By SAM LASKARIS
Even before it has played a single game Brantford’s newest Junior B hockey franchise is generating plenty of interest.
That’s because in choosing its team name officials decided to honour Wayne Gretzky, a hometown hero who is also synonymous with the jersey number 99.
As a result, the new squad, which will compete in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL) is called the Brantford Jr. B 99ers.
And it’s only fitting the 99ers will play their home contests at the newly renovated Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre, which features a 1,200-seat arena.
“I think all of us are proud to have Wayne Gretzky from our hometown,” said Paul Polillo, a former minor pro hockey star who will serve as the 99ers president. “And we wanted to do something to honour him.”
Though the junior franchise has created some attention with its moniker, it should be noted that all of Brantford’s rep hockey teams have been called the 99ers for more than a decade now. Local minor hockey officials had no qualms about the new organization calling itself the Jr. B 99ers.
“Our whole goal is to work with our minor hockey system so it will be beneficial for everyone,” Polillo said, adding an affiliation between the two parties is in place.
Brantford will kick off its inaugural campaign on Sept. 6 with a road contest against the Brampton Bombers. The following night the Jr. B 99ers will stage their home opener, versus the Kitchener Dutchmen.
Canada’s most famous hockey dad, Walter Gretzky, who still lives in Brantford, is expected to drop the ceremonial puck at the club’s first home contest.
Polillo also expects the eldest Gretzky to attend quite a few of the team’s other matches this season. That’s because his grandson, Nathan Kohler, is a 17-year-old defenceman with the club.
“I expect him to be there for many of the games,” Polillo said of the eldest Gretzky, adding Kohler is the son of Walter Gretzky’s lone daughter, Kim.
Kohler, who was drafted by the Ontario Hockey League’s Erie Otters in 2012, spent the past season with a Junior C club, the Simcoe Storm.
Polillo though is uncertain whether Wayne Gretzky himself will attend any of the Jr. B 99ers matches.
“I don’t know about that,” he said, adding the Great One primarily lives in Los Angeles these days. “But if he’s in town we’d love to have him out for a game if he’d like to come watch.”
The GOJHL will consist of 27 teams this season. Squads will be broken down into three nine-team conferences. Teams will only play within their own conference during regular season action.
The 99ers will compete in the Midwestern Conference. Besides Brampton and Kitchener, the conference will also include the Cambridge Winter Hawks, Elmira Sugar Kings, Guelph Hurricanes, Listowel Cyclones, Stratford Culliton and Waterloo Siskins.
Brantford’s main training camp opened Aug. 15. About 40 players attended the camp. But the team also has between 10-15 others who might end up with the squad, depending on how they fare at their OHL or other junior tryouts.
Polillo anticipates his side will have numerous hometown players.
“Our goal is to have as many (players from Brantford) as possible,” said Polillo, who starred with the minor pro Brantford Smoke in the Colonial Hockey League during the ’90s. “We’ll probably have 10-12 players from here.”
