Otters’ Anthony Cirelli named CHL Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Anthony Cirelli of the Erie Otters is the CHL Player of the Week for the playoff week ending April 30 after scoring four goals and five assists for nine points in four games with a plus-minus rating of plus-6.

Cirelli helped the Otters earn an OHL Western Conference title claiming the Wayne Gretzky Trophy with a 4-2 series win over the Owen Sound Attack with a trio of multi-point performances in the final three games.  In Game 3 last Monday he contributed an assist despite the 6-3 loss, then scored a goal and an assist in Game 4 on Wednesday earning first star honours as the Otters tied the series 2-2 with a 4-3 victory.  Cirelli’s play was again impactful in Game 5 on Friday with two assists in the 4-2 win, then in Game 6 on Sunday helped clinch the series with a hat-trick and an assist as first star of the 7-2 win.  The Otters have now advanced to the OHL Championship Series where they will face the Mississauga Steelheads beginning Thursday in Erie.

Anthony Cirelli of the Erie Otters. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Anthony Cirelli of the Erie Otters. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

A 19-year-old from Woodbridge, ON, Cirelli is playing in his third OHL season and first with the Otters after being acquired from the Oshawa Generals in January.  In 17 playoff games he ranks fifth in scoring with 23 points including 13 goals and 10 assists.  In 25 games with Erie he scored 12 goals and 18 assists for 30 points bringing his 2016-17 totals to a career-high 25 goals and 39 assists for 64 points in 51 games.  The third round pick of the Lightning helped the Generals capture a 2015 OHL Championship and a 2015 Mastercard Memorial Cup title scoring the overtime winner against the Kelowna Rockets in Quebec City.

Also considered for the award this week was Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Adam Brooks of the Regina Pats who scored one goal and seven assists for eight points in four games advancing to the WHL Championship Series with a 4-2 series win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes.  In addition, Ottawa Senators prospect Thomas Chabot of the Saint John Sea Dogs scored twice with four assists for six points in four games advancing to the QMJHL Final with a 4-2 series win over the Chicoutimi Sagueneens.

2016-17 CHL Post-Season Players of the Week:
Apr. 24 – Apr. 30: Anthony Cirelli (Erie Otters)
Apr. 17 – Apr. 23: Alex Barré-Boulet (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)
Apr. 10 – Apr. 16: Reid Gardiner (Kelowna Rockets)
Apr. 3 – Apr. 9: Giorgio Estephan (Lethbridge Hurricanes)
Mar. 27 – Apr. 2: Ethan Bear (Seattle Thunderbirds)
Mar. 20 – Mar. 26: Sam Steel (Regina Pats)

2016-17 CHL Regular Season Players of the Week:

Mar. 13 – Mar. 19: Brandon Hagel (Red Deer Rebels)
Mar. 6 – Mar. 12: Daniel Sprong (Charlottetown Islanders)
Feb. 27 – Mar. 5: Gabriel Vilardi (Windsor Spitfires)
Feb. 20 – Feb. 26: Michael McLeod (Mississauga Steelheads)
Feb. 13 – Feb. 19: Christophe Boivin (Acadie-Bathurst Titan)
Feb. 6 – Feb. 12: Mathew Barzal (Seattle Thunderbirds)
Jan. 30 – Feb. 5: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Jan. 23 – Jan. 29: Tyler Boland (Rimouski Oceanic)
Jan. 16 – Jan. 22: Alexis D’Aoust (Shawinigan Cataractes)
Jan. 9 – Jan. 15: Kole Sherwood (Flint Firebirds)
Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Brayden Burke (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Adam Brooks (Regina Pats)
Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Vitalii Abramov (Gatineau Olympiques)
Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Hayden Hodgson (Saginaw Spirit)
Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Sergey Zborovskiy (Regina Pats)
Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Jayden Halbgewachs (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Alexander Katerinakis (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Nico Hischier (Halifax Mooseheads)
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Bobby MacIntyre (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Kale Clague (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Jeremy Bracco (Kitchener Rangers)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Cameron Askew (Moncton Wildcats)
Sept. 26 – Oct. 2: Sam Steel (Regina Pats)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 25: Kameron Kielly (Charlottetown Islanders)

Steelheads’ Matthew Mancina named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Matthew Mancina of the Mississauga Steelheads is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the playoff week ending April 30 after posting a 2-0 record including a shutout victory with a goals-against-average of 0.40 and save percentage of .981.

