Kingston Frontenacs acquired Ethan Miedema from the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Tim Cornett/OHL Images.
When the Kingston Frontenacs traded Shane Wright to the Windsor Spitfires, one of the key pieces with promise coming back to the Fronts was Ethan Miedema. It didn’t turn out as well as expected.
There is no questioning the size. Miedema brings with that size physical play but also has some good hockey smarts, vision and playmaking skills from the wing. And he can chip in with some goals too. He can play up and down the lineup whether with skilled players or to provide a boost with some energy in the lower part of the lineup.
Miedema could certainly benefit by adding some speed to his skating. He moves like you’d expect a 6’4”, 200-punder to move. Despite the size he could also benefit from adding some strength on his feet. He doesn’t get knocked down but you can certainly knock him off balance.
The other concern I have is that he doesn’t always with the pace I’d expect from him. At times it doesn’t look like he’s giving it 100% and there might be some tentativeness in his game while he waits for things to develop or he waits for the play to come to him rather than initiating.
His second half of the season, after the trade, was an opportune time for him to showcase himself given the extra opportunities he wasn’t going to get in Windsor. It didn’t materialize and, in the end, may have hurt his draft stock. Still, what he brings to the table has to be considered intriguing in the middle of the draft.
In what is a common theme with NHL Central Scouting where many OHL players dropped from the mid-term rankings to the final rankings, Miedema only dropped 5 spots among North American skaters.
Quinton Burns of the Kingston Frontenacs. Photo by OHL Images.
Kingston Frontenacs defenceman Quinton Burns has good size at 6’1” but will need to add plenty of bulk to that frame. But that doesn’t deter him from playing an aggressive and physical game. Whether it’s along the boards or open ice, making contact for Burns is a priority.
Burns is a great skater and his pre-OHL days have shown us he can be a capable puck rushing defenceman in transition. However, the confidence to do so hasn’t materialized at this level as of yet although, as the season progressed, signs of his ability were beginning to come through which is what you are hoping to see.
If you like playmaking defencemen with physicality, then Burns is your guy. He can be dangerous inside the opposition blueline with his passing skills, vision and high IQ. However, he lacks the shot from the point to make him extremely dangerous. If he could add that element to his game and leave the opposition guessing as to what is coming next, it will make him that much more dangerous.
At this point it’s difficult to say what type of defender Burns can be at the next level. Certainly, the skill set is there and there are some things to improve on. At worst, you have a physical, shut down defenceman who will make life difficult for the opposition. At best, you have that but the added element of a puck-rushing, two-way defenceman. Next season will be a huge development year for Burns and that will tell us more. In the meantime, he is definitely worth a mid round pick.
Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Week for the week of playoff games ending Sunday, May 14, 2023.
Petes’ Tucker Robertson Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week
Seattle Kraken prospect Tucker Robertson of the Peterborough Petes is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, posting two goals, three assists and five points in three games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-3.
A 19-year-old native of Toronto, Ont., Robertson recorded 36 goals, 54 assists and a club-leading 90 points in 68 games this season, making him the first Petes player since Daniel Ryder (2005, 2006) to record back-to-back 80+ point seasons in maroon and white. Among the league’s top faceoff performers, Robertson won 58.5 percent of his faceoffs during the 2022-23 regular season. He sits second in Petes playoff scoring with 17 points (7-10–17) in 19 games. Robertson was a fourth round (123rd overall) pick of the Seattle Kraken following 41 goals, 40 assists and 81 points in 68 games last season. The former fourth round (72nd overall) pick by the Petes in 2019 has registered 85 goals, 104 assists and 189 points in 191 career regular season OHL contests.
