CHL Announces Weekly Award Winners

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Greyhounds’ Morgan Frost named CHL Player of the Week 

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Philadelphia Flyers prospect Morgan Frost of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending December 17 after scoring four goals and four assists for eight points in three games with a plus-minus rating of plus-9. 

Frost extended his personal point-streak to 11 with a trio of multi-point performances last week that helped the top ranked Greyhounds wrap up the first half of the 2017-18 season riding a 20-game winning-streak.  He earned first star honours on Wednesday with two goals in a 4-1 win over the Flint Firebirds, then notched two assists on Friday in a 4-3 victory against the Kitchener Rangers.  His top performance came Saturday in Guelph with his second four-point effort of the season with two goals and two assists as second star of a 7-1 win over the Storm. 

An 18-year-old from Aurora, Ont., Frost is playing in his third season with the Greyhounds who chose him in the fourth round of the 2015 OHL Priority Selection.  Frost ranks third in OHL scoring with 19 goals and 36 assists for 55 points in 33 games and carries a plus-minus rating of plus-42 which is highest in the entire CHL.  He was selected in the first round, 27th overall, by the Flyers in the 2017 NHL Draft and was signed to an entry-level contract in August. 

Also considered for the award this week was Nolan Volcan of the Seattle Thunderbirds with two goals and five assists for seven points in two games, and Rémy Anglehart of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada who scored five goals in two games. 

2017-18 CHL Players of the Week:

Dec. 11 – Dec. 17: Morgan Frost (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Dec. 4 – Dec. 10: Stelio Mattheos (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Nov. 27 – Dec. 3: Alex Barré-Boulet (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)
Nov. 20 – Nov. 26: Cody Glass (Portland Winterhawks)
Nov. 13 – Nov. 19: Cliff Pu (London Knights)
Nov. 6 – Nov. 12: Aleksi Heponiemi (Swift Current Broncos)
Oct. 30 – Nov. 5: Albert Michnac (Mississauga Steelheads)
Oct. 23 – Oct. 29: Aaron Luchuk (Windsor Spitfires)
Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: Drake Batherson (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles)
Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Tyler Soy (Victoria Royals)
Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Kale Clague (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Sept. 25 – Oct. 1: Tyler Steenbergen (Swift Current Broncos)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 24: Kole Lind (Kelowna Rockets)

Olympiques’ Tristan Bérubé named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week 

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Tristan Bérubé of the Gatineau Olympiques is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending December 17 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .970. 

Bérubé turned aside 65 shots last week backstopping the Olympiques to a pair of victories as they enter the holiday break with eight straight wins and an overall record of 20-10-2-2 just four points shy of first place.  He earned first star honours on Wednesday with 37 saves as part of a 4-1 win over the Drummondville Voltigeurs, then made 28 saves on Sunday in an historic 4-1 outdoor victory against the Ottawa 67’s.  Sunday’s game was the CHL’s seventh outdoor contest but first played between interleague competition before over 11,000 fans in the nation’s capital. 

An 18-year-old from La Pocatière, Quebec, Bérubé is playing in his second season with the Olympiques after being a sixth round choice of the Voltigeurs in the 2015 QMJHL Entry Draft.  He currently carries a 12-4-1-2 record but leads all QMJHL netminders with a goals-against-average of 2.00 and save percentage of .928. 

Also considered for the award this week was David Tendeck of the Vancouver Giants who posted a 2-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory stopping 61 shots for a goals-against-average of 0.50 and save percentage of .984.  In the OHL, New Jersey Devils prospect Evan Cormier posted a 2-1-0-0 record including a shutout victory with a goals-against-average of 1.80 and save percentage of .955 while becoming the Saginaw Spirit’s all-time shutout leader with six. 

2017-18 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week:

Dec. 11 – Dec. 17: Tristan Bérubé (Gatineau Olympiques)
 Dec. 4 – Dec. 10: Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips)
Nov. 27 – Dec. 3: Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips)
Nov. 20 – Nov. 26: Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips)
Nov. 13 – Nov. 19: Anthony Morrone (Victoriaville Tigres)
Nov. 6 – Nov. 12: Justin Fazio (Sarnia Sting)
Oct. 30 – Nov. 5: Cole Kehler (Portland Winterhawks)
Oct. 23 – Oct. 29: Dustin Wolf (Everett Silvertips)
Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: Samuel Harvey (Rouyn-Noranada Huskies)
Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Logan Flodell (Swift Current Broncos)
Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Cole Kehler (Portland Winterhawks)
Sept. 25 – Oct. 1: Dereck Baribeau (Quebec Remparts)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 24: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)

OHL Cup Powered by Under Armour Minor Midget Top-10 Rankings

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the fifth edition of the weekly minor midget rankings for the 2018 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament powered by Under Armour and hosted by the Greater Toronto Hockey League.

