2016-17 Men's hockey yearbook by yorkulions

HOCKEY 2016-2017

SCHEDULE AND STATS

2016-17 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE

2015-16 REGULAR SEASON RESULTS

DATE

OPPONENT

TIME

DATE

OPPONENT

RESULTS

Wed. Oct. 5 Sat. Oct. 8 Fri. Oct. 14 Sat. Oct. 15 Thu. Oct. 20 Sat. Oct. 22 Fri. Oct. 28 Sat. Oct. 29 Thu. Nov. 3 Sat. Nov. 5 Fri. Nov. 11 Sat. Nov. 12 Fri. Nov. 18 Sat. Nov. 19 Fri. Nov. 25 Sat. Nov. 26 Fri. Dec. 2 Sat. Dec. 3 Fri. Jan. 6 Sun. Jan. 8 Sat. Jan. 14 Fri. Jan. 20 Sat. Jan. 21 Fri. Jan. 27 Sat. Jan. 28 Fri. Feb. 3 Sat. Feb. 4 Fri. Feb. 10

at Brock at Laurier vs. Toronto vs. Laurier at Guelph vs. Ryerson vs. Brock vs. Western at Ryerson at Waterloo vs. UQTR vs. Concordia at McGill at Ottawa at Toronto vs. Windsor vs. Carleton vs. Waterloo at Western vs. Guelph at Windsor vs. Queen’s vs. UOIT at Lakehead at Lakehead at Laurentian at Nipissing vs. RMC

7pm 7:30pm 7pm 7pm 7:30pm 7pm 7pm 7pm 7:30pm 7pm 7pm 7pm 7pm 7pm 7pm 7pm 7pm 7pm 7pm 2pm 7:30pm 7pm 7pm 7pm 7pm 7:35pm 7:15pm 7pm

Sat. Oct. 10 Fri. Oct. 16 Sat. Oct. 17 Fri. Oct. 23 Sat. Oct. 24 Fri. Oct. 30 Sat. Oct. 31 Fri. Nov. 6 Sat. Nov. 7 Fri. Nov. 13 Sat. Nov. 14 Fri. Nov. 20 Sat. Nov. 21 Fri. Nov. 27 Sat. Nov. 28 Fri. Dec. 4 Sat. Dec. 5 Thu. Jan. 7 Fri. Jan. 8 Fri. Jan. 15 Sat. Jan. 16 Fri. Jan. 22 Sat. Jan. 23 Fri. Jan. 29 Fri. Feb. 5 Sat. Feb. 6 Fri. Feb. 12 Sat. Feb. 13

at Laurier at Queen’s at UOIT vs. Laurentian vs. Nipissing at Ryerson vs. Toronto at RMC at Carleton vs. Guelph vs. Windsor vs. Waterloo vs. McGill at UQTR at Concordia vs. Laurier vs. Lakehead at Guelph at Windsor at Brock vs. Western at Waterloo vs. Lakehead at Western vs. Ryerson vs. Brock vs. Windsor at Toronto

L W W W W L W W L L W L W L W L W L W W L W W W L W L L

2015-16 REGULAR SEASON STATISTICS

3-2 (OT) 3-1 5-2 2-0 7-1 6-4 4-2 6-5 4-3 (OT) 4-3 (SO) 2-1 4-1 3-2 5-2 4-3 5-2 3-2 (OT) 5-2 4-0 4-2 3-2 2-1 3-1 3-2 4-3 1-0 4-3 4-1

2015-16 PLAYOFF RESULTS

NAME

PTS PIM

PPG SHG GWG

24 16 11 17 4 23 10 22 18 15 71 28 21 12 44 9 19 27 2 7 5 26

Derek Sheppard Trevor Petersen Justin Larson Greg Milner Tyler Mort Mitch VanTeeling Colton Vannucci Shayne Rover Mark Cross Reid Jackman Kyle Campbell Tyler McGee Julien Lepage Nicholas Geiser Mihkel Poldma Corey Scott Jason Bird Josh LaFrance Nicolas Crescenzi Connor Hale Nathan Larson Matthew Salituro

28 27 28 28 27 28 26 28 28 28 28 26 25 28 28 26 7 7 2 25 22 4

10 17 7 10 5 6 5 4 3 7 3 2 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

20 12 21 24 12 11 12 10 10 4 7 8 6 0 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 0

29 28 24 17 17 17 14 13 11 10 10 6 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 0

3 7 3 7 2 2 0 2 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

100 6 34 20 20 14 26 16 26 24 18 26 8 8 10 2 6 16 4 14 6 0

0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2 4 1 1 1 1 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Wed. Feb. 17 Sat. Feb. 20 Sun. Feb. 21

vs. Toronto at Toronto vs. Toronto

W 5-0 L 3-2 L 4-1

FINAL REGULAR-SEASON RECORD: 16-7-5 FINAL PLAYOFF RECORD: 1-2

2015-16 REGULAR SEASON STATISTICS OFFENCE Goals Assists Goals per game Shots on goal Shots per game PIM Power play goals Power play opportunities Power play percentage #

