Admirals get head start on season by signing nine rookies

Nine rookies signed with the Amherstburg Admirals in a June 1 event at the Libro Centre.

Brick by brick.

That is the new motto, courtesy of Admirals head coach Paul Bortignon.

Monday night in the team’s dressing room at the Libro Centre, the local Provincial Junior Hockey League (Junior C) team held an unprecedented ceremony, officially signing nine new players to its 2026-27 roster.

“This is a special day, getting nine new players that we were hoping to get,” said GM Andrew Sykes.

The event included the new coaching staff, team personnel and parents of the new players.

“We welcome nine new families into the Admirals family,” said Bortignon.

After taking a couple of years off, the team’s winningest coach returns behind the bench and during his comments to the new players Monday night, said it is not the scores that players will remember but it will be building new friendships, the bus rides and the comradery.

“We are more than a hockey team. Our job is not just to develop hockey players, it’s to develop young men,” said Bortignon.

Last year with eight rookies on the team, including a pair of netminders, the Admirals went 15-21-6-0 in a very competitive West Stobbs Division. They eliminated Mooretown in the first round of playoffs before bowing to the Essex 73’s.

Monday was the first night that teams can sign new players and the Admirals wasted little time in putting pen to paper.

“Our opponents need to be aware that we are getting high caliber people,” said Sykes.

Among those ready to suit up for the blue-and-white is forward Carter Maxey who was the captain of the Windsor AAA U18 team last season. He will be joined by several of his teammates including Cooper Woodman, Mathew Gomes, Parker Janisse, and Zach Cvetkovski. Coming over from the Riverside  U18 team are Hayden Bunn and Curtis Chamney with Blake Cowgill from Lake Erie and Jack Emery from Belle River U18.

Bortignon’s motto, Brick by Brick, indicates that the Admirals are in the midst of building a new foundation which includes the nine rookies along with a talented, hard-working group of returnees.

“It’s from these bricks we hope to build a skyscraper,” said Bortignon.

And while players move on, team owner Greg Crain, who welcomed the rookies and their families, was adamant when he said, “once an Admiral, always an Admiral.”

Admirals get head start on season by signing nine rookies

By Fred Groves