Alan Lyszczarczyk – Player Profile – Sudbury Wolves

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height:  6’1”

Weight:  180 pounds

Date of birth: February 17, 1998, Poland

Position:  Left Wing/Center

Shoots:  Left

OHL Draft: Undrafted – signed as a free agent.

The path that brought Lyszczarczyk to the Sudbury Wolves is a unique one. He spent the prior 4 years playing in the Czech Republic. One would think that would make him eligible for the Canadian Hockey League Import Draft. That was not the case.

Lyszczarczyk’s parents had been living in Willington New Jersey while he was in the Czech Republic and as residents of the United States he was deemed ineligible for the Import Draft and thus became a free agent.

Lyszczarczyk also holds a Canadian citizenship. His father Dariusz was a long time hockey player in his native Poland.

Alan Lyszczarczyk of the Sudbury Wolves. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Alan Lyszczarczyk of the Sudbury Wolves. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Lyszczarczyk was an offensive force in the Czech Republic. Last season in the Czech Under-18 he led the league in scoring with 66 points on 27 goals and 39 assists in 42 games for KLH Chomutov. In 2013-14 he recorded 37 goals and 26 assists in 23 games in the Czech Under-16 before moving up to finish the year with the Under-18 where he scored 20 goals and 10 assists in 19 games.

Lyszczarczyk has a career 70 goals and 66 assists in 58 career Czech Under-16 games and 47 goals and 49 assists in 62 Czech Under-18 games.

Lyszczarczyk’s adjustment both on and off the ice has been a calculated one as the Wolves (especially coach Dave Matsos) did everything right bringing him along. Matsos admits he wasn’t “wowed” when Lyszczarczyk – who needed a translator – arrived. But Matsos put him in a position to succeed and he has not disappointed.

Lyszczarczyk currently has 14 goals and 31 assists in 61 games – good enough for third on the Wolves scoring chart and just 4 points from the leader Mikkel Aagaard and 1 point back of fellow draft eligible rookie Dmitry Sokolov. That places him sixth among OHL rookies in scoring, ahead of the likes of Max Jones – a potential first round pick.

The speedy, skilled winger is dangerous off the rush and driving to the goal from the wing. But it’s his work ethic and dedication to get better from game to game that stands out.

If there was any doubt to Lyszczarczyk’s dedication to his team and his teammates, the answer came when Poland came calling to have him represent his country at the World Junior Hockey Championship’s Group B tournament. With key injuries to Wolves’ forwards at the time, Lyszczarczyk knew he’d be leaving his team in a bind and decided to wait for his next opportunity to represent his country.

Lyszczarczyk was ranked 119th on NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings in January.

OHL Announces February Academic Players of the Month

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the OHL Academic Players of the Month for February 2016, including forward Zach Gallant of the Peterborough Petes and defencemen Nicolas Hague of the Mississauga Steelheads, Markus Phillips of the Owen Sound Attack and Kyle Auger of the Windsor Spitfires.

East Division: Peterborough Petes rookie forward Zach Gallant is the OHL East Division Academic Player of the Month for February after maintaining a 91% average in grade 12 university level functions, data management and healthy active living courses at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School. He is enrolled in grade 11 university english, chemistry and biology this semester and already sits two credits ahead of schedule after earning 18 in his first four semesters of high school. “Zach has a strong work ethic, and matched with solid intellect he is academically successful at whatever he puts his mind to,” said Petes Academic Advisor Kim Driscoll. “The Petes organization is proud of the excellent marks earned by Zach,” added general manager Michael Oke. “He has shown a high level of commitment to his academics and ability to balance both hockey and education.” The 16-year-old has four assists in 43 games with the Petes this season. He was Peterborough’s first round (5th overall) pick in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection.

Central Division: Rookie defenceman Nicolas Hague of the Mississauga Steelheads is the OHL Central Division Academic Player of the Month. The native of Kitchener, ON, completed grade 12 university level english, data management, law and co-op courses at Phillip Pocock Secondary School with an 84.5% average. The 6’5″, 207Ib. rearguard has applied and received early acceptance from a number of Ontario Universities and will commence his full-time post-secondary studies next season while playing in the OHL. Mississauga’s second round (29th overall) pick in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection, Hague has 11 goals, 10 assists and 21 points in 59 games from the blueline this season.

West Division: 16-year-old defenceman Kyle Auger of the Windsor Spitfires is the OHL West Division Academic Player of the Month for February. The Thunder Bay, ON, native finished first semester with an 87% average in university level courses at St. Anne High School. “Kyle is always seeking academic help and striving to do better,” said Spitfires academic advisor Danielle Chevalier. Auger is pursuing a career in business and is described as very hard working and dedicated by his teachers, coaches and teammates. In 24 games with the Spitfires this season, the second round (39th overall) pick in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection has a goal and two assists.

