Spitfires’ Logan Brown named Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that 2016 NHL Draft prospect Logan Brown of the Windsor Spitfires is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending February 28 after recording seven points in three games including four goals and three assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-2.

Brown continued his offensive production with a trio of multi-point performances last week giving him five-straight and totalling 12 points in that span.  On Thursday night he earned first star honours in a 4-2 victory over the Barrie Colts scoring the game-winning goal and adding an assist, then picked up two assists on Saturday as part of a 6-4 win over the Flint Firebirds.  Brown finished his week by notching his first career hat-trick on Sunday in a 4-3 victory over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds tallying the game-winning goal and claiming first star honours.  The Spitfires have now won five-straight but remain in second place in the West Division standings with 78 points through 60 games trailing the Sarnia Sting by one point.

A native of Chesterfield, Missouri, Brown is playing in his second career OHL season with the Spitfires.  The 6’6’’ power forward turns 18 on Saturday and is second in team scoring with 62 points in 51 games including 16 goals and 46 assists.  Brown was listed 14th among North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting in January’s Midterm Rankings for the 2016 NHL Draft.

Watch video highlights of Brown and the Spitfires against the Colts, Firebirds, and Greyhounds.

Fellow Spitfire Christian Fischer was also considered for the award this week along with Mitch Marner of the London Knights.  The Arizona Coyotes prospect matched Brown’s production with four goals and three assists for seven points in three games for the Spitfires, while the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect scored twice with five assists for seven points in three games for the Knights eclipsing the 100-point milestone for the second straight season.  In goal, Devin Williams of the Erie Otters went 2-0-0-0 including one shutout with a goals-against-average of 0.50, save percentage of .973, and set a new franchise record for wins in a season with 37.

Pioneer

2015-16 Pioneer Energy OHL Players of the Week:

Feb. 22 – Feb. 28: Logan Brown (Windsor Spitfires)
Feb. 15 – Feb. 21: Mike Amadio (North Bay Battalion)
Feb. 8 – Feb. 14: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Feb. 1 – Feb. 7: Spencer Watson (Kingston Frontenacs)
Jan. 25 – Jan. 31: Jonah Gadjovich (Owen Sound Attack)
Jan. 18 – Jan. 24: Matthew Mancina (Peterborough Petes)
Jan. 11 – Jan. 17: Michael Giugovaz (Guelph Storm)
Jan. 4 – Jan. 10: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Dec. 28 – Jan. 3: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Dec. 14 – Dec. 20: Jake Smith (North Bay Battalion)
Dec. 7 – Dec. 13: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 30 – Dec. 6: Mitchell Marner (London Knights)
Nov. 23 – Nov. 29: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Pavel Zacha (Sarnia Sting)
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Devin Williams (Erie Otters)
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Dylan Strome (Erie Otters)
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Tyler Parsons (London Knights)
Oct. 19 – Oct. 25: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Oct. 12 – Oct. 18: Zach Bratina (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 5 – Oct. 11: Hunter Garlent (Peterborough Petes)
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 27: Zack Bowman (Flint Firebirds)

OJHL Expansion? How about getting back to contraction.

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

It has been well documented how the OJHL has struggled to get to the position that they are in right now. The league went through a large contraction down to 23 teams from the mid thirties and the league now sits at 22 teams, 11 per conference and two divisions, one with 5 and one with 6.

This past holiday season, there was an article that was put out that discussed the league expanding, absorbing two franchises in the GOJHL.

Although that could nicely even things out, 6 teams per division lets take a look at the possibilities of who the league will expand with:

Caledonia: A top franchise in the GOJHL for the last few years, they have a chance to three-peat this year but also currently have 14 Overage players (1995 birth years) on their team and several former OHLers that you normally would not see in the OJHL.

St. Catharines: Another annual powerhouse in the GOJHL that has a longer history of being at the top. The Falcons are generally a breeding ground for the Niagara Ice Dogs but also perennially compete for the Sutherland Cup. This years Falcons squad has 11 overage players.

Brampton: This is a younger franchise to the GOJHL and has not had much success. 42 wins in their first three seasons and currently have 14 wins heading into this weekend. So 56 wins in their 197 franchise games. Now the team has produced some OHL players and developed several Jr A players over the years. What makes this franchise so attractive is that Brampton use to have the Capitals OJHL franchise up until 2012…. When the Bombers were created….

Kitchener: No point talking about this franchise, not coming to the OJHL.

Waterloo: Same as Kitchener

London: See above… Proximity is what makes this situation not work.

Ancaster: Plausible as it is close enough to make Burlington, Hamilton and Buffalo direct division mates. The last 5 seasons as the Stoney Creek Warriors, the team was very competitive and as the Ancaster Avalanche, they have continued to have strong teams.

So how does the new OJHL look with 2 of these franchises in the mix? If you are only looking at proximity, and to be honest you should considering you do not want to make Kingston travel to Sarnia or LaSalle or even to Kitchener, London or Waterloo… then you are left with Brampton and Ancaster.

