able to gain the respect of my teammates and coaches on every team and got chosen as a captain for most teams I played for. I am extremely grateful for all my family, coaches, and everyone who helped and supported me throughout my hockey career.
#19 – F, SHANE KAPLAN (York Mills)
Favourite minor hockey memory: My favourite memories are of the fun I had with teammates at away tournaments, having the honour of being a captain, spending time with my teammates in the dressing room and competing our hardest as a group to win games. Playoff games and other big games are especially moments I will never forget.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? Hockey is a very special part of my life. I have had countless enjoyable times with amazing teammates on and off the ice and have learned from great coaches. From tough losses to hard fought wins, hockey has taught me about hard work, leadership, sportsmanship, competition, and to always keep improving. Through all the ups and downs of each season, I continue to love my hockey journey.
#20 – F, ALEXANDER BUSILLO (Goulding Park Rangers)
Favourite minor hockey memory: My favourite minor hockey memory is when my team won the Silver Stick tournament in 2019.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? My minor hockey career has had a significant impact on my life as it has provided me with many lifelong friendships, opportunities, and memories along the way.
#21 – F, AIDAN JOYNER (Mississauga Jets)
U18 AA ALL-STARS: TEAM RED
#1 – G, DAVID HANLEY (Mississauga Rattlers)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Every time I won.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? Hockey has meant a lot to me because of how much it has taught me and how much I’ve been able to improve.
#30 – G, AARON BECKER (Mississauga Terriers)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Away tournaments when I was young with mini-sticks, hotel pools, and championships!
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? My minor hockey career has taught me how to be part of a team, how to work together to achieve success, and so many other life lessons for which I will be forever grateful. Most importantly, I have developed friendships that I am sure will last a lifetime.
#31 – G, MASSIMO MUTO (Vaughan Rangers)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the GTHL Championship in my first year of AA in U11.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? My minor hockey career has made me a better hockey player and person, thanks to my teammates and coaching staff. It has also brought me many great memories and friends that I will always cherish.
#2 – D, ERIC DEL FATTI (Vaughan Rangers)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the 2015 U10 AA GTHL Championship.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? Minor hockey has given me the opportunity to compete to the best of my abilities. More importantly, it has been about making lasting memories with teammates and coaches along the way.
#3 – D, SEBASTIAN ZANATTA (Vaughan Rangers)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the 2018 Regional Silver Stick and playing in the International.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? My minor hockey career has meant so much to me. I have met some of my closest friends through hockey and I have be able to share so great memories with them. I’ve also had the pleasure of learning from my great coaches and trainers throughout my career.
#4 – D, ELIAS NWEISSER (Mississauga Terriers)
Favourite minor hockey memory: My favourite minor hockey memory was winning the [city championship] in 2017.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? My minor hockey career has meant having long-term friendships and most importantly, having fun while loving the game of hockey.
#5 – D, BEN SYMONS (Mississauga Terriers)
Favourite minor hockey memory: My favourite hockey memory has to be championship Sunday of the 2016 Whitby Silver Stick back when I was with the Vaughn Kings. I will never forget those three competitive and entertaining games all with overtime winners.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? My hockey career has allowed me to showcase my athletic ability in the most fun and rewarding way possible, and I am forever grateful for the memories and friendships that have come from it.
#6 – D, DANIEL SALAZAR (Mississauga Rattlers)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the Kraft Cup.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? Minor hockey gave me a way to compete, have fun, and learn life lessons while making friendships for life.
#7 – D, ANSON EL-AYARI (North Toronto)
Favourite minor hockey memory: My first ever competitive goal.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? My minor hockey career has been an important part of my life. Meeting new people, making new friends, and competing at my best are the reasons why I love the game.
#8 – D, BENJAMIN SPOONER (Toronto Royals)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the Championship in my first year playing hockey.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? I have met a lot of really nice people and made lifelong friends along the way.
#9 – F, CHRISTOPHER ADDESA (Vaughan Rangers)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the GTHL championship and participating in the OHFs.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? Playing minor hockey has created numerous friendships and amazing memories that will last a lifetime.
#10 – F, JOHN-PAUL STALTARO (Vaughan Rangers)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the GTHL Championship and then playing in the OHFs.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? Hockey has provided some unforgettable memories of championships, away tournaments, and competitive games together with my teammates. It has created some great friendships on and away from the ice.
#11 – F, GABRIEL CAMPOLI (Vaughan Rangers)
Favourite minor hockey memory: GTHL Championship (2018)
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? My minor hockey career has taught me many valuable lessons and has created lifelong friendships.
#12 – F, CAMERON TRAN (Mississauga Terriers)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning the city championship.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? My minor hockey career has given me the opportunity to develop my leadership skills and teach the importance of commitment and dedication. Minor hockey has allowed me to understand the meaning of teamwork and being able to put trust into my teammates.
#14 – F, SAMMY CHUNG (Mississauga Terriers)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Silver Stick Tournament for U15 and U13 in Port Huron.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? Developing my hockey skills to play in future leagues and playing hockey with my friends.
#15 – F, WILL LESSARD (Mississauga Terriers)
Favourite minor hockey memory: When I scored my first hat-trick.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? My minor career has meant a lot to me as I feel I have grown into a man over the years. I have not only matured through hockey but met friends that I will be holding onto long after my minor hockey career.
#16 – F, JOSEPH SAVAGLIO (Mississauga Rattlers)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Thanksgiving On The Beach Tournament in Clearwater, Florida – playing hockey in Amalie Arena.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? My hockey career reflects making lifelong friends with both teammates and coaches, and having fun playing the sport I’ve grown to love – all the while teaching me important lessons that I will carry throughout the rest of my life.
#17 – F, ANDREW PIROLI (Mississauga Rattlers)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Kraft Cup Champions & Away Tournaments
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? Minor hockey has always been the part of the day I look forward to most (except for bag skates). There’s nothing like celebrating big wins, hanging out with my teammates, and making great plays!
#18 – F, JAMES CAMERON (North Toronto)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Scoring a Michigan goal in a close game against Forest Hill, which we went on to win 5-1.
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? My minor hockey career has meant so much to me. Hockey has been a huge part of my life and I’ve made so many close friends over the many years that I know I’ll have for life. The rink is where I’m happiest.
#19 – F, NATE CASEY (North Toronto)
Favourite minor hockey memory: Winning our Buffalo tournament in this last year of mine!
What has your minor hockey career meant to you? My minor hockey career has been a huge part of my life. I’ve enjoyed every team, every practice, and every game!
#20 – F, MIKITA BANETSKI (Toronto Royals)
#21 – F, VINCENT LEVESQUE (Mississauga Jets)
