Almaguin Spartans
1 Lincoln Avenue P0A 1X0

Thank you to all of the great men and women who have and continue to serve and protect our great country #lestweforget2020 #heroes #remembranceday

The Almaguin Spartans are very excited to announce our partnership with Elite Junior Profiles. This is a fantastic program to assist our players in advancing to the next level by putting players profiles and information at the finger tips off hundreds of college and professional coaches. We have advanced 47 players to major junior, college or professional hockey in the last 6 seasons. This program is another tool to help continue this impressive level of success.

Week 2 of Spartans Training. The boys are hard at work 5 days a week preparing for the season. We have 2 spots left in our training program. For any area players looking to commit to high level training or possibly play for the Spartans this season, contact us at [email protected] #Almaguin #Development

Spartans Masks and Gaiters are available. 1 for $17 or 2 for $30. The masks have adjustable ear straps to fit children and adults. Contact us at [email protected] if you would like yours!!! #StaySafe #Almaguin

PLAYER ADVANCEMENT The Almaguin Spartans are thrilled to announce that 2018/2019 GMHL Rookie of the Year Ildan Gazimov has signed with Toros Neftekamsk of the VHL. He registered his professional goal last week and currently has 1 goal and 2 penalty minutes in 5 games. The VHL is the second highest level of hockey in Russia and is comparable to the ECHL in North America. Gazimov also got the experience in early September of playing in a KHL exhibition game for Salavat Yulaev U...FA. These high-level professional playing opportunities for Gazimov have come from his outstanding season last year in the MHL where he registered 26 points, 88 penalty minutes and an outstanding 37 rating on the Eastern Conference leading Tolpar UFA. Many hockey fans will remember the team name UFA from the NHL draft last night, where two of Gazimov’s teammates from last season were drafted in the 1st round. Rodion Amirov (15th overall to the Toronto Maple Leafs) and Shakir Mukamadullin (20th overall to the New Jersey Devils). A third player from this club is also expected to be drafted between the 2nd and 4th round in Alexander Pashin. Gazimov is currently projected by scouts to be a regular in the KHL in a few years. If it was a typical year, Gazimov would be receiving invites to NHL Rookie Camps after his performance last season. Spartans General Manager David Forde had this to say about the recent achievements of Gazimov Well I can’t say that any of this success for Gazimov surprises me. We have had players as good as Gazimov in our program over the years, but they were 21 years old. Gazimov was as good as any of those top players, but he was that good at the age of 17. You could see by the second half of the season when Gazimov got more comfortable living and playing in Canada, that he could dominate the play in all three zones which you don’t see very often with a 17 year old player in a league that is dominated by 20 and 21 year old players. He’s an incredible skater, sees the ice well, has a canon of a shot, has a great attitude is very coachable. What further separates Gazimov from other players was his toughness, maturity, compete level and work ethic. These are the skills and attributes that are allowing him to play at the professional level at only 19 years of age. Coming over to Canada at only 17 years of age, speaking barely any English when he arrived, was a huge challenge, but one that I think really helped Gazimov in his development as a player and as a person. It takes a lot of guts to make a major move like this. I think Gazimov’s season playing here, playing in all situations, playing 30 minutes a game and being relied on every night, really gave him the opportunity to develop his game and obtain a lot of confidence. If Gazimov continues to develop like he has over the past two seasons, don’t be surprised if you see this kid in the NHL one day.