Brampton leaving the GOJHL may be difficult only because the club would have to up their spending… but then they would get to keep their players rather than have the OJHL ‘poach’ them through development. But consider the cost of travel they have… it may actually go down. Being located in Brampton, you have: Milton, Georgetown, Mississauga, Oakville, Toronto Patriots, Toronto Jr Canadiens and Orangeville all within 30 minutes of travel. 7 of the current 11 franchises in the South West conference are within a half hour of travel. Burlington is 40 minutes away, so is North York and only Buffalo will be over an hour of travel… approx. 120 minutes, depending on border traffic. So Brampton would be a viable franchise to add to the league… and considering the commissioner mentioned that it would be two franchises, you have to look at an Ancaster as being the closest Golden Horseshoe Conference team to the current league and say they would be the best candidate to take in to keep future costs low.

If Ancaster joins, the closest opponent would be Burlington at 25 minutes away. Currently Caledonia is that close to them, and the rest of the division is about an hour away. The same time it would take to get to the farthest opponent in the South West Conference.

So a lot of this makes sense and could really help the league fight the expansion of the ‘outlaw’ Jr A league in town… although the owners do a good enough job of messing that up themselves.

However, what is it that I wrote at the beginning? How about contraction?

Now I am not advocating for specific franchises to shut their doors. But lets look at the league with only 20 teams not 22. It would be more inline to what the OHL is. Not that the OJHL has ever strived to be what the OHL is, and lets face the fact that the OHL is not a perfect league thanks to many obstacles that has been thrown in their way the pat few seasons.

But consider taking away two franchises. I would have initially said Hamilton and Mississauga. But Hamilton moved to a better market in Markham and well… Mississauga is Mississauga. And if you had to take Geography into account, you may have a better argument for Milton. Now Milton is a storied franchise and in the mid 90s won 7 of 9 division titles from 1994-2003 and in the last 9 seasons, the franchise has not finished better than 4th once, finishing 3rd and missing the playoffs 4 times, and this season will be 5 in the last 10 seasons.

Now if you got rid of Mississauga, nobody would probably miss them, there is a lot of history that will die, but that can be said for a lot of OJHL franchises that have been around for over 20 years. If it isn’t championships, or conference titles it is the alumni list. And many clubs have tremendous alumni.

So if you were to choose Mississauga from the South West Conference who would it be from the North East… well to go historically, the Lindsay Muskies have not been a premier franchise in many years. Even though they have new owners this season in former NHLer Jeff Beukeboom and an Uxbridge businessman Dave Knapp. The team hasn’t made the playoffs for three seasons, doesn’t have a long alumni list and is just ‘out of the way’ based on geography.

But again, forget the naming of franchises because you can pick one of many and make a reason.

Getting down to 20 will help build up the talent pool. Think of the 44 players who will have no place to play if two teams contract. Now think of each team taking 2 or 3 of these players and bolstering their 3rd forward line or adding to their bottom D pairing and how much better these clubs will be, how much better the overall competition will be, how much more attention will be directed their way as they have lifted the competitive playing field of this league, and think about how much better the league can focus on players in less markets and help advertise their players so people will be enticed to see them more often.

It is a compelling thought either way. Add two teams and help the one conference, the ‘poorer’ conference become competitive with less travel or contract two teams and raise the talent pool and hope that when the ‘Outlaw’ league comes to those towns, they fail like they probably will anyways and prove that it is truly the players that help make the franchise, and that talent will always win out.

OHL Announces Minor Midget Top-10 Rankings for 2016 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

OHL Cup

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the thirteenth 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 13

RANK TEAM LEAGUE LAST WEEK WEEKS RANKED
1 Mississauga Rebels GTHL 1 13
2 York Simcoe Express OMHA 2 13
3 Toronto Marlies GTHL 3 13
4 Toronto Jr. Canadiens GTHL 4 13
5 Toronto Red Wings GTHL 5 13
6 Barrie Jr. Colts OMHA 6 12
7 Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs OMHA 8 13
8 Waterloo Wolves ALLIANCE 7 11
9 Don Mills Flyers GTHL 9 11
10 Southern Tier Admirals OMHA – 1
Honourable Mention
London Jr. Knights ALLIANCE – 1
Kitchener Jr. Rangers ALLIANCE – –
Kingston Frontenacs OMHA 10 5
Quinte Red Devils OMHA – –

Four teams from the GTHL have now officially qualified for the 2016 OHL Cup by advancing to their league Semi-Finals including the Mississauga Rebels, Toronto Marlies, Toronto Red Wings, and Toronto Jr. Canadiens who most recently defeated the Don Mills Flyers in the final Quarter-Final matchup.  The Jr. Canadiens will face the Marlies, and the Rebels will face the Red Wings in the league’s Semi-Finals set to begin later this month.  Also beginning later this month is the GTHL Wild Card Series featuring the four teams eliminated from the first round of playoffs including the Flyers who will face the Vaughan Kings, and the Mississauga Senators who will face the Markham Majors for the opportunity to keep their hopes alive with a Wild Card tournament entry.

Semi-Finals are underway in the ALLIANCE featuring the Waterloo Wolves against the Kitchener Jr. Rangers, and the London Jr. Knights against the Windsor Jr. Spitfires.  Both series winners will earn automatic entry into the 2016 OHL Cup, with the losing teams competing in a Semi-Final Wild Card Series with the winner also granted a berth in the tournament.  The fourth place team will be eligible for an OHL Cup Wild Card Play-In Game.

