Ahead of the Greater Toronto Hockey League’s Under-18 All-Star Festival fuelled by Gatorade on March 4-5 at Scotiabank Pond, the ‘A’ All-Stars were asked to reflect on their minor hockey careers. The U18 ‘A’ All-Star Game is scheduled for Saturday, March 5 at 5:00pm.
U18 ‘A’ ALL-STARS: TEAM EAST
- JULIAN RIVAS-MILLER – NORTH YORK KNIGHTS, #1
“Hockey has been a big part of my life for nine years. I started with neighbourhood house league and ended with ‘A.’ I played with some of the same guys the whole time – my good friends and had great coaches. Probably the most fun was the away tournaments. I’m most proud of how I much I grew as a person over all those years of hockey.”
- JAKE GIDDENS – TORONTO SHAMROCKS, #32
“Hockey has allowed me to meet new people and teammates that will be my friends for life. My proudest moment of my hockey career was winning the city championship a few years ago.”
- JACOB MCKENNEY – LEASIDE FLAMES, #29
- NOAH POLLACK – NORTH YORK KNIGHTS, #17
“For me, hockey has always been more than just a sport. It has been an important part of my development as a person, on and off the ice. It has taught me respect, commitment, and responsibility. I’ve also been lucky to have been playing with the same bunch of guys for many years and who are some of my closest friends.
I am most proud of the friendships I have made and what we have accomplished together as a team. Early on, we were not one of the stronger teams in the league. However, over the last few years we have really gelled! We have been lucky to have kept the core of the team together over the years, and have become a very strong team.”
- JESSE KESHEN – NORTH YORK KNIGHTS, #28
“For me, hockey means having some fun and enjoyable competition with my teammates and friends. I am most proud of my progression as a player, the friendships, and relationships I have created, and the overall hard work and success of my team, the North York Knights.”
- JULIAN WILE – TORONTO SHAMROCKS, #4
“Hockey was the activity in my life that I would always look forward to. The memories and the friendships that I have made will be with me forever. I am most proud of the leadership that I have gained from my minor hockey career. It has taught me to work well with others and step up when needed as a player and as a friend.”
- CONNOR ATKINS — LEASIDE FLAMES, #7
“To me, hockey means fun, competitiveness, teamwork, and leadership. I’m most proud of my U12 year – coming back and beating a team we lost big to in the round robin and winning the tournament against that same team in overtime.”
- ERIC SWISTUN — NORTH TORONTO, #6
“Hockey is a great way for me to get exercise and play a sport I love with friends. I’m most proud of staying loyal to my club.”
- DENNIS SHAPIRO – TORONTO AEROS, #44
“[Hockey means] a way to stay active and have fun. I am most proud of being team captain of multiple different teams throughout my minor hockey career.”
- BEN BERREY – NORTH YORK KNIGHTS, #18
“Hockey is my escape from stress, as every time I play, I am filled with excitement and the ambition to win, developing new memories every time I am at the rink. [I am most proud of] the friendships that I have made. Also, my growth as a player and a person over the years, under the guidance of my coaching staff and the support of my parents.”
- JORDAN BOMBIER – NORTH YORK KNIGHTS, #43
“Personally, hockey is a place where I can relax and enjoy myself. A notable accomplishment of mine throughout my humble hockey career would be winning gold at the CAN/AM tournament in Lake Placid, New York.”
- SALVADOR VAUGHAN – NORTH YORK KNIGHTS, #93
“Hockey has always been a part of my life so it definitely means a lot to me. I love playing and everything associated with it, except blocking shots – that’s no fun. I really enjoy playing with the Knights and all my teammates are the best group I’ve ever played with.
I’m most proud of winning a tier two Select championship – it was the only time I’ve won a championship and a lot of the guys I played with on the team, I still play with today. Scoring on the ‘Miracle On Ice,’ ice was cool, too.”
- JACK DICKINSON – TORONTO SHAMROCKS, #27
“Hockey means fun and friendship to me. I am most proud of my team winning the city championship in 2019.”