2022-23 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Playoffs: May 8 – May 14: Tucker Robertson (Peterborough Petes) May 1 – May 7: Ryan Winterton (London Knights) Apr. 24 – Apr. 30: Connor Lockhart (Peterborough Petes) Apr. 17 – Apr. 23: Denver Barkey (London Knights) Apr. 10 – Apr. 16: Evan Vierling (Barrie Colts) Apr. 3 – Apr. 9: Luca Pinelli (Ottawa 67’s) Mar. 27 – Apr. 2: Matyas Sapovaliv (Saginaw Spirit)
Petes’ Michael Simpson Named OHL Goaltender of the Week
Michael Simpson of the Peterborough Petes is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, going 2-1 with a 2.35 goals-against average and .936 save percentage.
Simpson helped the Petes defeat the North Bay Battalion in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Championship Series on Monday, stopping 22 of the 24 shots that came his way in a 3-2 win. The 6-foot-1, 198lb. netminder returned to the crease in his hometown of London on Thursday, making 29 saves in a 3-0 loss to the Knights. Simpson rebounded with a 51-save performance on Saturday in Game 2, closing out the week with a 5-3 victory to knot the OHL Championship Series at one win apiece.
A 20-year-old from London, Ont., Simpson played to a 24-22-2-2 record with a 2.73 goals-against average and .914 save percentage in 51 games this past season, leading the OHL in saves (1,442) and minutes played (2,989). He’s currently 13-6 with a 2.76 goals-against average and .916 save percentage in the 2023 OHL Playoffs. Simpson was the OHL’s Goaltender of the Month for October 2022. He played to a mark of 20-18-3-1 in 2021-22, registering a 3.56 goals-against average and .891 save percentage. Simpson was a 10th round (193rd overall) pick by the Petes in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection from the London Jr. Knights U16 program.
2022-23 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Playoffs: May 8 – May 14: Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes) May 1 – May 7: Dom DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion) Apr. 24 – Apr. 30: Brett Brochu (London Knights) Apr. 17 – Apr. 23: Brett Brochu (London Knights) Apr. 10 – Apr. 16: Ben Gaudreau (Sarnia Sting) Apr. 3 – Apr. 9: Brett Brochu (London Knights) Mar. 27 – Apr. 2: Marco Costantini (Kitchener Rangers)
2022-23 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season: Mar. 20 – Mar. 26: Collin MacKenzie (Ottawa 67’s) Mar. 13 – Mar. 19: Liam Sztuska (Peterborough Petes) Mar. 6 – Mar. 12: Dom DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion) Feb. 27 – Mar. 5: Dom DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion) Feb. 20 – Feb. 26: Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes) Feb. 13 – Feb. 19: Tristan Lennox (Saginaw Spirit) Feb. 6 – Feb. 12: Zach Bowen (London Knights) Jan 30 – Feb. 5: Nate Krawchuk (Sudbury Wolves) Jan 23 – Jan. 29: Jacob Oster (Oshawa Generals) Jan 16 – Jan. 22: Mason Vaccari (Kingston Frontenacs) Jan 9 – Jan. 15: Matteo Drobac (Hamilton Bulldogs) Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Max Donoso (Ottawa 67’s) Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes) Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Marco Costantini (Kitchener Rangers) Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Owen Flores (Niagara IceDogs) Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Dom DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion) Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Brett Brochu (London Knights) Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes) Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Joe Ranger (Sudbury Wolves) Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Tristan Lennox (Saginaw Spirit) Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Carter George (Owen Sound Attack) Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Collin MacKenzie (Ottawa 67’s) Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Ivan Zhigalov (Kingston Frontenacs) Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Alessio Beglieri (Mississauga Steelheads) Sept. 29 – Oct. 2: Ben Gaudreau (Sarnia Sting)
About the Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League which is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and four American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL is made up of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U SPORTS than any other league.
Andrew Gibson of the Soo Greyhounds. Photo by OHL Images.
If you’re only watching a handful of Soo Greyhounds game and defenceman Andrew Gibson, you’ll probably question why so many public rankings have him listed so high. On the opposite end, if you’ve watched a lot of games, you’ll be questioning those that just don’t see it.
At 6’3” and 198 pounds, the first thing you notice is that Gibson has great size. His mobility isn’t the greatest, but it’s good enough. And being a right-shot defenceman that NHL teams are always looking for, that’s a plus.
