For the Trenton Golden Hawks, helping players pursue opportunities beyond junior hockey has become an important measure of the organization’s success.
That was evident again this summer, with a large group of former Golden Hawks moving on to university hockey across Canada and the United States.
After one of the most productive individual seasons in franchise history, Taeo Artichuk leaves Trenton for the University of New Brunswick.
The Ajax native led the league in scoring with 108 points in 55 games. His 37 goals and 71 assists helped earn him OJHL Most Valuable Player and First-Team All-Star honours.
Artichuk also established new Golden Hawks single-season records for points and assists and finished his career as the franchise’s all-time leader in both categories.
Jamie Darlison and Lucas Di Giantommaso will both play and study at Ontario Tech University this coming season.
Darlison finished last season with 66 points in 49 games. The power forward led the team in postseason scoring with five goals and nine assists in 10 contests.
After beginning the year with the Surrey Eagles of the BCHL, Di Giantommaso had 38 points in just 26 games with Trenton before adding 13 points in nine playoff contests.
Daylen Moses is headed to Saint Mary’s University after scoring 19 points in 25 games with the Golden Hawks, while Joshua Penney will continue his hockey career with York University after tallying 24 points in 17 games.
Andrew Wycisk is moving on to the University of Guelph. The all-star rearguard had 27 points in 27 games and was named the club’s Defenceman of the Year.
Duncan Schneider is also moving on to U SPORTS with Western University. The Belleville native had 17 points in 47 games last season.
Jack Ziliotto is joining fellow Golden Hawks graduates Corbin Roach and Cooper Matthews south of the border at Oklahoma State University. The Burlington native finished second in the OJHL scoring race with 90 points in 55 games, including a league-leading 40 goals.
While university hockey represents the next step for several graduates, others are continuing their development in junior hockey.
Former captain Thomas Kuipers will remain close to home with the Frankford Huskies of the PJHL. The Carrying Place native scored 16 goals and added 36 assists in 51 games and was named the OJHL Humanitarian of the Year. He ranks third all-time in franchise games played.
Joey Brehmer is heading to Vancouver Island with the Victoria Grizzlies of the BCHL after recording 50 points in 50 games with the Golden Hawks.
Isaiah Shantz is also headed to British Columbia, joining the Powell River Kings after scoring 20 goals and 42 points in 44 games last season.
Rearguard Casey Bridgewater will continue his junior career in Alberta with the Sherwood Park Crusaders after tallying 13 points in 19 games with Trenton.
Defenceman Candon O’Neill is joining the Chicoutimi Saguenéens in the QMJHL. His 36 points in 46 games last season led all Golden Hawks defencemen in scoring.
Colten Drillen-Roach was traded to the Leamington Flyers this June. In nine appearances with the Golden Hawks, he went 9-0-0 with a 1.45 goals-against average and a .949 save percentage, recording two shutouts.
Since 2016, Trenton has reached the Buckland Cup final five times and won two championships. During that same stretch, the franchise has helped several players advance to the OHL, QMJHL, NCAA, U SPORTS and professional hockey.
While the Golden Hawks will have to replace a significant amount of talent from last season’s roster, the number of players moving on also highlights the organization’s success in preparing players for their next opportunity.
