The Komoka Kings will have several returning players in the lineup when they open the GOJHL season in September. Captain Andrew Kim is back for his fourth and final year of junior hockey, while Wes Dobbin, Kyle Fisher and Brett Fisher all return after impressive rookie campaigns last year (the young trio combined for 48 goals and 126 points).
General Manager Roop Chanderdat says experience goes a long way in this league.
“It’s great to have so many guys back,” Chanderdat said. “A lot of them were rookies last year, so they’ll be able to build on what they learned and now have a year of junior hockey under their belt.”
This season will be the first in Komoka for the franchise, after nearly a decade in Forest as the Lambton Shores Predators. Chanderdat says the players and staff are both looking forward to a fresh start.
“We’ve settled in nicely to the new facility,” he said. “It’s a shorter commute for a lot of the players, and we can already feel the buzz about the upcoming season in the Komoka community.”
The Kings defense will welcome back Colin McLean and Will Johnston, while the team also acquired Spencer Lapointe from the St. Thomas Stars during the offseason. Tyler McLean will join the team full-time after playing 19 games last season as a call-up.
New faces include Joel Mazzilli, a Hamilton Bulldogs prospect and London Jr. Knights standout, as well as Noah Hamilton and Matt Mellick. Hamilton spent last season with the PJHL’s North Middlesex Stars, while Mellick played with the London Jr. Knights Major Midget team.
Stanley Cup winner Jason Williams joins the Kings’ staff as an Associate Coach, bringing with him 17 seasons of pro hockey experience, including 455 games as an NHL player. Former OHLer Dave Mcdonald has been added as the team’s Goaltending Coach. The pair join Head Coach Brian Dobbin, and Assistants Jason Stacey and Jake Jeffrey.
Home games for the Kings will be 7:15 p.m. on Saturday nights, with the home opener scheduled for September 23 against the Sarnia Legionnaires.
Submitted by the Komoka Kings and photo by Jake Jeffrey