NAME

83 152 2.96 994 35.5 414 31 117 26.5

GP MIN

DEFENCE Goals against Goals against average Saves Save percentage

GAA

SV%

75 2.67 739 .908

30 Chris Perugini 25 1530:58 59 2.31 683 .920 14 11 29 Mitch Maraschiello 4 192:05 12 3.75 56 .824 2 1

SEASON OUTLOOK

YORK LIONS

One year has made a huge difference for the York Lions men’s hockey team and expectations have changed significantly thanks to a worst-to-first turnaround one season ago. Last year the Lions had something to prove after a last-place finish in the OUA West the previous season. Rookie head coach Chris Dennis took over the helm of the program and the results were immediate: the Lions won six of their first eight games and earned points in 10 of their first 11 en route to the top spot in the OUA West Division and five weeks in the CIS national rankings. However, the season ended sooner than expected with a game-three loss to the Toronto Varsity Blues in the first round of the playoffs and this year’s team is using that disappointment as motivation to stay at the top and position themselves for a deep post-season run. “The players decided they wanted to be a team that was difficult to play against,” said Dennis of the improvement. “They wanted to learn our system and embrace it, and it was all their effort and dedication to the team that was the reason for the turnaround. The season didn’t end the way we wanted; our team has a bunch of second-year players with a first-year coach in the league. In a best two-out-of-three anything can happen and we found that out. We played well enough to win and it didn’t go our way. We learned a lot from that and I think we will be better because of it. “I believe we are more skilled. There’s been some big pieces that have left – captain, centre, starting goalie – and there are big shoes to fill. We’ve brought in a lot of new guys and we have some players that have been here that need to do more. We aren’t built to have success as one person or in one area, we need to be good at everything to have success.” The Lions return eight of their top 10 scorers, including OUA West all-stars Derek Sheppard and Trevor Petersen, who were first and second, respectively, in team scoring and both ranked among the OUA’s top 20. Peterson leads an offensive group that also includes third-year forward Greg Milner and several key new pieces, most notably St. Thomas transfers Steven Janes and Bryce Milson. Both of them bring two years of experience in the CIS to the line-up and they are the same age as the rest of the team’s core. Dennis will not be short on weapons up front as he also has a pair of talented rookies in Daniel Nikandrov and Scott Feser, who each played five seasons in the Canadian Hockey League. Nikandrov, a centre, was the team captain in Sarnia and recorded a total of 132 points in 256 games between the Sting and Peterborough Petes, while Feser was a winger with the Red Deer Rebels and Swift Current Broncos and tallied 105 points in 230 games.

On defence, the whole group from last year is back with the exception of one player, and Dennis believes that another season in his system will help them continue to improve upon last year’s showing, in which they allowed 13 less goals compared to the previous season. In addition to Sheppard, the blueline will be anchored by team captain Shayne Rover and fifth-year Tyler Mort, and will get a boost from newcomer Nick Zottl, a big, physical defenceman who uses his 6-foot-5, 230-pound frame to wreak havoc on opponents. The biggest change will be between the pipes, where a new starter will emerge after the graduation of OUA West all-star goaltender Chris Perugini. The battle will be between incoming rookies Mack Shields and Alex Fotinos, who each bring four years of major junior experience from the CHL, and returning back-up Mitch Maraschiello. The two newcomers both handle the puck very well, which plays into the style that Dennis envisions for his team. The OUA West is perennially a tight division and last year was no different, with just six points separating first place from fifth. After last year’s strong showing the Lions will surprise no one, and the feeling of an early playoff exit is still fresh in the minds of the team. “We go in the same way we did last year,” he said about his expectations for the team. “I’d like to think we are a home-ice-advantage playoff team, but with so many new bodies in the line up it might take a while to come together. The key is to be better each month so that when the playoffs start we are ready. Wherever we finish in the OUA West standings, we need a better showing at the end.” The Lions will need to return to the form they displayed during the first half of last season to prove they belong among the top programs in the conference and to ensure this year’s campaign extends past where last season ended.

The players wanted to learn our system and embrace it, and it ws all their effort and dedication to the team that was the reason for the turnaround. CHRIS DENNIS, HEAD COACH

HOCKEY 2016-2017

THE COACHES

CHRIS DENNIS

RUSS HERRINGTON

MASTER COACH

ASSISTANT COACH Chris Dennis was hired as the head coach of the Lions men’s hockey team in 2015. He is the 15th head coach in program history and a York alumnus, having graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in kinesiology and health science in 2002.

