Road to the 2019 National Junior A Championship: OJHL

The Oakville Blades scored their way to the top of the OJHL, netting a league-leading 244 goals.

Jason La Rose

For the first time in franchise history, the Oakville Blades are regular-season champions of the OJHL. The Blades were a picture of consistency, only once losing consecutive games while posting the two of the four longest winning streaks of the season – eight-game (Oct. 5-27) and 10-game (Nov. 3-Dec. 3) runs that were sandwiched around a single defeat. Oakville was all about the offence, leading the OJHL in goals with 244, 30 more than second-place North York. It was scoring by committee; Spencer Kersten (20-40—60) was the Blades’ leading point-getter, good for 12th in the league. In all, 11 players recorded at least 40 points and seven were 20-goal scorers.

PLAYOFF MATCH-UPS
North Division
1) Markham Royals vs. 4) Georgetown Raiders
2) Newmarket Hurricanes vs. 3) Aurora Tigers

West Division
1) Oakville Blades vs. 4) Brampton Admirals
2) Buffalo Jr. Sabres vs. 3) Burlington Cougars

South Division
1) North York Rangers vs. 4) Toronto Jr. Canadiens
2) St. Michael’s Buzzers vs. 3) Toronto Patriots

East Division
1) Cobourg Cougars vs. 4) Wellington Dukes
2) Trenton Golden Hawks vs. 3) Whitby Fury

FINAL STANDINGS (W-L-T-OTL)
North Division
Markham – 65 points (29-18-2-5)
Newmarket – 60 points (26-20-3-5)
Aurora – 54 points (24-24-3-3)
Pickering – 49 points (23-29-0-3)
Stouffville – 29 points (12-37-1-4)

West Division
Oakville – 93 points (44-5-1-4)
Buffalo – 64 points (27-17-2-8)
Burlington – 59 points (27-22-3-2)
Brampton – 55 points (24-23-1-6)
Georgetown – 55 points (24-24-3-4)
Brantford – 43 points (19-30-0-5)

South Division
North York – 85 points (40-9-1-4)
St. Michael’s – 62 points (30-22-0-2)
Toronto Patriots – 62 points (30-22-0-2)
Toronto Jr. Canadiens – 58 points (27-23-1-3)
Mississauga – 32 points (13-25-1-5)

East Division
Cobourg – 78 points (36-12-0-6)
Trenton – 73 points (33-14-4-3)
Whitby – 69 points (33-18-1-2)
Wellington – 64 points (29-19-1-5)
Kingston – 51 points (22-25-2-5)
Lindsay – 20 points (8-42-0-4)

LEADING SCORERS
Alessio Luciani (Markham) – 31G 45A 76P
Braedyn Aubin (Markham) – 29G 44A 73P
Brandon Yeamans (North York) – 31G 39A 70P
Brett Bannister (Cobourg) – 32G 36A 68P
Jordan Crocker (Georgetown) – 14G 54A 68P

LEADING GOALTENDERS
Jett Alexander (North York) – 30-11-1, 1.67 GAA, .945 SV%, 10 SO
Mitchell Weeks (Newmarket) – 16-11-1, 1.72 GAA, .941 SV%, 6 SO
Will Barber (Oakville) – 22-4-1, 1.90 GAA, .925 SV%, 7 SO
Luke Pearson (Whitby) – 25-13-1, 1.94 GAA, .938 SV%, 6 SO
Benjamin Allard-Robitaille (Trenton) – 18-12-2, 2.05 GAA, .928 SV%, 3 SO

LAST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCE
2018 (Wellington Dukes – runner-up)

TOTAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES
28 (2018, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 (host), 2005, 2004, 2003, 2001, 1999, 1998, 1996, 1986, 1985, 1985 (host), 1984, 1983, 1982, 1981, 1980, 1979, 1975, 1972)

LAST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
2017 (Cobourg Cougars)

TOTAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
6 (2017, Cobourg Cougars; 2007, Aurora Tigers; 2004, Aurora Tigers; 1983, North York Flyers; 1978, Guelph Platers; 1972, Guelph CMCs)