Midwest Division: Rookie blueliner Markus Phillips of the Owen Sound Attack is the OHL Midwest Division Academic Player of the Month for February. The 16-year-old Toronto native has excelled in his university level studies as a grade 11 student at West Hill Secondary School, earning five credits in the first semester. “Markus is an amazingly gifted student athlete,” said Attack academic advisor Sarah Rowe. “He is self-motivated and takes responsibility for his own learning. Teachers have commented on his maturity and absolute dedication to his school work.” Owen Sound’s first round (9th overall) pick in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection, Phillips has two goals, eight assists and 10 points in 54 games this season.

2015-16 OHL Academic Players of the Month:

West Division:
February – Kyle Auger (Windsor Spitfires)
January – Conor Timmins (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
December – Sasha Chmelevski (Sarnia Sting)
November – Brady Gilmour (Saginaw Spirit)
October – Kyle Keyser (Flint Firebirds)

Midwest Division:
February – Markus Phillips (Owen Sound Attack)
January – Cliff Pu (London Knights)
December – Luke Richardson (Kitchener Rangers)
November – Brock Philips (Guelph Storm)
October – Jake Lawr (Erie Otters)

Central Division:
February – Nicolas Hague (Mississauga Steelheads)
January – Brady Pataki (Sudbury Wolves)
December – Stephen Dhillon (Niagara IceDogs)
November – Jacob Ramalho (North Bay Battalion)
October – Ruan Badenhorst (Barrie Colts)

East Division:
February – Zach Gallant (Peterborough Petes)
January – Austen Keating (Ottawa 67’s)
December – Riley Stillman (Oshawa Generals)
November – Sam Field (Kingston Frontenacs)
October – Jack Hanley (Hamilton Bulldogs)

During the 2014-15 season, the CHL proudly awarded 769 graduate players with academic scholarships representing an investment of over $6.2 million this season.  Scholarship Programs throughout the CHL are solely funded by the member clubs of the Western Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League, and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

OHL This Week for March 3-6, 2016

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

OHLThisWeek

Toronto, ON – Just three more weeks until the 2016 Ontario Hockey League playoffs!  10 teams have clinched but lots of exciting battles for position remain with 26 games tonight through Sunday.

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

AT THE RINKS:

Alexander Nylander bobblehead night on Thursday: The first 2,000 fans into the Hershey Centre to catch the Mississauga Steelheads against the Oshawa Generals on Thursday will received a free limited edition Alexander Nylander bobblehead!

Alex DeBrincat poster giveaway on Saturday: The first 1,000 fans into Erie Insurance Arena to see the Erie Otters face the Niagara IceDogs on Saturday will received a free Alex DeBrincat poster!

Faith Night, Family Night in Flint: The Flint Firebirds will be holding their first ever Faith Night on Saturday at home to the Kingston Frontenacs before another Family Night at the Dort Federal Event Center on Sunday at home to the North Bay Battalion. Don’t miss out on Sunday’s post-game skate with the players!

COMMUNITY CORNER:

Attack raise $35,000 through Heartbeats and Hockey Sticks event: The Owen Sound Attack raised $35,000 toward the Owen Sound Cardiac Rehabilitation program through their Heartbeats and Hockey Sticks event on February 6th. Full Story

Derek Rogers commits to Generals: The Oshawa Generals made a special signing on Saturday when 11-year old Derek Rogers signed a one-day contract with the team. Derek plays sledge hockey with the Durham Steelhawks. Full Story

SPITFIRES’ LOGAN BROWN TAKES WEEKLY HONOURS:

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. 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.

OTTERS’ WILLIAMS NAMED VAUGHN CHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK, SETS SINGLE-SEASON WINS RECORD:

Devin Williams of the Erie Otters is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending February 28 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory along with a goals-against-average of 0.50 and save percentage of .973. Williams earns the award for the second time this season allowing just one goal on 37 shots backstopping the top ranked Otters to a pair of victories for a first place record of 47-11-1-0 in the OHL standings. Williams set an Otters single season franchise record on Sunday with his 37th win played before a national Sportsnet audience stopping 17 shots and earning second star honours in a 2-1 triumph over the Niagara IceDogs. A 20-year-old from Saginaw, Michigan, Williams is playing in his fifth career OHL season with the Otters.  He currently leads all OHL netminders with a goals-against-average of 2.19 and is tied for first with a save percentage of .921. 

TIP TOP TAILORS OHL PLAYS OF THE WEEK – WEEK 22:

Arizona Coyotes prospect Dylan Strome cuts through the opposition to headline the 22nd edition of the Tip Top Tailors OHL Plays of the Week! Be sure to head over to fanchoice.ca and cast your vote for Dylan who is this week’s OHL representative in the CHL Fan Choice vote!

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

OHL MOURNS THE LOSS OF ANDY BATHGATE:

The Ontario Hockey League is deeply saddened by the loss of Hockey Hall of Famer Andy Bathgate, 83, who passed away on Friday. A native of Winnipeg, MB, Bathgate played two seasons with the Guelph Biltmores from 1951-53 capturing the Robertson Cup and Memorial Cup in 1952. Bathgate is in an elite class of big goal scorers in hockey history, joining Doug Gilmour as the only other player to have scored game winning goals in both the MasterCard Memorial Cup and Stanley Cup Finals. Full Story

NHL TRADE DEADLINE SEES WOOD DEALT TO ARIZONA:

Though activity at the NHL’s trade deadline didn’t greatly impact the OHL, one player was on the move on Monday. North Bay Battalion defenceman Kyle Wood was involved in a trade that saw the Colorado Avalanche trade him to the Arizona Coyotes along with veteran Alex Tanguay and fellow prospect Conner Bleackley (Red Deer Rebels) in exchange for Kitchener Rangers graduate Mikkel Boedker. Wood was Colorado’s third round (84th overall) pick in the 2014 NHL Draft.