OHL Cup

The 2018 OHL Cup powered by Under Armour and hosted by the GTHL is scheduled for March 13-19 and will feature 20 teams from across Ontario and the United States showcasing many of the top players eligible for the 2018 OHL Priority Selection.  All games will be played at Scotiabank Pond in Toronto until the Championship Final moves to the Mattamy Athletic Centre on Monday March 19 where it will be broadcasted nationally on Sportsnet.

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.

Minor Midget Rankings for the 2018 OHL Cup powered by Under Armour – Week 5

RANK TEAM LEAGUE LAST WEEK WEEKS RANKED
1 Toronto Marlboros GTHL 1 5
2 Oakville Rangers OMHA 2 5
3 Mississauga Reps GTHL 5 5
4 Vaughan Kings GTHL 4 5
5 Barrie Colts OMHA 3 5
6 Don Mills Flyers GTHL 7 5
7 Cambridge Hawks ALLIANCE 6 5
8 Niagara North Stars OMHA 8 4
9 Detroit Little Caesars U15 USA 9 5
10 York Simcoe Express OMHA – 3
   
  Honourable Mention:  
  Toronto Jr. Canadiens GTHL – –
  Peterborough Petes OMHA 10 2
  North Bay Trappers NOHA – –

This week the Mississauga Reps climb two spots while the Don Mills Flyers move up one spot as both GTHL clubs ride four-game winning-streaks.  The OMHA’s York Simcoe Express also re-enter the rankings after a big win over the Barrie Colts who drop two spots to number five.

Tournament Structure:

16 of the 20 spots in the 2018 OHL Cup powered by Under Armour are guaranteed through league competition.  The 16 guaranteed spots continue to include all four GTHL Semi-Finalists, and the top four teams that place at the OMHA Championship.  Three teams from the ALLIANCE will still be guaranteed a spot in the tournament including the Champion and Finalist, along with the winner of a best-of-three Semi-Final Wild Card Series to be played between the losers of the two league Semi-Finals.  Also as in past years, two tournament entries are reserved for United States competition, while both an HNO and NOHA representative will also compete.  For the second straight season the final guaranteed spot will be awarded to HEO but represented by their previous year Bantam Championship team who will be reassembled for tournament competition.  This season, HEO’s entry will be members of the 2017 Bantam Champion Ottawa Jr. 67’s.

Wild Card Games:

The final four entries at the 2018 OHL Cup powered by Under Armour will be Wild Cards determined among eight teams that will play a one game ‘win and in’ scenario.  The eight competing teams aiming for the final four tournament spots will continue to include the fifth place team at the OMHA Championship, and the loser of the ALLIANCE Semi-Final Wild Card Series.  As introduced in 2016, two spots in Wild Card games will be reserved for GTHL teams.  The two competing GTHL teams will be determined through a pair of Wild Card Play-In Series matchups involving the four GTHL teams who qualified for the playoffs but lost in the first round.  As introduced in 2017, one spot in a Wild Card will also be reserved for the winner of an OMHA SCTA Consolation Game that features both teams who lost in the SCTA Tournament Semi-Final.  The OMHA teams eligible for this matchup will be determined annually based on the league not hosting the OMHA Championship.  Finally, the three remaining teams who will compete in the Wild Card matchups will be named by the Tournament Selection Committee.  The Committee will evaluate and review a team’s post-season success as the first criteria for selection, with additional criteria to include regular season play and tournament play.  All four Wild Card games will take place on Tuesday March 13 with specific matchups and times of play to be determined by random draw among the eight competing teams on Tuesday March 6.

History:

Last season the Mississauga Reps captured their first OHL Cup title, defeating the Toronto Nationals 3-2 on Dennis Golovatchev’s late game winner with nine seconds remaining in the third period.  Current Kitchener Rangers forward Mike Petizian led the showcase with 13 points (5-8—13) in seven games to earn the Tim Adams Memorial Trophy as tournament MVP.

