AJ is an AP for BR
It is a case in point and illustration of the hockey development process. In this instance it is Sault Ste. Marie product AJ Borrelli, who is a 16-year old goalie with the Sudbury U18 Nickel Capitals of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League and a registered affiliate player with the Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
A 6-foot-1 net minder, Borrelli advanced from the under 16 AA level in Sault Ste. Marie in 2021-2022 to leaving home and moving to Sudbury to try out for and then make the U18 Nickel Capitals for this 2022-2023 season.
Playing on an offensively challenged U18 Nickel Capitals squad that has a 4-12-0 record in the Great North and a team goals against average of 4.13, Borrelli’s personal numbers are a 2-5-0 record and 3.57 GAA.
Jamie Disano, who is Blind River’s goalie instructor and assistant coach, is a fan of the work ethic, ability and ambition of Borrelli.
“AJ has come a long way,” Disano told Hockey News North. “We like what we see in him … he is very calm in the net and very poised. He still has lots of learning to do but he is willing to put in the work to get to the next level. We are very happy that AJ is an affiliate player with us.”
Interestingly, as Borrelli is from Sault Ste. Marie, so too are Blind River’s two regular goalies on the Beavers NOJHL roster — 16-year old Charlie Burns and 19-year old Gavin Disano.