Mancina earns the award for a second straight week after backstopping the Steelheads to an OHL Eastern Conference title earning the Bobby Orr Trophy following a 4-0 series sweep of the Peterborough Petes.  In his two starts last week Mancina made 52 saves including 28 in Game 3 of the series last Monday in a 2-1 double overtime victory, then turned aside all 24 shots he faced on Wednesday in Game 4 earning first star honours in the 7-0 shutout.  The Steelheads will now face the Erie Otters in the OHL Championship Series beginning Thursday in Erie.

Matthew Mancina of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Matthew Mancina of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

A recently turned 21-year-old from Tecumseh, Ont., Mancina is playing in his fourth OHL season but first with the Steelheads after being acquired from the Petes prior to the 2016-17 campaign.  So far this post-season he carries an 8-1 record with a goals-against-average of 1.90 and save percentage of .924 with two shutouts.  Originally a third round choice of the Guelph Storm in the 2012 OHL Priority Selection, Mancina’s OHL tenure has included 157 regular season games including 76 victories between his three clubs.

Also considered for the award this week was Florida Panthers prospect Samuel Montembeault of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada who posted a 3-0 record stopping 84 shots with a goals-against-average of 2.67 and save percentage of .913 advancing to the QMJHL Final with a 4-1 series win over the Charlottetown Islanders.  In addition, rookie Carl Stankowski of the Seattle Thunderbirds went 3-1 stopping 119 shots with a goals-against-average of 2.26 and save percentage of .930 advancing to the WHL Championship Series with a 4-2 series win over the Kelowna Rockets.

2016-17 Vaughn CHL Playoff Goaltenders of the Week:

Apr. 24 – Apr. 30: Matthew Mancina (Mississauga Steelheads)
Apr. 17 – Apr. 23: Matthew Mancina (Mississauga Steelheads)
Apr. 10 – Apr. 16: Dylan Wells (Peterborough Petes)
Apr. 3 – Apr. 9: Joseph Raaymakers (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Mar. 27 – Apr. 2: Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips)
Mar. 20 – Mar. 26: Kyle Jessiman (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles)

2016-17 Vaughn CHL Regular Season Goaltenders of the Week:
Mar. 13 – Mar. 19: Cole Kehler (Portland Winterhawks)
Mar. 6 – Mar. 12: Callum Booth (Saint John Sea Dogs)
Feb. 27 – Mar. 5: Matthew Villalta (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Feb. 20 – Feb. 26: Zach Sawchenko (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Feb. 13 – Feb. 19: Zach Sawchenko (Moose Jaw Warriors)

Feb. 6 – Feb. 12: Brodan Salmond (Kelowna Rockets)
Jan. 30 – Feb. 5: Stuart Skinner (Lethbridge Hurricanes)
Jan. 23 – Jan. 29: Jeremy Helvig (Kingston Frontenacs)
Jan. 16 – Jan. 22: Matthew Welsh (Charlottetown Islanders)
Jan. 9 – Jan. 15: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)
Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Francis Leclerc (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)
Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Griffen Outhouse (Victoria Royals)
Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Dylan Wells (Peterborough Petes)
Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)
Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Connor Ingram (Kamloops Blazers)
Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips)
Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Matthew Villalta (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Patrick Dea (Edmonton Oil Kings)
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Zach Sawchenko (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Troy Timpano (Erie Otters)
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Reilly Pickard (Acadie-Bathurst Titan)
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Ryan Kubic (Vancouver Giants)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Logan Flodell (Saskatoon Blades)
Sept. 26 – Oct. 2: Samuel Harvey (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 25: Liam Herbst (Guelph Storm)

Otters’ Anthony Cirelli named Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Anthony Cirelli of the Erie Otters is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the playoff week ending April 30 after recording nine points in four games scoring four goals and five assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-6.

