Toronto, ON – Ontario Hockey League action heads into the seventh week of the regular season schedule with 21 games beginning tonight through Sunday.
Here’s a look at what’s going on around the league:
AT THE RINKS:
Petes team up with CFB Trenton to remember our troops: The Peterborough Petes will be decked out in special commemmorative Remembrance Day jerseys on Thursday night when they host the North Bay Battalion. The jerseys, which feature a special camo pattern, 8 Wing marks, and unique military transport vehicles in the design, will be auctioned off online following the game, with proceeds going to the Trenton MFRC (Military Family Resource Centre). The MFRC promotes and facilitates community based services that improve the quality of life for military families. For more information on the jersey auction, visit gopetesgo.com.
Generals honour the troops on Friday: The Oshawa Generals will be saluting our troops on Friday night at home to the Hamilton Bulldogs. Nine members of the Ontario Regiment will be on hand as part of the pre-game ceremonies. Make sure to get to the game early, as BATL will be handing out mini foam axes to everyone who comes to the game!
Frontenacs host Remembrance Day game on Friday: The Kingston Frontenacs will suit up in camo on Friday night to support our troops. They’ll wear these jerseys again on Friday February 26 before an online jersey auction will raise funds for the Kingston Military Family Resource Centre.
Firebirds host Scout Night on Saturday: Join the Flint Firebirds for Scout Night! Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in attendance will be recognized on the ice during intermission and will have a private meet and greet with the team after the game. The first 1,000 scouts that book tickets will receive a special Flint Firebirds Scout Night patch. Groups of 10 or more can get tickets for just $10 each!
Greyhounds host Veterans Appreciation Night on Saturday: The Hounds will host Veterans Armed Forces Appreciation Night at the Essar Centre this Saturday night as they host the Barrie Colts. Discounted tickets will be made available for all Veterans in uniform directly at the Essar Centre Box Office throughout the week. There will also be a pre-game ceremony to honour those who have served in the Armed Forces.
Sting salute our troops on Sunday: The Sarnia Sting will hold their Remembrance Day game on Sunday, with host Captain Richard Cunningham on hand to be honoured prior to puck drop. The 67 year-old spent 47 of those years in the Canadian Forces. First as Gunner Apprentice at the age of 16 – and eventually he achieved the rank of Captain. He has served in the Royal Canadian Artillery, PPCLI, Queens Own Rifles and The RCR (the last two as a full time Reservist). Learn more about Captain Cunningham atsarniasting.com.
COMMUNITY CORNER:
Spirit’s Petschenig launches ‘Will’s Warrior’ campaign: After suffering the loss of his father in 2013, Saginaw Spirit defenceman Will Petschenig is using his experience to help children cope with losses in their own lives. Visit saginawspirit.com to read all about the Will’s Warrior campaign.
IceDogs prepare to launch ‘Just Stop It’ campaign against bullying: The Niagara IceDogs will be launching their ‘Just Stop It’ social media campaign on November 14th when they host the Oshawa Generals. The campaign takes aim at the issue of bullying and will be taking social media feeds by storm! Read all about it at niagaraicedogs.net.
Hounds rake leaves for local non-profit: Ten Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds players got out and engaged in some community service this past week. Brandon Halverson, Jack Kopacka, Keigan Goetz and several others were out raking leaves for ARCH Hospice, a local non-profit in the community. Visit soogreyhounds.com for the full story!
Fans can be a part of Storm history: The Guelph Storm are looking for enthusiastic fans from all walks of life to be included on a Fan Mural as part of the RBC Wall of Honour. Located on the 200 level of the Sleeman Centre, the Wall of Honour spans over 150 feet and recognizes the outstanding achievements of many of the Storm’s most notable alumni. Two large panels of the Wall of Honour list the Storm alumni that played in the National Hockey League after graduating from junior hockey, while two other panels list former team members that proudly represented their native country in the annual World Junior Hockey Championship. Complete a short survey at guelphstorm.com for your chance to be one of the 30 fans selected!
KNIGHTS’ TYLER PARSONS RECEIVES WEEKLY HONOURS:
2016 NHL Draft prospect Tyler Parsons of the London Knights earned Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week honours for the week ending November 1 after posting a record of 3-0-0-0 including two shutout victories with a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .964.
Parsons stopped 81 shots backstopping the Knights to three straight victories last week improving the club’s record to 11-2-1-1 for 24 points which ranks third in the Midwest Division standings.
