Two Carp-area kids enjoying high level Christmas hockey

WEST CARLETON – A Carp and Corkery kid are enjoying hockey this Christmas season at two of the biggest amateur hockey tournaments in the world.

Carp-area native Oliver Bonk is making his second appearance at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Hockey Championship on the blueline for Team Canada now underway in host city Ottawa.

Corkery’s Joe Carroll is also representing Canada this holiday season after being named to the Spengler Cup roster on Dec. 20 also now underway.

Over the next two weeks, 10 teams from around the world will be competing at the CTC and TD Place, vying for the gold medal on Jan. 5.

Jill and Radek Bonk are excited their son Oliver is playing so close to home.

“Last year we went to Sweden and that was great, but to have it in Ottawa at home, and this is the last year that he can play for the juniors, so it’s really special,” mom Jill said in a recent interview.

Bonk grew up playing for the Kanata Blazers minor hockey system.

Bonk, a 19-year-old defenceman, was drafted 22nd overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2023 NHL draft. His current team, the London Knights, were recently crowned the 2024 OHL champions.

Bonk’s mother says this tournament is just another stepping stone in his hockey journey.

“Super proud, happy and excited,” Jill said.

Oliver’s father Radek played for the Ottawa Senators after being drafted third overall in 1994. The two-time all star played for the Senators from 1995 to 2004 and played 969 NHL games in total including stops in Montreal and Nashville. He says he’s looking forward to being on the opposite side of the glass at the Canadian Tire Centre.

“We always talk about this, like wouldn’t it be great if you one day made the team,” Radek said in a recent interview. “You always joke about it, kind of talk about it. His dream is becoming a reality, you know, it’s awesome.”

Oliver, 6’2”, 179 pounds, is one of five returning players on the current roster who competed in the 2024 World Juniors tournament in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The World Junior Hockey Championship is already underway, with Canada winning its first game 4-0 over Finland and being shocked by Latvia last night (Dec. 27) in a 3-2 shootout loss at time of publication.

Bonk has one assists in two games.

The tournament continues with the gold medal match scheduled for Jan. 5 at 7:30 p.m.

Corkery’s Carroll was recently named to The Spengler Cup team and is playing in the oldest hockey club tournament in the world first taking place in 1923.

NHL legend Joe Thorton is co-general manager with Brad Pascall and Hnat Domenichelli for Team Canada, and Thorton’s San Jose Sharks history gave him an up-close look at forward Carroll.

Carroll, 23, has skated in 17 games this season with the East Coast Hockey League’s (ECHL) Thunder, affiliate of both the Barracuda and Sharks, collecting 14 points (eight goals, six assists) and a plus-five rating. He was acquired from the Syracuse Crunch on March 15 for forward Jordy Bellerive.

In his career, the native of Corkery, has skated in 69 games in the AHL with the Belleville Senators, Crunch and Barracuda, notching 30 points (15 goals, 15 assists), 58 penalty minutes and an even rating. Additionally, he has skated in 40 games in the ECHL with the Orlando Solar Bears and Thunder, totaling 36 points (21 goals, 15 assists), 37 penalty minutes, and a plus-eight rating.

Prior to turning pro, the 6’3”, 194 pound forward spent four years in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Soo Greyhounds and Peterborough Petes, totaling 142 points (68 goals, 74 assists) and 207 penalty minutes in 226 games. Carroll spent a lot of time playing hockey in Carp during his hockey journey.

“It’s such a tight-knit community,” Carroll told West Carleton Online in 2021. “Whether at the Carp arena or the outdoor rink, I spent many hours out there. It was great. A lot of my love of the game came from just playing hockey in Carp. I loved the Carp ODR. It was always in great shape. There was a lot of room. It’s one of the best in the Valley. I think their whole concept of it is to get young players in the game and its working.”

The 2024 Spengler Cup runs from Dec. 26 to Dec. 31 and is being held in Davo, Switzerland.

Canada won its first game 6-2 over hot HC Davo on Boxing Day and will play today (Dec. 28) at 2:15 p.m. EST against the Straubing Tigers. The elimination round starts Dec. 29.

West Carleton Online spoke with Carroll when he was signed by Belleville in 2021 during the COVID pandemic and you can read that story here.