Gibson is still a green blueliner with enough raw potential who plays a solid two-way game. He’s not going to bring fans out of their seats with a flair for the dramatic. Instead, he plays a consistent, safe game almost always making the right plays at both ends of the ice.
Defensively, Gibson plays with physicality. He moves well enough backwards and laterally to keep his gaps tight. The long reach he possesses is a bonus, able to break up plays with his stick. At times he can be pressured into making an error under the forecheck. But I also believe that with more experience and confidence those errors will be minimized.
As the season moved along, Gibson became more confident in his abilities offensively and it showed up on the stat sheet. After recording just a single point in November, he came to life in December and early January. But a lower body injury on January 12, 2023 would cause Gibson to miss the next two months of the season.
Prior to the injury, a more confident Gibson was jumping into the attack more. He began to take more risk, was better at keeping the puck in the offensive zone and even taking more chances at going in deep from the blueline, all with success.
Again, Gibson is a raw talent. If he can continue to improve in the defensive zone and continue to improve his skating by adding more speed, there is definitely some upside here.
Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that New York Islanders prospect Matthew Maggio of the Windsor Spitfires is the 2022-23 recipient of the Red Tilson Trophy, an award presented annually to the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player during the regular season as voted by the writers and broadcasters that cover the league. The OHL’s Most Outstanding Player Award is presented by Kia.
“As proud partner of the CHL and presenting sponsor of the Memorial Cup, Kia Canada is thrilled to congratulate Matthew Maggio of the Windsor Spitfires, recognized as the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player for the 2022-23 season,” said Michael Kopke, Director of Marketing for Kia Canada. “Matthew’s performance this season has been remarkable and we look forward to seeing where it takes him next.”
Maggio led the OHL with 54 goals and 111 points in 66 games, and gives the Spitfires back-to-back Red Tilson Trophy recipients after current Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston claimed the honour in 2021-22. Maggio helped the Spitfires win their second of back-to-back West Division titles and becomes the first player in OHL history to receive both the Red Tilson Trophy as Most Outstanding Player, while also being voted the league’s Overage Player of the Year.
“I am incredibly honoured and humbled to receive the Red Tilson Trophy,” said Maggio. “I would like to acknowledge the support and contributions of my family, friends, teammates, coaches, management, and ownership with the Windsor Spitfires. I am grateful for their guidance, motivation, and unwavering support throughout the season. I am also honoured to join the esteemed group of past winners and their legacy of excellence in the OHL and the sport of hockey. This award is not only a personal achievement, but a reflection of the team’s success. I would like to thank the OHL and its fans for this recognition, and I am excited to continue working hard to achieve even greater success in the future.”
“Matt was a consistent performer all year,” noted Spitfires General Manager Bill Bowler. “He was valuable to our organization both on and off the ice. This award is a credit to Matt and all his hard work.”
Maggio’s 111 points were 35 more than the next-highest scorer on his team. He was a plus-41 performer, scoring just four of his 54 goals on the power play to become one of four players in the past decade to score at least 45 even strength goals in a season. He led the league with 311 shots on goal and was held pointless in just nine of his 66 games.
“Matt was the hardest worker on the Spitfires this season and played the right way night in night out and got rewarded for it,” said Spitfires Head Coach Marc Savard. “He is a great human being, and it’s great to see. Well deserved.”
A 20-year-old native of Tecumseh, Ont., Maggio wraps-up his OHL career with 99 goals, 118 assists and 217 points over 212 regular season contests spent between Windsor and the Ottawa 67’s, who selected him in the fifth-round (86th overall) of the 2018 OHL Priority Selection. He tied a Spitfires single game franchise record with his five goals on Dec. 15th in a 6-3 win over the Erie Otters, joining Daniel D’Amico, Paul Gagne and Gerry Leroux as the fourth Spitfire to accomplish the feat. The 6-foot, 185Ib. right-winger recorded 17 points (7-10–17) in 25 games last spring as the Spits won a Western Conference title and reached Game 7 of the OHL Championship Series. He was a fifth-round (142nd overall) pick of the New York Islanders in the 2022 NHL Draft, and signed a three-year entry-level NHL contract with the club on May 1, 2023.
