Ontario Junior Hockey League resident writer Ron Valentine is profiling the 2023-24 team captains acrossThe OJ. (Photo by Tim Bates / OJHL Images)
BY RON VALENTINE
The Buffalo Junior Sabres named Dylan McFadden their captain for the 2023-24 season. At 18 years old he is the youngest captain in the OJHL.
From Smithville, located between Hamilton and St. Catharines, Dylan is one of three Ontario-born players on the squad. The other two Ontarians are Adam Power, the brother of NHL Sabre Owen Power, and Tyler Isherwood.
Ryan’s debut season in the league came in 2022-23 when he suited up for the Milton Menace, producing 18 points including seven goals. He will be attending NCAA Division I College of the Holy Cross in Worcester MA starting in the fall of 2024.
He has eight goals and eight assists in the Sabres first 18 games this season. Three of those goals were game-winners.
“This is an awesome opportunity for me,” the sophomore noted, “I’m really looking forward to the team making a strong return to the OJHL. I got a taste of what junior hockey is all about with Milton and learned a lot from coach (Dan ) Del Monte. Playing for coach (Sean ) Wallace here in Buffalo is a pleasure. He is really focused and very approachable. I have been a captain before but this was many years ago when I played for the Niagara North Stars 13-and-under team.”
So far, so good. The Sabres are 11-6-0-1 and in third place in the OJHL West. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the lone U.S. team in the OJHL last season in the league was 2019-20.
“Our two assistant captains … both are in their last OJHL seasons,” McFadden told the OJHL. “Patrick Cole is going to be a big offensive threat for us. He has had junior experience with the (GOJHL’s) Stratford Warriors and the Welland Junior Canadians. Like me, he came up through the Sabres’ minor hockey program. Gavin Klaassen is a real battler who played last season in the NAHL as well as with the Portage Terriers in the MJHL.”
“We have a good mix of players graduating the minor hockey system here in Buffalo and those brought in by the trade route, and everyone is adapting on a day-to-day basis. The buy-in to the coach’s system has been there right from the start.”
“My role as captain is to show the guys that hard work can get you results. I want to be seen as the hardest worker. I’m a set-up guy whose assets are skating and playmaking. In the eyes of OJHL fans, we must look like a no-name group but before the end of the season people will see us differently. We are already a tight family, many new friendships have been made.”
Coach Wallace, who last season coached the Jr Sabres U18 AAA team and was an assistant coach with the OJHL Sabres, on his newly-appointed on-ice leader: “We are very excited to bring Dylan back to the organization. He spent three years with the Jr, Sabres previously and his experience in the OJHL gives him the ability to set the standard for our group in our first year back. Dylan is a terrific person with tremendous leadership qualities and capabilities on and off the ice.”
The Sabres cross the border to visit the Niagara Falls Canucks tonight. They’re home to the Caledon Admirals Wednesday.
Follow Ron Valentine on X @ronandlynda
