Hey everyone, welcome to Road to the GTHL Championship. I’m Emily Brooks, and I could not be more excited to kick things off by introducing you to the heart of the U15 Toronto Marlboros: the dedicated staff setting the stage for this team’s journey. Honestly, you can’t underestimate how much a team is shaped by its coaches and support crew—these are the people building the culture, holding it all together, especially when things get messy or, well, just plain chaotic as they tend to in youth hockey.At the helm, we’ve got Head Coach Joe Birch. If you know youth hockey in Toronto, you know Joe is respected for both his hockey IQ and his calm, really methodical approach. Joe and his staff set the tone to keep these players motivated and focused. Along with the trio of assistant coaches: Michael Little, Wayne Primeau, and Dave Nicoletti. Each one brings something unique—Michael’s the technical guy, always breaking things down; Dave’s known for building confidence, especially in players coming back from injuries or tough games.Now, I actually met Wayne Primeau a couple seasons back, before he joined the Marlboros, when I was covering a summer development camp in Buffalo. He was working with defensemen back then—and, honestly, the way he focused on developing not just skills, but leadership, stood out to me. We chatted about how important it is for kids at this age to have someone showing them, like, not just what to do on the ice, but how to be good teammates off it. Wayne’s all about the big picture, and you really see that in how he carries himself at practice.Moving along: goalie coach Kas Krol—he’s the guy you’ll see working one-on-one with the goalies, tweaking details, always looking for that edge. Plus, let’s not forget trainer Prentice Toker, absolutely essential for keeping the lineup healthy through those months where it seems like everyone’s got a banged-up shoulder or lingering cold. Finally, every team needs a manager making it all run smoothly: that’s Kris George, who keeps everyone organized, on time, and, frankly, sane. I mean, it's a full-time job just keeping gear in order, much less all the other stuff. It's a staff loaded with experience, and it sets up this group of players to really develop, on and off the ice.Now, let’s talk defense, because if you want to win in the GTHL, you need a group that knows how to shut things down. The Marlboros’ blue line is made up of six guys who all play different styles, but who honestly work together really well. There’s Charlie Birch, wearing number 7—super poised under pressure, and I’ve heard his outlet passes are already, like, elite at this age. Adam Kalantzakos, number 9, is your classic reliable defender—always in the right spot, never flashy, but honestly, every championship team has at least one Adam.Callum Ryan, number 11, has that offensive instinct—he’s not afraid to jump into the rush, which, I mean, sometimes makes coaches a tiny bit nervous, but you need it. Then there’s Hunter Nadeau, number 26, who’s got that physical edge. George Zettas, number 88, smart positional player, and Adrian Leung, wearing 93, is one of those quiet, steady types who just does his job shift after shift.I remember this weekend trip to Boston last season—I was watching all six of them rotate in and out, playing their hearts out against some of the best teams from the States. There’s something special about a defense group that genuinely trusts each other; it shows up in all those little plays that don’t make highlight reels but make the difference between a win and a loss. This group is going to be the backbone of the team—mark my words, when it gets tight late in the season, they’re the ones you rely on.Of course, you can have all the defense in the world, but you need players who can actually put the puck in the net, too. The Marlboros’ forward group is deep—seriously, they roll four lines, and every single guy's got a role. There’s Jake Mancino, number 10; Colton Lamming, number 17; Tyler Longo, 19; Ethan Thompson, 29; Matthew Heine, 34; Cohen Hutchison, 44; Luca George, 73; Caden Duke, 75; Jayden Challenger, 84; and Andrew Hanson, 91. That’s a mouthful, but it shows how much depth they have.The key to a championship year—it’s not just your top line. You need every single forward bought in, ready to contribute on any given night. There’ll be games where maybe your big scorer gets shut down, or someone’s missing with a minor injury, and suddenly it’s about who else can step up. The thing that stands out with these guys is, well—confidence. They trust that, on any given night, someone new is going to be the hero.And holding it all together in net, there’s Lucas Young, number 66, and Lynkin Heath, number 72. Having two strong goalies at this level is such a luxury—you get competition in practice to keep things sharp, and if one has an off night, the other’s ready to go. I remember chatting with goalie coach Kas Krol about what he looks for in young goalies—he said, "It’s not just about stopping the first shot, but controlling rebounds and, honestly, the mental side—being able to bounce back after a bad goal or a tough game." That’s what both Lucas and Lynkin bring, and I think as a tandem, they’ll give this team all the confidence they need down the stretch.So, that’s your 2025-26 under 15 Toronto Marlboros—players, staff, and, really, an entire group pulling in the same direction. I don’t want to give too much away about what’s ahead, but let’s just say, if you’re a fan of youth hockey or just love a good underdog story, you’re going to want to stick with us this season. Thanks for listening, and I’ll catch you next time as we follow every step on their road to the GTHL Championship.

Episodes

Meet the Marlboros