OHL Alumni Central

At a time when most would have thought that the North Americans would have abandoned hockey in the far east after the devastating earthquake and tsunami of 2011, an Ontario Hockey League grad is running away with the scoring title. Tied, in the assist category at least, is a teammate and yet another OHL alumnus.

Michael Swift sits 20 point higher than the next challenger with an astounding 71 points in 29 games. His 34 goals to date have matched his output from 2006-07 when he scored the same as captain of the Mississauga IceDogs. Swift’s 37 assists are tops in the league, as well, tied with teammate Bryan Young, a Peterborough Petes grad.

Michael played in the Ontario Hockey League for five years from 2003-04 to 2007-08. His first four years were with the Mississauga IceDogs and for his final season, he moved with the franchise to Niagara. Swift was team captain in his final two seasons. His 100 points in 2007-08 with the Niagara IceDogs was good for a seventh place tie with Jack Combs of the Saginaw Spirit. The performance earned him the Leo Lalonde Trophy as the OHL’s top overage player.

Swift went undrafted but spent three years in the New Jersey Devils system with their AHL affiliate. This is his first year in the Asia League with High1. The team is currently tied for fourth in the seven team league. High1 is based in Seoul, Korea. The team’s home rink is the Goyang Sport Complex Arena which seats 3,000 for hockey.

Bryan Young is in his second year on the point for High1. Young played for the Peterborough Petes for three full seasons from 2003-04 to 2005-06. He was a fifth round pick of the Edmonton Oilers at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, 146th overall. Bryan managed to get into 17 NHL games during the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons. For the most part, Young spent between 2006-07 and 2009-10 in the AHL and ECHL.

Bryan Young played four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League from 2002-03 to 2005-06 (2002-03 consisted of just two games), all with the Peterborough Petes. Bryan is now off to Japan to play in the Asia League with High1 Sports.

Young was part of the 2005-06 Peterborough Petes team that won the Robertson Cup as Ontario Hockey League playoff champion with a series win over the defending champions, London Knights. The team was unsuccessful at their attempt to win the Memorial Cup tournament.

Bryan was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the fifth round of the 2004 NHL Draft, 146th overall. Young played 15 games with the Oilers in his first season of professional hockey. The rest of that first season was split between the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League, the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins of the AHL and the Stockton Thunder of the East Coast Hockey League.

Young would go on to play just two more NHL games, both with the Edmonton Oilers in 2007-08. The rest of his time has been spent mixed between the Springfield Falcons of the AHL and the Stockton Thunder of the ECHL.

This upcoming season, 2010-11 marks a drastic change for Bryan as he heads to Japan to play in the Asia League. The Asia League is home to an increasing number of North American players.

Check out Bryan Young’s profile page on the High1 official website.

Bryan Young is on The Big List.

The Stockton Thunder look to be heading to the ECHL playoffs. The California team is in the top 3 for attendance in the league and their success is backed by an on-ice product that includes 5 Ontario Hockey League Alumni. Clicking on the following player’s names will take you to their profile page on the Stockton Thunder official website.

Andrew Perugini played three seasons in the OHL from 2005-06 to 2007-08. He was between the pipes with the Barrie Colts until midway through his final season when he was traded to the Sarnia Sting. This is Andrew’s second season with the Thunder.

Matt O’Dette entered the OHL some 18 years ago. Matt played with the Kitchener Rangers from 1992-93 to midway through 1994-95 when he was traded to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds where he finished out his final season in the league. Since that time, Matt has played with several AHL and ECHL teams, providing toughness to all.

Bryan Young provided solid, stay-at-home defense for the Peterborough Petes from 2002-03 to 2005-06. A low draft pick of the Edmonton Oilers in 2004, Bryan has had the opportunity to put in 17 games with the NHL team.

Justin DaCosta began his OHL career with the Barrie Colts in 2002-03. He was traded to the Owen Sound Attack during the 2003-04 season and to the Mississauga IceDogs during 2004-05. His OHL numbers were sparse until he became an IceDog where he put in 42 points in 57 games in his final season. Justin went the Canadian University route and has just entered the world of professional hockey this season.

Kiev, Ukraine native, Igor Gongalsky played in the OHL from 2004-05 to 2006-07. He spent most of his career with the Owen Sound Attack before being traded to the Oshawa Generals early in his final season. He more than doubled his career point totals in just 56 games with the Generals. Igor is now in his 4th season in the ECHL and second with the Thunder.

It should be noted that brothers Bryan and Jason Pitton have spent time on the Thunder this season. The OHL grads are currently on the AHL Springfield Falcons. Watch for an upcoming post featuring these two.