In his first season he led the Lions to a first-place finish in the OUA West Division, engineering a worst-to-first turnaround after the team finished in last place in 2014-15. He was also named OUA coach of the year, York’s first since 1995, and three of his players were named OUA all-stars. In the summer of 2016, he was named an assistant coach with Hockey Canada’s U17 national team program. He came to York from the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, where he served a number of different roles over 10 years with the club. Most recently he was an assistant coach for two seasons, and he has also previously been the team’s video analyst while working on coaching staffs under notable National Hockey League (NHL) head coaches Pat Quinn, Paul Maurice, Ron Wilson and Randy Carlyle. While with the Leafs Dennis was also an assistant coach with the Toronto Marlies for their playoff run to the 2012 Calder Cup finals, and in 2014 he was the development camp manager for the annual prospects camp. In addition, he provided administrative assistance to general managers John Ferguson Jr., Cliff Fletcher, Brian Burke and Dave Nonis.

ANDREAS KARLSSON ASSISTANT COACH Andreas Karlsson joined the Lions coaching staff in 2015 after spending the last three years coaching in Sweden. Karlsson spent 19 seasons as a professional hockey player, including five in the NHL with the Atlanta Thrashers and Tampa Bay Lightning. A Swedish centre drafted in the sixth round (148th overall) by the Calgary Flames in 1993, he amassed 72 points in 264 games. He also spent significant time in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Chicago Wolves, winning the Calder Cup as league champions in 2002. In his native Sweden, he played 12 seasons in the Swedish Elite League before and after his time in North America, most recently with Frolunda from 2008-11. He was also on the Swedish team that won the gold medal at the world championships in 2006. Since retiring as a player, Karlsson has been a coach with Frolunda’s J20 super elite team, including the last three years as the squad’s head coach. In 2013 and 2014 he led the team to first place overall in the regular season and a playoff semifinal appearance.

KRISTY BLAIR – CO-HEAD THERAPIST SAWYER JUBIS-HAMELUCK – CO-HEAD THERAPIST

Russ Herrington joined the Lions coaching staff in 2015. He spent 12 seasons as a junior A head coach in Thornhill, Markham and Streetsville. He won more than 300 games in that span, was a two-time allstar coach and the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) coach of the year in 2003. He guided the Markham Waxers to the 2003 OJHL South Division championship, the team’s first division title in 20 years, and reached the 2006 RBC Cup with the Streetsville Derbys. He was also an AAA head coach for eight years with the York Simcoe Express and the South Central Coyotes, and throughout his coaching career has seen more than 100 players graduate to the OHL, CIS, NCAA and professional ranks.

JESSE MESSIER ASSISTANT COACH Jesse Messier returned to the Lions in 2015 as a coach after previously spending five years as a player with the program. Messier had a tremendous career with the Lions, finishing his five years ranked 10th all-time in program scoring. The team captain for three years, he was an OUA West all-star in 2012, a member of the OUA West all-rookie team in 2010 and led the Lions in scoring in each of his final three seasons. In 2014 he signed a professional contract with the Toledo Walleye in the ECHL and spent last season with the Allen Americans, winning the ECHL championship.

JOE D’URZO DEFENSIVE SKILLS COACH Joe D’Urzo joined the Lions as the defensive skills consultant in 2015. He is a former professional hockey player, having spent time in the Italian Seria A League for multiple seasons. Prior to playing in Europe he enjoyed four successful years playing Division 1 NCAA hockey at Canisius College on an athletic scholarship. During both his NCAA and European professional years, he was awarded the team’s defenceman of the year award for three consecutive seasons. Before turning professional, D’Urzo played for the Bramalea Blues of the OPJHL, a team that became Central Ontario champions and Royal Bank Cup finalists. Since stopping his playing career in 2006, he has been coaching high-level youth, university and professional players throughout North America.

ROB HEHOLT GOALTENDING COACH Rob Heholt joined the Lions coaching staff as the goaltending coach in 2008. A former football player at York, he is an instructor for McGuire Goaltending in Toronto and a head coach in the North York Knights minor hockey club. Heholt is also an assistant coach with the standing amputee national team and won a gold medal with the squad at the 2010 world championships in Montreal.

