Aurora Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026: AMHA President Joe Bentolila

October 8, 2026 · 0 Comments

After enjoying an Alaskan cruise and copious amounts of King Crab last week, Joe Bentolila is the picture of relaxation at our booth at Wicked Eats on a radiant October afternoon.

Getting back to work and resuming his daily commute to Toronto is a whole other matter for the long-time Aurora resident as he battled Monday afternoon northbound traffic to get to our interview site.

“My brother Aron and I run a printing company at Dufferin and Steeles. We’ve been in business together for over 40 years. We’ve been extremely successful, even though the printing business is experiencing some challenges. I’ve been grateful for a patient brother who respected my passion for hockey and giving kids a great experience on the ice. I put in forty hours of hockey admin work per week during the day—often at work – so my brother was relieved that I’d start getting some work done after I retired as President of the AMHA.”

The personable Bentolila, who spent equal amounts of time at our booth bonding with owner Robert Stewart regarding their mutual love of the Chicago Blackhawks and responding to interview questions, paused between bites of boneless chicken wings and scrumptious meatballs and reflected fondly on his quarter-century of service to the Aurora Minor Hockey Association.

The sports organization saw its highest per season levels of registration under Bentolila’s leadership—peaking at over 1,500 players.

“The most important part was the kids having fun. ‘Fun’ was the word I wanted to hear from prospective coaches during their interviews with me. We also put in place some key elements to retain players. Coaches who were fair; tryout processes that included the use of a panel of impartial evaluators; kids that deserved to play rep hockey were selected. By the same token, house league was for house league players. I wanted to see the kids playing hockey with smiles and rosy cheeks.”

One of the kids with a smile and rosy cheeks that Bentolila provided an opportunity to play rep hockey turned out to be an NHL superstar.

The amiable retired AMHA President recalled receiving a phone call request for a tryout with the Tigers from Newmarket parent Dave McDavid whose six-year-old son was not be permitted by the local association to play up at the next level of rep hockey.

“I mentioned to Dave to ‘Let me look at your son on the ice.’ When they got to the ACC, six-year-old Connor shook my hand and said, ‘Thank you for giving me a chance, Mr. Bentolila.’ He goes on the ice with the six-year-olds and I mentioned to Dave that, ‘He’s got it.’ We moved him up to the seven-year-olds and then the eight-year-olds and he was the best player on the ice. I mentioned that we could move him up with the nine-year-olds—that it would push him. I’ve still got his registration card with his signature—it’s one of my favorite hockey collectibles. So, the story that circulates about me is that I gave Connor McDavid his first opportunity to play rep hockey. He still visits Aurora and does his summer skates at the ACC with Leon Draisaitl.”

Bentolila also reflected on McDavid’s gift to him at his AMHA retirement party held in the ACC auditorium.

“Connor sent me one of his framed signed jerseys and a personal note thanking me for giving him his start in rep hockey. It’s a great keepsake, as was receiving the key to the Town from Mayor Mrakas. To be in the same company of Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues and Barclay Goodrow of the Tampa Bay Lightning who were Stanley Cup champions and received the key to the Town was an incredible feeling.”

That same kind of incredible feeling was experienced by Bentolila when he received the phone call from the ASHoF nomination committee confirming that he would be a 2026 inductee into the Aurora Sports Hall of Fame.

The 35-year resident of Aurora described the best part of his upcoming enshrinement: “I’m so humbled by this—by this recognition. I did stuff for children, not for accolades. It’s extremely rewarding and I’m grateful to the Hall of Fame for seeing the pathways I created for kids to have fun playing hockey. It’s great to be included with such a great class of inductees this year—a runner, two hockey players, and a local hockey team, but for me, as an inductee and Builder, I built sporting opportunities for children. I love the fact that we as a Board looked after children playing a sport they loved and we tried to keep it as inexpensive for their parents as possible.”

Bentolila described his continued connection with the AMHA even though he’s been retired as President for three years: “When they ask for help, I like being the first one to be called. My old line for them is ‘Joe don’t say no.’ I still enjoy feeling the spirit of being a volunteer and once you’re involved, it’s hard to get away.”

One place that Bentolila did get away to—with Andrea, his wife of 35 years—was Alaska and he described their recent cruise to “The Last Frontier State”: “When you go to Alaska, you have to have the Alaskan King Crab. We shared two pounds of it. Incredible. Seeing whales popping in and out of the water. The glaciers—the mountains—the scenery is spectacular. My wife even enjoyed a specialty drink which was an Alaskan King Crab leg in a Bloody Mary. I also took a picture of the ugliest fish that I’ve ever seen—the Monkfish—which is what they eat in Alaska.”

Monkfish likely won’t be on the menu when Aurora’s Hometown Minor Hockey Hero Joe Bentolila is enshrined at ASHoF’s Induction Ceremony on Thursday, November 5 at the Royal Venetian Mansion.

By Jim Stewart
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter