Ontario Junior Hockey League resident writer Ron Valentine is profiling the 2023-24 team captains across The OJ. (Photo by Tim Bates / OJHL Images)
BY RON VALENTINE
In his final season of junior hockey, Odaro Ewere returns as captain for his second season, his third overall with the Stouffville Spirit. In 2021-22 he posted 29 points, more than doubling that figure, to 60, last season to lead the club. Odaro got off on the right foot at the start of the 2022-23 campaign. In his first 15 games he had 29 points. He had seven points in his first two games of the season and a five-assist night on Oct 8 against the Markham Royals. He represented the Spirit at the OJHL all-star game in Collingwood last January.
This season, he five points (two goals, three assists) in the Spirit’s first three games – two wins and an overtime loss. The Spirit are home to the Haliburton County Huskies tonight at the Stouffville Arena.
Odaro is a leader in all aspects on and off the ice. The team’s assistant general manager, Thayne Hallyburton, encapsulated what the captain brings to the team: “Odaro exemplifies what it means to be a good person who happens to play hockey. He is at every team function whether it’s winter or summer. He makes everyone feel included whether it’s other players or support staff. He’s a phenomenal hockey player, too! One of the best playmakers in the league.”
Head Coach TJ Hill on his captain.
“On top of being a very fast skater, Odaro is a dynamic and creative offensive player. He is an important leader on our team. He is very unselfish and always willing to give his time to his teammates. He’s always helping out in various community events that the Spirit are involved with.”
The returning captain looks back on last season.
“We were a very young team last season. At the beginning we had no overage players on the squad so as you would expect we had our share of ups and downs. But we competed all the way, managed to get the last playoff spot in the North-West conference and put up a good fight against a very good Collingwood team in that series. It was a learning experience for a lot of the guys as well as for me in my first year as captain. I was learning on the fly, picking up pointers and concentrating on building a bond with all the players on the team. We also had a coaching change in the middle so there was a little bit of an adjustment there.”
And 2023-24?
“Now that TJ Hill gets to be the head coach for a full season, we are optimistic about what lies ahead. We can now put our best foot forward and early signs are of lots of positives. I’m really looking forward to having Peter Kioussis and Nathan Twohey back with us for their third seasons. Both wore the ‘A’ in 2022-23. Peter had 22 goals and Nathan was our second highest-scoring defenceman and a real team leader. Look for a really big contribution from both of these guys. Nolan Jackson, 16, is a big plus for us coming back from the Sudbury Wolves camp. He was drafted by them last year in the second round.”
Goals for the season.
“More consistency will be the key for us, and our returning players will have that year’s experience under their belts and will come back with more confidence. Personally I would like to score more goals this season (Odaro has had 10 and 15-goal years so far) but I still look at myself primarily as a set-up guy. The Governors’ Showcase in Buffalo next week will be my first one there and as a team we are looking forward to putting our best efforts on display.”
Off the ice.
“I’m working a couple of jobs here in Stouffville and I really enjoy representing the Spirit off the ice. We get involved in a lot of activities like the blood donor clinics, the Terry Fox Run and lots of others. We give our time to the community and they support us really well here. Last season we had nearly 600 fans attend our home opener.” (Odaro had two of the three Spirit goals in that game, a 3-0 shutout against the then Buckland Cup champion Pickering Panthers. Stouffville finished eighth overall in OJHL attendance). “I’m keeping my options open for next season but along with all the players I’m looking forward to playing in the Showcase tournament in Buffalo where we will play the Junior Sabres in the first game.”
Odaro is an ambassador for his team and the OJHL and in his thorough and quiet manner their leader on and off the ice.
Follow Ron Valentine on X @ronandlynda
