It’s December and while most of us prepare for Christmas, the Ontario Hockey League’s players eligible for the 2016 National Hockey League Draft continue to work towards their goal – being selected in that draft.
Matthew Tkachuk of the London Knights. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Each month, I look at the best of the best and provide you with who I believe the top performer was – and for November, that honor belongs to the London Knights’ Matthew Tkachuk.
In ten November games, Tkachuk scored 7 goals, 5 of which came on the power play. He added 19 assists to those 7 goals. In only one contest, did Tkachuk not post an assist. And in only two other games was he held to just one lone helper. In the remaining 7, Tkachuk had multiple assists.
Tkachuk finished the month with a plus 6 and 18 penalty minutes.
Tkachuk currently sits third in OHL scoring with 12 goals and 36 assists in just 24 games. He’s 23 for 48 in the faceoff circle – 47.9% – and his 12 goals come on 84 shots on goal – 14.3%.
Also considered were last month’s winner Alex DeBrincat of the Erie
Alex DeBrincat of the Erie Otters. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Otters and his teammate Taylor Raddysh.
DeBrincat played in 12 games and contributed 14 goals and 13 assists while Raddysh had 7 goals and 14 assists. In goal, Tyler Parsons of the Knights appeared in all but two games with a 6-2-0 record while posting a 2.28 goals against average and a .915 save percentage.
Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the second edition of the weekly minor midget rankings for the 2016 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament hosted by the Greater Toronto Hockey League.
The weekly rankings are determined by a panel of OHL Central Scouting Staff and represent the top teams that are competing to play in the annual year-end championship tournament which takes place March 15-21, 2016. All games will be played at the Scotiabank Pond in Toronto until the Championship Final moves to the Mattamy Athletic Centre on Monday March 21.
Minor Midget Rankings for the 2016 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament – Week 2
RANK
TEAM
LEAGUE
LAST WEEK
WEEKS RANKED
1
York Simcoe Express
OMHA
2
2
2
Mississauga Rebels
GTHL
4
2
3
Toronto Jr. Canadiens
GTHL
6
2
4
Toronto Marlies
GTHL
3
2
5
Barrie Jr. Colts
OMHA
–
1
6
Toronto Red Wings
GTHL
1
2
7
Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs
OMHA
5
2
8
Sudbury Wolves
GNML
7
2
9
Markham Majors
GTHL
9
2
10
Kingston Frontenacs
OMHA
–
1
Honourable Mention
Waterloo Wolves
ALLIANCE
10
1
Don Mills Flyers
GTHL
–
0
Vaughan Kings
GTHL
–
0
The OHL Cup continues to showcase 20 participating teams from across Ontario and the United States with 16 of the 20 spots in 2016 guaranteed through league competition. The 16 guaranteed spots continue to include all four GTHL Semi-Finalists, and the top four teams that place at the OMHA Championship. Three teams from the ALLIANCE will still be guaranteed a spot in the tournament including the Champion and Finalist, along with the winner of a best-of-three Semi-Final Wild Card Series to be played between the losers of the two league Semi-Finals. Also as in past years, two tournament entries are reserved for United States competition, while both an HNO and NOHA representative will also compete. New in 2016, the final guaranteed spot is awarded to the highest finishing minor midget team in the HEO Midget League which in 2015-16 belongs to CIHA White.
This season the final four entries at the 2016 OHL Cup will be Wild Cards determined among eight teams that will play a one game ‘win and in’ scenario. The eight competing teams aiming for the final four tournament spots will continue to include the fifth place team at the OMHA Championship, and the loser of the ALLIANCE Semi-Final Wild Card Series. New in 2016, two spots in Wild Card games will be reserved for GTHL teams. The two competing GTHL teams will be determined through a pair of Wild Card Play-In Series matchups involving the four GTHL teams who qualified for the playoffs but lost in the first round. Also new in 2016, one spot in a Wild Card will be reserved for the winner of an OMHA SCTA Consolation Game that features both teams who lost in the SCTA Tournament Semi-Final. The OMHA teams eligible for this matchup will be determined annually based on the league not hosting the OMHA Championship. Finally, the three remaining teams who will compete in the Wild Card matchups will be named by the Tournament Selection Committee based on regular season, playoff, and tournament play. All four Wild Card games will take place onTuesday March 15 with specific matchups and times of play to be determined by random draw among the eight competing teams onMonday March 14.
