The GMHL will be profiling one team per month for the duration of the season to highlight a team that has combined on ice success with strong fan support, community involvement, a winning culture, and player development. This month we will be featuring the New Tecumseth Civics

The Civics joined the GMHL in the 2013-2014 under the playing name of the Alliston Coyotes, they were known as such until the 2016-2017 season when they rebranded as the New Tecumseth Civics and immediately captured the North Division regular season title. Since the rebrand the Civics have been one of the most consistent team’s in the GMHL going 107-49-36 and posting a winning record in every season.

2019-2020 Record (As Of January 27^th, 2020): 23-12-2 (4^th in South Division)

All Time Record: 193-86-9 (.686 Winning Percentage)

Leading scorer this season: F Riley Nadeau, 92 Points (7^th in League)

All Time Leading Scorer: F Viacheslav Chengrintcev, 232 Points (16^th All-time in League History based on stats with franchise, 1^st All-Time based on total league stats)

Russel Cup Finals Appearances: 0

Russel Cup Championships: 0

League Award Winners: 5 (1x MVP, 1x Defenseman, 1x Top Defensive Forward, 1x Forward of the Year, 2x Top Goaltender)

General Manager: Dennis Martindale

Head Coach: Dennis Martindale (3^rd Season)

Staff: Assistant General Manager Jordan Richardson, President Nikita Vasilyev, Director of European Operations Igor Vasilyev

Captain:  Riley Nadeau

Alternate Captains:  Marshel Tupper, Drew Anderson, Mikhail Kornilov

Top Performers: The Civics have statistically been one of the strongest teams in the North thanks in large part to consistently having a strong top line, this season is no different. Since the trade deadline the Civics top line of Riley Nadeau, Drew Anderson and Hayden Moistner have each been averaging over 2 points per game and have helped the Civics win 3 of 4 since Moistner Acquisition. Nadeau has put together the best statistical season for the Civics since the rebrand from the Coyotes with 90 points so far. Secondary scoring has been on display as well with young players Ethan Salter, Vadim Tsyrkunov and Savaa Verbetskii all proving they have a scoring touch. On defense the unquestioned leader is who is playing in his 4^th season with the team despite only being 19 years old, the defenseman leads a group that includes fellow hard hitting Russian Aristarkh Pashentsev and newly acquired American blue liners Cody Woodward and Kyle Weeks. In net the Civics have 3 goaltenders capable of starting and winning on any given night, the most veteran of these 3 being Vince Michelizzi and the two rookie netminders Chris Cabral and Yaroslav Leontev.

 Fan Support and Community Involvement: The Civics have done well to build an outstanding fan base for the players they have had from all over the world and have amassed a total of over 5000 followers on their social media accounts (second in the entire GMHL). The Civics have raised thousands of dollars over the past few months for the Movember initiative and have participated in local charity events such as the Run for the Cure and the Holiday Cheer Drive.

Arena and Facilities: All New Tecumseth Civics practices and games are held at the New Tecumseth Rec Centre located in Alliston, Ontario. The New Tecumseth Recreation Centre a fitness centre, walking track, indoor fieldhouse, two ice pads for the fall and winter season, and two dry pads for the spring and summer season. All off-ice workouts and gym sessions are held on site at the state of the art performance fitness centre, complete with full team gym, and indoor practice field for conditioning. All players have unlimited access to the fitness facilities as members of the New Tecumseth Civics. The Civics also feature their own custom private dressing room with individual stalls, logo floor, TV for video sessions and stereo. Within the Civics room is two private storage units as well the Civics staff have a coaches’ office and private dressing room located on site.

Notable Active Alumni:

Christian Whitcomb: Whitcomb was a top defenseman on perhaps the Civics most successful team of all time, the 37-5-0 North Division Regular season champion 2016-2017 squad. Whitcomb was nearly a point per game player on the back end after joining the team from the junior ‘B’ Thorold Blackhawks (GOJHL) and the junior ‘A’ Powassan Voodoos (NOJHL). Following his season with the Civics Whitcomb graduated to professional in the Federal Prospects Hockey League and was called up to the SPHL twice last season.

Anton Todykov: Former GMHL top goaltender Anton Todykov played his 3^rd GMHL season with the Alliston Coyotes and put up stellar numbers to the tune of a 3.29 GAA, a .923 Save Percentage and his 3^rd straight All-Star Selection. Following his time in the GMHL he played two years professionally in Kazakhstan before signing in the VHL which is the AHL equivalent of the KHL (widely regarded as the second best league in the world behind the NHL). He has spent 4 seasons in the VHL and has been called up to the KHL 3 times appearing in 2 games. This season he is the top goaltender statistically in the VHL posting a league best 1.20 GAA and a second highest in the league .944 save percentage for Dynamo St. Petersburg.

Gordy Bonnel: Author of one of the best statistical seasons in Civics/Coyotes history is Gordy Bonnel who put together an 85 Point (45G, 40A) season in 2013-2014. Following the season Bonnel went on to play 3 seasons of professional hockey overseas in Czech Republic and Sweden before returning to North America and the Federal Prospects Hockey League last season. He was a near point per game player his first season with the Mentor Ice Breakers but has once again increased his production this season scoring 35 points in 29 games for the Danbury Hat Tricks.