- MAXIME NAGANO – TORONTO SHAMROCKS, #19
Hockey has become a very important thing in my life, teaching me many things, creating good memories, and putting me into a tightly knit community. I am most proud of making the All-Star team.”
- MAX ROY – LEASIDE FLAMES, #13
“Hockey means friendship and togetherness. Hockey brings people together for the same goal. I am most proud of how many people I have met and how much I’ve learned from hockey. While being the best sport ever, hockey allowed me to meet so many new people, and learn how to overcome challenges.”
- GABRIEL COUTURE – NORTH TORONTO, #39
“Hockey is about building community and making memories. I’m proud to have played on the same line as my twin brother Heath for 11 years.”
- CHRISTOPHER KAPSAS – TORONTO AEROS, #19
“Not being able to play during the pandemic really made me realize so many of the things I love and appreciate about hockey: the friendships, the on and off-ice camaraderie, the sense of community, and just the rush of being on the ice. I’m thankful to have made so many friends through hockey and to have been able to do something I love for so many years.
My proudest moment in my hockey career was being part of the 2016/17 GTHL Championship winning team with the West Hill Golden Hawks. I feel lucky to have been able to experience the feeling of winning it all.”
- ESA HAMALAINEN – TORONTO EAST ENDERS TICATS, #22
“Hockey is a passion of mine… from meeting new friends, to having fun and an exciting time during games. The things I’ve learned in hockey, I will be able to apply to the rest of my life. I’m most proud of being a committed player who plays with integrity and sportsmanship.”
- JACOB ANBAR – MARKHAM ISLANDERS, #55
“[Hockey means] fun memories with my friends. [I’m most proud of] always keeping a positive mindset even while losing.”
- EVAN O’HARA – DON MILLS MUSTANGS, #8
“Hockey has been a huge part of my life because of the friends I’ve made through it. Being able to lead a great group of guys as captain of my team is what I’m most proud of.”
- PETER ARFO – TORONTO WOLVERINES, #45
“Playing means to me, making memories and having fun competing with my friends. I’m most proud of all the tournaments and games I’ve won and also the people I’ve met along the way.”
- LACHLAN COPE – HUMBER VALLEY SHARKS, #31
“Hockey to me has been about community and experiences, from regular season games, to away tournaments, and even early morning practices. I’ll never forget the memories I’ve made with all my current and former teammates. I’m most proud of my U18 season and being named an All Star.”
- AIDEN CASEY – WEST MALL LIGHTNING, #84
“Having hockey in my life from such a young age has sparked a huge question for me. What if? Specifically, what if I had never fallen in love with hockey and chosen not to pursue it up to my 18th year? Quite honestly, the answer to that question is something I do not care about. I am happy to have gone through every single up and down during my hockey career and would not change it for the world. So if you ask what does hockey mean to me? It means the world.
What I am most proud of after looking back on my hockey career is the friendships I have made. Most of the kids I have met since the start have grown to be great, lifelong friends.”
- WILLIAM KEKICH – TORONTO WOLVERINES, #11
“To me hockey means friendship, camaraderie, and memories that will last a lifetime. I am most proud of the relationships and friendships that I’ve formed over my many years of playing hockey.”
- JACK FORREST – TORONTO WOLVERINES, #65
“I have such great memories of playing hockey growing up. I loved playing with my friends, being a part of a team, and going to tournaments. I am most proud of the great friendships I’ve made in my hockey career.”
- JULIAN AGOSTINELLI – HUMBER VALLEY SHARKS, #58
“Playing in the GTHL the past 10 years has provided me the opportunity to develop my hockey skills and share my passion for the game and make great memories with family and friends. I am proud of all the many new friends I have made over the years.”
- COLE SHANNON – HUMBER VALLEY SHARKS, #4
“[Hockey means] fun, lasting memories, lasting friendships and community. [I’m most proud of] winning the Kraft Cup in 2014/2015 season.”
- TYLER HUNT – WEST MALL LIGHTNING, #88
“Hockey has been a life passion. All of my friends are from hockey and my parents’ friends came from hockey. I’m the most proud of winning the Kraft Cup for my team in 2020.”
