Month: August 2021

The Almaguin Spartans would like to officially announce that we are starting our advertising/sponsorship sales for the 2021-2022 season. Our 65 advertisers/sponsors from 2019-2020 will all be contacted this week via email, phone or in person.

For businesses that are not aware of what advertising options we have, feel free to contact us. We have pricing options for any budget or companies needs. We offer a number of advertising spaces options at a price far cheaper then other local advertising sources, with high community visibility and on several different platforms. These options include rink board ads at the South River Machar Arena, Game Day Program Ads-which acts as a local business directory with 60 business ads, Jersey Ads, Website Ads, Golf Tournament Ad’s and package options that include individual game tickets that are great to provide to your staff, customers, family or friends.

Our organization can not thank the community and the local businesses enough for your support over the last 7 seasons. You have made the Spartans a great destination for players to come from all over the world and play in front of one of the top fan bases in the league, that is always is in the top 3 or 4 in attendance.

If you are interested in renewing your advertising or becoming a new advertiser, feel free to contact Spartans General Manager David Forde at almaguinspartans@gmail.com or at 705-494-0024.

The Almaguin Spartans are very happy to announce the signing of Zachary Stabb from the Howard S. Billings Blazers. The 6’2, promising young 2004 forward is from Chateauguay, Quebec.

Spartans General Manager David Forde had this to say about the addition of Stabb “We are very happy to have Zach joining our program. I have met with Zach and his family on two occasions, including last week when they came to Almaguin to visit our community, school, and training facilities. In my meetings with Zach, it is very clear that he is a great fit for our program on and off the ice. He is a very driven young man, who will excel on the ice and in the classroom. He comes from a great family, and despite being only 17, is very mature for his age.

As a player, Zach is a big body at 6’2, that skates well, plays physical and is very coachable. His former coach Scott Colosimo who is currently the assistant coach at Concordia University (U Sports), could not say enough great things about Zach as a player and a young man. Zach is a player that has developed a lot over the past few seasons under Scott’s tutelage and is now ready to make the jump to junior hockey. He is eager to learn and has a great work ethic. We are confident that Zach will adjust quickly to the level of play and be a strong young player for us this season.”

The Almaguin Spartans are thrilled to announce the addition of veteran goaltender Knute Loe from the Fresno Monsters of the USPHL Premier Division. Last season the 2000 born Loe was selected as a Pacific Division All-Star with a 15-5-0 record, 2.66 GAA and 0.919 Save percentage in 20 games. Loe is a veteran of 4 seasons of junior hockey, which has also saw him play in the CJHL and several Western Canada Junior “B” leagues.

Spartans General Manager David Forde had this to say about the addition of Loe “We are really happy to be adding Knute to our hockey club. To win in any league you must have top end goaltending. With Knute and the rest of our goaltenders, I feel we are in a good spot, top to bottom in net. Our goaltending is going to be an area of strength for us this year with the amount of talent and experience we have at that position.

Knute has proven throughout his junior career that he can be counted on to carry the workload and be a number 1 goalie at the Junior “A” and Junior “B” level. Last year, he had a breakout season with Fresno and led them to a Division Title and was named an all-star. Knute is a very mature young man and I think he is going to be a great leader for our players on and off the ice. He is very athletic, has a great work ethic and is highly competitive. We are counting on Knute to be a big part of our team this year and are looking forward to seeing what he can this season and help put himself in a great position to advance to college or pro next season.”

The Almaguin Spartans are thrilled to announce the signing of Damir Shafeyev from Baltu Ainiai Kaunas. Last season the 2000 born Russian Forward registered 14 goals and 9 assists for 23 points in 20 games at the Lithuania Men’s First Division Level.

Spartans Head Coach Andrejs Savicevs had this to say about the addition of Shafeyev “We are very happy to have Damir joining our club. He has great size, plays a pro style game and is a player we can expect to produce offensively on a nightly basis. He had a strong season in Lithuania last year producing over a point per game and finishing third in team scoring.