ALUMNI NOTES:

Lindros, Ellis among Ontario Sports Hall of Fame inductees: OHL graduates and NHL standouts Eric Lindros and Ron Ellis are set to be inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame on October 17th. The two long-time forwards are a part of a 2016 induction class that also includes former Toronto Blue Jay Tony Fernandez and basketball standout Leo Rautins. Lindros played three seasons with the Oshawa Generals from 1989-92, winning an OHL championship and MasterCard Memorial Cup title in 1990. Ellis played parts of four seasons with the Toronto Marlboros from 1960-64 before a lengthy NHL career spent with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

21 OHL grads named to initial World Cup of Hockey rosters: A total of 21 OHL graduates have been named to preliminary rosters for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey set to take place in Toronto beginning September 17, 2016. The 21 league alumni were named among the 128 players unveiled on Wednesday who will compete on eight teams in a best-on-best international showcase. Full Story

McDavid named NHL Rookie of the Month: Erie Otters graduate Connor McDavid has been named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for January, one day before coming up with two goals including the overtime winner in Edmonton’s 2-1 win over Buffalo on Tuesday. McDavid recorded five goals and seven assists for 12 points in as many February contests. The 2015 CHL Player of the Year has 12 goals, 19 assists and 31 points in 28 games with the Oilers this season. McDavid played three OHL seasons in Erie from 2012-15, recording 97 goals, 188 assists and 285 points in 166 career regular season contests. McDavid was the recipient of both the Red Tilson Trophy as the league’s Most Outstanding Player and the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as OHL Playoff MVP last season.

Bigras scores first NHL goal: Owen Sound Attack graduate Chris Bigras scored his first career NHL goal in Colorado’s 6-3 loss to Minnesota on Tuesday. The Elmvale, ON, native was playing in his 21st game of the season with the Avs after spending the first part of the season with the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage where he recorded six goals, 13 assists and 19 points in 37 games. Bigras played four seasons in Owen Sound from 2011-15, suiting up in 234 regular season games while becoming the Attack’s franchise scoring leader among defencemen with 35 goals, 120 assists and 155 points and a plus/minus rating of plus-40. He was Colorado’s second round (32nd overall) pick in the 2013 NHL Draft.

Stolarz sets new team record in AHL: London Knights graduate Anthony Stolarz made 51 saves to set a new Lehigh Valley Phantoms franchise record on Wednesday as they defeated the Syracuse Crunch 3-2 in a shootout. The record comes in the Phantoms’ 20th season as a franchise, one that dates back to 1996-97 when they started out as the Philadelphia Phantoms. The Edison, NJ, native is 22-12-5-3 with a 2.46 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage in 37 AHL games this season. He appeared in 55 regular season games over two seasons in London from 2012-14, going 38-8-2-2 with a 2.44 goals-against average, a .924 save percentage and five shutouts. He was an OHL champion in 2013 and was Philadelphia’s second round (45th overall) pick in the 2012 NHL Draft.

Corrente’s OT winner sends Mustangs to OUA West Finals: OHL graduate David Corrente’s overtime winner on Sunday pushed the Western Mustangs past the Toronto Varsity Blues 4-3 to advance to the OUA West Finals with a 2-1 series win. Western meets the reigning champion Guelph Gryphons who defeated the Ryerson Rams 11-3 in game 3 of their semi-final series on Sunday. Carleton meets UQTR in the OUA East finals. A former Oshawa General and Mississauga St. Michael’s Major, Corrente played five OHL seasons spanning 256 regular season games from 2007-12.

KEY WEEKEND MATCHUPS:

Erie Otters (47-11-1-0) vs. London Knights (43-13-2-1)
Thursday March 3 at London

The two top clubs in the Western Conference clash in London on Thursday as the Knights look to seize an opportunity to climb closer to the Midwest Division leading Otters with a win. The Knights are 1-2 against the Otters this season with three meetings left on the schedule including a home-and-home set in games 67 and 68 on March 18th and 19th. London has won five straight at home and features top NHL Draft prospect Matthew Tkachuk on a 10-game point streak that dates back to February 4th. The Otters are trying to put themselves in a position to have the division out of reach by the final weekend of the season, and a big win on Thursday would go a long way toward accomplishing that goal. Erie enters action with wins in four straight.

Windsor Spitfires (36-18-6-0) vs. Sarnia Sting (36-17-5-2)
Friday March 4 at Sarnia

A highly anticipated matchup between two West Division foes goes Friday in Sarnia. The Sting and the Spitfires have been locked in a heated battle for the division for some time now and the race appears to be going right down to the wire. Friday’s meeting between the two clubs is one of three remaining on the schedule. Sarnia holds a 2-1 edge in the season series so far.

