NEWS

The OJHL announced today that Newmarket Hurricanes forward Brandon Francisco (photo credit - Graeme Reid/OJHL Images) has been named the Gongshow Gear North-East Conference Player-of-the-Month for December after leading the Conference with 18 points in 10 games played during the month.

Playing in his first OJHL season, the 19-year old forward recorded eight goals and ten points throughout December, including five multiple point games. Francisco notched points in nine of the ten games he played, including two, four point outings versus division-rivals Lindsay and Stouffville, and three game-winning goals to help the Hurricanes finish the month with an 8-2-0 record to continue their hold on first place in the North Division standings. Francisco currently leads Newmarket with both 22 goals and 51 points on the season, also ranked tenth overall in the entire OJHL. He was selected as a member of the OJHL North Division All-Star Team, playing two games at the 2012 Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge held in Wellington, Ontario.

“I would like to thank the OJHL for selecting me as Player-of-the-Month,” said Francisco upon learning of the award. “Winning this award is a great honour for me and a true reflection of my great teammates, coaches and management for giving me the opportunity. I came to Newmarket this season with intentions of bringing leadership to the team, especially for our younger players. Everything has gone great thus far for me personally and also for my team, but my ultimate goal is bringing an RBC Cup Championship to Newmarket!”

Hurricanes’ Vice President of Hockey Operations Maurice Catenacci congratulated his star pivot, “The Newmarket Hurricanes would like to thank the OJHL and congratulate Brandon on his selection as Player-of-the-Month. Brandon is a gifted, highly skilled forward who's been the offensive catalyst for the Hurricanes this season. Brandon has also committed himself to the defensive side of his game to compliment his elite offensive abilities. This, along with his leadership has contributed to the success of Hurricanes thus far this season. We are extremely proud of Brandon and wish him all the best for the rest of the season in attaining his goals.”

“Brandon has had a different approach the last 2 months with how he channels his energy,” said the Hurricanes Head Coach Justin Peca. “He has taken more pride in his defensive game, to compliment his offensive abilities, which has contributed to Hurricanes season thus far. Brandon is learning how positive thinking has helped him achieve not only team goals, but small personal ones as well.”

Justin Danforth of the Cobourg Cougars was named runner-up to Francisco as the OJHL North-East Conference Player-of-the-Month. Danforth recorded nine points in eight games played during December and was named the Most Valuable Player in leading the OJHL East Division All-Stars to victory at the 2012 Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge.
________________________________________________________________________________

Born on February 11, 1993, Brandon Francisco grew up in Bradford, Ontario and after starting in the Bradford West Gwillimbury Minor Hockey Association, quickly moved up the ranks and joined the region’s ‘AAA’ organization, the York-Simcoe Express, during his atom season in 2003-04. After returning to Bradford for minor peewee the next season, he returned the Express in 2005-06 and would remain with the club for the next four years.

Francisco was part of the powerhouse 1993’s (birth year) Express club, coached by now-Hurricanes Vice President of Hockey Operations Maurice Catenacci, that would win three Ontario Minor Hockey Association championships during his stint. During his bantam season in 2008, along with winning the OMHA title, as well as being named a Tournament All-Star at the prestigious International Silver Stick tournament in Port Huron, Michigan, Francisco would verbally commit to the University of Maine Black Bears program, although highly scouted within OHL circles.

He would play on a line with highly-touted Daniel Catenacci during the all-important minor midget season, racking up an impressive 57 goals and 107 points in 73 games played during 2008-09, including another four points during the OHL Cup in Mississauga. Francisco was ranked 17th overall by the International Scouting Service for the 2009 OHL Priority Selection and was noted for being, “one of the most dangerous offensively,” and for having the “best hands of any draft eligible”, but wasn’t expected to be taken high due to his NCAA Division I commitment. That changed in the 3rd round, 55th overall, when the Sarnia Sting took a flyer on the offensive dynamo

After taking the Sting organization up on the offer of a visit to the city during their annual rookie camp, Francisco’s decision process began to swing and ultimately he decided to take a chance on the OHL route, still having a university education package at the end of his junior career if need be. After a slow start during his rookie season in 2009-10 as a 16-year old, the diminutive forward would be one of Sarnia’s best players during the second half of the season, notching 25 points in his final 31 games played to finish the year third on the club in scoring with 12 goals and 32 points in 60 games played overall.

With the likes of Nail Yakupov and Alex Galchenyuk joining the Sting in 2010-11, Francisco would see his ice-time diminish slightly, however, would remain consistent by increasing his goal total to 14 and finishing with 30 points in 61 games played. During the off-season, he was traded to the Kitchener Rangers organization for a fresh start, although things would not turn out as planned and his numbers would drop to five goals and 15 points during the regular season, while seeing him taken out of the lineup as a healthy scratch during the club’s lengthy playoff run to the Conference Final.

Looking to revitalize his career, Francisco asked the Rangers for permission to return to his roots and join the Newmarket Hurricanes this season, where he has offered veteran leadership and led the club from day one of the regular season. His combination of playmaking ability and timely scoring, currently tied for third overall in the OJHL with five game-winning goals, has been a key ingredient in the Hurricanes ability to remain atop of the North Division thus far.