Just like the Rangers, all the departed players on the Patriots were outstanding guys and outstanding people. There was a real sense all last year that it was this group of vets who were really driving the train to the RBC and say what you want about young talent. In my opinion, you cannot win a thing in the OJHL without older guys who have bought in.
Another thing about the OJ is that if you have a ton of success, next-level people will take notice and want your guys. That is also the case with some of the guys on this list.
So without further ado, here is the list of the departed Patriots.
To be 100 per cent honest, (and I mean no disrespect to any other goaltender in the league the last two years, ) if you were to ask me, "Hey Jamie, which OJ goalie would you want on your club? Which was the best?", I would have answered Evan Buitenhuis in a heartbeat. Playing behind youthful, offensive clubs in Oakville before joining the Pats, Boots was simply unbelievable. Then when Forch told me there was a chance Toronto would acquire him, I knew that instantly made a sensational Pats' team a very real contender for the league and beyond. Off the ice, I came to know Evan as one of those guys who will always give you the time of day, something I really appreciated about him. On the ice he was everything the club needed him to be and Hamilton College is insanely lucky to nab a player and person the quality of Evan.
There was a time earlier in the year that Jeremy Helvig could be considered one of the league's elite goaltenders, and he was barely 16 at the time! I didn't get to talk to him too well, but I know that with his skill set and demeanour, the ceiling for his talent level is absolutely at the highest level. He's likely heading to the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL next year, but if they give him the right shot, he absolutely has a great chance to make it pro one day. The Pats would not have had the great first half without Jeremy, and likewise, they probably would not have had the confidence to do what they did. The kid deserves a ton of credit.
I have already talked about Cortland's newest defenceman, Cory Lauer at length, but he's the type of person that has had the up-bringing and has the attitude to really be successful at what he puts his mind to. He has that hard-nosed determination that college coaches love and as I said before, Toronto doesn't get as as far as they did without his locker room impact.
Tyler Enns was just a phenomenal captain. He's heading to Mercyhurst and leaving Fortier with big shoes to fill since Enns was one of those rare kids who didn't need a spotlight or a superstar role to lead by example. He was key in making everyone feel welcome and part of the club and he fully understood by the end how he could best help the club win (on or off the ice) and those facts deserve pieces of credit for Toronto's success this year.
Alex Grose came in from a quite different level of hockey and really did everything the coaching staff wanted of him. As a mid-season pickup, he had pretty much no entitlement in his attitude and as a result, he was a pleasure to work with. He was brought in to be a physical guy, to make a difference on the forecheck, and add some depth, and he certainly did that very well. He's also a really good kid and I'm going to miss seeing him around the rink as well. Alex is heading to Iowa State.
A lot of major junior veterans come in to the OJHL with some bitterness or a bad attitude. However, after over 150 games in the Canadian Hockey League, Andreas Tsogkas was nothing but a tremendous teammate. His talent was obvious from early in the season, and he brought a crispness and professionalism to the game that kids learn. This is absolutely essential at the next level, and Ryerson certainly is getting an awesome piece. I'll never forget one Jonathan Huberdeau-like shootout move he made vs. the Junior Canadians...it was definitely the nicest shootout goal I've seen in the OJ. He is another great kid and one of the league's least talked about stars last year.
I had only met Brandon Willett once or twice before he came back to the club despite the fact that he was on Vaughan and had been around the league for a while, but he always took the time to say "hey" and treat me with respect. Hamilton College is getting a guy who can really do a little bit of everything at a high level up front, and coaches will tell you that guys like him are invaluable. He grew a great beard and he was really helpful with my playoff videos, for which I am truly grateful.
Doug Bonar and I didn't really start chatting till later in the year, but (I feel like a broken record) he is just another outstanding player and person who the Pats are losing this year. When it came to finishing, Doug was as good as anybody in the OJ last year and with all the accolades Kevin Shier got, as I always say (and Kev would agree 100 per cent) that without the hard work of Doug and Nathan Feric, Shier would not have achieved nearly as much. His penalty kill ability also showed up in a big way in the playoffs and after two straight 20-goal, 50-plus point seasons in a row in the OJ, he is certainly ready to make an impact for the University of Waterloo.
It only comes along once in a while that a team can add the exact type of player and person mid-season that it needs, but the acquisition of Robert Powers from Stouffville was as close to perfect as you can get. A veteran of the Spirit's 2012 championship club, Robert was a great addition to the room. Possessing a tremendous two-way skillset on the back end, his coming on really solidified the Pats D-corps as (in my opinion) the best in the OJHL. He was also another guy who was very helpful and encouraging with any media I was trying to make (writing and video).
Only two more guys...you can make it.
With all due respect to all the kids I've worked with in this league (and 95% of them have been awesome, with all honesty), Kev Shier will go down as one of my absolute favourites. He was always willing and enthusiastic to help me out with an interview or anything I really needed from him. And with everything that happened with him on and off the ice, that's a lot. I really appreciated how he was always willing to chat and be honest about things. On top of everything away from the game, he was one the league's premier talents without a doubt last year. I will always remember Game 2 vs. Georgetown in the conference finals when he scored five points to lead the club back from down 3-0 midway through the second period to win 5-3--probably the best performance I've ever seen in the league. Union is getting a great player and an even better person (by the way, his dad's not too bad either).
Finally, Mike Prapavessis was all right...
But seriously, with the way Praps absolutely DOMINATED (capitals intended) the league this past year, you could forgive him a little bit of cockiness; the guy doesn't have a boastful bone in his body. A really polite, good guy off the ice, you can tell he was raised really well. He has a tremendous head on his shoulders, and at times it was so easy to forget that he was only a 17 year old doing what he did with and against 19 and 20 year olds. He pulled in loads of awards and deserved every single one of them and there are few players I can ever say I enjoyed watching more than Praps (I'm really going to miss it). RPI is so lucky to get him and I'm very confident he'll get taken in the up-coming NHL Draft. How Fortier will replace his minutes is really beyond me
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