AJ Williams Junior Review

[AJW 1,749]

AJ Williams was born on July 2, 2001 in North Bay, Ontario. Williams grew up in a family of four with his older sister and parents. Hockey was always a part of his life, watching games with his dad since he was a baby and lacing up his skates for the first time as soon as he could walk. His dad loved the game of hockey and wanted Williams to feel the same way.

 

Fast forward to midget hockey, where he was the captain of his hometown North Bay Trappers Midget AAA team. Williams was a great leader and has always had an eye for the top shelf, leading his team in goals and even scoring the game winning goal to win his regional playoffs. This instantly caught the eyes of OHL scouts which transferred Williams to the league at a prime age of 17 to play for the Sarnia Sting.

In the OHL Williams played for two seasons with Sarnia racking up points and helping his team move through the playoffs both seasons. His rookie season took off starting on the second line and finishing on the first. Williams capped his first year with 40 goals, 26 assists, and 66 points in 58 games winning the Emms Family Award for OHL rookie of the year. His second season shot off like a rocket as he finished with 71 goals, 39 assists, and 110 points in only 50 games due to a lower body injury early on in the season. Williams and the Sting fought hard throughout the playoffs but came up short to his hometown North Bay Battalion squad in the final round. Although Williams never won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, he did pick up some other hardware along the way including the Red Tilson Trophy for most outstanding player and the Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy for top scoring right winger in the league, both in his second season. After a dominating two seasons in the OHL, Williams was announced captain for his third year with the sting. Williams rejected the offer when he got a call from the Ottawa Lynx of the VHLM. Williams was supposed to be drafted to the VHLM a month earlier but held out after the passing of his father and wanted to be with his family. As time passed Williams was ready to play hockey again knowing that it is all his dad would want to see if he was still around. Excited was an understatement as he signed with the Lynx the next day.