Maggio follows Johnston (2021-22) as well as blueliner Ryan Ellis (2010-11), forward Ernie Godden (1980-81) and goaltender Glenn Hall (1950-51) as the fifth Spitfire to earn the Red Tilson Trophy. Recent winners have included Marco Rossi (Ottawa 2020), Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Sudbury 2019), Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia 2018) and Alex DeBrincat (Erie 2017).
The Red Tilson Trophy is the most prestigious individual award presented by the Ontario Hockey League. First presented in 1945, the trophy is named in honour of Albert “Red” Tilson, who was killed in action in Europe during World War II. Tilson was the OHA scoring champion for the 1942-43 season after scoring 19 goals and 38 assists for 57 points in 22 games with the Oshawa Generals.
Accredited media were asked to select their top choice from a ballot consisting of 20 team-nominated representatives. Maggio emerged as the front-runner, receiving 45 percent of the vote ahead of Barrie Colts defenceman Brandt Clarke, who received 23 percent. Sarnia Sting forward Ty Voit placed third, earning 11 percent of the vote.
The Red Tilson Trophy winner is the OHL’s nominee for the Canadian Hockey League Player of the Year Award, presented at the CHL Awards Ceremony on Saturday, June 3 during the 2023 Memorial Cup presented by Kia which takes place in Kamloops, British Columbia. Maggio will be formally presented with the Red Tilson Trophy at the OHL’s Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, June 14 at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
About the Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League which is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and four American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL is made up of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U SPORTS than any other league.
Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Anaheim Ducks prospect Pavel Mintyukov of the Ottawa 67’s is the 2022-23 recipient of the Max Kaminsky Trophy, an award presented annually to the OHL’s Defenceman of the Year as voted by the league’s General Managers.
Mintyukov led OHL blueliners with 88 points including 24 goals and 64 assists along with a plus/minus rating of plus-33, joining the 67’s midway through the season to help them secure the Hamilton Spectator Trophy as the league’s regular season champions.
“I am extremely honoured to receive such a prestigious award,” said Mintyukov. “This would not have been possible without the support of everyone around me. A huge thank you goes out to my family as well as both the Ottawa 67’s and Saginaw Spirit organizations consisting of all of my teammates, and coaching staffs.”
Mintyukov saw time in all situations, logging big minutes throughout the season as he led OHL rearguards with six game-winning goals and put together 27 multi-point outings. He became the OHL’s first defenceman on record to ever receive league Defenceman of the Month honours in three consecutive months, doing so in October, November and December.
“Throughout the 2022-23 season, Pavel exhibited his tremendous skill, energy, and passion for the game, each and every day,” said 67’s General Manager James Boyd. “His positive impacts as a teammate, and leader extend beyond the ice surface. It is great to see Pavel receive this well-deserved, prestigious recognition.”
A 19-year-old from Moscow, Russia, Mintyukov recorded 150 points (41-109–150) over 136 career regular season games between Ottawa and Saginaw over the past two seasons, becoming the first blueliner to ever lead the Spirit in regular season scoring during the 2021-22 campaign as he was voted an OHL third team all-star. The Anaheim Ducks selected Mintyukov with the 10th overall pick of the 2022 NHL Draft, and signed him to a three-year entry-level NHL contract on July 16, 2022. He was Saginaw’s first round (52nd overall) pick in the 2020 CHL Import Draft.
The Max Kaminsky Trophy is awarded each year to the Most Outstanding Defenceman as selected by OHL General Managers. All 20 clubs submitted a nominee but were not permitted to vote for their own player.