The OHL Cup continues to showcase 20 participating teams from across Ontario and the United States, but as of February, 2016, 15 of the 20 spots are now guaranteed through league competition.  The 15 guaranteed spots 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.  Two tournament entries are reserved for United States competition, while both an HNO and NOHA representative will also compete.

Also announced in February, 2016, is the addition of one Wild Card Play-In Game whereupon the final five entries at the 2016 OHL Cup will now be Wild Cards determined among 10 teams that will play a one game ‘win and in’ scenario.  The 10 competing teams aiming for the final five tournament spots will now include five teams named by the Tournament Selection Committee based on regular season, playoff, and tournament play.  The other Wild Card Play-In Game spots will continue to include the fifth place team at the OMHA Championship, and the loser of the ALLIANCE Semi-Final Wild Card Series.  Two spots in Wild Card games are also 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.  The final 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.  All five Wild Card games will take place on Tuesday March 15 with specific matchups and times of play to be determined by random draw among the 10 competing teams on Monday 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).

For more information, please visit ohlcup.ca.

Pats’ Adam Brooks named CHL Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that forward Adam Brooks of the Regina Pats is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending February 21 after recording 13 points in four games scoring five goals with eight assists along with a plus-minus rating of plus-6.

Brooks tallied three multi-point performances last week helping the Pats extend their winning-streak to five games as they battle for wildcard playoff positioning in the WHL’s Eastern Conference with 63 points.  Last Monday he picked up a game-tying assist then scored in the shootout to lift the Pats to a 4-3 win over the Swift Current Broncos, then scored his second hat-trick of the season while adding an assist on Wednesday earning first star honours in a 4-2 win over the Prince Albert Raiders.  Brooks earned first star honours again on Friday with a career-high six point effort scoring two goals and four assists in a 7-5 victory against the Kootenay Ice, then finished his week Sunday with two assists as part of a 3-1 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings.

A 19-year-old from Winnipeg, MB, Brooks is playing in his fourth career WHL season in Regina.  The Pats captain currently ranks second in WHL scoring with career-highs in all offensive categories including 33 goals and 64 assists for 97 points in 58 games.

Also considered for the award this week was 2016 NHL Draft prospect Pierre-Luc Dubois of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles who scored three goals and four assists for seven points in two games, and Los Angeles Kings prospect Mike Amadio of the North Bay Battalion who scored seven goals and two assists for nine points in four games.

 2015-16 CHL Regular Season Players of the Week:
Feb. 15 – Feb. 21: Adam Brooks (Regina Pats)
Feb. 8 – Feb. 14: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Feb. 1 – Feb. 7: Ivan Provorov (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Jan. 25 – Jan. 31: Frédéric Allard (Chicoutimi Sagueneens)
Jan. 18 – Jan. 24: Giorgio Estephan (Lethbridge Hurricanes)
Jan. 11 – Jan. 17: Reid Gardiner (Prince Albert Raiders)
Jan. 4 – Jan. 10: Maxime Comtois (Victoriaville Tigres)
Dec. 28 – Jan. 3: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Dec. 14 – Dec. 20: Brendan Lemieux (Windsor Spitfires)
Dec. 7 – Dec. 13: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 30 – Dec. 6: Mitchell Marner (London Knights)
Nov. 23 – Nov. 29: Conor Garland (Moncton Wildcats)
Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Pierre-Luc Dubois (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles)
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Dylan Strome (Erie Otters)
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Nikolas Brouillard (Quebec Remparts)
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Mathew Barzal (Seattle Thunderbirds)
Oct. 19 – Oct. 25: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Oct. 12 – Oct. 18: Zach Bratina (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 5 – Oct. 11: Dennis Yan (Shawinigan Cataractes)
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Conor Garland (Moncton Wildcats)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 27: Alex Forsberg (Victoria Royals)

CHL Leagues

Warriors’ Zach Sawchenko named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Vaughn

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that 2016 NHL Draft prospect Zach Sawchenko of the Moose Jaw Warriors is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending February 21 after posting a 3-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory with a goals-against-average of 1.31 and a save percentage of .965.

Sawchenko becomes the league’s second two-time award recipient this season after making 109 saves in three games last week backstopping the Warriors to three wins.  He began his week by posting critical back-to-back road victories against the Prince Albert Raiders who lead the Warriors by two points in the WHL’s East Division standings.  Last Monday he earned first star honours making 37 saves for his second shutout of the season blanking the Raiders by a 5-0 score, then stopped 32 shots on Friday as second star of a 4-3 overtime triumph.  His week wrapped up with a 40-save performance on Sunday in a 5-1 victory against the Swift Current Broncos.

An 18-year-old from Calgary, AB, Sawchenko is currently playing in his third WHL season with the Warriors carrying an overall record of 24-11-4-1 along with a goals-against-average of 2.85 and a save percentage of .920 which is tied for fourth best in the WHL.  Sawchenko was listed third among North American goaltenders in NHL Central Scouting’s Midterm Rankings for the 2016 NHL Draft.

Also considered for the award this week was 2016 NHL Draft prospect Tyler Parsons of the London Knights with a 3-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory stopping 78 shots with a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .963.  In the QMJHL, Evgeny Kiselev of the Quebec Remparts went 2-0-0-0 with a shutout victory stopping 53 shots with a goals-against-average of 0.50 and save percentage of .981.

