Register Here 
Mustangs GTHL
It takes a Village to raise a hockey player, join ours.
Chris Tanev Interview with Mark Masters (TSN)
Tanev talks 'Where It All Began' Tour and long road back from injury-plagued Leafs season
Chris Tanev will meet and greet fans during an event Sunday at Victoria Village Arena, which is where he played minor hockey. The 36-year-old defenceman, who underwent core muscle surgery in March, is hoping to be on the ice next week when the Leafs open training camp. Tanev spoke to TSN about the "Where It All Began Tour" and a challenging summer of rehab.
THE WHERE IT ALL BEGAN TOUR: CHRIS TANEV AT VICTORIA VILLAGE ARENA
For Chris Tanev, a return to Victoria Village Arena was much more than a trip back to a familiar rink.
The Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman and Greater Toronto Hockey League alumnus returned to his hockey roots on Sunday, September 13, spending time with fans and members of the Victoria Village hockey community.
The appearance brought Tanev back to the arena where his own hockey journey started at just five years old with the Victoria Village House League. Fans had the opportunity to meet Tanev, take photos and receive signed memorabilia, with the event supporting Victoria Village Minor Hockey.
For young players walking through the same arena today, Tanev’s path serves as a reminder that every hockey journey has to start somewhere.
“It’s where my first memories of skating and actually playing hockey were,” Tanev told TSN ahead of the event.
From Victoria Village, Tanev continued through minor hockey with the North York Canadiens, Toronto Red Wings, and Reps Hockey Club between the ages of nine and 15. Despite often being one of the smaller players on the ice and going undrafted, he continued pursuing the game, eventually earning an NCAA opportunity at Rochester Institute of Technology before signing with the Vancouver Canucks as a free agent in 2010.
His career has since taken him to hockey’s biggest stage, but Sunday’s visit brought the journey full circle.
Now a veteran NHL defenceman, Tanev returned not simply as a professional player, but as an alumnus of the local minor hockey community — connecting with the players and families who are creating their own first hockey memories in the same place he did.
That connection is part of what makes alumni engagement meaningful across the GTHL. Long before professional contracts or NHL jerseys, players begin with local associations, volunteer coaches, teammates, families, and community rinks.
Victoria Village continues to provide those opportunities today through its House League program, which serves players from ages four to 17 with an emphasis on skill development and creating a fun, inclusive environment.
Tanev’s return was a chance to celebrate that community — and to show the next generation of players that sometimes the biggest hockey journeys begin at the rink right around the corner.
*Source: GTHL Website. Article Written by: Stephanie Coratti
Where it All Began Tour
Home is where your heart is. For Chris Tanev, the Toronto Maple Leafs powerhouse defenseman, his first home was with the Victoria Village House League (VVHL).
Chris laced up his first pair of skates with Victoria Village at just 5 years old. There, he gained the confidence and skill to jump from house league to select to rep hockey. From ages 9-15, Tanev played with some of the top GTHL teams of the time (North York Canadiens, Toronto Red Wings, and Mississauga Reps). But being the smallest on the ice meant he was often overlooked by coaches and scouts.
It was Chris’ grit and determination that pushed him to never give up on his dream of playing in the NHL. Where most players make it to the pros through the draft. At under 5’10”, Tanev was never drafted. Instead, he played NCAA hockey at RIT University on a US scholarship.
It was during his first year there that his prowess on the ice caught the attention of NHL scouts. In 2010, Chris's dream of playing in the NHL finally came true, and he signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks. The smallest guy on the ice had made it.
In his 16 years of NHL hockey, Tanev has grown, not just into his 6’3 stature but also into an elite defenseman known for his hockey IQ, his positional awareness and his fearless shot-blocking skills.
From learning to skate at Victoria Village HL to playing on hockey’s biggest stage, Chris’s journey hasn’t been easy. Despite adversity and not fitting the traditional mold of a hockey player, his love of the game has never faltered. He is a devoted team player, who remains proof that with hard work, anything is possible.
Introducing the VICTORIA VILLAGE MUSTANGS, formerly the Don Mills Mustangs. The Mustangs Rep Program is a competitive hockey program which offers players in the U10-U18 age groups the opportunity to develop and compete at the A or AA rep level in the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL.)
