The PDA Newsletter | Wendy Dufton Recap + Regional Rundown
What does the Wendy Dufton reveal about where every region truly stacks up?
The Wendy Dufton Memorial Tournament once again delivered high-end matchups, cross-border storylines, and the kind of momentum-shifting moments that define an early season.
With 40 teams across four loaded groups, this year’s field showcased elite goaltending, disciplined defensive structure, and several programs already carving out their identity.
In today’s article, we’ll break down the full Wendy Dufton Recap — highlighting top performers, surprise runs, and key results — before turning to our first Regional Rundown, a new staple in the U16AAA Bi-Weekly series.
This section will track league trends and standings from the GTHL to the OMHA, ALLIANCE, and HEO, giving readers a clear snapshot of where each region stands.
Let’s dive in…
Group A
Huron-Perth Lakers (ALLIANCE) — 4-0-0 | 17 GF – 4 GA
Structured, efficient, and consistent. The Lakers dictated pace through disciplined play, defensive reliability and strong goaltending.
Led by: Callum Brooks, Ethan Bridges, Declan McCotter
Farmington Honeybaked (U.S. Entry) — 4-0-0 | 21 GF – 7 GA
Played fast and confident. Honeybaked’s speed and transition game created mismatches across all four games.
Led by: Joey Cullen, Dylan Delgado, Austin Hall
Toronto Nationals (GTHL) — 3-1-0 | 9 GF – 10 GA
Strong work ethic and defensive positioning. The Nationals found ways to win tight games against quality opponents.
Led by: Kingston Larocque, Zach Szczurek, Colten Wilkinson
Mississauga Senators (GTHL) — 2-1-1 | 12 GF – 10 GA
Steady and competitive in every outing. The Sens generated consistent offense through quick puck movement.
Led by: Arjun Nanubhai, Robbie Knight, Matthew Zilinski
Just Missed:
Burlington Eagles (OMHA) — 2-2-0 | 11 GF – 14 GA
Showed strong compete level and resilience in tight games.
Led by: Jackson Styka, Brad Minet, Hudson Clayton
Group B
Vaughan Kings (GTHL) — 4-0-0 | 24 GF – 2 GA
Controlled games through puck possession and constant pressure. One of the most complete teams in the tournament.
Led by: Adrian Sgro, Kane Cloutier, Evan Fitzgerald
Upper Canada College — 4-0-0 | 20 GF – 8 GA
Structured and connected across all three zones. Played with confidence and chemistry throughout. A major statement showing from the Blues.
Led by: Max Fransen, Cole Guizzetti, Christian Del Buono
Brantford 99ers (ALLIANCE) — 3-1-0 | 15 GF – 8 GA
Disciplined and well-organized. Brantford played to its identity — smart, detailed, and hard to break down.
Led by: Roman Vanacker, Carson Vukelich, Calum Morgan
Quinte Red Devils (OMHA) — 2-2-0 | 12 GF – 12 GA
Competed hard and showed strong pace. Quinte played a direct, physical game that will translate well through the season.
Led by: Lawson Minifie, Austin Ottenhof, Austin Pettey
Just Missed:
Ajax-Pickering Raiders (OMHA) — 2-2-0 | 14 GF – 15 GA
Played with energy and a high compete level throughout their lineup, keeping games close throughout.
Led by: Matthew Taylor, Chayce Solomon, Brady McGarry
Ottawa Jr. 67’s (HEO) — 0-1-3 | 11 GF – 16 GA
Tough to play against despite the record, tying three of four games.
Led by: Innis Robinson, Marco Nichele, Kyson McMillan
Group C
York Simcoe Express (OMHA) — 4-0-0 | 16 GF – 7 GA
Consistent, patient, and disciplined. York Simcoe controlled the pace with organized puck movement and team depth. Yet another strong showing after their Titans efforts.
Led by: Gage Kirk, Cooper Niquet, Cole Cartan
Don Mills Flyers (GTHL) — 3-0-1 | 15 GF – 3 GA
Structured and defensively sound. The Flyers’ balance between goaltending, puck management and timely goal scoring was key to their run.