Mississauga Steelheads (30-27-1-3) vs. Peterborough Petes (28-26-2-4)
Saturday March 5 at Peterborough

Two clubs looking to overcome poor results last weekend are back in action, with each looking to gain precious ground in the middle of the Eastern Conference. The Steelheads had a pair of forgettable losses against Owen Sound and Barrie and but are still within reach of home ice advantage in the first round if they can pull things together quickly. The Petes have lost four straight and sit just two points behind Mississauga with a shot at securing home ice themselves. The two clubs have split their season series with a win apiece so far. Two meetings remain on the schedule.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE: 

Thursday, March 3
Erie at London – 7:00pm
Owen Sound at North Bay – 7:00pm
Hamilton at Peterborough – 7:05pm
Sault Ste. Marie at Sarnia – 7:05pm
Ottawa at Barrie – 7:30pm

Friday, March 4
Barrie at Niagara – 7:00pm
Owen Sound at Sudbury – 7:00pm
Kingston at Saginaw – 7:05pm
Windsor at Sarnia – 7:05pm
Ottawa at Guelph – 7:30pm
Erie at Kitchener – 7:30pm
Sault Ste. Marie at London – 7:30pm
Oshawa at Mississauga – 7:30pm

Saturday, March 5
Guelph at Hamilton – 7:00pm
Sudbury at Niagara – 7:00pm
Mississauga at Peterborough – 7:05pm
North Bay at Windsor – 7:05pm
Owen Sound at Barrie – 7:30pm
Kingston at Flint – 7:30pm

Sunday, March 6
Sault Ste. Marie at Guelph – 2:00pm
Kitchener at London – 2:00pm
Sudbury at Mississauga – 2:00pm
Kingston at Windsor – 2:05pm – CHL on Sportsnet
Ottawa at Hamilton – 3:00pm
Niagara at Erie – 5:00pm
North Bay at Flint – 5:00pm

CATCH ALL OF THE ACTION ON OHL LIVE

OHL Announces Top Performers of the Month for February

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the Top OHL Performers of the Month for regular season games played in February 2016, including London Knights forward Mitchell Marner, Sarnia Sting defenceman Jakob Chychrun, Mississauga Steelheads rookie Alexander Nylander and Kingston Frontenacs goaltender Jeremy Helvig.

Marner, Mitchell (1)OHL Player of the Month – Mitchell Marner (London Knights):
Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Mitchell Marner of the London Knights is the OHL’s Player of the Month for February after recording 10 goals, 18 assists and a league-leading 28 points in 12 games with a plus/minus rating of plus-14. Marner had points in 11 of his 12 February contests, collecting four points on three separate occasions to help the Knights play to a 9-3-0-0 record. The 18-year-old recorded back-to-back four point efforts, scoring a goal while adding three assists in a 5-0 win over Owen Sound on February 5th before registering four assists in a 4-3 victory over Sarnia on February 7th. Marner had a pair of two-goal efforts coming in a 3-1 win over Niagara on February 12th and again in a 5-2 triumph over Flint on February 15th. He registered a goal and three assists in a 4-0 win in Flint on February 20th. Marner’s three assists in Ottawa on Sunday made him the 12th player in Knights franchise history to reach the 100-point mark in back-to-back seasons.

A native of Thornhill, ON, Marner recently became the third OHL player to reach 100 points this season and currently sits third behind Barrie’s Kevin Labanc and Knights teammate Christian Dvorak with 101 points (38-63–101) in 48 games. Marner represented Canada at the 2016 World Junior Hockey Championship in Finland, leading the team in scoring with four goals, two assists and six points in five games. He was Toronto’s 1st round (4th overall) pick in the 2015 NHL Draft and was originally London’s 1st round (19th overall) pick in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection.

Chychrun, Jakob (5)OHL Defenceman of the Month – Jakob Chychrun (Sarnia Sting): 
Draft eligible defenceman Jakob Chychrun of the Sarnia Sting is the OHL’s Defenceman of the Month for February. Chychrun scored twice and added 11 assists for 13 points in 13 games with a plus/minus rating of plus-6. He had points in nine of his 13 contests with a pair of multi-point outings, highlighted by four assists in a 6-2 win over Barrie on February 26th. Chychrun has points in his last three games, following up his four assists with a goal in a 4-1 win over Owen Sound on February 27th and an assist in a 5-2 win over Guelph on February 28th.

A native of Boca Raton, Florida, Chychrun is fourth among defencemen with 45 points (10-35–45) in 57 games this season, with seven of his 10 goals coming on the powerplay. Chychrun was named to the OHL’s first all-rookie team last season after scoring 16 goals, 17 assists and 33 points in 42 games. He represented Team Cherry at the 2016 BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Vancouver. Chychrun was the first overall pick of the 2014 OHL Priority Selection and is the second ranked North American skater in NHL Central Scouting’s Midterm Rankings.

