PETES DUO JOIN LANCERS
Veteran Ohlers continue as teammates after both commit to play at U of W
Matt Mcnamara and John Parker-jones have been teammates with the Peterborough Petes since 2017.
The friendship isn't about to end anytime soon as both have committed to joining the University of Windsor Lancers men's hockey program in the fall.
“Matt and I are close friends,” the 6-foot-7, 230-pound Parker-jones said. “The fact we ended up in the same spot is remarkable.”
Both players are hoping to play an overage campaign with the Ontario Hockey League's Petes this spring before aging out, but with the season on hold due to the COVID -19 pandemic, both began looking to a post-junior home.
“I kept most of this to myself,” Parker-jones said of his search. “I keep the hockey side to myself with my parents, but a coincidence can happen.
“I was more interested in the best fit for me, rather than follow my peers or where my buddies are going, but once I found out, it was awesome.”
In fact, by the time Mcnamara had decided on Windsor, Parker-jones was already in the fold.
“The day I told Kevin (Hamlin, the Lancers head coach), I texted (Parker-jones) and said, `I don't know your plans, but keep in touch,' ” the 20-year-old Mcnamara said. “He texted me two seconds later and said he was going to Windsor.”
Ontario University Athletics teams covet players with OHL experience, but Hamlin said it's not so much where the two played, but what they can bring to Windsor's program.
“It's never been about going out and recruiting CHL (Canadian Hockey League) players just for the sake of recruiting kids that played in that league,” Hamlin said. “It's about recruiting top-end character players.
“I can't wait to coach JPJ and Matt. They're excited to be in Windsor and come from an organization where we know they're well taught on and off the ice.”
The 6-foot, 181-pound Mcnamara has appeared in 168 OHL regular season games over parts of four seasons.
“He's a guy who is going to eat minutes,” Hamlin said. “A great first-pass defenceman who can play in all moments, whether you're up a goal or down a goal.
“He defends well and competes. Matt's a guy who plays hard every night. He plays the same on the road as he does at home, and nothing gets him too uptight with how he plays.”
Parker-jones has played in 141 regular season games in the OHL and has the versatility to play up front on the right side or on defence.
“Big man, tough guy who buys space for the rest of the group out there,” Hamlin said. “These guys still want to play pro. They're going to come here and try to outwork people, and that's how (a team) gets better.”
A native of Peterborough, Mcnamara is looking forward to getting out on his own and getting the chance to grow as a person and a player.
“I've lived at home through my whole OHL career, which not many guys get to do,” Mcnamara said. “I want to get to grow up and have those opportunities.
“I talked to several teams in Ontario and a few out east, but I liked Windsor and the program. I'm super excited to get down to Windsor and get started.”
Parker-jones, who hails from Brantford, was never drafted by an OHL team and made the Petes as a walk-on. His game has grown in three years in the OHL and he wants to continue to grow as a player with the Lancers.
“Windsor was one of the first schools to reach out to me,” Parker-jones said.
“I came to Windsor because I know they're going to bring out my best. I have other aspirations other than hockey, but at the end of the day that goal, to play pro hockey, isn't done. That journey's not over.”
I can't wait to coach JPJ and Matt. They're excited to be in Windsor and come from an organization where we know they're well taught on and off the ice.