The award is named in recognition of Max Kaminsky, who enjoyed a 10-year professional playing career that included four years in the NHL with Ottawa, Boston, and Montreal. After he retired from playing, Kaminsky enjoyed a 15-year coaching career that was capped by winning the Memorial Cup with the St. Catharines Teepees in 1960.
Barrie Colts blueliner Brandt Clarke finished as the runner-up in this year’s award voting.
Mintyukov is the latest Ottawa 67’s blueliner to win the award, joining an impressive list of names that includes Noel Hoefenmayer (2020), Brendan Bell (2003), Brian Campbell (1999), Sean Blanchard (1997), Chris Snell (1991), Brad Shaw (1984), Randy Boyd (1981) and back-to-back winner Denis Potvin (1972, 1973). Other prominent winners have included Dougie Hamilton (Niagara 2012), two-time recipients Ryan Ellis (Windsor 2009 & 2011) and Bryan Berard (Detroit 1995 & 1996), Drew Doughty (Guelph 2008) as well as Chris Pronger (Peterborough 1993).
Mintyukov is the OHL’s nominee for the Canadian Hockey League Defenceman of the Year Award, presented at the CHL Awards Ceremony on Saturday, June 3 during the 2023 Memorial Cup presented by Kia which takes place in Kamloops, British Columbia. He will be formally presented with the Max Kaminsky Trophy at the OHL’s Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, June 14 at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
About the Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League which is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and four American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL is made up of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U SPORTS than any other league.
Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Week for playoff games ending Sunday, May 7th, 2023.
Knights’ Ryan Winterton Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week
Seattle Kraken prospect Ryan Winterton of the London Knights is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, posting five goals, one assist and six points in four games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-5.
Helping London skate to a 4-2 series win over the Sarnia Sting to capture the Wayne Gretzky Trophy as Western Conference champions last week, Winterton started things with a goal in a 5-2 road loss on Tuesday night. He went on to record another goal the following night as the Knights fell 6-3. Helping London rebound back at home on Friday, the 6-foot-2, 190lb. forward recorded a pair of goals in the 5-2 victory. Winterton closed out the series with a goal and an assist on Sunday, stretching his current point streak to eight games as the Knights punched their ticket to the OHL Championship Series with a 5-1 win over the Sting.
A 19-year-old from Whitby, Ont., Winterton recorded 12 goals, 24 assists and 36 points in 34 games this season. He’s produced 105 points (44-61–105) over 124 career OHL regular season games between London and Hamilton since being selected by the Bulldogs with the eighth overall pick of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection. He’s currently produced 10 points (6-4–10) over 12 games in the 2023 OHL Playoffs. Winterton was selected in the third round (67th overall) by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL Draft.
Also considered for the award this week, Knights teammate and 2023 NHL Draft eligible Denver Barkey was productive, recording three goals and three assists in four games, while Anaheim Ducks prospect Sasha Pastujov of the Sarnia Sting had eight points (2-6–8) in four outings.
Battalion’s Dom DiVincentiis Named OHL Goaltender of the Week
Winnipeg Jets prospect Dom DiVincentiis of the North Bay Battalion is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, playing to a 2-2 record including a goals-against average of 2.75 and a save percentage of .927.
DiVincentiis helped the Battalion play to a 2-2 mark against the Peterborough Petes in the Eastern Conference Championship Series last week, beginning with a 40-save performance in a 3-2 road loss on Tuesday. DiVincentiis stopped 37 of the 39 shots he faced in Wednesday’s Game 4, defeating the Petes 5-2. He returned home to block 22 of the 24 shots that came his way in a 6-2 win on Saturday, before the 6-foot-2, 190lb. netminder would close out the week in Peterborough, stopping 40 shots in a 4-3 overtime loss in Sunday’s Game 6.
A 19-year-old native of Bolton, Ont., DiVincentiis played to a 36-9-2-0 record with a 2.33 goals-against average and .919 save percentage in 48 games this past season to earn the Jim Rutherford Trophy as the OHL’s Goaltender of the Year. He was the recipient of the OHL’s F.W. ‘Dinty’ Moore Trophy in 2021-22, posting a league-low 2.59 goals-against average among rookies to go with a 14-8-0-1 record and .907 save percentage. DiVincentiis was selected in the seventh round (207th overall) by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2022 NHL Draft. He’s a former sixth round (116th overall) pick by the Battalion in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection.
