Flyers sign pair of Barrie forwards. Midland Flyers coaches Chris and Andrew Alarie, along with Stephan Carnagie (white shirts), officially welcome new players Matt Bragagnolo and Brandon QuoVadis during a club function Monday. The teenagers played midget hockey last season and are residents of Barrie. Mike Dodd photo
With weeks to go before prospects camp, the Georgian Bay Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey Club franchise has gotten a jump on player signings.
At an informal gathering Monday at Kelsey’s Restaurant, the Flyers announced the signing of Barrie teenagers Matt Bragagnolo and Brandon QuoVadis for the upcoming season.
“It feels great to be part of this hockey team, and I just can’t wait to get on the ice,” said QuoVadis, an 18-year-old left-winger. “I can’t thank the Midland Flyers staff enough for giving me the opportunity to play here.”
Both players are graduates of the Barrie Minor Hockey Association. QuoVadis suited up for the North Central Predators last season, and previously played AA hockey in Barrie.
QuoVadis also saw limited ice time with the Flyers last season, playing six regular-season and four playoff games as an affiliated player.
“Playing those games gave me a lot of experience at the junior level, so that this season I can come in and know my surroundings better,” he said. “It will give me the opportunity to go in with a good head on my shoulders because I know the league.”
Head coach Chris Alarie said he is thrilled to have the two teenagers signed for the upcoming season.
“Off the ice, what I like about Brandon is his attention to detail, his discipline and his desire to want to come to the rink on a daily basis and want to play and get better,” he said.
On the ice, Alarie said, QuoVadis gives everything he can while displaying an ability to score and skate.
Bragagnolo, 17, a centre, comes to Midland after playing the past two seasons with the Barrie AAA midgets.
“It’s a great honour to be signed so early, and it’s a great privilege to be joining this hockey team,” he said. “I thank them for putting all the confidence in the world in me.”
Standing over six feet, Bragagnolo is expected to bring size, skating and scoring ability to the team.
“I think I cover both ends of the ice well, and I know I can use my size to my advantage both in the corners and in front of the net,” he said.
Alarie said the teenager is able to read the play on the ice, moves the puck well and uses his size to his advantage.
Bragagnolo said he is preparing himself for the speed of the junior level, and realizes he won’t be standing still a second he is on the ice.
“I know I’ll have to get out of the corners quicker when the forwards are coming at me,” he said.
He plans on hitting the gym during the rest of the summer to add muscle in preparation for the season ahead.
Joining Alarie and his brother Andrew behind the bench this season will be Stephan Carnagie, someone Andrew Alarie knows well. Both played NCAA hockey together and have a long history.
“We’ve brought Stephan in as more of a defensive coach. He’ll be breaking down systems for the players and working on the penalty-killing unit with us,” said Chris Alarie.
On July 9, the team will conduct a one-day prospects camp at the North Simcoe Sports and Recreation Centre. 
Midland Flyers.
MIDLAND – Whatever player movements are in store this off-season, there will be no major changes in Midland Flyers management this summer.
Team president Gerry Asselin has confirmed the entire off-ice staff will remain intact going into the 2011-12 Georgian Bay Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League season.
“Including myself and vice-president Randy Butineau, everyone will be returning next season,” said Asselin.
At a recent meeting in Aurora, the Flyers brain trust gathered to discuss plans for the upcoming season. Chris Alarie and his brother Andrew, who joined the coaching staff in December, were on hand for the meeting along with general manager John Bantten.
Bantten said he is thrilled everyone is returning.
“I’m very excited to have Chris and Andrew back on the team, and having all the rest of the staff back in place,” he said, adding keeping the staff in place will provide players with a sense of confidence that the management side of the team remains strong.
“All the players are going to know what to expect coming into next season. They will know that they have to be committed and more accountable.”
After struggling through the first half of last season under the direction of Mike Jeschke, Chris and Andrew Alarie were hired by Bantten to reverse the team’s fortunes.
“With Chris on board, he made the players more accountable than Mike did. We got rid of a few players because of that,” said Bantten. “They didn’t want to be around, so we said, ‘Thank you very much’ and sent them on their way.”
Under the Alarie brothers, the Flyers finished the regular season with a 15-22-3 record, but displayed more consistent play in the latter part of the schedule.
In the playoffs, they pushed the Penetang Kings to six games before being eliminated.
With training camp not scheduled until near the end of summer, Bantten said 10-12 players have already sent applications indicating they want to attend.