When Adam O'Marra joined the Trenton Golden Hawks last season, he was uncertain about what lay ahead.
He quickly settled into his new environment and helped lead the club to an appearance in the OJHL Championship Series. That was just his first act. Thus far, the follow-up has been even more impressive.
Over the past year, the Mississauga native has been crucial to the organization. He was named team captain at the beginning of the campaign and ranks among the most prolific scorers in franchise history. His 94 points in 55 games set a single-season record.
While his individual statistics have been spectacular, the efforts of the left-shooting centreman have also paid major dividends for the team.
The Golden Hawks won an Eastern Conference Regular-Season Conference title, powered, in large part, by stellar performances from O'Marra and several other key contributors.
In development terms, he is using his time in Trenton to build his two-way game and elevate his play as much as possible.
"Being traded here was the best thing that ever happened to me," O'Marra said. "I'm super grateful for it."
He believes his progress and success are a testament to the guidance of Head Coach Derek Smith and Assistant Tyler Longo.
"They've been great. They let me show my creativity in the offensive zone and have helped me with my defensive zone. I credit a lot of that to them," he said. "I still have some work to do. They've been great for not just myself but the whole team."
Now in his final year of junior eligibility, O'Marra is looking to move on to hockey in the United States of America. He elected to commit to Robert Morris University, an NCAA Division I school in Moon Township, Pennsylvania.
"I'm excited to get there. I'm looking forward to the academic experience," he said. It's a great program. They did well this year. I know a few guys on the team, so it will be exciting both on and off the ice."
O'Marra is still debating whether to major in finance or business management. No matter which option he chooses, Adam knows he has selected the right college. The institute is known for its prowess in both programs.
"There is life after hockey, no matter how far your career goes. My parents taught me that from a young age," he said. "They prepared me and made sure I dialled in on my school. That is important to us."
Although O'Marra is happy enough reminiscing, he is ultimately focused on the task at hand.
After a dominant regular season, the Golden Hawks quickly swept the Stouffville Spirit in their first-round series.
"I think everything is coming to fruition right now, which has been great," he said. "We've battled through some injuries and adversity, but we've found a way to take our game to a new gear."
"Our goal is to win a championship. The playoffs are a completely different style of game, and we've done a great job adapting to that."
Undoubtedly, O'Marra has a bright future ahead of him. His present objective is obvious; more than anything, he would like to deliver a Buckland Cup for Trenton.
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