April 8, 2024, Mississauga, ON – …. David Green of Toronto’s St. Michael’s Buzzers is the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Top Defenceman for the 2023-24 season, the league announced today.
“Awesome,” Green said upon hearing the news as he prepared for a school lacrosse game Friday afternoon. “This was one of my goals this year.”
And quite a year it’s been:
- Green committed to join the NCAA Division I Merrimack College Warriors in North Andover, Mass for the 2025-26 season last September.
- He’s rated by NHL Central Scouting for this summer’s draft,
- The Toronto resident, who will graduate from St. Michael’s College School this year, led all OJHL blueliners in goals (18) and points (57).
- Green was named to the OJHL’s First All-Star Team for 2023-24 last month.
- He scored two goals and added an assist to pace the East to victory in the OJHL Prospects Game in Collingwood in January. He was presented with his team’s player-of-the-game trophy.
During his rookie season (2022-23), the 2006-born D-man had 17 points in 42 games while serving on the power play and penalty kill for the Buzzers in his rookie season, 2022-23.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound 17-year-old would be named to the OJHL’s Second All-Prospect Team.
“David had a great year,” St. Michael’s Head Coach and General Manager Rich Ricci said last week. “He dedicated himself to his off ice training and skating last summer. The dividends showed this year as he demonstrated a high level of consistent play. His offensive instincts are really good. He has a very heavy accurate shot.”
“Most of all David had to become a better defender which he took seriously and understood to be continuous learning. He still has five or so years of junior/college development. He’s in a great spot. Hopefully he gets recognized further in the NHL draft.”
Green says he put an emphasis on nutrition and worked out religiously at St. Michael’s last summer.
He praised his defence partner this season, Anthony Francella.
“Anthony helped me out a lot,” Green said. “We knew going into the year we were going to be the team’s first pairing and it just took off. We work really well together. We know when each other is rushing the puck so the other one stays back.”
And the NHL draft?
“It’s really exciting,” Green told the OJHL. “I’m not sure many people had me where I am right now. It was something I worked on all year. I think I’ve put myself in the best position possible.”
Green was a fifth-round pick of the Sarnia Sting from the Toronto Marlboros in the 2022 Ontario Hockey League U16 draft.
“Playing in the OJHL as a 16-year-old last season was an invaluable experience that helped me learn and grow as a player,” Green told the OJHL earlier this season. “The OJHL provided a platform for me to develop my skills, compete at a higher level and learn from veterans. The exposure to scouts and the opportunity to showcase my abilities on a larger stage, especially at the OJHL Governors’ Showcase and Prospects Game.”
“Playing at St. Mike’s has also been an amazing experience as well. The tradition is like no other and playing under coaches Ricci and Criscuolo has helped me grow as a player and, more significantly, as a person. Being able to attend such a great school and then take a short walk over to the rink is also something not many other junior teams have and is one of the things that first enticed me to St. Mike’s last year.”
And Green’s school lacrosse team won its game.
Green will be honoured along with the other OJHL award recipients at a ceremony during the OJHL Nutrafarms Championship Series later this month.
