Ottawa, Ontario – The Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League is proud to announced that Graham Loyst has been named the first ever Director of Discipline for the EOJHL.
“I was honoured when the league approached me about becoming the first person in this position. It’s a role I take very seriously and I think is an important part of the league. I am so excited for this first season and hope that I can contribute, even if its just a little, to all the work that the teams put in to make the league a better place to play hockey and develop good people,” said the new Director of Discipline Graham Loyst.
Loyst, 32, used to played in the EOJHL for four seasons with the Winchester Hawks between 2008-2012. His team went to the finals in 2011 to play against the Clarence Beavers. He comments about some of the best years of playing hockey.
“My four years in Winchester were some of the best years of my life. The Town of Winchester will always hold a special place in my heart, it reminds me of home. The “small town hospitality seemed to be everywhere in Winchester. The community is so supportive of the team and I made countless life-long friends along the way” said Loyst.
Off the ice, He was loyal person to the community in Winchester, not just that but he was in a difficult situation when it came to getting to the rinks for games and practices.
“I’ll’ never forget the first time Kim and Dale Williams invited me over for dinner with two teammates that they billeted (Cory and Chris Giczewski). I can’t count how many times I was back there but they made sure I knew the door was wide open. I also didn’t have a car while I was in school but the older guys and leaders on the team like Ben Collins, Trav Froats and Al Gordon would pick me up in Ottawa and drive me wherever we were playing, regardless of how far out their way I was,” said Loyst on his teammates be their for him off the ice.
Before playing with Winchester, he was playing with the North Bay Trappers/Athletics during his Bantam and Midget career and then decided to play with the Scollard Hall Bears between 2006-2008 for two season. Loyst had a great first two seasons as a member of the Winchester Hawks by picking up 36 points in 2009 and then 48 points/24 goals in 2010.
“I recall being named captain in my third year and the coaches and management sitting me down to tell how important it was to mentor the younger guys and make them comfortable. It worked out pretty well for guys like MacKenzie Weegar who ended up in the NHL. I believe that it’s important to have good coaches and development systems, but at the end of the day, in the of hockey and in life, you want to be surrounded by good people no matter what level you play at,” said Loyst on being named Captain/being a leader in the locker room.
Loyst mentioned that he was mentoring Mackenzie Weegar, who was with the Winchester Hawks in 2011 when they won the Rideau St. Lawrence conference and went to the finals.
“Winning the Rideau St. Lawrence was a great accomplishment for our team but what I remember most about it was the buzz around Winchester and how excited they were to be able to raise their first banner to the rafters,” said Loyst during the 2011 season.
Weegar played for Nepean the next year in 2012 and won a championship, then played with the Halifax Mooseheads in the QMJHL and won the QMJHL championship and Memorial Cup before making his way up to the ECHL, AHL and then NHL. He spent six seasons with Florida and then was traded to the Calgary Flames with Jonathan Huberdeau for Matthew Tkachuk.
Loyst was the captain in the 2011-12 season during his final season and had 48 points in 40 games. He will be known for his leadership on and off the ice.
Graham Loyst wants to make the league look really good when it comes to the Director of Discipline position, so he set some of his goals for this position.
“The main focus for me in this role is fostering a safe and desirable environment for players to compete and develop. The leadership group in the EOJHL is very forward-thinking and I will do everything I can to contribute to the league in a positive way.”
EOJHL Commissioner Marc Franche says I know that Graham is the perfect person to assume the role as the league’s first director of discipline.