YOUNG OHL TALENT COMPETING AT WORLD UNDER-17 HOCKEY CHALLENGE:
A total of 26 OHL players are competing at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Dawson Creek and Fort St. John, BC this week as the tournament enters quarter-final play on Thursday.
Notable standouts have included Windsor Spitfires rookies Gabe Vilardi (3 GP, 2-2–4) and Michael DiPietro (2 GP, 2-0, 1.00 GAA, .964 SV%) as well as London Knights defenceman Evan Bouchard (3 GP, 0-4–4).
For full coverage of the 2015 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge please visit hockeycanada.ca.
TIP TOP TAILORS OHL PLAYS OF THE WEEK – WEEK 6:
The goaltenders get their time in the spotlight in the sixth edition of the Tip Top Tailors OHL Plays of the Week! Hamilton Bulldogs netminder Charlie Graham leads the way with an old-school display and Windsor Spitfires newcomer Garret Hughson gets across to make a big pad save! Check out these plays and more in the Tip Top Tailors OHL Plays of the Week!
GETTING ON THE BOARD: FIRST OHL GOALS IN 2015-16:
Check out the players who have scored their first OHL goal in the past week! 80 different players have accomplished the milestone this season! Click on a player’s name below to watch his first OHL goal!
Jeremy Bracco, Matt Brassard, Andrew Burns, Mitchell Byrne, Domenic Commisso, Alex DiCarlo, Taylor Egan, Josh Jacobs, Luke Kutkevicius, Matt Latin
ALUMNI NOTES:
Pronger, Karmanos to be inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame: It’s induction weekend at the Hockey Hall of Fame as OHL contributors Chris Pronger and Peter Karmanos Jr. are among the class of 2015. An 18-year NHL veteran, Pronger skated with the Peterborough Petes from 1991-93 and is a former CHL Defenceman of the Year. Karmanos began his time in the OHL as owner of the Windsor Spitfires in 1984 before playing a big role in OHL expansion into the United States. In 1989, Karmanos led an ownership team that was granted an expansion franchise, leading to the birth of the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors who, over time, evolved into the Detroit Jr. Red Wings, Detroit Whalers, Plymouth Whalers and are now the current day Flint Firebirds.
It’s sure to be a great weekend at the Hockey Hall of Fame! Don’t miss the Hockey Hall of Fame Legends Classic on Sunday afternoon that features 17 honoured members, nine former NHL captains along with the winners of 32 Stanley Cup titles and 43 Olympic world championships all on the same ice surface! For more information please visit hhof.com.
Jared McCann to remain with Canucks: The Vancouver Canucks announced this week that Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds centreman Jared McCann will be staying with the team on a permanent basis. The first round, 24th overall pick by the Canucks in 2014 made a strong impression, with five goals in his first nine games with the club and will be staying on the roster alongside fellow rookie Jake Virtanen of the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen. The fourth overall pick in the 2012 OHL Priority Selection scored 34 goals and added 47 assists for 81 points in 56 games as an 18 year-old with the Hounds last season.
McDavid named NHL Rookie of the Month: 2015 CHL Player of the Year and former Erie Otter Connor McDavid was named NHL Rookie of the Month for October. The first overall pick of the Edmonton Oilers had five goals, seven assists and 12 points in his first 13 games. McDavid will unfortunately miss significant time after suffering a broken clavicle on Tuesday night against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 18 year-old comes off an outstanding OHL career that included 285 points (97-188–285) over 166 career games.
Colin Miller scores first NHL goal: Former Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds captain Colin Miller scored his first NHL goal on Tuesday. The Sault Ste. Marie native who made the Greyhounds as an undrafted training camp invitee in 2010 went on to a successful OHL career that included an outstanding overaged season in 2012-13 when he recorded 20 goals, 35 assists and 55 points in 54 games. Miller won the Mickey Renaud Captain’s Trophy in 2013 after being selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the fifth round of the 2012 NHL Draft. Miller won a Calder Cup title with the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs last season before being involved in an offseason trade that sent Milan Lucic to Los Angeles. Miller has a goal and four assists for five points in his first 10 NHL games.
Brendan Gaunce scores first NHL goal: Former Belleville Bulls and Erie Otters centreman Brendan Gaunce has scored his first NHL goal, doing so in a 4-3 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Friday. The Vancouver Canucks forward was the club’s first round, 26th overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft and recorded 103 goals, 133 assists and 236 points in 258 career OHL games between Belleville and Erie. Gaunce made it to the AHL’s Calder Cup Finals last spring with the Utica Comets, scoring four goals, five assists and nine points in 21 playoff appearances.
