Georgina Ice

Last updated
Georgina Ice
Georgina Ice.png
City Keswick, Ontario
League Provincial Junior Hockey League
ConferenceEast
DivisionOrr
Founded1994
Home arena Georgina Ice Palace
Colours Royal Blue, White
President Joseph Cornacchia
General managerDarren Price
Head coachDarren Price
AffiliateNone
Championships
League champions2003 and 2008

The Georgina Ice are a Junior ice hockey team based in Keswick, Ontario, Canada. Starting with the 2016-17 season they play in the Provincial Junior Hockey League. Their prior league, the Central Ontario Junior C Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association amalgamated with the other Southern Ontario junior hockey leagues. It then became the Orr Division in the East conference.

Contents

History

The Ice were founded in 1994. They have always played in the Central "C" league until the re-organization of junior "C" hockey in 2016-17 when the Ice became part of the Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL). The Ice play most of their home games at the Georgina Ice Palace in Keswick. Each year they play a handful of games in Sutton at the Sutton Arena.

The Georgina Ice have developed many young junior players that have risen to higher levels of hockey including Junior, College and professional leagues including the National Hockey League. The inaugural team saw players such as Jason Robinson, Jimmy Wilson and Todd Hamblin go on to play for the Stouffville Spirit of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League.

In the second year the franchise was affiliated with Stouffville Spirit over the course of their 13-year existence the Ice have also been affiliated with the 2002–03 Dudley Hewitt Cup and Royal Bank Cup winning Aurora Tigers. The Ice reformed their affiliation with the Newmarket Hurricanes in 2006.

Trevor Sedore Trevor94.jpg
Trevor Sedore

In 2002–03 The Ice made the ultimate journey advancing to the Clarence Schmalz Cup. The Ice lost the series in 4 games to the Grimsby Peach Kings. Grimsby was making their first of two consecutive runs at the Ontario Championship.

2006 saw Ice alumnus David McIntyre drafted by the Dallas Stars in the 5th round of the NHL Entry Draft. Kyle Orr, also an Ice alumnus signed a pro contract with the Arizona Sundogs of the Central Hockey League. Justin Soryal, who played for the Ice in 2003–04, now plays for the Connecticut Whale in the American Hockey League. [1]

In 2004, The Ice retired Jersey No. 94 in honor of all time Ice leading scorer Trevor Sedore who finished his junior career after 240 games with 179 goals and 172 assists for 351 points. Sedore was named league MVP 3 times in 7 seasons.

Steve Sedore Steve25.jpg
Steve Sedore

Also in 2004 the Georgina Ice honored longtime head coach Steve Sedore for his 25 years of coaching. He has been a constant fixture with the Ice over their 13 years. He was the head coach in the first season and has held various positions since. Steve is the longest serving and winningest coach in Ice History and has held coaching positions with the Stouffville Spirit, Couchiching Terriers and the Newmarket Hurricanes. He has also been involved in minor hockey with Georgina and York Simcoe.

Aside from Steve the Ice have been led by Mike Sedore, Paul Sinclair and Peter Hughes. Mike returned to the Ice in 2006 after Pete stepped down to assume the assistant coaching role. Mike last served as head coach in 1995–96 taking over for Steve when he took on the head coaching duties with the Spirit.

Heading into the 2006–07 Season the Ice have compiled a regular season record of 236-204-30-18. Since entering the league in 1994 they have played regular season games against the Port Perry Mojacks, Uxbridge Bruins, Lakefield Chiefs and Little Britain Merchants all of which remain in the league today. The Bowmanville Eagles left the COJCHL in 1995 and the Bobcaygeon Bullets left shortly after. For a period of time The Central League also played crossover games with the Empire B Junior C League.

In 2008 The Ice took home the coveted Cougar beating the No. 1 ranked Lakefield Chiefs 4 games to none to capture their second COJCHL title.

In 2019-2020 notable changes came to the ICE program, namely new ownership under Joseph Cornacchia, former Head Coach and General Manager of the U18 AAA Markham Waxers and OJHL Markham Waxers. [2] Joe was able to assemble a management group and coaching staff in Keswick that prioritized local players from Georgina and the York Simcoe Area. While immediate success on the ice took time, momentum off the ice was significant. The staff aimed to put together the best show in Keswick on Friday nights.

The 2020-2021 season had early promise with strong player signings and an increased buzz around town that the ICE were committed to putting a skilled team together. In the end, the puck never dropped as Covid-19 cancelled the season.

