The McLean & Dickey Orillia Terriers are set to host the Provincial Junior Hockey League's (PJHL) Showcase Game this Saturday. The game turns the spotlight on Ontario's top 16- and 17-year-old players.
A pair of Terriers - forward Austin Holenski and defenceman Kaden Goggins - have been selected to play in the game. Both are excited about the chance to shine in front of scouts from OHL and junior hockey teams.
Holenski, a rookie winger, says being selected to play in the showcase is "an honour."
“I know there are only a certain number of 16 and 17-year-olds who have been selected to play in this game, so I’m pretty grateful to be included,” said the forward who has five goals and 12 assists in 17 games this season.
“Having a great start to my first year in Jr. C and being selected to play in this game in front of our hometown fans means a lot,” he said.
Holenski says it will be "nerve-wracking" to play in front of scouts, but conceded the real challenge will be playing in not only the Showcase Game but also the Terriers home game against Caledon later that night.
“I’ll need to get a good night's sleep the night before, and I’ll need to get some good foods and liquid into me. I’ll probably get to the rink a few hours early on Saturday to get focused and get to know the kids who I’ll be playing with,” he said.
Goggins says playing in the game "means a lot" to him.
“I get to represent the Terriers, my teammates, and myself as a hockey player,” said the rookie rearguard.
Goggins says playing in front of scouts is an opportunity to showcase his talents.
“I have to work hard and bear down. It’s going to take a lot to impress the scouts, but I’m prepared to show them that I’m good enough to move up to the next levels,” he said.
“It’s going to be a little nerve-wracking, but I’m going to take my time and try to make good decisions out there.”
Goggins has a goal and an assist in 11 games with the Terriers this season, but it’s the points that Goggins keeps off the board that makes him a worthy player for the Showcase Game.
“I’ve worked my butt off for this opportunity. It’s shocking that it’s actually happening this weekend,” he said.
At least three OHL teams will be sending scouts to the important game, and former Orillia Terrier standout Tobias Whelan will be on hand to give a motivational speech to the players.
“He will be speaking to the North team about how he played with the Terriers, went on to play in the OHL, and at Lakehead University,” explained Terriers president, Andrew McDonald.
“There will be several scouts coming from several Ontario Junior Hockey League teams, Jr. B teams, and Jr. C teams. I’m expecting 30-40 scouts from all levels and all leagues.”
The game will take place at Rotary Place in Orillia at 1 p.m Tickets cost $10 for adults and $7 for seniors and students. Any member of the Orillia Minor Hockey Association or the Orillia Hawks who buys a ticket for the showcase game will get free admission to the Terriers game later that night at 7:30 p.m..
“You are going to see some damn good hockey, there are a lot of good, young kids playing in this game. Duncan Grube is one of them, he’s leading the Alliston Hornets in goals this year, and OHL scouts are just drooling all over this kid,” McDonald said.
McDonald is the general manager for the North team, while Terriers bench boss Dallyn Telford is one of the three coaches on the bench. Danielle Quinto, the Terriers trainer, will also be the trainer for Team North.
McDonald says scouts will be looking for young talent who slipped through the radar of last year’s drafts that took place during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There is talent that slipped through the cracks because there just wasn’t a lot of hockey, and now the scouts are seeing these kids putting up pretty good numbers in a rough league with 21-year-olds,” he said.
“They are looking for players that can compete and possibly be added to an OHL, Jr. A, or Jr. B roster.”
