Latest news with #BarrieColts
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Barrie sees record-setting tourism boom with $113M in visitor spending
Barrie's tourism industry had a record-breaking year in 2024, bringing in nearly $113 million from overnight visitors, a massive leap that officials say is largely thanks to the city's sporting events and key festivals. According to the latest report from Barrie Tourism, more than 631,000 hotel guests visited the city through last year, and millions were reached through digital marketing efforts. 'It was a $51 million increase from 2023,' noted Kathleen Trainor, Tourism Barrie's executive director. 'We tracked 49 sporting events and we were able to track all the festival events because we have some new software that allows us to do some of that data, so it was a combination of more people coming, occupancies up, hotel room costs, revenues are up.' The numbers reveal that of the total economic activity generated, roughly $70 million came from sports-related tourism alone, including tournaments, competitions, and the continued draw of the Barrie Colts, which represented a $43 million share of the total. Signature events, like Kempenfest and the Barrie Air Show, brought in $31 million combined.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Barrie Colts hand reigns to league's youngest head coach in OHL
The Barrie Colts announced Tuesday that Dylan Smoskowitz will assume the role of Head Coach for the Barrie Colts effective immediately on May 27, 2025. (CTV News/Rob Cooper) Marty Williamson started his Ontario Hockey League (OHL) coaching career in Barrie in 2004. He stayed with the club until 2011 then returned after a stint with Niagara. For the past several years, he has acted as both coach and general manager, and with 603 career wins, he says the time is right for him to focus on the general manager duties. 'It's a big job and you know with the landscape right now this is what our organization needs, so I needed to make a decision on which one to give up, you know, at 62 years-old sometimes those bus rides and everything take a toll on you. I think this is the right path for everybody,' shared Williamson. With Marty stepping down from the bench, former Colt and current assistant coach Dylan Smoskowitz moves up to the top job. Barrie Colts locker room Barrie Colts locker room on May 27, 2025. (CTV News/ Rob Cooper) 'Learning from the late and great Dale Hawercuck and learning from Marty Williamson, learning what it takes to be a survivor in this league as a player, learning what it takes to be a coach in this league and be a mentor to the younger guys... and now as I step into this head coaching role I have a lot to be grateful for,' Dylan Smoskowitz shared with CTV News on Tuesday. After his playing career, Smoskowitz joined the team as an assistant coach in 2021. He says he hopes to build on the teams success from last season. 'I'm a players coach and I'm a culture coach. It's not about the x's and o's so to speak for me it's about everyone being on the same page. It's about everyone understanding what the goal and the task at hand is and everyone pulling in the same direction,' Smoskowitz continued. The new head coach Smoskowitz was drafted by the Colts in 2009 in the 10th round 188th overall. He is also the youngest current head coach in the OHL.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dalyn Wakely Commits To UMass Lowell
Barrie Colts forward Dalyn Wakely has committed to UMass Lowell, it was announced on Thursday. A native of Port Hope, Ontario, Wakely scored 23 goals and recorded 35 assists in 55 regular season games in his lone season with the Colts during the 2024-25 OHL campaign. Wakely was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the sixth round, 192nd overall, in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. A 2004-born skater, Wakely will make the jump to the NCAA and join the River Hawks for the 2025-26 season. Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' NCAA Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.
