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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, December 6, 2013 | 24 Jon Kuiperij Sports Editor sports@oakvillebeaver.com Sports T "Connected to your Community" Former Oakville Blades enjoying AHL reunion Three local products in Canucks organization he Utica Comets play their home games out of the Utica Memorial Auditorium, a 54-year-old facility located along the old Erie Canal in the middle of the state of New York. It's a long way from Oakville's Sports Editor nine-year-old Joshua's Creek AreOakville Beaver nas, both literally and figuratively. But for three players who have for all three of us," said DeFazio. suited up for Utica this season, it "For me, I always say my bigdoesn't feel that far away at all. gest hockey memory, even though Oakville natives Kellan Lain and it was just the beginning of my Brandon DeFazio are currently forcareer, was when I got traded from wards for the Comets, the AmeriMilton (IceHawks) to Oakville can Hockey League affiliate of the at the (2005-06 Ontario ProvinVancouver Canucks. Both players cial Junior Hockey League trade) cut their teeth in junior with the deadline. Milton was the top team Oakville Blades, as did Jeremy in Canada and was a favourite to Welsh, who started the season in win the RBC (national title), but at Utica before being called up to the the same time I was Canucks in midexcited to play for October. my hometown." "It's kind of cool A few weeks later, how that all came DeFazio helped the about," said Lain, Blades overcome a a graduate of T.A. 3-1 playoff series Blakelock High deficit to upset the School. "I think it's powerful IceHawks pretty rare to see that in seven games happen." and advance to the It certainly OPJHL semifinals. seems like a unique That post-season situation when you run jump-started a consider the Comets very successful sixroster features three year stretch for the players from Sweden, Blades that included one from Denmark and another from Brandon DeFazio two league titles, two Utica Comets forward runner-up finishes Switzerland. The rest and two trips to naof the Utica squad is tionals. comprised by players from across On board for those Royal Bank North America, ranging from Minnesota to Massachusetts and British Cup appearances were Lain and Welsh. Lain was a surprise addition Columbia to Newfoundland. to the Oakville roster in 2007-08 Though DeFazio and Lain never after playing two years of high actually played together on the school hockey for the Blakelock TiBlades, they both say it was nice to gers, but went on to average nearly see a couple of familiar faces when a point per game in three seasons they entered the Utica dressing room for the first time. The Comets with the Blades. Welsh was even more producare in their inaugural season after tive. The Bayfield, Ont. native the Canucks relocated their farm racked up 135 points in 97 regularteam from Peoria, Ill. last summer. "It definitely makes you feel a lot season games with Oakville and was named the top forward at more comfortable when you know guys on a team. It was a new team see Lain on p.25 Jon Kuiperij It definitely makes you feel a lot more comfortable when you know guys on a team. Brandon DeFazio (top photo) and Kellan Lain are pictured in action for the Utica Comets in a recent American Hockey League game against the Hamilton Bulldogs. The Oakville natives are two of three former Oakville Blades to suit up for the Comets this season. Jeremy Welsh also started the year in Utica but has since been called up to the Vancouver Canucks. | photos by Graham Paine -- Oakville Beaver -- @Halton_Photog