Anderson becomes second Senators goaltender in franchise history to reach 100 wins: Guelph Storm graduate Craig Anderson joined Patrick Lalime as the second Ottawa Senators goaltender to reach 100 victories with the franchise. Anderson made 36 saves in a 2-1 overtime win over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday to reach the milestone. Now in his 12th NHL season, Anderson has appeared in 415 career NHL games between Chicago, Florida, Colorado and Ottawa. He played three seasons in Guelph from 1998-2001.
Tyler Seguin registers 300th NHL point: It hasn’t taken him very long to do it, but Plymouth Whalers graduate Tyler Seguin recorded his 300th NHL point on Tuesday, recording a hat-trick against his former club the Boston Bruins. Seguin has played an integral role in Dallas’ hot start to the season as the team is out of the gate with a 10-3-0 record, good for first place in the Central Division. Seguin and Dallas Stars teammate Jamie Benn are currently tied for the NHL lead in scoring with 20 points each. Seguin was the second overall pick of the 2010 NHL Draft after recording 69 goals, 104 assists and 124 points over two seasons in Plymouth.
Wedgewood forges Devils identity with love for Seinfeld: Plymouth Whalers graduate Scott Wedgewood has a new look. The Albany Devils goaltender is making headlines with his new Seinfeld-themed mask that features character David Puddy who was well known for his love for the New Jersey Devils in a 1995 episode from Seinfeld’s sixth season. Visit nhl.com for the full story.
KEY WEEKEND MATCHUPS:
Windsor Spitfires (10-3-3-0) vs. Niagara IceDogs (7-7-1-0)
Thursday November 5 at Niagara
The West Division leading Windsor Spitfires face a tough task on Thursday as they visit a Niagara IceDogs club that seems to be generating some momentum after a slow start to their season. The Dogs won all three of their games last weekend with victories over Mississauga, Sarnia and North Bay. Windsor meanwhile, is back in the BMO CHL Top-10 Rankings this week with wins over Flint and Guelph last weekend.
Kitchener Rangers (12-0-3-0) vs. Kingston Frontenacs (9-5-1-1)
Saturday November 7 at Kingston
Winners of 10 straight, the Kitchener Rangers don’t appear to be slowing down at all, but will have their hands full on Saturday night when they visit the Kingston Frontenacs. The 1-2 punch of Ryan MacInnis and Brandon Robinson continues to power the Kitchener offence despite the recent absence of injured forward Adam Mascherin. The Frontenacs have dropped three straight entering the weekend, but have recent additions to their lineup in Carolina Hurricanes prospect Warren Foegele and recent blueline acquisition Stephen Desrocher.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
Thursday, November 5
Windsor at Niagara – 7:00pm
North Bay at Peterborough – 7:05pm
Friday, November 6
Barrie at Sudbury – 7:00pm
Kitchener at Ottawa – 7:00pm
North Bay at Kingston – 7:00pm
Peterborough at Erie – 7:00pm
Flint at Sarnia – 7:05pm
Mississauga at Sault Ste. Marie – 7:07pm
London at Guelph – 7:30pm
Hamilton at Oshawa – 7:35pm
Saturday, November 7
Kitchener at Kingston – 7:00pm
Mississauga at Sudbury – 7:00pm
Peterborough at Niagara – 7:00pm
Windsor at Erie – 7:00pm
Oshawa at Saginaw – 7:05pm
Barrie at Sault Ste. Marie – 7:07pm
Guelph at Flint – 7:30pm
Hamilton at Owen Sound – 7:30pm
Sunday, November 8
Oshawa at Flint – 5:00pm
Windsor at Guelph – 6:00pm
Saginaw at Sarnia – 7:05pm
CATCH ALL OF THE ACTION ON OHL LIVE
Florida Panthers prospect Lawson Crouse of the Kingston Frontenacs will captain Team OHL in both contests against the Russian National Junior Team on Thursday November 12 in Owen Sound, and on Monday November 16 in Windsor, ON. The 18-year-old from Mt. Brydges, ON, is playing in his third OHL season and has 14 points through 11 games so far in 2015-16 with seven goals and seven assists. Crouse captured gold as a member of Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship.
OHL Writers 