When Luca Testa was selected 15th overall by the London Knights in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, the expectations were sky-high.
Known as a dynamic, natural offensive talent whose high-end skill made scoring look effortless, his junior hockey path hit an unexpected speed bump.
Over his four seasons in the league, relentless bad bounces and injuries sidelined the Grimsby native for 105 games, limiting him to 167 appearances while tallying 37 goals, 33 assists, and 70 points. Finally healthy on a championship-contending Brantford Bulldogs squad last season, Testa found himself playing a depth role behind a star-studded lineup.
Now, traded to the Barrie Colts a little more than a week ahead of training camp, the six-foot-one, 190-pound forward finally gets the opportunity he has waited for: stepping into the leading role on the top line and primary power-play unit.
For Testa, the new chapter is a welcome challenge.
“It’s an honour, for sure,” said Testa, ahead of Saturday night’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Kitchener Rangers in the final preseason contest. “They’re taking a chance on me, and I’m just really grateful for the opportunity.
“I’m looking to lead here, for sure. There’s a lot of new faces here as well, so I’m trying to make everyone comfortable and have some fun.”
Dealing with health setback after setback could easily derail a player’s momentum, but Testa kept pushing forward. Last year, he set career highs across the board with 15 goals and 26 points in 50 games for Brantford.
“One hundred per cent,” said Testa on pushing past injuries. “It’s a part of the game, right? Everyone’s got to deal with their injuries and stuff like that, but, yeah, some unfortunate bounces. So, really looking to take over this year and have a good year, and just enjoy myself, for sure.”
Testa is determined to make the most of the opportunity he’s getting in Barrie.
“I think, just going into my final year, it’s really important for me to showcase myself, and the scoring ability that I have,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to this year and, hopefully, making something out of it.”
There is an intriguing twist to his arrival in Barrie. Just months ago, Testa was battling the Colts in the Eastern Conference final as part of the Bulldogs squad.
“Yeah, definitely a change of scenery, for sure,” he said with a smile. “You know, they got us pretty good in that playoff series, and you could see why, the way they work every day. It’s a lot different, and I’m just happy to join them and looking forward to this year for sure.”
Colts head coach Dylan Smoskowitz sees immense potential in giving Testa the opportunity he has been waiting for, projecting the forward could surpass the 30-goal mark now that he’s set to receive top-line minutes.
“Having some good conversation with Lucas in coming to Barrie, he’s just such an easy guy to talk to,” said Smoskowitz. “He’s always got a smile on his face. He is so happy to be in Barrie, you have no idea. This is like a brand-new life for this kid.
“If you go back to his draft as a U16, he was one of the most skilled guys in the draft. The puck just followed him around the ice. He could put up points with his eyes closed, and he just never got that opportunity. Well, this year he’s going to get it... If this team can have success this year, Luca is going to be a big driver.”
Beyond providing goals for a retooling roster that lost key offensive contributors, Testa brings critical experience from a Brantford room packed with top-tier talent.
“I really learned how to be a leader, I think, last year with the Bulldogs,” said Testa. “They had some tremendous leaders, and a lot of captains on that team that really knew how to take their group and make it a team, and a good environment. So, I’m looking to bring the stuff that I learned over there and bring it here, and have a really good environment, and make sure we’re really tight family.”
Smoskowitz highlighted how valuable that presence will be for a younger roster.
“You talk about all the good leaders we had last year, but you look at the other side there, you know, a Jake O’Brien, Jett Luchenko, Ben Danford, all these guys who Luca was around and just soaking up so much of what these guys have to offer,” Smoskowitz noted. “We get a kid like Lucas here; we’re expecting him to kind of shower our younger players with that same type of leadership and experience.
“So, again, his impact will be felt definitely on the ice, but more importantly, it may be felt off the ice even more.”
That initiative was clear from the moment Testa arrived in town alongside former Bulldogs teammate and billet brother Dylan Tsherna. The duo met up with Smoskowitz for lunch to make their intentions clear right away.
“The one thing that they were very quick to mention to me was that they want to be leaders in this group,” Smoskowitz recalled. “Without even bringing it up, they said, ‘We want to guide these guys. We want to set the tone. We want to set a certain standard in Barrie,’ and, as a coach, it’s music to my ears. Because I know if those guys are echoing my words and my staff’s words, it’s almost like I’ve got a whole team of coaches.”
While external expectations for a young Barrie team might be tempered, Testa and his teammates have no intention of taking a back seat.
“I’m not looking to come to this team and roll over and not make the playoffs,” Testa said. “It’s my final year. You know, I play this game to win a championship always. We’re young, but I really like the steps we’re taking so far throughout the first little bit of the year.”
COLTS CLOSE OUT PRESEASON SCHEDULE WITH WEEKEND SPLIT
Sebastian Mogull scored twice and added an assist, and Nico Armellin kicked aside 37 of 40 shots in an impressive performance to lead the visiting Colts to a 4-3 shootout win over the Brampton Steelheads, Friday night, at the CAA Centre.
Rookie Marc Ruggere fired home his first of the preseason from the point 1:30 into the third period to tie the contest at 3-3.
Mogull, who finished with four goals and six points in four exhibition tilts, also scored in the shootout for Barrie. Eamon Edgar potted the shootout winner, while Armellin stopped two of the three Brampton chances.
Barrie (3-3) wrapped up the preseason with a 3-2 loss at home to the Kitchener Rangers on Saturday night. Rookie blueliner Lucas Matheson scored his team-leading fifth preseason goal, while Tsherna added the other. Hagan Bach made 33 saves in goal for the Colts.
Tanner Lam, with his second of the game, scored with one second remaining in the third to give Kitchener (4-1) the win. Jeff Gombar also scored for the visitors.