2021-2022 saw a roster with increased talent joining the club from the U18 AAA York Simcoe Express program. Player signings like Cameron McClachrie, Austin Paulmert and Justin Diliso showed enhanced confidence from the community in the ICE’s ability to develop players. The most notable signing was 17 year old OHL Sarnia Sting drafted goaltender, Nicholas Surzycia. Nick chose to play the ’21-’22 season with the ICE where he posted a .935 save %, won the PJHL Rookie Of The Year Award and brought the ICE to the playoffs where they won their first playoff game in 11 seasons. The biggest win off the ice was the brand-new player dressing room built by Joe; a state-of-the-art changeroom to show his commitment to the players and community. To this day, the room is the crown jewel to the ICE and it’s shared with Georgina Blaze and Georgina Golden Hawk teams.

2022-2023 was Head Coach/General Manager Darren Price’s sophomore season behind the bench. Price quickly announced big player signings such as Captain, Mike McCullough, Jack Mayo and local AAA all-star, Ronnie Wiersema who went on the win PJHL Rookie Of The Year with 42 PTS and 72 PIMS. [3] The ’22-’23 season also saw the return of Steve Sedore as an Assistant, bringing many years of experience in the PJHL and OJHL. The ICE continued to see local confidence with the program as another Sarnia Sting OHL drafted player, 16 year old ‘AP’ Michael Denney signed with the team. Denney assisted the ICE in defeating the North Kawartha Knights in the first round, 4 games to 1. The ICE went on to lose 4 straight games to the mighty, Clarington Eagles who went on to appear in the Schmalz Cup Finals. Friday night home games for the ICE have seen increased attendance, averaging over 500 people due to team success and an established social media presence online.

Captains

Season-by-season results

SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPResultsPlayoffs
1994–9536191322167154423rd COJCHLLost semi-final
1995–9642162321174199424th COJCHLLost semi-final
1996–9740191434183164453rd COJCHL
1997–9840152230177203335th COJCHL
1998–9940221422185130483rd COJCHL
1999–0040201622172167443rd COJCHL
2000–0140271210195143552nd COJCHL
2001–0242241530193152512nd COJCHL
2002–0338221060162137501st COJCHLWon League - Lost CSC Final
2003–0438221042170134501st COJCHL
2004–0540102613116181245th COJCHL
2005–0642102912133230235th COJCHLLost quarter-final
2006-0740102541158213255th COJCHLLost quarter-final
2007-0840241330168127512nd COJCHLWon League - Lost CSC QF
2008-0940152041183197354th COJCHL
2009-10401916-5170175434th COJCHLLost quarter-final
2010-11401917-4163156423rd COJCHLLost semi-final
2011-12401424-2141183306th COJCHLLost semi-final
2012-13401126-3124221256th COJCHL
2013-1440828-495211206th COJCHLDNQ
2014-1542832-2113246186th COJCHLDNQ
2015-1642040117128827th of 7 COJCHLDNQ
2016-17423390-11528067th of 7
Orr Div-PJHL		DNQ
2017-1841102812120245236th of 7
Orr Div-PJHL		Lost div quarter-finals, 0-4 (Mojacks)
2018-19419302-109247207th of 7
Orr Div-PJHL		-
2019-20422381110328667th of 7
Orr Div-PJHL		-
2020-21Season Lost due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021-22328230168133177th of 7
Orr Div-PJHL		Lost div quarter-finals, 1-4 (Merchants)
2022-2340221530144141474th of 7
Orr Div-PJHL		Won Div Quarterfinals, 4-1 (Knights)
Lost div semi-finals, 0-4 (Eagles}
2023-2442301200220118602nd of 7
Orr Div-PJHL		Won Div Quarterfinals, 4-0 (Merchants)
Won Div Semifinals, 4-0 (Bruins)
Lost Div. Finals, 0-4 (Eagles)

Schmalz Cup Finals appearances

2003: Grimsby Peach Kings defeated Georgina Ice 4-games-to-0

2017–2018 Team Staff

2019–20 Team Staff

2020–21 Team Staff

2021–22 Team Staff

Home arena

The Georgina Ice Palace in Keswick has been the main home of the Georgina Ice since 1996–97 season. Prior to that the Ice played the bulk of their games at the Sutton Arena where they continue to play a handful of games each season.

The Ice Palace is located at 90 Wexford Drive just west of Woodbine Avenue in Keswick. It has a twin ice pad and also has a library, multi-use facility and a skatepark.

Notable alumni

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References

  1. ↑ "Justin Soryal hockey statistics & profile at". Hockeydb.com. 1987-06-29. Retrieved 2011-01-11.
  2. ↑ "Coach hands reins to brother". 19 November 2008.
  3. ↑ "Conference Awards Archives".
  4. ↑ "Contact | OHA Georgina Ice".
  5. ↑ "Georgina Ice Junior Hockey Club".
  6. ↑ "Sarnia Sting". 8 September 2022.
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