ACADEMIC ALL-CANADIANS

YORK LIONS

MITCHELL VANTEELING, COLTON VANNUCCI, NICHOLAS GEISER & MIHKEL POLDMA Balancing the demands of academics and athletics can be challenge and excelling at both takes a tremendous amount of hard work and excellent time management skills. Four members of the York Lions men’s hockey team – forwards Mitchell VanTeeling, Colton Vannucci and Nicholas Geiser, as well as defenceman Mihkel Poldma – all reached the pinnacle of academic success last season by earning CIS academic all-Canadian awards for their strong grades. VanTeeling is a two-time academic all-Canadian in each of his first two seasons with the Lions, and last year he had the highest GPA among all men’s hockey players at York. He grew up in Brandon, Man., where, he says, they are known for their cold winters, and like so many young boys across Canada he first got into the sport by skating on a rink in his backyard. After a successful junior career with the MJHL’s Dauphin Kings, he came to York to experience living in a big city and to contribute to a young team on the rise and has amassed 28 points in 55 games over his first two seasons. He is a kinesiology and health science major and is considering medical school after completing his undergraduate degree or may also become a physician’s assistant or a physiotherapist. “I really like being a student-athlete. The student part comes first, and being recognized for being a great student is huge. We have so little time to do school work and you have to be good at time management, and it feels great to know I am doing well at both.” Vannucci is also a two-time academic all-Canadian in each of his first two years. He played a lot of sports while growing up in High River, Alta., but gravitated towards hockey and put together a solid junior career with the Drumheller Dragons in the AJHL, including serving as an assistant captain and averaging more than one point per game. The coaches at York recruited him hard and after flying east to visit the school and deciding he wanted to move away from home, he chose to make the university his home for the next several years. Vannucci is studying finance and intends to earn his designation as a certified financial planner down the road. “I’m not focused on the accolades, I just like being a good student and want to do well in my classes. I want good grades for my future and that’s why I put so much time and effort into studying and assignments.”

Poldma, a local player from North York, Ont., received his first academic all-Canadian award after a strong second year at York. He grew up as a Toronto Maple Leafs fan and began the sport by playing street hockey with his brother when he was young. He spent four seasons in the OJHL with the Markham Waxers and Aurora Tigers and decided to join the Lions after getting a good feeling from the recruitment process. He has put his solid defensive skills to work for the Lions while playing in 53 regular season games in his first two seasons. Academically, he is an accounting major and has plans to get his CPA designation in the future. He will graduate at the end of this season and already has a job at an accounting firm lined up for next spring. “It’s a big deal to earn the award because I put a lot of work into my classes and it’s nice to be rewarded for it. Hockey takes up a lot of my time during the school year and the rest of the time I’m studying and trying to get ready for exams.” Geiser, who was a rookie on the team last year, had a different experience growing up in hockey than the rest of his teammates. Hailing from the small town of Bolton, Ont., he played junior hockey for five years in the OJHL and came to York to study finance. He wasn’t recruited at all but after his first year, contacted head coach Chris Dennis and attended a tryout as a walk-on. He made the team and appeared in all 28 games in his first season while also maintaining his high grade point average. He intends to turn his finance degree into a career with the banks and has already got his foot in the door with a job as a teller. “Having the ability to manage hockey and school at the same time is a lot of work, and it’s an honour to be good at both. I try to stay organized as much as possible and stay on top of assignments so that I can keep up my good grades.” All four players have high hopes for the Lions this season. Going from last place to first one year ago was a big step for the program and has all of them dreaming big about what they might be capable of. And while they focus on doing what they can on the ice to contribute, VanTeeling, Vannucci, Poldma and Geiser will continue to lead the way academically as well.

I really like being a student-athlete. The student part comes first, and being recognized for being a great student is huge. MITCH VANTEELING, FORWARD

HOCKEY 2016-2017 DEXTER BRICKER

F • 5’11 • 186 • 1st Year Cognitive Science Saskatoon, Sask. Kindersley Klippers (SJHL)

• A hard-working forward with offensive ability • Will also be counted on for his defensive play • Played parts of three seasons in the WHL with Red Deer, Regina and Lethbridge • Spent last year with Kindersley in the SJHL, recording 65 points in 56 games

KYLE CAMPBELL

F • 5’11 • 215 • 3rd Year Business & Society Halifax, N.S. Yarmouth Mariners (MHL)

Year GP 2014-15 24 2015-16 28 Total 52

SCOTT FESER

F • 5’10 • 185 • 1st Year Administrative Studies Red Deer, Alta. Swift Current Broncos (WHL)

• A speedy two-way player who understands the game well and goes to the right spot on the ice • Spent five seasons in the WHL with Red Deer and Swift Current, registering 105 points in 230 games • Assistant captain in Swift Current last season

JACK GORANSON

D • 6’2 • 190 • 1st Year Liberal Arts & Professional Studies Red Deer, Alta. Olds Grizzlys (AJHL)

• Has a strong work ethic and a great hockey sense • Spent four seasons in the AJHL with Okotoks and Olds, recording 73 points in 155 games • Was the team captain of the Grizzlys last year

THE PLAYERS

G A 2 7 3 7 5 14

PTS 9 10 19

PIM 22 18 40

ALEX FOTINOS

G • 6’0 • 176 • 1st Year

• Has recorded 19 points in 52 games over two seasons with Lions • A forward with a professional work ethic on and off the ice • Played in 115 games over three seasons in the QMJHL • In final junior season, finished second in team scoring with Yarmouth in the MHL

35 • A smart, technically sound goaltender with plenty of upside • Spent four seasons in the OHL with Barrie and Windsor • Was the starting goalie in Windsor for two seasons, picking up 31 wins