Led by: Brady Nash, Cole Coristine, Peter Christakis
Credit River Capitals (OMHA) — 3-0-1 | 16 GF – 5 GA
Dynamic in transition. The Capitals’ blend of speed and structure made them one of the tournament’s toughest teams to contain.
Led by: Evan Bannister, Ben Legros, Jonah Tagliarino
Reps Hockey Club (GTHL) — 3-1-0 | 13 GF – 7 GA
Reliable and steady. The Reps showed composure in tight games and consistent secondary scoring.
Led by: James Guiney, Joshua D’Addario, Michael Pal
Just Missed:
Markham Waxers (OMHA) — 2-2-0 | 10 GF – 10 GA
Competitive across all four games with promising team balance.
Led by: Kayden Kelly, Carter D’Abreu, Colton Ford
Group D
London Jr. Knights (ALLIANCE) — 4-0-0 | 23 GF – 2 GA
Dominant and composed. London’s speed, goaltending, and scoring depth made them a standout all weekend.
Led by: Drew Bate, Lucas Enright, Ryan Beaulieu
The Hill Academy — 4-0-0 | 20 GF – 12 GA
Fast, skilled, and confident. The Hill’s forward depth and energy carried them through group play.
Led by: Tanner Adams, Finley Merrill, Xavier Carroll
Ottawa Myers Automotive (HEO) — 3-1-0 | 12 GF – 6 GA
Structured and effective on both sides of the puck. Myers played within their systems and limited high-danger chances against.
Led by: Rafael Ghaby, Cole McRae, Emmett O’Neill
Central Ontario Wolves (OMHA) — 2-1-1 | 16 GF – 13 GA
Consistent effort with solid offensive production. Played to their strengths through speed and forecheck pressure.
Led by: Kyler Lauder, Karter Brideau, Finn Ellery
Just Missed:
Elgin-Middlesex Canucks (ALLIANCE) — 14 GF – 14 GA
Stayed competitive throughout group play with balanced scoring and a high compete level.
Led by: Cole Dailey, Cooper Cote, Nash Kelly
Elimination Round
Semi-Finals
Upper Canada College 5 – London Jr. Knights 4 (OT)
UCC defenseman Max Fransen scored twice, including the overtime winner, while Cole Guizzetti added two goals and an assist.
Don Mills Flyers 2 – Vaughan Kings 0
The Flyers shut down the tournament’s most potent offense behind outstanding goaltending from Owen Loftus. Goals came from Peter Christakis and Cole Coristine.
Championship Final
Don Mills Flyers 2 – Upper Canada College 1 (OT)
Logan Prud’Homme opened the scoring for UCC before Gavin Murphy tied it late. In overtime, Remi Filkweert sealed the championship for Don Mills.
2025 Wendy Dufton Champions: Don Mills Flyers (GTHL)
Regional Rundown
Each U16AAA Bi-Weekly edition will close with our Regional Rundown — a quick snapshot of where every major league stands across Ontario. From the GTHL and OMHA to the ALLIANCE and HEO, this section tracks trends, standings momentum, and teams on the rise, giving readers a clear pulse on the province’s U16 landscape every release. Records are seen below as the afternoon of Oct 23rd, 2025 standings.
OMHA East
Standings Snapshot:
Ajax-Pickering (4-0-0) • Barrie (4-0-0) • York Simcoe (3-2-0) • Central Ontario (2-1-1) • Quinte (2-0-0) • Markham (2-2-0) • North Shore (2-3-0) • North Central (1-2-0) • Whitby (1-3-0) • Peterborough (1-4-0) • Kingston (0-4-0)
Summary:
Parity defines the division early. Ajax-Pickering and Barrie sit unbeaten, while York Simcoe and Central Ontario continue to push near the top. Central Ontario’s 30 goals in four games show elite scoring potential, and Quinte’s structure keeps them close behind. Markham remains competitive at .500, while Whitby, Peterborough, and Kingston search for traction.