Last season the Toronto Marlboros captured their fifth OHL Cup title in 11 years with a 3-2 overtime win over the Don Mills Flyers. Marlies forward and OHL Cup MVP Ryan McLeod followed up older brother Michael McLeod’s MVP effort in 2014 with three goals and four assists in the tournament.
McLeod was one of 12 first round draft selections from 2015 OHL Cup teams, including six of the top ten picks. Those names include David Levin (Don Mills Flyers – 1st overall to the Sudbury Wolves), Ryan McLeod (Toronto Marlboros – 3rd overall to the Flint Firebirds), Brady Gilmour (Quinte Red Devils – 6th overall to the Saginaw Spirit), Ben Jones (Toronto Marlboros – 7th overall to the Niagara IceDogs), Matthew Strome (Toronto Marlboros – 8th overall to the Hamilton Bulldogs) and Markus Phillips (Toronto Titans – 9th overall to the Owen Sound Attack).
Five first round selections in the 2015 NHL Draft are also OHL Cup graduates including Connor McDavid (Toronto Marlboros/Edmonton Oilers), Dylan Strome (Toronto Marlboros/Arizona Coyotes), Mitch Marner (Don Mills Flyers/Toronto Maple Leafs), Lawson Crouse (Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs/Florida Panthers) and Travis Konecny (Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs/Philadelphia Flyers).
Notable OHL Cup graduates currently playing in the NHL include Taylor Hall (Greater Kingston Frontenacs/Edmonton Oilers), John Tavares (Toronto Marlboros/New York Islanders), Steven Stamkos (Markham Waxers/Tampa Bay Lightning), Tyler Seguin (Toronto Nationals/Dallas Stars), 2013 Norris Trophy winner P.K. Subban (Markham Islanders/Montreal Canadiens) and 2010 OHL Cup MVP Sean Monahan (Mississauga Rebels/Calgary Flames).
Roster features 28 CHL players including 13 OHL, 10 WHL, 5 QMJHL As Canadians ready for 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship, Hockey Canada gets set to welcome 2017 tournament
TORONTO, Ont. – Just weeks away from the official puck drop of Canada’s opening game of the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship, Hockey Canada revealed the names of the 30 players invited to participate in Canada’s National Junior Team Sport Chek Selection Camp, being held Dec. 10-14 in Toronto.
The roster was released at a news conference on Tuesday and includes two goaltenders, 11 defencemen, and 17 forwards. Ryan Jankowski, director of player personnel for Hockey Canada, and Tim Speltz, member of the Program of Excellence management group, were responsible for all player selection, with input from coaches and general managers from across the Canadian Hockey League. Three players from the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship-winning team are included on the roster: Lawson Crouse (Mt. Brydges, Ont./Kingston, OHL), Joe Hicketts (Kamloops, B.C./Victoria, WHL), and Brayden Point (Calgary/Moose Jaw, WHL).
“We’re looking to assemble the best possible team to represent the country in Helsinki at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship. With the talent we have attending camp, it’s going to come down to some difficult decisions for us in selecting the players who make the final team,” said Scott Salmond, vice-president of hockey operations and national teams for Hockey Canada.
The selection camp, being held at the MasterCard Centre in Etobicoke, Ont., will feature two games against a team of players from Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) on Dec. 12 and 13. In total, 22 players will be selected to represent Canada at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2015 to Jan. 5, 2016 in Helsinki, Finland.
Canada won gold at the IIHF World Junior Championship on home ice in January. The team has not won in Europe since 2008 – the fourth of five consecutive gold medals for Canada’s National Junior Team from 2005-09.
“We have some returning players from last year’s gold medal-winning team, and a lot of international experience with the group as a whole. We’re looking forward to getting everyone together in Toronto next week and getting started,” said Jankowski, who also noted the management team remains in contact with NHL clubs regarding eligible players who may be made available to join the team before Canada finalizes its roster on Dec. 20.
Canada opens the tournament against the United States on Saturday, Dec. 26 at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. Hockey Canada’s official broadcasters, TSN and RDS, are scheduled to broadcast all tournament games, including three pre-tournament games Dec. 19, 20, and 23; check local listings for details.