Damir will be a strong veteran presence off the ice for our younger players and I will be counting on him to set the example for our younger players and push the intensity in our practice and off ice sessions. I’m really looking forward to working with Damir and helping prepare him to advance to higher level professional opportunities in Europe. I am confident Damir can be an impact player in the GMHL, produce high offensive totals and help us win come playoff time. “

The Almaguin Spartans are thrilled to announce the return of 2001 born Defencemen Artur Fokin. The 6’1, 185-pound Russian defender had 7 goals and 25 assists for 32 points and 81 penalty minutes in 41 games for the Spartans in 2019-2020.

Spartans General Manager David Forde had this to say about the return of Fokin “Our staff is very happy to have Artur back for a second campaign. It was a high priority for us this off season to get Artur re-signed, as we felt he would be an important player to bring back to provide skill and big minutes on the back end. Fokin had a good rookie season in 2019/2020 overall and had flashes of greatness. He is a player with incredible potential, and we saw signs of his top-level talent.

I think with him now being 20 years old and a lot more mature physically and mentally, that he is ready to raise his game to the next level. Artur skates well, blocks shots, competes hard at both ends of the rink and has a big shot from the point. We want guys in our program that are going to bring it every night and do whatever they can do to help us win and Artur is definitely a player that fits that bill. We are expecting Artur to play top 4 minutes on a nightly basis and play a more controlled and consistent game this year. “

Artur had this to say about returning to the Spartans for a second season “I’m very excited to be back for a second season. I really enjoyed the community and the program. I have been working very hard since I left Almaguin to improve my game. I can’t wait to get back to Canada and do everything in my power to help us win a Russell Cup”

The Spartans are happy to announce the addition of promising young forward Maxim Mavrin from Lokomotiv-2004 Yaroslavl U17 of the Russia U17 League.

Spartans Russian Scout Ivan Skvortsov had this to say about Maxim and what Spartans fans can expect from the young Russian Forward “I think Maxim is going to be a great addition to the Spartans organization. He is a very dedicated player who is driven to become a better player and play professional hockey in the future. He is a strong skater, competes hard and has a lot of potential. He is a player that is going to be in the Spartans program for multiple years, where I think under tutelage of Andrejs Savicevs he can develop into a elite junior player in coming years.

I know Maxim is looking forward to the challenge of being in the Spartans program and playing in Canada. He is currently working very hard to prepare himself for a successful hockey season, while also completing his education in Canada.”

The Almaguin Spartans are thrilled to announce the addition of 2004 Forward Pavel Smirnov and 2004 Goaltender Aleksandr Smirnov. The brothers come to the Spartans from Moscow, where they played for Team FSO Moskva. Pavel led the U18 club in scoring last year with 13 points in 11 games.

Spartans Russian Scout and former Captain Ivan Skvortov recruited these two promising young players from Moscow. Ivan had this to say about the addition of the Smirnov brothers to the Spartans “I think Pavel and Aleksandr are going to fit in well at the GMHL level and into the Spartans program. Both players are very dedicated and are wanting to develop into players that can play at the College or Professional level. Their skills and commitment level are big reasons why I think they will fit in well to the Spartans program.

Pavel is a skilled forward, with great hands and vision. He likes to create offense off the rush and will be able to produce points for the Spartans on a regular basis.

Aleksandr reads the play well, is good positionally and competes hard in all situations. Andre Laperriere will be able to help Aleksandr make some adjustments to his game and push him to be a strong goalie at this level this season.

I wish Pavel and Aleksandr the best of luck this season and I know they will work hard and I know both are very excited to come to Canada, play hockey, study and have the same great experience I did with the Spartans.”

The Almaguin Spartans are happy to announce the addition of promising young Latvian Defensemen Kalvis Krievs (2005) from Primza/Paradaugava U17.

Spartans Head Coach Andrejs Savicevs had this to say about the addition of Krievs “We are very happy to have Kalvis joining our program. I was able to watch him at the Pre-Draft Showcase in Lithuania, and David and I were able to meet with him and his family. He did very well at the showcase, competing against much older, more experienced players.

Kalvis is a young player with great potential. He is only 16 years old, but already has great size, hockey sense and willingness to get better everyday. We feel he is going develop a lot in our program over the season and the type of game he plays is suited well for North America. He plays a physical game, competes hard and moves the puck well. I am really looking forward to working with Kalvis and watching him develop into a player that can play at the MHL level in the near future. “