2015-16 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week:

Feb. 15 – Feb. 21: Zach Sawchenko (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Feb. 8 – Feb. 14: Leo Lazarev (Ottawa 67’s)
Feb. 1 – Feb. 7: Taz Burman (Swift Current Broncos)
Jan. 25 – Jan. 31: Luke Opilka (Kitchener Rangers)
Jan. 18 – Jan. 24: Jordan Papirny (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Jan. 11 – Jan. 17: Zach Sawchenko (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Jan. 4 – Jan. 10: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)
Dec. 28 – Jan. 3: Étienne Montpetit (Val-d’Or Foreurs)
Dec. 14 – Dec. 20: Callum Booth (Quebec Remparts)
Dec. 7 – Dec. 13: Jack Flinn (Mississauga Steelheads)
Nov. 30 – Dec. 6: Ty Edmonds (Prince George Cougars)
Nov. 23 – Nov. 29: Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips)
Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Keven Bouchard (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Devin Williams (Erie Otters)
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Etienne Montpetit (Val-d’Or Foreurs)
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Tyler Parsons (London Knights)
Oct. 19 – Oct. 25: Adin Hill (Portland Winterhawks)
Oct. 12 – Oct. 18: Julio Billia (Chicoutimi Sagueneens)
Oct. 5 – Oct. 11: Coleman Vollrath (Victoria Royals)
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Louis-Philip Guindon (Rimouski Oceanic)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 27: Zack Bowman (Flint Firebirds)

CHL Leagues

Battalion’s Mike Amadio named Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Los Angeles Kings prospect Mike Amadio of the North Bay Battalion is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending February 21 after scoring seven goals and two assists for nine points in four games with a plus-minus rating of plus-10.

After setting a new Battalion record with five goals in a single game on February 13, Amadio continued his goal-scoring prowess finding the back of the net in all four games last week as the Troops’ offense exploded for 26 goals in four straight wins over Eastern Conference opponents.  Amadio began the week with a pair of first star performances netting game-winning goals in both contests including Family Day in Ottawa with two tallies in a 3-2 victory over the 67’s, and on Thursday at home to Sudbury with two goals and an assist in a 9-1 win over the Wolves.  On Friday night he scored his 40th goal of the season as part of a 5-1 road win against the Mississauga Steelheads, then finished the week with another two-goal performance on Sunday netting the game-winner while adding a helper as first star of a 9-3 win over the Peterborough Petes.  The win was number 30 on the season for the Battalion who currently hold third place in the Eastern Conference standings with 68 points.

A 19-year-old from Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Amadio is playing in his fourth career OHL season with the Battalion who chose him in the second round of the 2011 OHL Priority Selection.  He currently ranks sixth in league scoring with 42 goals and 42 assists for a career-high 84 points in 56 games while riding an 11-game point-streak.  The third round pick of the Kings in the 2014 NHL Draft is just the fifth player in Battalion history to record 40 goals in a season following Cody Hodgson (40 in 2007-08 and 43 in 2008-09), Evgeny Grachev (40 in 2008-09), Wojtek Wolski (47 in 2005-06), and Raffi Torres (43 in 1999-2000).

Watch video highlights of Amadio and the Battalion against the 67’s, Wolves, Steelheads, and Petes.

Honourable mention for the award this week goes to Arizona Coyotes prospect Ryan MacInnis of the Kitchener Rangers who matched Amadio’s offensive totals with seven goals and two assists for nine points in four games, while fellow Battalion forward Mathew Santos helped carry the offensive load scoring five goals and four assists for nine points in four games.  In goal, 2016 NHL Draft prospect Tyler Parsons of the London Knights posted a 3-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory stopping 78 shots with a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .963.

2015-16 Pioneer Energy OHL Players of the Week:

Feb. 15 – Feb. 21: Mike Amadio (North Bay Battalion)
Feb. 8 – Feb. 14: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Feb. 1 – Feb. 7: Spencer Watson (Kingston Frontenacs)
Jan. 25 – Jan. 31: Jonah Gadjovich (Owen Sound Attack)
Jan. 18 – Jan. 24: Matthew Mancina (Peterborough Petes)
Jan. 11 – Jan. 17: Michael Giugovaz (Guelph Storm)
Jan. 4 – Jan. 10: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Dec. 28 – Jan. 3: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Dec. 14 – Dec. 20: Jake Smith (North Bay Battalion)
Dec. 7 – Dec. 13: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 30 – Dec. 6: Mitchell Marner (London Knights)
Nov. 23 – Nov. 29: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Pavel Zacha (Sarnia Sting)
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Devin Williams (Erie Otters)
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Dylan Strome (Erie Otters)
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Tyler Parsons (London Knights)
Oct. 19 – Oct. 25: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Oct. 12 – Oct. 18: Zach Bratina (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 5 – Oct. 11: Hunter Garlent (Peterborough Petes)
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 27: Zack Bowman (Flint Firebirds)

Anthony Salinitri – Player Profile – Sarnia Sting

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height:  5’11”

Weight:  171 Pounds

Date of birth: May 5, 1998, Windsor, Ontario

Position:  Center

Shoots:  Left

OHL Draft:  Round 1, 17th overall, 2014 Priority Selection – Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds

In Minor Midget AAA, Salinitri played for and captained the Windsor Jr Spitfires during the 2013/14 season. In 32 games, he scored 23 goals and added 17 assists and followed that up with 2 goals and 3 assists in 9 playoff games. He won a bronze medal at the OHL Gold Cup and was named Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario Player of the Year.

