Niagara Falls Canucks
The Niagara Falls Canucks are amongst the best Junior hockey organizations in Canada. Established in 1971, the Canucks play in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL).
The Canucks are two-time Sutherland Cup Champions, and boast many alumni who have moved on to higher levels of hockey; including the NHL, OHL, NCAA, USports, and Professionally in Europe and other minor hockey leagues in North America.
The OJHL has an impressive list of NHL Alumni, including the likes of: Jeff Carter, Boone Jenner, Mark Scheifele, Matt Moulson, Rob Blake, Marty Turco, Steve Mason, Ed Jovanowski, Kyle Wellwood, Dan Paille, Nathan Horton, Cal Clutterbuck and Riley Sheahan amongst many, many more.
Former Niagara Falls Canucks who have graduated to the NHL include Frank Pietrangelo, Kevin Dallman and Gilbert Dionne amongst others.
The Niagara Falls Canucks were established in 1971, and over this time have had only 3 owners. This is unprecedented in Junior hockey, and this stability reflects in the treatment of our players. Canucks players receive the following benefits and opportunities-
- All home games are played out of the Gale Centre; one of the finest facilities in Junior Hockey anywhere.
- State of the art dressing room.
- Professional coaching and management.
- Certified Athletic Trainer and team doctor.
- All games broadcast live on HockeyTV.
- Exposure to Pro Scouts, and NCAA, OHL, USports coaches and staff.
- Equipment provided, including pants, gloves, helmets/visors and sticks, free skate sharpening, tape, etc.
- Full team laundry service.
- Team Coach bus and meals for road trips.
The Canucks boast one of the finest Coaching Staffs in Junior Hockey. Frank Pietrangelo is the team Co-Owner and Head Coach. Frank, a former Canuck himself, was an OHL draftchoice and NCAA Scholarship winner at the University of Minnesota (1982-86). Drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1983, Frank went on to a very successful 15 year Pro Hockey career, highlighted by a Stanley Cup championship with the Penguins in 1991. Since his retirement in 2000, Frank has been a full time coach. Over his 20+ years as a coach, Frank has had the fortune to coach many great players and help them achieve their goals. Here is a list of some of the players coached by Frank Pietrangelo, where they graduated to, and and where they are today-
| OHL DRAFT TEAM | NHL STATUS
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| SCOTT LAUGHTON | OHL | OSHAWA GENERALS | 1ST ROUND OHL | PHILADELPHIA FLYERS 1ST ROUND
FORMER TEAM CANADA JR TEAM CAPTAIN |
| CONNOR BROWN | OHL | ERIE OTTERS | 13TH ROUND | TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS 6TH ROUND
OTTAWA SENATORS |
| JARROD MAIDENS | OHL | OWEN SOUND ATTACK | 1ST ROUND OHL | OTTAWA SENATORS 3RD ROUND |
| MATIA MARCANTUONI | OHL | KITCHENER RANGERS | 1ST ROUND OHL | PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 4TH ROUND |
| GIANLUCA CURCURUTO | OHL | SOO GREYHOUNDS | 1ST ROUND OHL | COLUMBUS BLUEJACKETS 7TH ROUND |
| CHRIS MARCHESE | OHL | ERIE OTTERS | 1ST ROUND OHL | |