Nylander, Alexander (1)OHL Rookie of the Month – Alexander Nylander (Mississauga Steelheads): 
For the third time this season, draft eligible Mississauga Steelheads forward Alexander Nylander has been named the OHL’s Rookie of the Month. The Swedish winger recorded two goals, 12 assists and 14 points in 11 February contests, putting together four multi-point performances over the course of the month. Nylander earned second star honours with three assists in Mississauga’s 5-4 win over Erie on Friday, February 12th before proceeding to have multi-point outings the rest of the weekend with a goal and an assist in a 6-2 win in Niagara and a goal and two helpers in a 7-5 win over Sudbury. Nylander’s Rookie of the Month honours follow up recognition in both October and November.

A native of Sodertalje, Sweden, Nylander currently leads all OHL rookies with 28 goals, 44 assists and 72 points in 52 games. He was the third ranked North American skater on NHL Central Scouting’s Midterm Draft Rankings released in January. Nylander put forth an outstanding performance at the 2016 World Junior Hockey Championship, finishing tied for fifth in tournament scoring with four goals, five assists and nine points in seven contests as Sweden placed fourth. He was Mississauga’s 1st round (12th overall) pick in the 2015 CHL Import Draft.

Vaughn OHL Goaltender of the Month – Jeremy Helvig (Kingston Frontenacs): 

Kingston Frontenacs sophomore Jeremy Helvig has been named the OHL’s Goaltender of the Month for February. The 18-year-old appeared in six games, going 6-0-0-0 with a 1.88 goals-against average, a .942 save percentage and one shutout to help the Frontenacs clinch their first East Division title since 1995. Helvig’s sensational February was headlined by his first career OHL shutout in front of a national audience on Sportsnet as he made 32 saves in a 4-0 win over Niagara on February 21st. The 6’2″, 198Ib. netminder closed out the month of February with a 37-save performance in Monday’s 5-2 win over the visiting Ottawa 67’s. Helvig enters the month of March having received star of the game recognition in each of his last three starts. He is the second Kingston goaltender to receive the honours this season after teammate Lucas Peressini was the OHL’s Goaltender of the Month in October.

A native of Markham, ON, Helvig is 16-2-0-1 on the season with a 2.16 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage. He hasn’t lost in regulation since October 30th, a run of 18 consecutive appearances. Since the turn of the new year, Helvig has played to a mark of 9-0-0-0 with a 1.57 goals-against average and a .950 save percentage. He was Kingston’s 3rd round (45th overall) pick in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection.

2015-16 OHL Top Performers of the Month:

Player of the Month:
February – Mitchell Marner (London Knights)
January – Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
December – Brendan Lemieux (Windsor Spitfires)
November – Dylan Strome (Erie Otters)
October – Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)

Defenceman of the Month:
February – Jakob Chychrun (Sarnia Sting)
January – Rasmus Andersson (Barrie Colts)
December – Cam Dineen (North Bay Battalion)
November – Travis Dermott (Erie Otters)
October – Vili Saarijarvi (Flint Firebirds)

Rookie of the Month:
February – Alexander Nylander (Mississauga Steelheads)
January – Cam Dineen (North Bay Battalion)
December – Cam Dineen (North Bay Battalion)
November – Alexander Nylander (Mississauga Steelheads)
October – Alexander Nylander (Mississauga Steelheads)

Vaughn Goaltender of the Month:
February – Jeremy Helvig (Kingston Frontenacs)
January – Michael Giugovaz (Guelph Storm)
December – Devin Williams (Erie Otters)
November – Mackenzie Blackwood (Barrie Colts)
October – Lucas Peressini (Kingston Frontenacs)

Quebec Remparts to Host 2017 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League in association with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and the Quebec Remparts Hockey Club, today announced that the 2017 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will be hosted by the Remparts at Centre Vidéotron on Thursday January 26, 2017.

 The 2017 event will mark the 22nd annual showcase of the CHL’s top-40 NHL draft eligible players featuring talent from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League, and the Western Hockey League competing before hundreds of NHL scouts in attendance.

 “On behalf of the Canadian Hockey League, we are very pleased to announce the return of the Top Prospects Game to Quebec City in 2017,” said CHL President David Branch. “Since 1996 this event has annually featured the next wave of NHL talent showcasing their skills before hundreds of NHL scouts and General Managers.  This event is a special experience for players across the CHL who will undoubtedly enjoy competing in the beautiful new Centre Vidéotron in front of Quebec’s passionate fans.”

 Next season will be the third time the event is hosted by the QMJHL and second time it will be played in Quebec following the 2007 event.  13 other Canadian cities have hosted including Toronto (1996-98, 2000, 2011), Calgary (1999, 2001, 2014), Saskatoon (2002), Kitchener (2003), London (2004), Ottawa (2006), Edmonton (2008), Oshawa (2009), Windsor (2010), Kelowna (2012), Halifax (2013), St. Catharines (2015), and Vancouver (2005, 2016).

 The 2016-17 season marks the 20th campaign for the Remparts since returning to the QMJHL in 1997-98.  This season the club is competing in the brand new Centre Vidéotron and have already established a new franchise record for attendance in a season with over 412,000 fans including an opening night sellout of 18,259 on September 12 against the Rimouski Oceanic.