The Mustang Rep Program focuses on player development and fostering a positive hockey culture where teamwork, perseverance, integrity and grit are the pillars of success.
Tryouts
Mustangs 'A' team tryouts for the 2026/2027 are now over. Congrats to all the returning and new players.
The teams below are looking for additional players. Please contact individual teams for details.
PLAYERS WANTED
| TEAM NAME | DIVISION | BIRTH YEAR | COACH/MANAGER | CONTACT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mustangs U10 A | U10 A | 2017 | Greg Foulidis | gregfoulidis@gmail.com |
2026/2027 GTHL Coaches
All Mustangs Coaches are trained under the Hockey Canada Development stream and have completed a Vulnerable Sectors Check (VSC).
| TEAM NAME | DIVISION | BIRTH YEAR | COACH/MANAGER | CONTACT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mustangs U10 A | U10 A | 2017 | Greg Foulidis | gregfoulidis@gmail.com |
| Mustangs U11 A | U11 A | 2016 | Fraser Cook | cookfraser@gmail.com |
| Mustangs U13 A | U13 A | 2014 | Greg Foulidis | gregfoulidis@gmail.com |
| Mustangs U14 A | U14 A | 2013 | Tom Kanaridis | tomkanaridis@gmail.com |
| Mustangs U14 A Blue | U14 A Blue | 2013 | Chris Hopper | christopherhopper11@gmail.com |
| Mustangs U15 A | U15 A | 2012 | Mike Budd | mike.budd@yahoo.com |
| Mustangs U18 A | U18 A | 2009 | Chris Scorsis | chris.scorsis@gmail.com |
Schedule and Standings
Full season details including game time, score and standings can be found on the GTHL's site.
Mustangs History
The Don Mills Mustangs are steeped in hockey history and fuelled by community involvement. In 1960, the Don Mills Hockey Association (DMHA) was founded. It was affiliated with the Don Mills Civitan House League and operated rep teams (known as the Don Mills North Stars) at the A, AA, and AAA levels.
Over time, GTHL clubs had to choose between operating teams at the AAA or A/AA levels, no longer both. This saw the creation of the Don Mills Flyers AAA and the Don Mills Mustangs, which remained affiliated with the Don Mills Civitan House League.
In 2021, after over 60 years of servicing the Don Mills community, offering quality hockey development and providing support to families and children requiring special assistance, the Don Mills Civitan Club, hung up their skates for the final time.
The Victoria Village Hockey League is proud to welcome the Mustangs into their hockey family and to continue their legacy of promoting youth sports in the community.
FAQ
HOW MUCH DOES THE MUSTANGS REP PROGRAM COST?
Each Mustangs team sets their own budget. A team’s cost depends on a number of factors (e.g. the number of practices, special skill coaches, tournaments and team wear).
In addition to team fees, each player must pay a Player Registration fee directly to the GTHL. You can read more about this fee here.
WHEN AND WHERE ARE GAMES AND PRACTICES?
League game times and locations are set by the GTHL. Mustangs teams will typically play 2 games per week (one ‘home’ game and one ‘away’ game). At the rep level, teams are assigned a ‘home game’ time/location. Meaning teams play 1 game each week at the same time and at the same arena (pending ice availability).
Each Mustang Team is given 1 hour of weekly practice ice. Times and location depend on team requests and ice availability and vary from season to season. Individual teams may schedule additional practice and training.
I’D LIKE TO COACH A MUSTANG TEAM. WHO DO I CONTACT?
If you’re interested in coaching a Mustang team, contact us.
All coaches and bench staff must complete a VSC (Vulnerable Sectors Check) and have valid coaching training and accreditation. Depending on the age group you’re coaching, different levels of training are required.
Here are the requirements as outlined by the GTHL.
WHAT IS THE INDEPENDENT SAFE SPORT COMPLAINT PROCESS?
The Victoria Village Hockey League believes that hockey should be a safe space for all participants. We have a zero tolerance for maltreatment of any kind.
We encourage all individuals experiencing or witnessing maltreatment to communicate with Hockey Canada’s Independent Third Party (ITP). More information about the ITP, the process and its policies can be found at sportcomplaints.ca.