Political Science Toronto, Ont. Aurora Tigers (OJHL)

CONNOR HALE

D • 6’3 • 205 • 3rd Year Psychology Whitby, Ont. Whitby Fury (OJHL)

Year GP G A PTS PIM 2014-15 24 1 3 4 22 2015-16 25 0 0 0 14 Total 49 1 3 4 36

7 • Played in 49 games over two season with Lions • A big, powerful defenceman with strong skating abilities • Was team captain in Whitby in final junior season, finishing with 17 points in 34 games

NICOLAS CRESCENZI

D • 6’3 • 200 • 2nd Year Kinesiology & Health Science Richmond Hill, Ont. Lasalle Vipers (GOJHL)

• Appeared in two regular season games as a rookie • A big stay-at-home defenceman • Spent two seasons with LaSalle in the GOJHL, recording 36 points in 88 games • Won Tier 2 YRAA championship with high school team

Year GP G A PTS PIM 2015-16 2 0 0 0 0 Total 2 0 0 0 0

NICHOLAS GEISER

• Played in all 28 games as a rookie forward and scored first career goal in 5-2 win at UOIT • CIS academic all-Canadian • A big, strong centre who is also solid defensively • Spent five seasons in F • 6’2 • 225 • 2nd Year the OJHL with North Finance York, Orangeville and Bolton, Ont. Toronto Lakeshore, Toronto Lakeshore Patriots (OJHL) amassing 94 points in Year GP G A PTS PIM 197 games 2015-16 28 3 0 3 8 Total 28 3 0 3 8

REID JACKMAN

15 • Appeared in all 28 games last year and finished tied for fourth on the Lions in goals • A big power forward with soft hands and a great shot • Has experience in the OHL, OJHL and BCHL

F • 6’3 • 215 • 3rd Year Kinesiology & Health Science Etobicoke, Ont. Brampton Bombers (GOJHL)

Year GP G A PTS PIM 2014-15 22 3 1 4 20 2015-16 28 7 4 11 24 Total 50 10 5 15 44

YORK LIONS

THE PLAYERS STEVEN JANES

F • 6’4 • 213 • 3rd Year Law & Society Etobicoke, Ont. St. Thomas Tommies (CIS)

18 • Played two years with St. Thomas in the AUS, scoring 11 points in 22 games as a rookie • A big power forward who plays a physical game • Spent five seasons in the OHL with Ottawa, Owen Sound and Winsor, recording 116 points in 256 games

F • 6’1 • 185 • 2nd Year Geography & Urban Studies Barrie, Ont. Hamilton Red Wings (OJHL)

Year GP G A PTS PIM 2015-16 7 0 1 1 16 Total 7 0 1 1 16

ADAM LOGOZZO

F • 6’2 • 195 • 3rd Year Business Economics Vaughan, Ont. Toronto Jr. Canadians (OJHL)

14 • Set new career highs in goals, assists and points in sophomore season • A very fast forward who loves to play physical • Has a keen instinct around the net • Spent three seasons in OJHL and recorded 30 points in 54 games with Toronto in final year

Year GP G A PTS PIM 2013-14 24 1 1 2 2 2014-15 20 3 3 6 2 Total 44 4 4 8 4

BRYCE MILSON

F • 6’0 • 190 • 3rd Year Psychology Miramichi, N.B. St. Thomas Tommies (CIS)

• Spent two seasons with St. Thomas in the AUS, recording 18 points in 56 games • Brings speed and skill to the line-up • Played four seasons in the QMJHL with Acadie-Bathurst, Lewiston, Drummondville and Cape Breton, recording 95 points in 248 games

• Played in seven games as a rookie forward and recorded first career point in first career game against Queen’s • A skilled winger with a hard shot and a knack for scoring • Appeared in 98 games over two seasons with Hamilton in the OJHL, finishing second in team scoring in 2014-15 with 47 points

MITCH MARASCHIELLO

G • 6’0 • 180 • 3rd Year Human Resources Management Buffalo, N.Y. Melfort Mustangs (SJHL)

Year GP 2014-15 4 2015-16 4 Total 4

JOSH LAFRANCE

W-L-T GAA SV% 1-2-0 2.17 .941 2-1-0 3.75 .824 3-3-0

TYLER MORT

• Started three games in 2015-16 in second season as backup netminder • Earned first career shutout with a 30save performance in a 1-0 win over Western in 2014-15 • A big goaltender who has great side-to-side footwork • Played his junior career in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba

• Assistant captain for third straight season • Set career-highs in points, goals and assists last year and finished second on the team in scoring by defencemen • Has twice played on the CIS Toronto Selects team that faced D • 6’1 • 220 • 5th Year the Canadian U20 Science national team Keswick, Ont. • • An outstanding Niagara IceDogs (OHL) puck-mover Year GP G A PTS PIM• • Played in the OHL 2012-13 17 1 7 8 6 and OJHL throughout 2013-14 25 1 7 8 8 junior career 2014-15 17 1 4 5 4 2015-16 27 5 12 17 20 Total 86 8 30 38 38

NATHAN LARSON

F • 6’2 • 195 • 3rd Year Osgoode Hall Law School Buckhorn, Ont. Trent University

• Appeared in 22 games as a rookie forward • A tenacious winger with a strong work ethic • Spent the 2014 season with the Trent men’s soccer team, starting all 14 regular-season games • Earned high school’s athlete of the year award in 2010

Year GP G A PTS PIM 2015-16 22 0 0 0 6 Total 22 0 0 0 6

GREG MILNER

• More than quadrupled his rookie season point total with 24 points last year, finishing fourth in team scoring and third in goals and assists • A offensively-gifted forward with nifty moves who always finds a way to make F • 5’11 • 188 • 3rd Year the right play Environmental Studies • • Appeared in 103 Watford, Ont. games over two Whitby Fury (OJHL) seasons with Whitby Year GP G A PTS PIM in OJHL and scored 71 2014-15 27 3 2 5 2 points in 53 games in 2015-16 28 10 14 24 20 final year Total 55 13 16 29 22

DANIEL NIKANDROV

F • 6’1 • 190 • 1st Year History Richmond Hill, Ont. Peterborough Petes (OHL)

• A smart, two-way centre who can play in all situations • Spent five seasons in the OHL with Sarnia and Peterborough, recording 132 points in 256 games • Was team captain in Sarnia before being traded to Peterborough

HOCKEY 2016-2017 TREVOR PETERSEN

• Assistant captain • OUA West first-team all-star • Led the Lions and ranked sixth in the OUA in goals, and was second overall in team scoring • A power forward with soft hands and an exceptional shot F • 6’2 • 205 • 3rd Year • Spent two seasons History with Niagara in the Thornhill, Ont. Newmarket Hurricanes (OJHL) OHL, appearing in 103 games and totalling Year GP G A PTS PIM 17 points 2014-15 24 5 9 14 16 2015-16 27 17 12 29 6 Total 51 22 21 43 22

SHAYNE ROVER

• Team captain • Has appeared in 83 of 84 games in first three years with Lions • Tied career high in total points last season • Played on the CIS Toronto Selects team that faced the Canadian U20 national team • A powerful, hard-hitD • 6’3 • 215 • 4th Year ting defensive speKinesiology & Health Science cialist who blocks the Newmarket, Ont. puck and passes well Niagara IceDogs (OHL) • Appeared in 298 • Year GP G A PTS PIM games over five 2013-14 28 2 2 4 10 seasons with Niagara 2014-15 27 5 9 14 10 in OHL 2015-16 28 4 10 14 16 Total 83 11 21 32 36

DEREK SHEPPARD

• OUA West first-team all-star • Led Lions in points and ranked fourth in the OUA in scoring by defencemen • Tied for the team lead with four points in three playoff games • Has an outstanding shot and a great first D • 6’1 • 215 • 3rd Year pass Liberal Arts & Professional Studies • • Played two seasons Ajax, Ont. Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL) with Rempart in QMJHL, totaling 23 Year GP G A PTS PIM points and 212 penalty 2014-15 27 7 12 19 50 minutes in 82 games 2015-16 28 10 20 30 100 Total 56 17 32 49 150

THE PLAYERS

STEFANO PEZZETTA

MIHKEL POLDMA

• Hard-working and dedicated to improving himself on the ice • Spent one season in the OHL with Owen Sound, and parts of three seasons in the OJHL with Pickering and St. Michael’s F • 6’0 • 205 • 1st Year

D • 6’2 • 210 • 3rd Year

Finance North York, Ont. Pickering Panthers (OJHL)

Administrative Studies North York, Ont. Aurora Tigers (OJHL)

Year GP G A PTS PIM 2014-15 25 1 2 3 6 2015-16 28 1 1 2 10 Total 53 2 3 5 16

LOUIS-JOSEPH SAWYER

D • 6’2 • 205 • 1st Year Kinesiology & Health Science Montreal, Que. Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL)

• A steady, stay-athome defenceman with a strong hockey sense • Joined the Lions in January of his rookie season and appeared in seven games, scoring first career goal in the season finale against Toronto

Year GP G A PTS PIM 2014-15 7 1 0 1 4 Total 7 1 0 1 4

MACK SHIELDS

G • 6’3 • 195 • 1st Year Administrative Studies Saskatoon, Sask. Medicine Hat TIgers (WHL)

COREY SCOTT

F • 6’0 • 190 • 4th Year Kinesiology & Health Science Calgary, Alta. Calgary Mustangs (AJHL)

