By David DiCenzo
Dayton Daily News
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TROTWOOD — The Dayton Gems have been missing key pieces. Not just players who put up points, but also leaders. So when head coach Brian Gratz needed to slap the alternate captain “A” on one of his guys, the choice was obvious — Jonathan Ornelas.

The 24-year-old, Toronto-born forward has been asked to play a variety of roles in his second season in Dayton, the adopted home to which he was eager to return after speaking with Gratz last summer. Ornelas has responded with a developing two-way game that has been an integral part of the Gems’ success lately.

“It helps me when I know coach has that confidence in me,” said Ornelas, who has six goals and seven assists in the past 11 games (11-15-26 overall). “I got off to a slow start but lately, I’ve been bringing it around. Hopefully, it keeps going.”

Gratz is a fan. Especially when the fearless Ornelas is using his modest 5-foot-9 frame to lay the body on opponents.

“I’ve asked a lot of him,” said Gratz. “He’s one of those guys that helps make the team go. When he hits somebody, it gets us going.”

Ornelas grew up in a Portuguese-Canadian household where soccer was the focus. He initially used hockey to get in shape for soccer but the rink became a passion despite a harsh introduction as a 4-year-old.

“The first time I went on the ice, I wasn’t too happy,” Ornelas said. “I wanted to come off but my aunt (Carla Correia) said she paid for the ice and I had to stay out there. I can thank her for that.”

Family was critical to his hockey success. Groups of 15 relatives would watch his junior games in Milton, Ontario, while his parents continued to travel for Ornelas’ college games at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. Growing up in Toronto Maple Leafs country was motivation, too. Ornelas once played at fabled Maple Leaf Gardens when he was 11 and was part of the parade when the NHL club moved from the old shrine to the Air Canada Centre.

“We got to walk over with the players,” Ornelas said of Mats Sundin and other heroes. “Growing up in a city like that, it was phenomenal. I think it’s the center of hockey.”

Green-er pastures

A.C. Green, the NBA ironman and three-time league champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, will speak to the Hara crowd tonight about the importance of building self-esteem and character as part of Faith and Family Night. He will also drop the ceremonial first puck.

Gem of the Week

Newcomer Matt Miller scored his first goal when the Gems trailed 2-0 to Bossier-Shreveport, a game Dayton won 5-3. The Sioux Lookout, Ontario native then bagged the winner the next night in Mississippi.