Anthony Salinitri of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Anthony Salinitri of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

He was drafted by the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds in the first round of the OHL Priority Selection. On a very deep Greyhounds roster, Salinitri played in 21 games scoring once and adding 6 assists. Loading up for a deep playoff run, the Greyhounds would send Salinitri to the Sarnia Sting as part of the Anthony DeAngelo trade.

Salinitri would close out the season with the Sting playing in 29 games. He contributed 7 goals and 5 assists and would add two more helpers in 5 playoff games.

Salinitri would also represent Canada White at the World Hockey Challenge Under-17 scoring a goal in 5 games.

Some trades by the Sting – also loading up for a playoff run – dropped Salinitri down the depth chart. To date, he has 9 goals and 8 assists in 50 games.

Salinitri has good speed which is also apparent with the puck on his stick. He can be creative with the puck and can make plays. He gains zone entry with his speed and possession. He can get in on the forecheck but needs to add strength to be more effective. He will not shy away from the physical game. He’s good defensively and won’t get caught cheating. He’s also a good penalty killer. Besides adding strength, his biggest need is to find more consistency in his game.

Salinitri was ranked 126th on NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings in January.

Luke Kirwan – Player Profile – Flint Firebirds

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height:  6’2”

Weight:  230 Pounds

Date of birth:  September 23, 1997, Dewitt, N.Y.

Position:  Left Wing

Shoots:  Left

OHL Draft: Round 2, 32nd overall, 2013 Priority Selection, Guelph Storm.

Kirwan is a product of the USHL (34GP – 10G – 14A) and the U.S. National Under-17 team (54GP – 29G – 28A). He put in a dominating performance at the World Hockey Challenge Under-17 helping the Americans win a gold medal with 7 goals and 6 assists in just 6 games.

Luke Kirwan of the Flint Firebirds. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Luke Kirwan of the Flint Firebirds. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

The Guelph Storm selected Kirwan in the second round of the 2013 OHL Priority Selection, but he would never suit up for the Storm. The Windsor Spitfires acquired his rights in June of 2014 for a pair of second round picks (2018 and 2019).

 “Luke is a true, young power forward that adds size and an instant scoring threat to our lineup. He’s a player we’ve coveted since he was drafted back in 2013. He’s a dedicated young man who is interested in learning and getting better. I think our fans will appreciate his game and he’ll be a huge contributor to the Windsor Spitfires.” – Spitfires General Manager Warren Rychel upon Kirwan’s commitment to the Spits.

Kirwan had some struggles in his rookie season. In 59 games he scored 7 goals and added 12 assists. But getting into any consistent rhythm was an issue.

Kirwan began this season with the Spitfires. He also appeared in the USA Hockey All American Prospects Game. In 31 games with Windsor, he scored just 2 goals and added 2 assists. He was once again part of a trade and was sent to the Flint Firebirds for Connor Chatham (New Jersey Devils 3rd round pick in 2014), a 2nd round pick and 4th round pick in 2017.

Things improved slightly for Kirwan in Flint where he has 4 goals and 3 assists in 19 games to date. Without getting into all the details here, it’s not all sunshine and roses for Kirwan and his teammates with the meddling fiasco that is the Firebirds’ ownership. To say it has a negative effect on the players is an understatement.

Kirwan has very good size who can win battles in the corners and along the walls. He has the size and strength to make it difficult to knock off the puck and he protects the puck well.  He has a good shot and average playmaking capability. He’s shown a marginal improvement in his skating but will need to continue to work on improving his overall skating.

Kirwan was ranked 166th among North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings in January.

Troy Timpano – Player Profile – Sudbury Wolves

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height:  6’1”

Weight:  184 pounds

Date of birth: November 13, 1997, Pickering, Ontario

Position:  Goaltender

Catches:  Left

OHL Draft: Round 2, 27th overall, 2013 Priority Selection

Timpano played his Minor Midget hockey with the Toronto Titans AAA squad in 2012-2013. He appeared in 41 games and posted 1.85 goals against average and a .930 save percentage. The Sudbury Wolves would make him their second round selection, 27th overall, in the 2013 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.

Troy Timpano of the Sudbury Wolves. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Troy Timpano of the Sudbury Wolves. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

The next season Timpano would make the immediate jump to the OHL. He got his feet wet in Major Junior appearing in 12 games. He posted 3.43 goals against average and .894 save percentage. He also played for Team Ontario at the World Hockey Challenge Under-17 and in 4 games posted 2.33 goals against average and .911 save percentage. All in all, it was a very respectable rookie campaign for Timpano.

Last season Timpano became the go to guy in goal in Sudbury. He played in 46 games, finishing with a 4.50 goals against average and a .884 save percentage. Things were looking up for Timpano heading into his draft year in what is a decent crop of OHL goaltenders with Dylan Wells (Peterborough), Tyler Parsons (London), Evan Cormier (Saginaw) and Joseph Raaymakers (Sault Ste Marie).

