Ottawa, ON – The Ottawa Jr. Senators are pleased to announce the signing of forward Lucas Staresinic, who spent last season with the Hamilton Huskies U18 AAA program.
The 5’10, 170 lbs Waterdown, Ontario native tallied four goals and 16 assists in 31 games during the 2021-2022 campaign. Staresinic also added a pair of goals in four playoff games.
“I’ve wanted to play for the Ottawa Jr. Senators for some time now,” said Stresinic. “I have been attending a French School since JK (2007) and with French being my 1st language, I have always thought that I would likely be attending the University of Ottawa as it has bilingual programs. So once I completed my application to the University of Ottawa, I began researching options for higher-level hockey. The Ottawa Jr. Senators at that point became a wanted destination. I have also wanted to be part of an organization that has an emphasis on development and a winning culture.”
With plenty of losses to key graduating forwards up front, the Jr. Senators will heavily rely on Staresinic down the middle of the ice, behind the likes of Massimo Gentile and James Taylor.
“I see myself as a two-way centre who is defensively responsible and can generate offensive opportunities,” added Staresinic. “I use my edges efficiently as I protect the puck in the corners. I am very strong on the penalty kill and take pride in my positional awareness and hockey IQ. I bring to the Ottawa Jr. Senators a hard-working, team-focused player who is very coachable, motivated, versatile, and responsible in all three zones.”
Entering his first season of junior hockey, Staresinic played his youth hockey in the Hamilton area, first with the Jr. Bulldogs program, before suiting up for the Huskies. Staresinic earned the 2018-2019 Hamilton Jr Bulldogs Bantam Sportsmanship Award while being named a 2021-2022 All-Star in the U18 Alliance circuit.
“My hockey short-term goals with the team are to develop as an even more complete player and excel at the junior A level,” explained Staresinic. “My long-term goals are to remain an Ottawa Jr. Senator for the next 3 years while studying kinesiology part-time at the University of Ottawa and one day play at a higher level such as the NCAA or U-Sports. With my dedication and mindset, I believe my goals are realistic and attainable.”
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