2022-23 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Playoffs: May 1 – May 7: Dom DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion) Apr. 24 – Apr. 30: Brett Brochu (London Knights) Apr. 17 – Apr. 23: Brett Brochu (London Knights) Apr. 10 – Apr. 16: Ben Gaudreau (Sarnia Sting) Apr. 3 – Apr. 9: Brett Brochu (London Knights) Mar. 27 – Apr. 2: Marco Costantini (Kitchener Rangers)
2022-23 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season: Mar. 20 – Mar. 26: Collin MacKenzie (Ottawa 67’s) Mar. 13 – Mar. 19: Liam Sztuska (Peterborough Petes) Mar. 6 – Mar. 12: Dom DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion) Feb. 27 – Mar. 5: Dom DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion) Feb. 20 – Feb. 26: Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes) Feb. 13 – Feb. 19: Tristan Lennox (Saginaw Spirit) Feb. 6 – Feb. 12: Zach Bowen (London Knights) Jan 30 – Feb. 5: Nate Krawchuk (Sudbury Wolves) Jan 23 – Jan. 29: Jacob Oster (Oshawa Generals) Jan 16 – Jan. 22: Mason Vaccari (Kingston Frontenacs) Jan 9 – Jan. 15: Matteo Drobac (Hamilton Bulldogs) Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Max Donoso (Ottawa 67’s) Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes) Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Marco Costantini (Kitchener Rangers) Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Owen Flores (Niagara IceDogs) Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Dom DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion) Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Brett Brochu (London Knights) Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes) Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Joe Ranger (Sudbury Wolves) Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Tristan Lennox (Saginaw Spirit) Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Carter George (Owen Sound Attack) Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Collin MacKenzie (Ottawa 67’s) Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Ivan Zhigalov (Kingston Frontenacs) Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Alessio Beglieri (Mississauga Steelheads) Sept. 29 – Oct. 2: Ben Gaudreau (Sarnia Sting)
About the Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League which is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and four American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL is made up of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U SPORTS than any other league.
Tristan Bertucci of the Flint Firebirds. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images
They year-over-year offensive improvement for Flint Firebirds defenceman Tristan Bertucci has elevated his stock. But it was the continued development and improvement throughout the season that has seen his draft stock rise. Ranked 51st on NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings, he improved to 32nd on their final rankings among North America skaters.
Not only is that a 19-spot jump for Bertucci, but Central Scouting has him third among OHL defencemen on their list, overtaking some noticeable defencemen ranked ahead of him coming into the season and even on their mid-term rankings.
Bertuzzi has good size and his skating is one of his best skills. He has quick first steps and very good top speed. He can be elusive and hard to read with his feet. Has excellent edge work with great lateral mobility and is one of the better backwards skaters in this class. He also has a strong hockey IQ with an ability to process the game quickly. That ability allows him to conserve energy and to play big minutes.
Beginning in his defensive zone, Bertucci is quick to pucks. He can lead the breakout with an excellent first pass and is very good with long stretch passes. He can also break the forecheck by skating the puck out of his zone. In this area, he fits the mold of the new age defenceman perfectly.
Bertucci also plays physically in his own zone. He is capable of taking his man out, fighting for pucks on the wall and in front of the blue paint and he will only get better as he gets stronger. His skating allows him to keep gaps tight where he uses an excellent stick, reach and anticipation to break up plays. There is always room for improvement but he is on track.
His offensive game may be a question mark. While he has shown to be offensively capable at the OHL level, it may not translate to the next level. While he can quarterback the powerplay for Flint with his ability to walk the line and make plays, a lack of a good shot from the point may prevent him from doing it at the AHL or NHL level.
