By Joelle Wood / OHL 

When Saginaw Spirit forward Alex Christopoulos sets foot on the ice tonight for his final OHL contest, not only will it signal the biggest game of his hockey career, but another interesting side note as well.

Christopoulos’ final OHL game closes the book on the junior hockey chapter of one of the best U16 AAA teams to ever come through the annual OHL Cup Showcase. The 2018-19 Don Mills Flyers steamrolled their way through the season that year, skating to a 6-5 overtime win over the Toronto Red Wings in the OHL Cup Championship Final, decided on a goal that saw Shane Wright feed fellow eventual first round NHL Draft pick Brennan Othmann midway through the extra frame.

The 2018-19 Flyers, a group that a year prior was brought together by the tragic loss of goaltender and teammate Roy Pejcinovski, boast a legacy of top-tier talent. Among their ranks were numerous standout players, including Alex’s twin brother Paul Christopoulos, who made three consecutive Eastern Conference Final appearances with the North Bay Battalion.

Joining the aforementioned Wright (Coachella Valley Firebirds, AHL), who was an exceptional status first overall OHL Priority Selection choice by the Kingston Frontenacs that spring and Othmann (Hartford Wolfpack, AHL), who went second overall to the Flint Firebirds that year, several others have emerged as excellent players. Los Angeles Kings defenceman Brandt Clarke (Barrie Colts), North Bay Battalion captain Liam Arnsby, Dallas Stars prospect Francesco Arcuri (Kitchener Rangers), Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Roman Schmidt (Kingston Frontenacs), Arizona Coyotes prospect Anson Thornton, Guelph Storm graduate Payton Robinson and Flint Firebirds grad Marko Stojkov all made their mark in the OHL. Wright, in particular, was a standout, being named OHL Cup MVP, OHL and CHL Rookie of the Year, before winning gold at the World Junior’s alongside Othmann and Clarke.

Six players from that historic team ended up signing NHL contracts, cementing their place in hockey history as one of the most talented minor hockey teams to ever win the GTHL championship and OHL Cup. In their dominant regular season, Christopoulos, along with Wright, Othmann, and Clarke were among the GTHL’s top-four point-producers.

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