Year GP G A PTS PIM 2012-13 1 0 0 0 0 2013-14 23 0 5 5 4 2014-15 22 0 4 4 8 2015-16 26 0 2 2 2 Total 72 0 11 11 14

30 • Has tremendous work ethic and thinks the game well • Spent four seasons in the WHL with Calgary, Prince George and Medicine Hat • Had his best season in 2014-15, registering 27 wins and a 2.67 goals against average with the Hitmen while advancing to the third round of the playoffs

AARON SPIVAK

F • 5’11 • 175 • 1st Year Business & Society Thornhill, Ont. Markham Royals (OJHL)

• Played in all regular season and playoff games last year • CIS academic allCanadian • A smart, stay-athome defender with a great first pass • Appeared in 191 games over four seasons in the OJHL with Markham and Aurora and helped Tigers reach league final in 2014

9 • Has played in 72 games over four seasons with Lions • A creative centre who sees the ice well and has great anticipation • Amassed 144 points in 140 games with Calgary in the AJHL • In final season was the team captain and leading scorer and was nominated for the league’s MVP award

26 • A skilled forward with the potential to grow into a significant contributor • Spent five seasons in the OJHL with Markham, Hamilton and Toronto, averaging just over one point per game over five years • Served as the team captain with the Royals last season

YORK LIONS

THE PLAYERS 10

COLTON VANNUCCI

F • 5’9 • 165 • 3rd Year Business High River, Alta. Drumheller Dragons (AJHL)

• Tied for fifth in team scoring last year, scoring two power play goals and one short-handed goal • Two-time CIS academic all-Canadian • Played in 116 games over two seasons with Drumheller in AJHL • In final year was assistant captain and led the Dragons in scoring with 56 points

Year GP G A PTS PIM 2014-15 24 5 6 11 10 2015-16 26 5 12 17 26 Total 50 10 18 28 36

MITCH VANTEELING

F • 6’1 • 200 • 3rd Year Kinesiology & Health Science Brandon, Man. Dauphin Kings (MJHL)

Year GP G A PTS PIM 2014-15 27 4 7 11 6 2015-16 28 6 11 17 14 Total 55 10 18 28 20

• Tied for fifth in team scoring last year and set new career highs in points, goals and assists • Had two separate four-game point streaks last season • Two-time CIS academic all-Canadian • Amassed 167 points in 208 games with Dauphin in MJHL and was team captain in final year

NICK ZOTTL

D • 6’5 • 220 • 1st Year

• A big, solid defenceman who knows his game well and is tough to play against • Played three seasons in the OHL with Mississauga, recording 19 points in 120 games • Also spent one year with Mississauga in the OJHL

Liberal Arts & Professional Studies Sarnia, Ont. Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)

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YORK LIONS

HOCKEY 2016-2017

THE TRANSFERS

STEVEN JANES & BRYCE MILSON There are many new faces in the line-up for the York Lions men’s hockey team this season and two of them are already familiar with the CIS. Third-year forwards Steven Janes and Bryce Milson both transferred to York from the St. Thomas Tommies in the off-season and will step in and make an immediate impact on the team. For Janes, an Etobicoke, Ont., native, the transfer is a homecoming while for Milson, who hails from Miramichi, N.B., coming to York represented a new adventure in a different city. Janes was a talented forward in the OHL, putting together a strong five-year career that saw him record 116 points in 256 games. When it came time to choose what to do next, he got together with some of his junior hockey friends and decided to head east to Fredericton. “It was a little shocking for us to be going to school and we were nervous about it so we decided to all go together and use each other for support. None of us had been out east before but it was fun! However, I’ve been away from home for nearly my entire hockey career. I decided to come back home and finish my schooling here while also seeing where hockey takes me. My family is able to come watch me play which is an experience I haven’t had in a while and it’s nice to have them there.” Milson, meanwhile, was a second-round draft pick of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan and spent four seasons in the QMJHL, tallying 95 points in 248 games. He stayed close to home in choosing to play for the Tommies, but after two years decided he wanted a bigger challenge and looked west.

“I was a good student at home and didn’t think I was being challenged enough at St. Thomas. I knew York had a good psychology program and the Lions were also a first-place team so I thought it would be a good fit.” In addition to knowing each other, Janes and Milson already had connections on the Lions as Janes grew up with current third-year forward Reid Jackman and Milson used to play with Kyle Campbell, another third-year forward who is originally from Halifax. Going from a school of 1,100 students in small-town New Brunswick to Canada’s third largest university in the country’s biggest city has been an adjustment for both of them, but one they have embraced and are enjoying. “It’s been great. It’s definitely a lot different than being out east but I think I’ve adapted well and I’ve received nothing but encouragement from everyone on the team,” said Janes. “The hockey is different than being at home, it’s more serious and there is more structure. But the atmosphere with the guys has been great, they have fun and it makes it fun to be here,” added Milson. The two of them are stepping into a program that is coming off a worst-to-first turnaround and both of them add tremendous skill to the line-up. They are two of 11 new players on the roster but add a unique element with their familiarity with the CIS level. That expertise will be beneficial for a team that has only four players with more than two years of experience as the Lions look to maintain their place as one of the best teams in the conference.

