By Brendon Crossman
Three GTHL alumni are ready to shine on The Rock at tomorrow’s American Hockey League All-Star Classic in St. John’s, N.L. Forwards Brandon Pirri and Ryan Strome will look to lead the All-Stars’ offense while blueliner Cody Goloubef aims to shut down Farjestad BK, one of the top professional teams in the Swedish Hockey League.
While the trio of AHL All-Stars hail from the same metropolis and share GTHL roots, they have travelled different paths along their road to success.
Brandon Pirri, 22, Toronto, Ont.
Pirri capped off his final GTHL season in 2006-07 with 54 goals and 128 points in 44 games with the Toronto Young Nationals before blazing his trail through the Ontario Junior Hockey League with the Streetsville Derbys and Georgetown Raiders.
Pirri finished third in OJHL scoring in 2008-09, racking up 94 points (46-48–94) in 44 games between Streetsville and Georgetown, and was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round (59th overall) of the 2009 NHL Draft.
In 2009-10, his final season before joining the professional ranks, Pirri took his offensive talents to the ECAC, a NCAA Division I conference, where he tallied 11 goals and 43 points for the Engineers of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
He has spent the better part of the past four seasons with the Rockford IceHogs, Chicago’s AHL affiliate, and led the League in scoring in 2012-13 (22-53–75) on his way to becoming the franchise’s all-time points leader (62-127—189 as of the Feb. 11).
On Oct. 9, 2010, Pirri suited up in his first National Hockey League game and has seen regular playing time with the Blackhawks this season, posting 6-5–11 in 28 games, including his first career goal on Oct. 17.
Ryan Strome, 20, Mississauga, Ont.
Strome finished his GTHL career with 41 goals and 104 points in 76 games with the Toronto Marlboros before being selected eighth overall by the Barrie Colts in the 2009 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection. In his rookie season, Strome posted 5-9–14 in 34 games with Barrie before being traded to the Niagara IceDogs, where spent the balance of his OHL career.
His best season with the IceDogs came in 2010-11 when he netted 33 goals and 106 points in 65 games before being selected fifth overall by the New York Islanders in the 2011 NHL Draft. Strome’s play in Niagara also earned him a spot on Team Canada for the 2012 and 2013 World Junior Championships (7-8–15 in 12 total games).
The Mississauga native made his professional hockey debut in 2012-13, playing 10 games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Islanders’ AHL affiliate. Strome recorded 1-1–2 in his first AHL game and has since totaled 13-37–50 in 42 career games.
On Dec. 14, 2013, Strome made his NHL debut versus the Montreal Canadiens; he scored his first career goal on Jan. 6 versus the Dallas Stars.
Cody Goloubef, 24, Mississauga, Ont.
Goloubef racked up 24 goals and 98 points with the Toronto Marlboros in his final two GTHL seasons before continuing his career with the Milton Icehawks and Oakville Blades in the OJHL.
In 2007-08, Goloubef began his playing career south of the 49th parallel, joining the University of Wisconsin in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, a NCAA Division I conference. Following his first college season, Goloubef was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the second round (37th overall) of the 2008 NHL Draft.
Goloubef’s second season of college hockey brought more success as he helped Team Canada to its fifth consecutive gold medal at the 2009 World Junior Championship in Ottawa.
The 24-year-old blueliner has played with the Springfield Falcons, Columbus’ AHL affiliate, since 2010-11, posting 17-45–62 in 178 games. He made his NHL debut on Mar. 31, 2012 and posted his first career goal last February, the game-winning tally versus San Jose.
* The Skills Competition goes tonight (Feb. 11) at Mile One Centre in St. John’s, N.L., ahead of tomorrow’s All-Star Classic. Both can be seen live on Sportsnet ONE beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Photo of Ryan Strome, courtesy @NYIslanders.