Things went south quickly.

Timpano suffered an ankle injury in the summer and it never healed properly. And it showed in his first five games of the season. He was shut down on October 10 and would miss the next two months of the season, making his return on December 6, 2015. He came back physically and mentally prepared, and it showed on the ice.

Since his return, Timpano has an 8-11-0-1 record in 21 appearances. For stat watchers, that appears to be a terrible season. But that is half the Wolves wins 55 games into the season in those 21 appearances. Playing on the Eastern Conference’s last place team and a team that struggles to provide goal support will have a negative impact on any goaltender.

Timpano also sees a lot of rubber, with plenty of scoring opportunities against him. In 13 of his appearances since his return, he’s faced 39 or more shots. He’s won 5 of them with another being a shoot out loss.

On many nights Timpano is hung out to dry. But it doesn’t faze the calm and confident goaltender. He’s very athletic, is sound positionally, squares himself to shooters and is very quick in his crease. He challenges shooters and very rarely over-commits himself. He tracks the puck very well and recovers quickly to make the second save.

Timpano is excellent at handling the puck and seems to do it with confidence. However, at times he overplays it but as he matures and picks his opportunities better, it won’t come back to bite him.

There’s no doubt that two months on the shelf hurt Timpano’s draft ranking, currently 14th on NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings among North American goaltenders and 5th among his peers in the OHL.  It’ll take a very strong finish for Timpano to move into the top 10 – but he is capable.

OHL This Week for February 18-21, 2016

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – Just five more weeks until the 2016 Ontario Hockey League playoffs with lots of exciting battles for position continuing this weekend with 26 games tonight through Sunday.

 OHLThisWeek

Here’s a look at what’s going on around the league:

AT THE RINKS:

Spitfires honour Mickey Renaud on Thursday: The Windsor Spitfires hold their annual Mickey Renaud Night on Thursday at home to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. The Spitfires honour their former captain prior to puckdrop.

Wolves, Colts, 67’s, Battalion raise mental health awareness: The Sudbury Wolves (Friday), Barrie Colts, Ottawa 67’s (Saturday) and North Bay Battalion (Sunday) are teaming up with the Canadian Mental Health Association to raise mental health awareness this weekend. The four clubs will be promoting the #TalkToday program, presented by the OHL in partnership with CMHA Ontario.

Pink in the Rink in Hamilton on Saturday: The Hamilton Bulldogs host Pink in the Rink Night on Saturday! Wear your pink and help support the fight against cancer as the Bulldogs don special pink jerseys to celebrate the occasion. The game-worn jerseys will be auctioned off post-game with proceeds going toward the fight against cancer. There is also a pre-game Skate-a-thon from 4:00-5:00pm where fans can skate with Bulldogs president Steve Staios and mascot Bruiser. For full details please visithamiltonbulldogs.com.

Otters support ANNA Shelter, hold Dylan Strome bobblehead giveaway on Sunday: The Erie Otters are supporting ANNA Shelter on Sunday at home to the Kitchener Rangers. Fans can purchase discounted tickets with a portion of proceeds going to the shelter while also bringing donations to the game. Not to be overlooked, the first 500 kids age 12-and-under through the doors on Sunday will receive a Dylan Strome bobblehead! For full details on donation items and more, please visit ottershockey.com.

COMMUNITY CORNER:

Storm, Battalion pay visit to backyard rinks: Both the Guelph Storm and North Bay Battalion paid visits to outdoor rinks in their communities as part of the Home Depot Backyard Rink Contest. Check out photos from the Storm and the Battalion from their visits this past week!

Vote on the Bulldogs’ new look: The top three finalists have been selected and now fans can have their say! Voting on the top three designs is ongoing and will run until March 1st. Voting ballots are available at all Bulldogs home games, the Bulldogs front office and online at www.hamiltonbulldogs.com/jerseycontest. Check out a visual of the top three finalists.

Spirit holding new and used equipment sale on Saturday: The Saginaw Spirit are holding a new and used equipment sale on Saturdayat the Dow Event Center in the northwest concourse of section 24. For full details on what’s available please visit saginawspirit.com.

Wolves hold annual hockey card autograph signing: The Sudbury Wolves will host their annual hockey card autograph session on Saturday February 20th from 2:00pm -3:00pm at the New Sudbury Centre (Food Court). Get out and meet your 2015-16 Sudbury Wolves and pick up a free set of 2015-16 Sudbury Wolves hockey cards!

COLTS’ KEVIN LABANC TAKES WEEKLY HONOURS:

San Jose Sharks prospect Kevin Labanc of the Barrie Colts is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending February 14 after recording 11 points in three games including four goals and seven assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-6. Labanc earns the award for the third time this season after becoming the first player in the OHL to eclipse 100 points.  His three multi-point performances helped the Colts extend their winning-streak to eight games securing their hold on second place in the league’s Eastern Conference standings with 70 points. A 20-year-old from Staten Island, New York, Labanc is playing in his third career OHL season with the Colts and currently ranks fourth in all-time franchise scoring with 245 points in 184 games.  A sixth round pick of the Sharks in the 2014 NHL Draft, Labanc now has 103 points in 51 games for his second consecutive 100-point campaign and is second to only Conor Garland of the Moncton Wildcats (109 points in 50 games) in CHL scoring.