Anthony Cirelli of the Erie Otters. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Anthony Cirelli of the Erie Otters. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Cirelli earns the award for a second time this post-season after producing three straight multi-point performances in three wins for the Otters who captured the Wayne Gretzky Trophy with a 4-2 series win against the Owen Sound Attack in the Western Conference Championship Series.  Cirelli chipped in with one assist despite a 6-3 loss in last Monday’s Game 3, then earned first star honours in Wednesday’s Game 4 with a goal and an assist as the Otters tied the series 2-2 with a 4-3 triumph in Owen Sound.  His strong play continued with two assists in Friday’s Game 5 leading to a 4-2 victory, then peaked in Sunday’s Game 6 series finale delivering a hat-trick plus an assist as first star of the 7-2 win.  This marks the third Wayne Gretzky Trophy for the Otters following Western Conference titles in 2015 and 2002.  They now advance to the Rogers OHL Championship Series against the Mississauga Steelheads for the J. Ross Robertson Cup beginning Thursday in Erie.

A 19-year-old from Woodbridge, ON, Cirelli is playing in his third OHL season and first with the Otters after being acquired from the Oshawa Generals in January.  In 17 playoff games he ranks fifth in scoring with 23 points including 13 goals and 10 assists.  In 25 games with Erie he scored 12 goals and 18 assists for 30 points bringing his 2016-17 totals to a career-high 25 goals and 39 assists for 64 points in 51 games.  The third round pick of the Lightning in the 2015 NHL Draft will be playing in his second OHL Championship Series after winning the 2015 title along with a Mastercard Memorial Cup with the Generals.

Watch video highlights of Cirelli and the Otters against the Attack in Game 4, Game 5, and Game 6 of the Western Conference Championship Series.

Also considered for the award this week was Otters captain and Arizona Coyotes prospect Dylan Strome with two goals and three assists for five points in four games, along with Steelheads captain and New Jersey Devils prospect Michael McLeod who scored twice with two assists for four points in two games.  In goal, Matthew Mancina backstopped the Steelheads to an Eastern Conference title capturing the Bobby Orr Trophy with a 4-0 series win over the Peterborough Petes.  In his two games last week he made 52 saves in two victories including one by shutout for an overall goals-against-average of 0.40 and save percentage of .981.

2016-17 Pioneer Energy OHL Playoff Players of the Week:

Apr. 24 – Apr. 30: Anthony Cirelli (Erie Otters)
Apr. 17 – Apr. 23: Matthew Mancina (Mississauga Steelheads)
Apr. 10 – Apr. 16: Dylan Wells (Peterborough Petes)
Apr. 3 – Apr. 9: Joseph Raaymakers (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Mar. 27 – Apr. 2: Michael McLeod (Mississauga Steelheads)
Mar. 20 – Mar. 26: Anthony Cirelli (Erie Otters)

2016-17 Pioneer Energy OHL Regular Season Players of the Week:

Mar. 13 – Mar. 19: Jacob Ingham (Mississauga Steelheads)
Mar. 6 – Mar. 12: Petrus Palmu (Owen Sound Attack)
Feb. 27 – Mar. 5: Gabriel Vilardi (Windsor Spitfires)
Feb. 20 – Feb. 26: Michael McLeod (Mississauga Steelheads)
Feb. 13 – Feb. 19: Joseph Murdaca (Erie Otters)
Feb. 6 – Feb. 12: Spencer Watson (Mississauga Steelheads)
Jan. 30 – Feb. 5: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Jan. 23 – Jan. 29: Jeremy Helvig (Kingston Frontenacs)
Jan. 16 – Jan. 22: Hayden Hodgson (Saginaw Spirit)
Jan. 9 – Jan. 15: Kole Sherwood (Flint Firebirds)
Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Santino Centorame (Owen Sound Attack)
Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Michael McNiven (Owen Sound Attack)
Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Dylan Wells (Peterborough Petes)
Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)
Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Boris Katchouk (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Jeremy Bracco (Kitchener Rangers)
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Jonathan Ang (Peterborough Petes)
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Troy Timpano (Erie Otters)
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Max Jones (London Knights)
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Jeremy Bracco (Kitchener Rangers)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Logan Brown (Windsor Spitfires)
Sept. 26 – Oct. 2: Joseph Raaymakers (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 25: Matt Luff (Hamilton Bulldogs)