NEWS

The OJHL announced today that Cobourg Cougars netminder Stefano Durante (photo credit - Andy Corneau/OJHL Images) has been named the Bardown Goaltender-of-the-Month for October after leading the OJHL with eight victories during the month.

The third-year netminder continues to provide stellar netminding for the league-leading Cougars as they will host the RBC Cup, National Junior ‘A’ Championship in the spring.  During nine October appearances, Durante posted an 8-1-0 record with a spectacular 1.56 goals against average and a .945 save percentage.  Allowing just 14 goals in 9 games played, he carried a nine game winning streak into mid-October before a narrow 2-1, 31 save loss, to the Wellington Dukes.  After shutting out the Aurora Tigers with 21 saves on October 17, Durante would replace teammate Matt Menna the following game, not allowing a goal in a 2-1 victory over Oakville.  He would allow more than two goals in a game just three times throughout October and had three, 30+ save performances during the month, including key divisional victories over Trenton and Whitby.  Durante currently leads the OJHL with a 1.57 goals against average on the season, along with a .939 save percentage.

The 20-year old Brampton, Ontario native made the switch to goaltender at the age of six and never looked back.  Immediately making his local ‘AAA’ squad, Durante would win numerous awards and championships throughout his minor hockey career.  At age 12, he would move to join the Halton Hurricanes ‘AAA’ organization and by minor midget had been passed over in the OHL Draft and unable to land a spot on a Junior ‘A’ or ‘B’ club.  After attending the Kitchener Rangers camp and once again being cut, Durante joined the York-Simcoe Express Midget ‘AAA’ team for 2013-14 season and would often face 40+ shots again as one of the bottom clubs in their loop.  Despite the tough season, Durante finally got his shot in 2014-15 with the Cobourg Cougars looking for a back-up netminder.  By season’s end, not only was he their starter, but he had led the OJHL with the fourth best goals against average in league history, 1.79, to capture the Top Goaltender Award.  Durante would also be voted as the Cougars Fan Favourite and as runner-up for the OJHL Humanitarian-of-the-Year Award, which he would win following the 2015-16 season for all of his off-ice contributions to the community.  Although difficult to duplicate his rookie success, Durante was named a member of Team OJHL Hawerchuk at the 2015 Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge and was once again voted as the Cougars’ Fan Favourite, along with 2nd Team All-Fan Favourite honours.

Brendan McGlynn of the Oakville Blades was runner-up to Durante as the Goaltender-of-the-Month.  The netminder posted an impressive 1.54 goals against average, .952 save percentage and a 4-2-0 record in seven October appearances.