67’s’ LEO LAZAREV NAMED VAUGHN CHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK: 

Leo Lazarev of the Ottawa 67’s is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending February 14 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory with a goals-against-average of 0.50 and save percentage of .983. Lazarev made 57 saves and allowed just one goal in two games last week for the 67’s who are in the midst of a tight battle for playoff positioning in the OHL’s Eastern Conference currently in a three-way tie for fourth place and just two points shy of third.  Born in Moscow, Russia, Lazarev was chosen by the 67’s in the second round of the 2014 OHL Priority Selection and is playing in his second season with the club. The 18-year-old carries a 21-13-0-0 record so far this season with a save percentage of .905 and a goals-against-average of 2.72 which ranks seventh in the OHL.

TIP TOP TAILORS OHL PLAYS OF THE WEEK – WEEK 20: 

Mitchell Marner’s magical moves headline the 20th edition of the Tip Top Tailors OHL Plays of the Week! Be sure to vote for Marner in this week’s CHL Fan Choice vote at fanchoice.ca!

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! 142 different players have accomplished the milestone this season! Click on a player’s name below to watch his first OHL goal!

Haydn Hopkins, Evan Krassey, Reagan O’Grady

ROAD TO THE 2016 OHL CUP CONTINUES:

The 2016 OHL Cup is just four weeks away! Four ALLIANCE teams are battling for three OHL Cup berths as semi-final action continues this weekend. This week we take a closer look at what the ALLIANCE has to offer, a league that has supplied such recent high-end talent as Travis Konecny (Sarnia Sting), Lawson Crouse (Kingston Frontenacs) and Logan Stanley (Windsor Spitfires). FULL STORY

OHL COMMISSIONER DAVID BRANCH A DISTINGUISHED HONOUREE OF THE ORDER OF HOCKEY IN CANADA AND WHITBY SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE:

OHL Commissioner and CHL President David Branch is among the Distinguished Honourees of The Order of Hockey in Canada. As president of the Canadian Hockey League since 1996 and commissioner of the Ontario Hockey League since 1979, Branch oversees the world’s largest development league encompassing the OHL, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. FULL STORY

Also announced this week, Branch is included in the Whitby Sports Hall of Fame’s 2016 induction class. He will join retired National Lacrosse League player Gavin Prout and former CFL linebacker Jason Pottinger at the induction ceremony on Saturday, April 30th.

ALUMNI NOTES:

Cousins scores first NHL goal: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds graduate Nick Cousins scored his first career NHL goal last Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres, adding an assist to help lead the Flyers to a 5-1 victory. Cousins added another goal on Tuesday night in New Jersey as the Flyers won 6-3. A native of Belleville, ON, Cousins has spent the last two seasons in the AHL and has 12 goals, 26 assists and 38 points in 38 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms this season. The 22-year-old played four seasons with the Greyhounds from 2009-13, finishing eighth in all-time franchise scoring with 102 goals, 189 assists and 291 points in 264 career regular season games. Cousins, who competed in the 2016 AHL All-Star Classic last month in Syracuse, was Philadelphia’s third round (68th overall) pick in the 2011 NHL Draft.

Paul makes NHL debut with Ottawa: North Bay Battalion graduate Nick Paul made his NHL debut with the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday. The 20-year-old native of Mississauga, ON, saw 10:54 of ice, recording a shot on goal as the Sens defeated the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 in a shootout. Paul has appeared in 45 games with the AHL’s Binghamton Senators this season, recording six goals, 11 assists and 17 points. The 6’4″, 223Ib centreman played three OHL seasons between Brampton and North Bay, recording 140 points (75-65–140) in 191 regular season contests. He had 34 points (19-15–34) in 42 career postseason games. Paul was the OHL’s Humanitarian of the Year in 2015.

Friesen makes NHL debut with Vancouver: Niagara IceDogs graduate Alex Friesen made his NHL debut with the Vancouver Canuckson Monday. The native of Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, has appeared in 41 games with the AHL’s Utica Comets this season, recording eight goals, 10 assists and 18 points. Friesen, who graduated from the OHL following the 2012 season, has spent the last three seasons in the American Hockey League. The 25-year-old was Vancouver’s sixth round (172nd overall) pick in the 2010 NHL Draft and played 292 career regular season games in Niagara from 2007-12. The 5’10”, 186Ib. centreman compiled 91 goals, 153 assists and 244 regular season points over his OHL career.

McFarland makes NHL debut with Florida: Former first overall OHL Priority Selection pick John McFarland made his NHL debut with the Florida Panthers on Saturday. McFarland suited up in his first NHL game after having spent the past three seasons with the American Hockey League’s San Antonio Rampage. In 43 AHL games with the Portland Pirates this season, McFarland has collected 14 goals, eight assists and 22 points in 43 games. The Richmond Hill, ON, native played in 219 career regular season OHL games between Sudbury, Saginaw and Ottawa, recording 90 goals, 100 assists and 190 points. McFarland was the first overall pick of the 2008 OHL Priority Selection and was later selected in the second round (33rd overall) by Florida in the 2010 NHL Draft.