Bertucci certainly has some of the skills scouts like and he is sure to be taken in the upper half of the draft in June.
Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Saginaw Spirit forward Michael Misa is the 2022-23 recipient of the Emms Family Award, presented annually to the OHL’s Top First-Year Player as voted by the league’s General Managers.
Misa led the league’s newcomers with 56 points, including 22 goals and 34 assists in 45 games. He did so after becoming the sixth player to be granted exceptional player status to play in the OHL by Hockey Canada, competing as the league’s lone 2007-born player during the 2022-23 season. Misa’s 1.24 points-per-game are the highest rate of any of the OHL’s six exceptional status talents during their first season, surpassing the benchmark of 1.18 previously held by John Tavares of the 2005-06 Oshawa Generals.
“Receiving this award is a tremendous honour and I couldn’t have done it without all the help from my teammates and coaching staff supporting me throughout my first year,” said Misa. “I’m super excited for what’s ahead with this group and I can’t wait to get started next year.”
A 5-foot-11, 160Ib. left-winger from Oakville, Ont., Misa was chosen first overall by the Spirit in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection and wasted little time finding the scoresheet in the OHL, picking-up where he left off to end the 2021-22 season with a record-setting performance as his Mississauga Senators won an OHL Cup title. Misa scored twice in his first career OHL contest on Oct. 1st against the Guelph Storm and registered points in each of his first three games. He went on to be named the league’s Rookie of the Month for October.
Misa’s first OHL campaign was headlined by 19 different multi-point outings including a four-point performance (1-3–4) on Oct. 14th in Guelph along with a trio of three-point efforts.
“As an organization we are extremely proud of Michael for winning this award,” said Spirit General Manager Dave Drinkill. “Since the day we drafted Michael he has done everything we have asked of him and more, both on and off the ice. It is not easy to succeed in this league as a first-year player, especially one that was granted entry to the OHL a year early, but Michael’s skill and drive to be the best allowed him to adapt quickly. He is an outstanding, humble young man that is very deserving of this recognition and we could not be happier for him.”
Misa, who turned 16 on February 16th, becomes the first player in Spirit franchise history to win the Emms Family Award and follows present-day NHL players in Andrei Svechnikov (Barrie 2018), Alex DeBrincat (Erie 2015), Travis Konecny (Ottawa 2014), Connor McDavid (2013) and Aaron Ekblad (Barrie 2012) in receiving the honour. Guelph Storm defenceman Cam Allen was the 2021-22 award-winner.
The Emms Family Award was donated by Leighton “Hap” Emms, former owner of the Barrie, Niagara Falls, and St. Catharines OHL franchises. The award is selected by all 20 member club General Managers. Teams were asked to submit only one nominee from their own club for consideration on the ballot and were not permitted to vote for the player from their own hockey club.
Finalists in this year’s voting included forwards Liam Greentree of the Windsor Spitfires and Porter Martone of the Mississauga Steelheads, who each tied for second-place.
Misa is the OHL’s nominee for the Canadian Hockey League Rookie of the Year Award, presented at the CHL Awards Ceremony on Saturday, June 3 during the 2023 Memorial Cup presented by Kia which takes place in Kamloops, British Columbia. He will be formally presented with the Emms Family Award at the OHL’s Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, June 14 at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
About the Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League which is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and four American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL is made up of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U SPORTS than any other league.
Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Week for the week of playoff games ending Sunday, April 30, 2023.
Petes’ Connor Lockhart Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week
Vancouver Canucks prospect Connor Lockhart of the Peterborough Petes is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, posting four goals, one assist and five points in three games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-1.
Lockhart pushed the Petes to the Eastern Conference Championship Series, scoring a hat trick as Peterborough defeated the Ottawa 67’s 5-4 in Game 6 of their second round series on Monday night. The 5-foot-9, 164lb. forward continued his scoring ways against North Bay on Friday, recording a goal and an assist as the Petes defeated the Battalion 3-2 in Game 1. Lockhart continues to excel on a line alongside Owen Beck and Chase Stillman as the Petes enter Tuesday’s Game 3 of their Conference Final series tied at one with the North Bay Battalion.