The Province
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The Province
Canucks prospect Anthony Romani ready to give it the new college try
The 19-year-old winger jumps from OHL Barrie to NCAA Michigan State, leaving junior eligibility on the table in the process Get the latest from Steve Ewen straight to your inbox Barrie Colts forward Anthony Romani (left) battles against the North Bay Battalion's Nolan Laird. Vancouver Canucks prospect Anthony Romani is one of the first players to leave the Major Junior ranks with eligibility remaining and make the jump to the NCAA. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The Canucks' 2024 sixth rounder is coming off a sizzling OHL playoff with the Barrie Colts, where he racked up 12 goals and 24 points in 16 games. The Colts lost their conference championship series. Romani could go back to Barrie next fall for his 20-year-old season, but the 6-foot-1, 190-pound right-shot winger is instead slated to join the Michigan State University Spartans, taking advantage of the NCAA opening up scholarship opportunities to players from leagues such as the OHL for the first time this fall. Romani says the Canucks brass are on board with the move. 'They've been great since we've been with them and they've supported my decisions,' Romani, who is a Pickering, Ont., native, said over the phone Thursday morning. 'They thought that it will help make me the best possible pro I can be when the time for that comes. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I've learned a lot in the OHL and developed as a player, but it's time to move onto the next chapter. It's a step forward, playing against older players and stronger competition. It's a different schedule, too, with less games, so I'll have more time to get into the gym and try to to get stronger to be ready to play pro.' Romani broke his clavicle six games into the season and missed several weeks. Even with that, he still has 223 regular season games in his OHL career, along with another 52 postseason games. Andrew LeBlanc, of the North Bay Battalion (L), and Anthony Romani, in 2025. He had a 58-goal campaign with the North Bay Battalion two season ago. This past season, he was hurt while playing with North Bay and was traded to Barrie in the midst of rehabbing. All told, he had 21 goals and 35 points in 35 regular season games with the two teams before going on his playoff run. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Now comes this new challenge. The math is simple. The Boston College Eagles were the youngest squad in the 16-team NCAA national championship tournament this year, according to College Hockey Inc., averaging 21 years of age. The Kingston Frontenacs were the oldest team in the OHL, according to Elite Prospects, averaging 19 years of age. The Peterborough Petes were the youngest, sitting at 18. Major Junior folk had probably hoped that graduating 20 year olds would be the majority of players taking advantage of the new development path when the NCAA announced last fall that they were changing their scholarship rules. Instead, they are starting to see more guys with junior time remaining and NHL connections as well opt to try it out. That includes Swift Current Broncos forward Clarke Caswell, 19, a Seattle Kraken 2024 fifth rounder who is slated to join Denver, and Sudbury Wolves defenceman Henry Mews, 19, a 2024 Calgary Flames third rounder who has committed to Michigan. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I think there's a lot of cool things with this whole OHL/NCAA portal opening up,' Romani said. Michigan State finished 26-7-4 last season, and they featured Hobey Baker Memorial player of the year winner Isaac Howard, 21, a junior forward who was a 2022 Tampa Bay Lightning first rounder (No. 31 overall). Michigan State's season came to an end in regional semifinals, falling 4-3 to Cornell on a goal with just 10 seconds remaining in regulation. They have gone 65-35-9 the past three seasons under coach Adam Nightingale. 'Their mentality is competition and coming to the rink with get-to-work attitude, and that was something that was really appealing to me,' Romani said. It will be interesting to see what he can build off his playoff exploits. Barrie (42-22-2-2) was swept by the Oshawa Generals (41-21-4-2) to end their season. The teams had finished tied in points during the regular season. Oshawa lost in five games in the league final to the London Knights. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Romani tied for seventh in goals in the OHL playoffs. 'It's the most important time of the year,' he said. 'The season is built up for the playoffs and trying to win a championship, and I think I look forward to those games. I kind of pride myself in being a player who comes up in those moments.' Anthony Romani poses for a portrait after being drafted by the Vancouver Canucks Photo by Candice Ward / Getty Images Romani is slated to attend the Canucks' prospect camp, which will take place sometime after the June 27-28 NHL Draft. He says he looks forward to getting more feedback from the Canuck braintrust. He is working on improving his skating. That, of course, is a common theme throughout hockey. 'I'm just trying to become stronger and more explosive, trying to get that extra step, whether it's with the puck or on the backcheck,' he said. His workout group in the summer includes the likes of Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner and Tampa Bay Lightning forward Anthony Cirelli. 'It's great to be able see the work ethic and their pro habits day to day in the gym and on the ice,' said Romani. sewen@ Read More
CBC
12-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Chatham captures 2nd-ever Sutherland Cup Jr. B hockey championship
For the second time in its history, the Chatham Maroons have finished atop the Jr. B hockey landscape in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL). They finished off the St. Catharines Falcons on the road in game six with a 6-3 victory. That's the club's first Sutherland Cup title in 26 years. Chatham potted four goals in just over three minutes of play in the second frame. 17-year-old forward Carter Chadwick was named playoff MVP after recording a 15 goals and 24 points during the post-season. Chadwick and 15-year-old call-up Eamon Edgar finished the series with seven goals each tying a league record for goals in a Sutherland Cup final previously set by D.J. Turn for LaSalle in 2010. Edgar was a second-round pick of the OHL's Barrie Colts earlier this spring. He amassed 13 points in the cup final series, a new GOJHL record. The Maroons are the 19th team to have won at least two Sutherland Cup titles.