McCollum sets new Griffins record: OHL graduate Tom McCollum played in his 211th career AHL game with the Grand Rapids Griffinson Friday, passing fellow OHL alumnus Joey MacDonald for first on the Griffins’ all-time list. McCollum is currently second in franchise wins (93), 16 behind MacDonald and is currently 5-9-0-0 with a 2.79 goals-against average eand a .917 save percentage in 15 games this season. The 26-year-old native of Sanborn, New York has been with Grand Rapids since the 2009-10 season, winning a Calder Cup title in 2013 after being Detroit’s first round (30th overall) pick in the 2008 NHL Draft. McCollum played three OHL seasons between Guelph and Brampton, going 85-51-8-12 with a 2.33 goals-against average, a .920 save percentage and 16 shutouts over 160 games.

Campbell named ECHL Goaltender of the Week: For the second time this season, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds graduate Jack Campbell has been named the ECHL’s Goaltender of the Week. The 24-year-old went 2-0-0 with one shutout, a 0.48 goals-against average and a .983 save percentage in two appearances last week. Campbell made 17 saves in a 3-1 victory over Utah on Friday and stopped all 40 shots he faced in a 1-0 shootout win at Utah on Saturday. A native of Port Huron, MI, Campbell played two OHL seasons between Windsor and Sault Ste. Marie from 2010-12, going 45-29-5-6 with a 3.62 goals-against average and an .890 save percentage. He was Dallas’ first round (11th overall) pick in the 2010 NHL Draft.

Gryphons defend title as OUA playoffs are underway: The OUA playoffs got underway on Wednesday as the quest for the 105th Queen’s Cup has begun. The reigning OUA champion Guelph Gryphons who featured 13 OHL graduates (Andrew D’Agostini, Daniel Broussard, Mac Nichol, Mark Raycroft, Steven Strong, Nick Trecapelli, Carlos Amestoy, Brett Appio, Michael Hasson, Andres Kopstals, Trevor Morbeck, Kyle Neuber, Scott Simmonds), begin their title defence with a first round matchup against last year’s bronze medal winning Windsor Lancers. For full OUA Men’s Hockey playoff details, visit oua.ca.

KEY WEEKEND MATCHUPS:

Barrie Colts (34-17-0-2) vs. London Knights (39-12-2-1)
Friday February 19th at London – Sportsnet Friday Night Hockey

Sportsnet Friday Night Hockey features two of the OHL’s top contenders as the Barrie Colts visit the London Knights. Led by OHL leading scorer Kevin Labanc, the Colts enter the weekend as winners of eight of their last 10 and have won three of their last four away from home. Speedy Calgary Flames prospect Andrew Mangiapane is currently second in the OHL with 41 goals in 45 games, with 24 of those tallies coming since January 1st. Currently the fourth-ranked team in the country, the London Knights trail the Erie Otters by four points in the Midwest Division. They boast three of the league’s top five scorers in Christian Dvorak (42-54–96), Mitchell Marner (34-55–89) and Matthew Tkachuk (22-59–81). London took the only meeting between the two clubs so far this season by a score of 6-3 back on December 10th.

Niagara IceDogs (27-20-3-3) vs. Ottawa 67’s (29-24-1-1)
Saturday February 20th at Ottawa

With the Eastern Conference currently in a logjam, two clubs knotted with 60 points on the season go head-to-head on Saturdayafternoon in the nation’s capital. The Niagara IceDogs pay a visit to the Ottawa 67’s in a big matchup with a possible impact on home ice advantage come playoff time. The 67’s have won four of their last five games and embark on a three-in-three set on Friday in Kingston before matchups against Niagara and Oshawa. Ottawa has won nine games during Dante Salituro’s current 13-game point streak. The IceDogs have taken wins in two of their three encounters with Ottawa this season. Veteran captain Anthony DiFruscia has points in five of his last contests.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE: 

Thursday, February 18
Erie at Flint – 7:00pm
Hamilton at Niagara – 7:00pm
Sudbury at North Bay – 7:00pm
Kingston at Peterborough – 7:05pm
Sault Ste. Marie at Windsor – 7:05pm

Friday, February 19
Kingston at Ottawa – 7:00pm
Peterborough at Sudbury – 7:00pm
Erie at Saginaw – 7:05pm
Flint at Sarnia – 7:05pm
Owen Sound at Guelph – 7:30pm
Oshawa at Kitchener – 7:30pm
Barrie at London – 7:30pm – Sportsnet Friday Night Hockey
North Bay at Mississauga – 7:30pm

Saturday, February 20
Niagara at Ottawa – 1:00pm
Windsor at Hamilton – 7:00pm
Sault Ste. Marie at Saginaw – 7:05pm
Oshawa at Barrie – 7:30pm
London at Flint – 7:30pm
Guelph at Owen Sound – 7:30pm

Sunday, February 21
Niagara at Kingston – 12:30pm – CHL on Sportsnet
Peterborough at North Bay – 2:00pm
Mississauga at Sudbury – 2:00pm
Sault Ste. Marie at Sarnia – 2:05pm
Hamilton at Windsor – 2:05pm
Kitchener at Erie – 5:00pm
Ottawa at Oshawa – 6:05pm

CATCH ALL OF THE ACTION ON OHL LIVE