*Played for Canada at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship
Hockey fans ready for 2017
While Canadians are eagerly anticipating taking part in what has become a holiday tradition of gathering around televisions to cheer on Canada’s National Junior Team, hockey fans can now plan to see the red-and-white face off against the world on home ice when the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship comes to Montreal and Toronto.
Tickets to next year’s tournament go on sale on Dec. 7, but fans can visit HockeyCanada.ca and sign up before Dec. 4 to purchase their tickets before they’re made available to the general public.
“We know how Canadians rally behind Canada’s National Junior Team, and we’re gearing up to bring that live experience to Montreal and Toronto next year,” said Tom Renney, president and CEO of Hockey Canada. “As with previous years, the proceeds from last year’s tournament have been targeted back into supporting the growth of hockey from the grassroots to the high-performance level. We saw the nation come together as we cheered on last year’s team, and I know that when we welcome the world in Montreal and Toronto in 2017, Canadians will be out in full force to show the world our passion for the game.”
For more information on Canada’s National Junior Team, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca, or follow along via social media onFacebook, and Twitter.
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Arizona Coyotes prospect Conor Garland of the Moncton Wildcats is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending November 29 after recording 11 points in three games scoring four goals and seven assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-6.
Garland earns the award for the second time this season after extending his season-long point-streak to a Wildcats record 24-games leading his club to a pair of wins to improve their Maritimes Division best record to 18-8-3-0. The QMJHL’s Top Scorer produced a trio of multi-point performances last week beginning with two assists on Wednesday despite a 6-5 loss to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, followed by back-to-back first star efforts in victories over the weekend. On Friday night he scored a season-high five points with a hat-trick and two assists in a 7-4 win over the Victoriaville Tigres, then scored a goal and three assists as part of a 5-2 win over the Shawinigan Cataractes on Saturday.
A 19-year-old from Scituate, MA, Garland is the reigning co-recipient of the CHL’s Top Scorer Award with 129 points in 67 games last season. Playing in his fourth campaign with the Wildcats, the fifth round pick of the Coyotes in the 2015 NHL Draft has 58 points in just 24 games so far this season with 15 goals and 43 assists.
Also considered for the award this week was fellow Coyotes prospect Christian Dvorak of the London Knights who scored six goals and three assists for nine points in three games, and Justin Gutierrez of the Lethbridge Hurricanes who scored six goals in three games.
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that 2016 NHL Draft prospect Carter Hart of the Everett Silvertips is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending November 29 after posting a 3-0-0-0 record including two shutout victories with a goals-against-average of 0.33 and save percentage of .985.
Hart stopped 65 of 66 shots faced last week backstopping the Silvertips to three straight wins to improve their record to 14-7-0-2 where they rank third in the competitive WHL U.S Division. He posted back-to-back shutouts for the second time this season beginning with a 26-save performance on Wednesday in a 5-0 victory over the Tri-City Americans, followed by a 14-save effort on Thursday night to blank the Moose Jaw Warriors. Hart wrapped up his strong week between the pipes with a 25-save performance on Sunday earning second star honours in a 5-1 win over the Spokane Chiefs.
A 17-year-old from Sherwood Park, AB, Hart is playing in his second season with the Silvertips where he currently carries a 14-6-0-2 record. Eligible for the 2016 NHL Draft, Hart leads all WHL netminders with six shutouts along with a league-best goals-against-average of 1.61 and save percentage of .939.
Also considered for the award this week was Matthew Mancina of the Peterborough Petes who went 2-0-0-0 with a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .971, and Louis-Philip Guindon of the Rimouski Oceanic who posted a 3-0-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 1.24 and save percentage of .957.
The OHL Cup continues to showcase 20 participating teams from across Ontario and the United States with 16 of the 20 spots in 2016 guaranteed through league competition. The 16 guaranteed spots continue to include all four GTHL Semi-Finalists, and the top four teams that place at the OMHA Championship. Three teams from the ALLIANCE will still be guaranteed a spot in the tournament including the Champion and Finalist, along with the winner of a best-of-three Semi-Final Wild Card Series to be played between the losers of the two league Semi-Finals. Also as in past years, two tournament entries are reserved for United States competition, while both an HNO and NOHA representative will also compete. New in 2016, the final guaranteed spot is awarded to the highest finishing minor midget team in the HEO Midget League which in 2015-16 belongs to CIHA White.
OHL Writers 