NEWS RELEASE | THANK YOU FROM THE 2020-2021 GRADS

NAVAN, ON - The staff and players of the Navan Grads Junior A Hockey Club of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) will surely remember the 2020-2021 season and all the obstacles they faced with the on again, off again restrictions due to COVID-19.

The 2020-2021 edition of the Navan Grads were excited to see what lied ahead for this special group of student-athletes. In 14 development scrimmages, the Grads went 11-3-0-0 versus the reigning CCHL Bogart Champion Ottawa Jr. Senators and rival Rockland Nationals

The Grads say thank you and farewell to 4 twenty-year-old players: Forward Joel Pavey, Forward Michael Hill, Defenseman Kabir Gill and Goaltender Mathieu Chenier.  All four men have bright futures and we expect to announce their commitment and plans for the 2021-2022 season in the near future.  The Grads also say thank you and good luck to 2002 forward Zane Dalpe;  Dalpe announced that he has committed to the NCAA Division I Lacrosse program at High Point University in High Point, North Carolina in early February.

Grads fans should be excited about the future with veterans Devyn Orpana ('01), Alec Lovisek ('01), Mason Goldie ('01), Danyk Drouin ('01), Alexandre Hogue ('01) and Aaron Shaw ('01) all eligible to return next season as overage players; while Colgate University commit Gabriel Crete ('03) and Grads veteran forward Blake Butler ('02) will enter their 3rd season in the CCHL.

Grads staff and fans are thrilled with development and have high expectations heading into next season for our young core of talented players: Owain Johnston ('03), Nico Paone ('03), University of Wisconsin commit Shawn Ramsey ('04), Nathan Small ('02), Ryan Burke ('03), Blake Hall ('03), Owen Hollingsworth ('03), Aidan Puley ('04) and goaltender Ben West ('03).

The Grads organization wish forwards Kocha Delic ('04) and Nolan Forster ('03) all the best as the wait to join their teams in the OHL continues; Delic was the 28th overall selection, in the 2nd Round by the Sudbury Wolves in the 2020 Ontario Hockey League Priority Draft; Forster was an 8th Round pick of the Guelph Storm in 2019. Both players will join their respective OHL teams when the league resumes play.

A special thank you to our billets and their families for the support and understanding they have shown our players and organization throughout the 2020-2021 season. Without you and your willingness to open your homes to our players and ensure they have a safe place to live while away from their families and friends, we would not be able to survive as an organization.

General Manager & Head Coach Marty Abrams agrees that it was a true team effort both on and off the ice this season, "As we close out the 2020-21 season, I would like to thank the Parents, Players, Volunteers and Billet families of the Navan Grads for their support during the past year. These important members of the Grads Family were supportive, cooperative and understanding throughout these unprecedented times. Also a thank you to the CCHL and HEO for their efforts in trying to keep our players safe and on the ice. Your efforts are appreciated. Moving forward, plans are already on the way for the upcoming 2021-22 season with a re-renewed energy and sense of excitement. I can't wait to get started!"