- PAUL VAZAKIS – VAUGHAN PANTHERS, #93
“To me, hockey means meeting great teammates that are friends for life. Looking back on my minor hockey career, I am most proud of winning the GTHL West division title with the Duffield Devils.”
- OLIVER GIROUARD – TORONTO WOLVERINES, #55
“Hockey has always given me something to look forward to every year of my life. My proudest moment is winning the Kraft Cup with the Toronto Wolverines.”
- DAVIDE CALAMUSA – TORONTO WOLVERINES, #97
“Hockey means so much to me, from playing in our backyard rink to playing in the GTHL and creating memories with teammates and lifelong friendships. Looking back on my minor hockey career, I am most proud of when my team and I won the International Silver Stick in Michigan and also playing in the OHFs in 2017.”
- JOSEPH LUCA – TORONTO WOLVERINES, #8
“To me, hockey means being able to have fun on and off the ice, with my teammates and friends. The thing I am most proud of during my minor hockey career would be the lifelong friendships I’ve made and the great memories created together.”
- LACHLAN McCONVEY – HUMBER VALLEY SHARKS, #39
“Hockey to me means playing a great game with my friends. It’s an amazing way to stay active and healthy while also having fun and making memories. It’s been a big part of my life and has helped shaped me into who I am today. I am most proud of the memories I have, the relationships I’ve made, awards and tournaments I’ve won, and the overall atmosphere of being at the rink.”
- CAMERON ELBE — HUMBER VALLEY SHARKS, #19
“To me, hockey is more than a game. It’s where I’ve made some of my best friends and memories, and it’s taught me teamwork and discipline. I am most proud of making the All Star game.”
- DEVAN FENWICK — HUMBER VALLEY SHARKS, #5
“Whether it be the teammates I’ve bonded with, the late night games, or the near misses, these are hockey experiences I will never forget. I am proud to have been playing with the Sharks for the past eight seasons. I’m very lucky to have found a great team and been able to grow up with a great group of guys.”
- SIMON CHOU – WEST MALL LIGHTNING ‘A’, #90
“[To me, hockey means] fun memories. [I’m most proud of] building friendships with teammates.”
- RYAN BEETLES – WEST MALL LIGHTNING, #86
“To me, my hockey career has been the highlight of my childhood. Ever since I was a kid, I loved skating whenever I had the chance to with my friends or family. I would always go to Port Credit’s fun skates with my dad who was teaching me how to skate and once I got the hang of it, I started playing hockey right away. Since then I’ve met some of my closest friends through the sport as well as amazing coaches who have helped me get to where I am as a player and as a person. I am forever grateful for those who have coached and played with me throughout my minor hockey career and I thank you for all the good times and memories I’ve had with them.
I think I’m most proud of the fact that I was able to stick with the same group of guys for most of my minor hockey career and the amount that we accomplished as a team throughout those years. We started off as a bottom team and worked together over the years to end up finishing first in our last season as well as winning multiple tournaments at the same time. I’m proud of myself as well as my teammates and coaches for sticking with it and coming out on top in the end.”
- JOHN BAGLIONE — VAUGHAN PANTHERS, #88
“Hockey has been a big part of my life since I was six years old. Many of my best friends are people that I’ve played with in the past or am still playing with. Hockey has taught me about discipline, dedication, leadership, and teamwork.
I have many great memories that I’ll cherish forever but the one that stands out for me is scoring the game-winning goal in overtime of Game Seven at the City Finals. Many of my friends and family came to see the game and it was an amazing experience.”
- THOMAS VISCONTI – VAUGHAN PANTHERS, #4
“Hockey has taught me that achieving your goals requires confidence, dedication, hard work, teamwork and a lot of fun! The lifelong friendships I have built and the successes our teams have had will always be the most important things I will always cherish!”
- RUSSELL LESLIE — TORONTO AVALANCHE, #67
“Hockey is a source of fun and a great place to create memories. [I’m most proud of] the lifelong friends and memories I’ve made.”