 The Remparts have had 16 players compete in this event with five of them chosen in the first round of the NHL Draft the same season. That list includes Eric Chouinard (Montreal 1998), Simon Gagne (Philadelphia 1998), Maxime Ouellet (Philadelphia 1999), Angelo Esposito (Pittsburgh 2007), and Mikhail Grigorenko (Buffalo 2012).  In 2007, Esposito represented his hometown Remparts at Colisée Pepsi for a team coached by Scotty Bowman and Jacques Demers who fell 5-3 to a team coached by Pat Burns and Michel Bergeron.  Remparts’ forward Ruslan Bashkirov earned Player of the Game honours for the winning side scoring a pair of goals.

 Since the event was first introduced in 1996 the game has featured 13 players that were selected with the first overall pick in the NHL Draft including Chris Phillips (1996), Joe Thornton (1997), Vincent Lecavalier (1998), Rick Nash (2002), Marc-Andre Fleury (2003), Patrick Kane (2007), Steven Stamkos (2008), John Tavares (2009), Taylor Hall (2010), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2011), Nathan MacKinnon (2013), Aaron Ekblad (2014), and Connor McDavid (2015).

 This season, 35 of the top-60 ranked North American skaters eligible for the 2016 NHL Draft competed on January 28 in Vancouver, BC.  Top ranked Matthew Tkachuk of the London Knights captained Team Orr to a 3-2 victory over Team Cherry that featured number two ranked Jakob Chychrun of the Sarnia Sting.  Pascal Laberge of the Victoriaville Tigres was named Player of the Game with two goals and one assist, competing alongside Pierre-Luc Dubois of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles who scored once with two assists.

 The 2017 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is proudly supported by associate sponsors, Cooper Tires, autoTRADER.ca, and Sherwin Williams.  The game will be broadcast live across Canada on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.

For more information about the event please visit www.bmotopprospects.ca.

CHL Leagues

Hurricanes’ Tyler Wong named CHL Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that forward Tyler Wong of the Lethbridge Hurricanes is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending February 28 after recording 10 points in three games including three goals and seven assists.

Wong’s week was highlighted by a career-high six-point performance last Wednesday night scoring twice with four assists earning second star honours despite a 9-8 shootout loss to the Regina Pats.  He also picked up an assist in a 5-2 loss to the Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday, then finished the week with a three-point effort scoring once with two assists as second star of an 8-4 victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings.  The Hurricanes currently lead the WHL’s Central Division with a 41-20-1-1 record clinching a playoff berth for the first time since the 2008-09 season.

A 20-year-old from Cochrane, AB, Wong is playing in his fourth full WHL season and has already established career-highs in all offensive categories with 37 goals and 42 assists for 79 points in 63 games which puts him eighth overall in WHL scoring.

Also considered for the award this week was 2016 NHL Draft prospect Logan Brown of the Windsor Spitfires who scored four goals and three assists for seven points in three games, and Fabrizio Ricci of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar who scored once with five assists for six points in four games.

2015-16 CHL Regular Season Players of the Week:

Feb. 22 – Feb. 28: Tyler Wong (Lethbridge Hurricanes)
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

Otters’ Devin Williams named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Vaughn

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Devin Williams of the Erie Otters is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending February 28 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory along with a goals-against-average of 0.50 and save percentage of .973.

Williams earns the award for the second time this season allowing just one goal on 37 shots backstopping the top ranked Otters to a pair of victories for a first place record of 47-11-1-0 in the OHL standings.  On Friday night he earned his second shutout of the season making 19 saves and earning second star honours in a 4-0 victory over the North Bay Battalion.  Williams then set an Otters single season franchise record with his 37th win played before a national Sportsnet audience on Sunday stopping 17 shots and earning second star honours in a 2-1 triumph over the Niagara IceDogs.

A 20-year-old from Saginaw, Michigan, Williams is playing in his fifth career OHL season with the Otters.  He currently leads all OHL netminders with a goals-against-average of 2.19 and is tied for first with a save percentage of .921.  Last week he became just the fifth goaltender in OHL history to record 100 career wins.

Also considered for the award this week was Reilly Pickard of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan who posted a 1-1-1 record with a goals-against-average of 1.30 and save percentage of .958, and Landon Bow of the Seattle Thunderbirds who went 2-0-0-0 with a shutout victory posting a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .962.

2015-16 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week:

Feb. 22 – Feb. 28: Devin Williams (Erie Otters)
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

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

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

ALLIANCE’S London Jr. Knights and Waterloo Wolves Officially Qualify for 2016 OHL Cup
5-Teams Advance to OMHA Championship March 4-6

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the fourteenth 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 14

RANK TEAM LEAGUE LAST WEEK WEEKS RANKED
1 Mississauga Rebels GTHL 1 14
2 York Simcoe Express OMHA 2 14
3 Toronto Marlies GTHL 3 14
4 Toronto Jr. Canadiens GTHL 4 14
5 Barrie Jr. Colts OMHA 6 13
6 Toronto Red Wings GTHL 5 14
7 Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs OMHA 7 14
8 Waterloo Wolves ALLIANCE 8 12
9 London Jr. Knights ALLIANCE – 2
10 Southern Tier Admirals OMHA 10 2
Honourable Mention
Kitchener Jr. Rangers ALLIANCE – –
Kingston Frontenacs OMHA – 5
Quinte Red Devils OMHA – –
Don Mills Flyers GTHL 9 11