A 20-year-old from Kanata, Ont., Lockhart recorded 29 goals, 50 assists and 79 points in 66 games this season. He’s produced 154 points (61-93–154) over 187 career OHL regular season games between Peterborough and Erie since being selected by the Otters with the third overall pick of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection. He’s currently produced 10 points (6-4–10) over 12 games in the 2023 OHL Playoffs. Lockhart was selected in the sixth round (178th overall) by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2021 NHL Draft.
Also considered for the award this week, Petes teammate and Montreal Canadiens prospect Owen Beck was productive, recording one goal and four assists in three games, while Seattle Kraken prospect Ryan Winterton of the London Knights had five points (2-3–5) in two victories.
Knights’ Brett Brochu Named OHL Goaltender of the Week
Brett Brochu of the London Knights is the OHL Goaltender of the Week for the third time in the past four weeks, going 1-0 with a 0.62 goals-against average and .980 save percentage.
Brochu helped the Knights take a 2-0 series lead over the Sarnia Sting in the Western Conference Championship Series last week, turning aside 32 of the 33 shots he faced in a 4-1 win to earn first star honours on Friday. The 6-foot, 176lb. netminder stopped all 18 shots he faced in Sunday’s Game 2, leaving the game in the second period with an injury as the Knights went on to win by a score of 3-1.
A 20-year-old from Belle River, Ont., Brochu played to a 28-17-2-0 record with a 2.82 goals-against average and .902 save percentage in 47 games this past season. He’ll graduate with 89 regular season career victories, the second-most in London Knights franchise history. He posted a 2.67 goals-against average and .910 save percentage over 132 career regular season games, and also set a new OHL record for wins by a rookie goaltender with 32 in 2019-20. The overage netminder is currently 9-1 with a 1.48 goals-against average and .943 save percentage with four shutouts over 11 games in the 2023 OHL Playoffs. Brochu was London’s sixth round (114th overall) pick in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection. He attended training camp with the Vancouver Canucks last October.
Also considered for the award this week, Michael Simpson of the Peterborough Petes went 2-1 with a 2.68 goals-against average and .928 save percentage, making 103 saves over three games played last week. Winnipeg Jets prospect Dom DiVincentiis of the North Bay Battalion went 2-2 with a 2.02 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage.
2022-23 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season: Mar. 20 – Mar. 26: Collin MacKenzie (Ottawa 67’s) Mar. 13 – Mar. 19: Liam Sztuska (Peterborough Petes) Mar. 6 – Mar. 12: Dom DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion) Feb. 27 – Mar. 5: Dom DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion) Feb. 20 – Feb. 26: Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes) Feb. 13 – Feb. 19: Tristan Lennox (Saginaw Spirit) Feb. 6 – Feb. 12: Zach Bowen (London Knights) Jan 30 – Feb. 5: Nate Krawchuk (Sudbury Wolves) Jan 23 – Jan. 29: Jacob Oster (Oshawa Generals) Jan 16 – Jan. 22: Mason Vaccari (Kingston Frontenacs) Jan 9 – Jan. 15: Matteo Drobac (Hamilton Bulldogs) Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Max Donoso (Ottawa 67’s) Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes) Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Marco Costantini (Kitchener Rangers) Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Owen Flores (Niagara IceDogs) Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Dom DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion) Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Brett Brochu (London Knights) Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes) Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Joe Ranger (Sudbury Wolves) Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Tristan Lennox (Saginaw Spirit) Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Carter George (Owen Sound Attack) Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Collin MacKenzie (Ottawa 67’s) Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Ivan Zhigalov (Kingston Frontenacs) Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Alessio Beglieri (Mississauga Steelheads) Sept. 29 – Oct. 2: Ben Gaudreau (Sarnia Sting)
About the Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League which is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and four American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL is made up of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U SPORTS than any other league.
OHL Writers 