Trending Up: Ajax-Pickering, Barrie, Central Ontario
Teams to Watch: York Simcoe, Quinte
OMHA West
Standings Snapshot:
Credit River (6-0-0) • Niagara North (6-1-1) • Oakville (4-0-0) • Southern Tier (3-3-0) • Burlington (2-3-0) • Guelph (2-4-0) • Grey-Bruce (1-2-1) • Hamilton (1-3-0) • Halton (0-7-0)
Summary:
Credit River remains perfect, outscoring opponents 30-6. Niagara North and Oakville are right behind, each blending pace with strong team defense. Southern Tier and Burlington sit mid-pack but continue to trend upward, while Guelph and Grey-Bruce have shown flashes of upside. Halton is still looking for their first win but remains competitive in stretches.
Trending Up: Credit River, Niagara North, Oakville
Teams to Watch: Burlington, Southern Tier
ALLIANCE
Standings Snapshot:
Huron-Perth (4-0-0) • London (3-0-0) • Brantford (3-0-0) • Elgin-Middlesex (2-0-2) • Waterloo (2-2-1) • Sarnia-Lambton (2-2-0) • Kitchener (2-3-0) • Windsor (0-1-1) • Sun County (0-2-0) • Chatham-Kent (0-4-0) • Cambridge (0-4-0)
Summary:
Huron-Perth, London, and Brantford remain the early pace-setters, all undefeated and playing complete hockey. Elgin-Middlesex continues to trend upward after strong tournament play, while Waterloo and Sarnia-Lambton hover around the middle of the pack. Kitchener and Windsor have competed well despite results, and Sun County, Chatham-Kent, and Cambridge continue to develop young rosters.
Trending Up: London, Huron-Perth, Brantford
Teams to Watch: Elgin-Middlesex, Waterloo
HEO
Standings Snapshot:
Eastern Ontario (5-2-1) • Upper Canada (3-2-4) • Ottawa Jr. 67’s (2-3-4) • Ottawa Valley (2-3-3) • Ottawa Myers (2-4-2)
Summary:
Eastern Ontario leads a tightly packed division that remains wide open. Upper Canada has been competitive in nearly every game, though frequent draws have limited their climb. Ottawa Myers and the Jr. 67’s continue to battle for position, while Ottawa Valley sits just behind. Expect standings to stay fluid week to week.
Trending Up: Eastern Ontario Wild
Teams to Watch: Ottawa Myers Automotive, Upper Canada Cyclones
GTHL
Standings Snapshot:
Markham (6-2-0) • Marlboros (5-1-1) • Jr. Canadiens (5-1-0) • Vaughan (4-0-1) • Mississauga Sens (4-1-0) • Don Mills (3-1-2) • Reps (2-2-2) • Red Wings (0-3-3) • North York (1-5-0) • Rebels (0-4-2) • Titans (0-4-1) • Nationals (0-6-0)
Summary:
The GTHL’s top six — Markham, Marlboros, Jr. Canadiens, Vaughan, Mississauga, and Don Mills — are pulling away. Vaughan’s offense and Don Mills’ structure lead the way, with Reps steadying in the middle of the standings. The Red Wings and North York continue to compete hard, while Rebels, Titans, and Nationals look to find momentum heading into November.
Trending Up: Don Mills Flyers, Vaughan Kings
Teams to Watch: Reps Hockey Club, Mississauga Senators
Regional Takeaways
GTHL Depth: The league’s upper tier continues to set the provincial standard.
OMHA Strength: Credit River and York Simcoe headline a deep, balanced field.
ALLIANCE Structure: London and Huron-Perth are proving their systems travel well.
HEO Parity: Every game feels winnable — and losable — in this division.
Talon Mills
Picture Credits: @resko.png & @rcahsports
Up Next in the PDA Newsletter
Next Up in the PDA Newsletter:
In Monday’s Elite Habits feature, we’re breaking down one of the most overlooked parts of the game — the first five seconds. Every shift, every battle, every turnover starts with this window. How you react in those opening moments determines everything that follows. Learn how elite players win their shifts before the play even begins.