The London Jr. Knights and the Waterloo Wolves have officially clinched spots in the 2016 OHL Cup by advancing to the ALLIANCE Championship Series.  The Knights defeated the Windsor Jr. Spitfires, while the Wolves defeated the Kitchener Jr. Rangers in league Semi-Final action.  The Spitfires and Rangers will now compete in a Semi-Final Wild Card Series with the winner earning automatic entry into the 2016 OHL Cup, while the losing team will compete in one of five Wild Card Play-In Games for tournament qualification.

The five-team field is also set for the 2016 OMHA Championship weekend March 4-6 in Bowmanville, ON, and features the York Simcoe Express, Barrie Jr. Colts, Southern Tier Admirals, Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs, and host Clarington Toros.  The top four teams following the weekend tournament will automatically qualify for the 2016 OHL Cup, while the fifth place team will compete in one of five Wild Card Play-In Games for tournament qualification.  Also competing for a guaranteed spot in one of the five Wild Card Play-In Games are the OMHA’s SCTA Semi-Finalists the Halton Hurricanes facing off against the Niagara North Stars.

Four teams from the GTHL have already 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.  The Jr. Canadiens are facing the Marlies, and the Rebels are squaring off against the Red Wings in best-of-eight point series.  Also underway is the GTHL Wild Card Series featuring the four teams eliminated from the first round of playoffs including the Don Mills Flyers against the Vaughan Kings, and the Mississauga Senators against the Markham Majors for the opportunity to keep their hopes alive with Wild Card tournament entry.

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.

OHL’s Draft Eligible Statistical Leaders: February

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Another February 29th is over and it’ll be 4 years until the next one. Welcome to March!

Today, we look at the Ontario Hockey League’s draft eligible statistical leaders in a variety of statistical categories. As always, we look at players eligible for the National Hockey League draft for the first time. Those previously passed over are not included – except for goaltenders.

Matthew Tkachuk of the London Knights has gained a somewhat comfortable lead in the points race with 93 points in 48 games. He now holds an 11 point lead over the Erie Otters’ Alex DeBrincat. Adam Mascherin of the Kitchener Rangers continues to climb the board with 73 points and has surpassed Mississauga Steelheads rookie Alexander Nylander’s 72 points.

North Bay Battalion’s fine rookie defenceman Cam Dineen not only leads draft eligible defencemen in points, but all OHL defencemen with 55 points. He’s gained a comfortable lead on fellow rookie defenceman, Mikhail Sergachev of the Windsor Spitfires, who has 47 points. Sarnia Sting’s Jakob Chychrun has come on this month and sits third with 45 points.