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YORK LIONS

York University’s student-athletes have been competing against rival institutions on the Canadian sports scene for over 40 years. Provincial and national team titles, combined with numerous athletes and coaches who have participated on many of Canada’s national teams, attest to the success of York’s varsity program. Since the inception of organized sports competition in 1965, York has won 173 provincial banners and 36 national titles. Athletics & Recreation offers 19 varsity sport teams that compete in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS). The varsity sport teams are guided by a tremendous coaching staff that is composed of NCCP certified professionals, many of whom also hold leadership positions in provincial and national sport organizations. The staff includes more than 100 dedicated full-time and part-time coaches.

ACADEMIC AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT At York, we understand that academic and financial support are significant keys to success at the university level and we have a number of programs in place to provide all the support necessary for student-athletes to thrive.

PROVIDING ATHLETES WITH WINNING STRATEGIES (PAWS) Athletics & Recreation has placed the highest priority on supporting its student-athletes in all facets of university life, focusing specifically on helping foster success in the classroom. The PAWS Program provides tutoring across multiple subjects for all students, mentoring from senior student-athletes, academic advising through our academic services coordinator and many of our faculty, and access to our vast network of alumni.

ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS York University is committed to helping students with demonstrated financial need meet the direct education costs associated with university studies (tuition, books and mandatory course fees). Financial assistance can be provided from a variety of sources including OSAP, scholarships, bursaries, private awards and employment. Athletics & Recreation understands the importance of providing Athletic Financial Awards (AFAs) to entering student-athletes and has developed a number of awards, valued at $22,500 each ($4,500 per year up to five years). These awards are given annually to elite student-athletes that have achieved an 80% entering average and maintain a 6.0 grade point average.

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING York University is one of only a handful of institutions in Canada that has two dedicated strength and conditioning coaches for its student-athletes. The Lions work closely with strength and conditioning staff, who create programs based on the needs of the athlete and coaches on high-performance lifts and movements. Team and individual workouts are available and education on all aspects of strength and conditioning is provided, including proper warm-ups and cool-downs, plyometrics, power, energy systems development, strength and flexibility.

Programs are created for both in-season and off-season workouts. Every training session is designed for the needs of the athlete and individual sport. The training phase and focus changes throughout the year and are based on the competition schedule and off-season periodization program. The strength and conditioning coaches also work closely with the athletic therapy group on rehabilitating injured players. All Lions have access to the varsity strength and conditioning centre, which is for the exclusive use of our student-athletes. Training here allows you to work in a high-performance environment where all equipment and programming is selected with the needs of the high-performance athlete in mind.

SPORT INJURY CLINIC The Gorman/Shore Sport Injury Clinic features a full staff of athletic therapists and team doctors with significant experience in the medical field, and many of the doctors are recognized as some of the top experts in the country in their specific fields. In addition to sport medicine physicians, York employs a large variety of specialists including an orthopedic surgeon, dentist, neurosurgeon, radiologist, cardiologist, physiotherapist, chiropractor, massage therapist, osteopath, pedorthist and a mental health specialist. The team brings to York experience at multiple Olympic Games and world championships, as well as with professional and amateur athletes in a variety of sports. The sport injury clinic is a teaching clinic, with students from York University’s Athletic Therapy Certificate Program completing their clinical placements under the direct supervision of the clinic manager and supervisor. Because of this, most medical care for student-athletes is free of charge. Each varsity team is assigned at least one student athletic therapist who spends the entire season with the team and attends all practices and games. Lions student-athletes also have access to a fully-equipped clinic for all of their treatment needs.

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ATHLETICS & RECREATION WEAR THE BEST Visit the Pride Shop to purchase your official Lions merchandise in the lobby of the Tait McKenzie Centre! Check out our new & exciting 2016/17 selection.

LION PRIDE UNITE YORK STUDENTS FREE With the presentation of a valid YU-card at the door for all regular-season home games.

Adults $10.50 Alumni/York Staff $7.50 Seniors (over 55) $7.50 Non-York Students $7.50 Youth (under 13) Free Family Pass $40.00 Prices include taxes and $0.50 service fee. Group rates available for 10 or more paying guests. Email yulions@yorku.ca for details.

STAY ACTIVE, BE HEALTHY Diverse programming to meet your interests and needs. Take advantage of opportunities based on your time, skills and personal development goals. • Group drop-in fitness classes in Beat Kik, BOSU ABT, Core Circuit, Shread and more • Instructional classes in aquatics, cycling, dance, fitness, martial arts, pilates, and yoga

• Personal Training • Casual Recreation • Intramurals • Sport Clubs

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