| MARCUS McIVOR | OHL | BRAMPTON BATTALION | 1ST ROUND OHL | |
| DYLAN BLUJUS | OHL | BRAMPTON BATTALION | 2ND ROUND OHL | DALLAS STARS 3RD ROUND |
| EVAN McENENY | OHL | KITCHENER RANGERS | 2ND ROUND OHL | VANCOUVER CANUCKS |
| RYAN LOMBERG | NCAA | UNIVERSITY OF MAINE | 1ST ROUND USHL | CALGARY FLAMES
FLORIDA PANTHERS |
| DEVIN SHORE | NCAA | UNIVERSITY OF MAINE | 5TH ROUND OHL | DALLAS STARS 2ND ROUND
ANAHEIM DUCKS, EDMONTON OILERS |
| DANIEL RENOUF | NCAA | UNIVERSITY OF MAINE | 3RD ROUND USHL | DETROIT RED WINGS |
| ZACK PRYZBEK | NCAA | BROWN UNVIVERSITY | 6TH ROUND OHL | |
| DEVIN RYMARCHUK | OHL | OWEN SOUND ATTACK | 5TH ROUND OHL | |
| MATT McLEOD | OHL | BRAMPTON BATTALION | 3RD ROUND OHL | |
| BRETT FOY | OHL | ST MIKES MAJORS | 6TH ROUND OHL | |
| ERIC DIODATI | OHL | ST MIKES MAJORS | 7TH ROUND OHL | |
| DARRYL SNELLING | OHL | BELLEVILLE BULLS | 2ND ROUND OHL | |
| CODY PAYNE | OHL | OSHAWA GENERALS | 3RD ROUND OHL | BOSTON BRUINS 5TH ROUND |
| TERRY TRAFFORD | OHL | SAGINAW SPIRIT | 3RD ROUND OHL | |
| KYLE ROWE | OHL | SOO GREYHOUNDS | 5TH ROUND OHL | |
| MATTHEW LANE | NCAA | BOSTON UNIVERSITY | 5TH ROUND OHL | |
| LUKE NOGARD | NCAA | UNIV OF NEBRASKA/OMAHA | 12TH ROUND OHL | |
| CAL HOFFORD | NCAA | U OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN | 5TH ROUND USHL | |
| ZACH AVOLIO | OHL | PETERBOROUGH PETES | 12TH ROUND OHL | |
| BRODIE TUTTON | NCAA | GENESSEO COLLEGE | 7TH ROUND OHL | |
| JEFFREY HEARD | OHL | NIAGARA ICEDOGS | 5TH ROUND OHL | |
| BRENDEN MILLER | OHL | BRAMPTON BATTALION | 8TH ROUND OHL | |
| PATRICK MURPHY | OHL | ERIE OTTERS | 5TH ROUND OHL | |
| GEMEL SMITH | OHL | OWEN SOUND ATTACK | 6TH ROUND OHL | DALLAS STARS 5TH ROUND |
| ALEX LEPORE | OHL | BRAMPTON BATTALION | 10TH ROUND OHL | |
| ANTHONY MARRA | NCAA | GENNESEO COLLEGE | ||
| JOE SULLIVAN | OHL | PETERBOROUGH PETES | 3RD ROUND OHL | |
| ANDREW POTURALSKI | NCAA | UNIV OF NEW HAMPSHIRE | NCAA | CAROLINA HURRICANES |
| JESSE GRAHAM | OHL | NIAGARA ICEDOGS | 1ST ROUND OHL | NEW YORK ISLANDERS 3RD ROUND |
| LUKE MERCER | OHL | NIAGARA ICEDOGS | 1ST ROUND OHL | |
| JAMIE LEWIS | OHL | NIAGARA ICEDOGS | 3RD ROUND OHL | |
| SLATER KOEKOEK | OHL | PETERBOROUGH PETES | 1ST ROUND OHL | TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING 1ST ROUND
EDMONTON OILERS |
| CONNOR JARVIS | OHL | BRAMPTON BATTALION | 7TH ROUND OHL | |
| CONNOR CURRIE | OHL | ST MIKES MAJORS | 12TH ROUND OHL | |
| PETER ANGELOPOULOS | OHL | SOO GREYHOUNDS | 3RD ROUND OHL | |
| BLAKE RICHARD | OHL | KINGSTON FRONTENACS | 10TH ROUND OHL | |
| LUKE CAIRNS | OHL | ERIE OTTERS | 4TH ROUND OHL | |
| NICK LEPONE | OHL | KINGSTON FRONTENACS | 14TH ROUND OHL | |
| JOHNNY CURRAN | NCAA | NIAGARA UNIVERSITY | ||
| MARCUS MICHALSKI | NCAA | BUFFALO STATE UNIVERSITY | ||
| DYLAN PIETRANGELO | NCAA | UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MAINE | ||
| TREVOR SIMONICK | NCAA | BROCKPORT | ||
| NIGEL SLADE | NCAA | MANHATTANVILLE COLLEGE | ||
| JOSEPH MURDACA | OHL | MISSISSAUGA STEELHEADS | 12TH ROUND OHL | |
| MAC HOLLOWELL | OHL | SOO GREYHOUNDS | 12TH ROUND OHL | TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS |
| AUSTIN WRIGHT | NCAA | RIT | ||
| PETER FALIVENA | OHL | KINGSTON FRONTENACS | 5TH ROUND OHL | |
| FRANKIE PUCCI | OHL | ERIE OTTERS | 7TH ROUND OHL | BROCK UNIVERSITY USPORTS |
| CARSON EDWARDSON | OHL | ERIE OTTERS | 10TH ROUND OHL | |
| MATTHEW THORPE | QMJHL | ARMADA | ||
| JOSEPH BLANDISI | OHL | BARRIE COLTS | 3RD ROUND OHL | NEW JERSEY DEVILS |
| DRAKE CAGGIULA | NCAA | UNIV OF NORTH DAKOTA | EDMONTON OILERS | |
| KURTIS HENRY | OHL | ERIE OTTERS | UPEI USPORTS | |
| HARRISON COTTAM | OHL | LONDON KNIGHTS | ||
| MATTHEW RIVA | BROCK UNIVERSITY USPORTS | |||
| BEN EVANS | OHL | OTTAWA 67’s | ||
| MITCH MENDONCA | OHL | HAMILTON BULLDOGS | BROCK UNIVERSITY USPORTS | |
| JUSTIN KYLE | BROCK UNIVERSITY USPORTS |
Frank’s experiences have seen him play with many of hockey’s all time greats, many of them members of the Hall of Fame. Having had the opportunity to be teammates and play with these players, he’s been able to share his experiences with his current players, which has helped tremendously with their development. Furthermore, most of these contacts are prominent figures in the hockey world today, and are very helpful in the recruitment and placement of current Canuck players. Some of Frank’s former teammates include:
| PLAYED WITH IN | CURRENT POSITION
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| MARIO LEMIEUX | PITTSBURGH | OWNER PITTSBURGH PENGUINS | HALL OF FAME |
| PAUL COFFEY | PITTSBURGH | EDMONTON OILERS STAFF | HALL OF FAME |
| JAROMIR JAGR | PITTSBURGH | OWNER CZECH PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE TEAM | |
| BRIAN TROTTIER | PITTSBURGH | PITTSBURGH PENGUINS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION | HALL OF FAME |
| LARRY MURPHY | PITTSBURGH | TV COLOR COMMENTATOR | HALL OF FAME |
| RON FRANCIS | PITTSBURGH | SEATTLE NHL GM | HALL OF FAME |
| TOM BARRASSO | PITTSBURGH | CAROLINA HURRICANES GOALIE COACH | |
| JOE MULLEN | PITTSBURGH | PHILADELPHIA FLYERS ASS’T COACH | HALL OF FAME |
| CHRIS PRONGER | HARTFORD | NHL STAFF | |
| MARK RECCHI | PITTSBURGH | PITTSBURGH PENGUINS ASSISTANT COACH | HALL OF FAME |
| DAVE MORRISON | MANCHESTER | TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS HEAD OF SCOUTING | |
| DAVE HAKSTOL | MINNESOTA MOOSE | HEAD COACH SEATTLE KRAKEN (NHL) | |
| JEFF THOMLINSON | MANCHESTER | HEAD COACH KREFIELD (DEL) | |
| KEVIN STEVENS | PITTSBURGH | PITTSBURGH PENGUINS SCOUT | |
| SCOTT YOUNG | PITTSBURGH | COACH ST MARKS BOSTON PREP | |
| WENDELL YOUNG | PITTSBURGH | GM CHICAGO WOLVES (AHL) | |
| JAY CAUFIELD | PITTSBURGH | TV PITTSBURGH FOX | |
| MARK HUNTER | HARTFORD | OWNER/GM LONDON KNIGHTS (OHL) | |
| PHIL BOURQUE | PITTSBURGH | RADIO PITTSBURGH PENGUINS | |
| BOB ERREY | PITTSBURGH | TV PITTSBURGH PENGUINS | |
| BARRY PEDERSEN | PITTSBURGH | TV BOSTON BRUINS AND NESN | |
| JIM PAEK | PITTSBURGH | HEAD COACH SOUTH KOREA NATIONAL TEAM | |
| ULF SAMUELSON | PITTSBURGH | ASSISTANT COACH NEW YORK RANGERS | |
| NICK KYPREOS | HARTFORD | HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA- TV | |
| PAT VERBEEK | HARTFORD | TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING ASSISTANT GM | |