Points Leaders
Player Team GP G A Pts
Matthew Tkachuk London Knights 48 23 70 93
Alex DeBrincat Erie Otters 51 43 39 82
Adam Mascherin Kitchener Rangers 56 32 41 73
*Alexander Nylander Mississauga Steelheads 52 28 44 72
Taylor Raddysh Erie Otters 58 20 45 65
Kyle Maksimovich Erie Otters 59 25 39 64
Logan Brown Windsor Spitfires 51 16 46 62
Will Bitten Flint Firebirds 58 26 31 57
Nathan Bastian Mississauga Steelheads 57 19 38 57
Michael McLeod Mississauga Steelheads 50 19 37 56
Goal Scoring Leaders
Player Team GP G GPG
Alex DeBrincat Erie Otters 51 43 0.84
Adam Mascherin Kitchener Rangers 56 32 0.57
*Alexander Nylander Mississauga Steelheads 52 28 0.54
Will Bitten Flint Firebirds 58 26 0.45
Kyle Maksimovich Erie Otters 59 25 0.42
*Dmitry Sokolov Sudbury Wolves 60 24 0.40
Matthew Tkachuk London Knights 48 23 0.48
Assist Leaders
Player Team GP A APG
Matthew Tkachuk London Knights 48 70 1.46
Logan Brown Windsor Spitfires 51 46 0.90
Taylor Raddysh Erie Otters 58 45 0.78
*Alexander Nylander Mississauga Steelheads 52 44 0.85
*Cam Dineen North Bay Battalion 59 43 0.73
Adam Mascherin Kitchener Rangers 56 41 0.73
Alex DeBrincat Erie Otters 51 39 0.76
Defencemen Point Leaders
Player Team GP G A Pts
***Cam Dineen North Bay Battalion 59 12 43 55
*Mikhail Sergachev Windsor Spitfires 59 14 33 47
Jakob Chychrun Sarnia Sting 57 10 35 45
*Olli Juolevi London Knights 48 7 27 34
Benjamin Gleason Hamilton Bulldogs 59 7 26 33
Victor Mete London Knights 59 7 25 32
*Jordan Sambrook Erie Otters 58 9 16 25
Plus/Minus Leaders
Player Team GP +/-
Victor Mete London Knights 59 +46
Matthew Tkachuk London Knights 48 +36
*Olli Juolevi London Knights 48 +31
Kyle Maksimovich Erie Otters 59 +30
Logan Brown Windsor Spitfires 51 +21
*Max Jones London Knights 54 +21
*Cam Dineen North Bay Battalion 59 +20
Penalty Minutes Leaders
Player Team GP PIM M/G
Givani Smith Guelph Storm 56 115 2.05
Logan Brown Windsor Spitfires 57 101 1.77
*Max Jones London Knights 54 94 1.74
Michael Pezzetta Sudbury Wolves 56 89 1.59
Matthew Tkachuk London Knights 48 76 1.58
*Sean Allen Oshawa Generals 39 70 1.79
*Brock Philips Guelph Storm 42 70 1.67
Faceoff Leaders (Wins)
Player Team GP FOA FOW %
Michael McLeod Mississauga Steelheads 50 1117 651 58.3
Logan Brown Windsor Spitfires 51 979 515 52.6
Hayden Verbeek Soo Greyhounds 54 793 400 50.4
Cliff Pu London Knights 54 749 392 52.3
*Domenic Commisso Oshawa Generals 59 720 349 48.5
Michael Pezzetta Sudbury Wolves 56 765 345 45.1
Shootout Leaders
Player Team SOG SOA Goals %
Nicolas Sicoly Guelph Storm 2 2 2 100.0
*Alexander Nylander Mississauga Steelheads 4 4 2 50.0
Adam Timleck Peterborough Petes 2 2 1 50.0
Matyas Kantner Flint Firebirds 2 2 1 50.0
Will Bitten Flint Firebirds 2 2 1 50.0
Shooting Percentage Leaders
Player Team GP Shots Goals SH%
Boris Katchouk Soo Greyhounds 56 111 23 20.72
Will Bitten Flint Firebirds 58 127 26 20.47
Alex DeBrincat Erie Otters 51 221 43 19.46
Kyle Maksimovich Erie Otters 59 129 25 19.38
*Alexander Nylander Mississauga Steelheads 52 166 28 16.87
Goaltenders Leaders – Goals Against Average
Player Team GP Min GA Avg
Jeremy Helvig Kingston Frontenacs 22 1221 44 2.16
Tyler Parsons London Knights 42 2445 99 2.43
*Stephen Dhillon Niagara Ice Dogs 23 1257 59 2.82
Jeremy Brodeur Oshawa Generals 48 2796 132 2.83
Leo Lazarev Ottawa 67’s 41 2356 111 2.83
Evan Cormier Saginaw Spirit 53 2960 175 3.55
Joseph Raaymakers Soo Greyhounds 25 1401 85 3.64
Connor Hicks Hamilton Bulldogs 27 1492 96 3.86
Zack Bowman Sudbury Wolves 33 1750 129 4.42
Troy Timpano Sudbury Wolves 30 1699 128 4.52
Dylan Wells Peterborough Petes 26 1451 113 4.67
Goaltending Leaders – Save Percentage
Player Team GP SH SVS SV%
Jeremy Helvig Kingston Frontenacs 22 625 581 0.930
Tyler Parsons London Knights 42 1211 1112 0.918
Jeremy Brodeur Oshawa Generals 48 1421 1289 0.907
*Stephen Dhillon Niagara Ice Dogs 23 608 549 0.903
Leo Lazarev Ottawa 67’s 41 1120 1009 0.901
Evan Cormier Saginaw Spirit 53 1632 1457 0.893
Joseph Raaymakers Soo Greyhounds 25 792 707 0.893
Connor Hicks Hamilton Bulldogs 27 868 772 0.889
Zack Bowman Sudbury Wolves 33 1106 977 0.883
Troy Timpano Sudbury Wolves 30 1094 966 0.883
Dylan Wells Peterborough Petes 26 864 751 0.869
*Rookie
**Leads League

OHL Draft Eligible Player of the Month for February: Tyler Parsons

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

London Knights’ goaltender Tyler Parsons has turned it up as we get closer to the playoffs and a battle for top spot in the Eastern Conference.

Tyler Parsons of the London Knights. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Tyler Parsons of the London Knights. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Parsons posted a 7-2-0 record with 1.90 goals against average and an even more sparkling .934 save percentage with one shutout in February. Sure he plays for the high flying Knights, but consider this: his two losses (3-2 to Niagara and 2-1 to Sarnia) he posted save percentages of .912 and .941. A little more goal support and he could have run the table in February. He was named the game’s first star in two of his starts in February.

On the season, Parsons now has a 31-8-2-1 record with 2.43 goals against average and .918 save percentage with 4 shutouts.

Also getting consideration was Parsons’ teammate Matthew Tkachuk who put up a whopping 7 goals and 16 assists in just 10 games. Alex DeBrincat of the Erie Otters also received some consideration with 7 goals and 10 assists in 12 games for the Otters.

Previous winners

January – Cam Dineen

December – Cam Dineen

November – Matthew Tkachuk

October – Alex DeBrincat

September – Matthew Tkachuk