Following their best playoff run in franchise history, the Milton Menace are losing several players to the collegiate ranks.
But they do have some returning pieces of the West Conference championship puzzle – including captain Graeme MacAuley.
Back for another year with his hometown club, 19-year-old defender was a two-way cornerstone of the local juniors’ drive to the OJHL final, with a 27-point (8g, 19a) playoff showing after scoring 10 goals and adding 33 assists in the regular season.
Also returning to the fold is 20-year-old forward Ivan Fabjan, who after a 43-point (16g, 27a) regular season emerged as a playoff force with 12 goals and eight helpers.
Meanwhile, the Menace welcome back 20-year-old forward Gabriel Ciarallo, who was dealt to the Toronto Jr. Canadians last fall as part of a huge trade that brought hometown star Luke Johnston to the would-be conference champions.
Ciarallo finished the regular season with 20 goals and 33 assists.
The trio will lead what’s expected to be a younger team that loses starting goalie Carter Bickle to Long Island University, Johnston, fellow playoff standout Madden MacDougall and defenceman Owen Kindree to Dalhousie University and defender Henry Attard to the Royal Military College.