| JOHN STEVENS | HARTFORD | ASSISTANT COACH LOS ANGELES KINGS | |
| TROY LONEY | PITTSBURGH | OWNER YOUNGSTOWN PHANTOMS (USHL) |
Finally, Frank has played under some of the finest Coaches and General Managers in the game of hockey. This tutelage has been a tremendous help, and Frank can draw from resources that are not possibilities for others. Here is a list of prominent hockey figures that have mentored Frank in some way:
| TEAM | ROLE | CURRENT POSITION | |
| SCOTTY BOWMAN | PITTSBURGH | HEAD COACH | HALL OF FAME |
| JOEL QUENNEVILLE | SPRINGFIELD | HEAD COACH | FLORIDA PANTHERS HEAD COACH |
| BRIAN BURKE | HARTFORD | GM | HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA/TSN TV |
| PAUL HOLMGREN | HARTFORD | HEAD COACH | PHILADELPHIA FLYERS ASS’T GM |
| PIERRE McGUIRE | PITT/HART | ASS’T COACH/GM | TV NBC |
| DARCY REGIER | HARTFORD | ASS’T COACH | FORMER BUFFALO SABRES GM |
| CRAIG PATRICK | PITTSBURGH | GM | ASS’T GM BUFFALO SABRES |
| GILLES MELOCHE | PITTSBURGH | GOALIE COACH | FORMER PITTSBURGH PENGUINS GOALIE COACH |
| RICK PATTERSON | PITTSBURGH | ASS’T COACH | DIRECTOR PLAYER PERSONEL ANAHEIM DUCKS |
| ED JOHNSTON | PITT/HART | GM | ADVISOR TO PITTSBURGH PENGUINS GM |
| RICK LEY | MUSKEGON | HEAD COACH | FORMER HEAD COACH OF THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS |
| WILLIE DESJARDENS | KAUFBEUREN | HEAD COACH | HEAD COACH EUROPE |
| FRANK SERRATORE | MINN MOOSE | HEAD COACH | AIR FORCE HEAD COACH (NCAA) |
| BOB JOHNSTON | PITTSBURGH | HEAD COACH | -HALL OF FAME |
| RICK KEHOE | PITTSBURGH | ASS’T COACH | NEW YORK RANGERS SCOUT |
| GREG MALONE | PITTSBURGH | HEAD SCOUT | TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING HEAD SCOUT |
| TONY ESPOSITO | PITTSBURGH | GM | RETIRED |
| STEVE WEEKES | HARTFORD | GOALIE COACH | NHL GOALIE COACH |
Assistant coach Steve Hollett is also a former pro. Steve had a very successful OHL Junior career with the Soo Greyhounds, was a Washington Capitals draftchoice, and played 4 years of pro hockey.
Assistant coach Chris Johnstone is a former Canuck captain. He went on to the NCAA at RIT, and then a long, successful head coaching career- including stops as head coach of the Niagara Falls Thunder and Erie Otters in the OHL.
Jarrod Maidens is a team Skills Coach. Jarrod was a first round OHL draftchoice of the Owen Sound Attack (4th overall), and a third round NHL draftchoice by the Ottawa Senators. Jarrod has plenty to offer our players in all aspects of the game!
As for the City of Niagara Falls, what more needs to be said about one of the 7 wonders of the world! Millions of people come to visit this beautiful city every year, and we are proud to call it Home.
Niagara is also home to some of the finest Post-Secondary Educational Institutions in Ontario. Brock University and Niagara College are both local. We encourage all of our players to continue with their education while playing for our team.
The Niagara Falls Jr Canucks continue to thrive for excellence. If you believe you have a future in the Hockey World, there is no better place to be than with the Canucks!!