The 2017 OHL Priority Selection featured 15 players chosen in the first round who competed for the OHL Cup including Ryan Suzuki (London Jr. Knights – 1st overall Barrie Colts), Tag Bertuzzi (TPH Hockey – 2nd overall Guelph Storm), Brandon Coe (Toronto Nationals – 3rd overall North Bay Battalion), Nicholas Porco (Vaughan Kings – 4th overall Saginaw Spirit), Philip Tomasino (Mississauga Rebels – 5th overall Niagara IceDogs), Graeme Clarke (Toronto Marlboros – 6th overall Ottawa 67’s), Blake Murray (Whitby Wildcats – 7th overall Sudbury Wolves), Jack Hughes (Toronto Marlboros – 8th overall Mississauga Steelheads), Jamieson Rees (Mississauga Reps – 9th overall Sarnia Sting), Ethan Keppen (Toronto Nationals – 10th overall Flint Firebirds), Connor McMichael (Ajax-Pickering Raiders – 11th overall Hamilton Bulldogs), Cody Morgan (Toronto Jr. Canadiens – 12th overall Kingston Frontenacs), Thomas Harley (Vaughan Kings – 14th overall Mississauga Steelheads), Nathan Staios (Vaughan Kings – 17th overall Windsor Spitfires) and Lucas Rowe (Mississauga Reps – 18th overall London Knights).

Notable OHL Cup graduates currently playing in the NHL include Travis Konecny (Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs/Philadelphia Flyers), Mitch Marner (Vaughan Kings/Toronto Maple Leafs), Connor McDavid (Toronto Marlboros/Edmonton Oilers), Max Domi (Don Mills Flyers/Arizona Coyotes), Sean Monahan (Mississauga Rebels/Calgary Flames), Taylor Hall (Greater Kingston Frontenacs/New Jersey Devils), Tyler Seguin (Toronto Nationals/Dallas Stars), John Tavares (Toronto Marlboros/New York Islanders), P.K Subban (Markham Islanders/Nashville Predators), and Steven Stamkos (Markham Waxers/Tampa Bay Lightning).

2018 marks the second season of a three-year partnership between the OHL and GTHL with Under Armour that includes title sponsorship of the OHL Cup Showcase Tournament.  The OHL and GTHL are also in the second season of a five-year partnership extension announced in 2017 that ensures the event will continue to be hosted by the GTHL through 2021.

For more information, please visit ohlcup.ca.ohlcup.ca

Greyhounds’ Morgan Frost named OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Philadelphia Flyers prospect Morgan Frost of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds is the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week for the week ending December 17 after leading the league with eight points in three games including four goals and four assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-9. 

Morgan Frost of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Morgan Frost of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Frost wrapped up the first half of the 2017-18 season with three-straight multi-point performances extending his personal point-streak to 11 while helping extend the team’s winning-streak to 20.  On Wednesday night he earned first star honours with two goals in a 4-1 win over the Flint Firebirds, then contributed two assists on Friday as the Greyhounds squeaked out a victory over the Kitchener Rangers by a 4-3 score in the game’s dying seconds.  His week wrapped up Saturday with his second four-point effort of the season netting two goals and two assists as second star of a 7-1 win over the Guelph Storm.  The Greyhounds enter the holiday break with a 29-3-2-0 record and are just five wins away from equalling the 1983-84 Rangers who produced 25 consecutive wins. 

An 18-year-old from Aurora, Ont., Frost is playing in his third season with the Greyhounds who chose him in the fourth round of the 2015 OHL Priority Selection.  He currently ranks third in OHL scoring with 19 goals and 36 assists for 55 points in 33 games and carries a league-high plus-minus rating of plus-42.  Last season he scored 20 goals and 42 assists for 62 points in 67 games before being selected by the Flyers in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft.  Frost was signed by Philadelphia to a three-year entry-level contract in August. 

Watch video highlights of Frost and the Greyhounds against the Firebirds, Rangers, and Storm. 

Also considered for the award this week was Greyhounds’ defenceman Mac Hollowell who scored once with six assists for seven points in three games, and Kyle Maksimovich of the Erie Otters who scored four goals and two assists for six points in three games.  In goal, New Jersey Devils prospect Evan Cormier of the Saginaw Spirit posted a 2-1-0-0 record including a shutout victory with a goals-against-average of 1.80 and save percentage of .955 while becoming the club’s all-time shutout leader with six.

2017-18 OHL ‘On the Run’ Players of the Week:

Dec. 11 – Dec. 17: Morgan Frost (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Dec. 4 – Dec. 10: Justin Brazeau (North Bay Battalion)
Nov. 27 – Dec. 3: Joseph Garreffa (Kitchener Rangers)
Nov. 20 – Nov. 26: Serron Noel (Oshawa Generals)
Nov. 13 – Nov. 19: Cliff Pu (London Knights)
Nov. 6 – Nov. 12: Ryan Merkley (Guelph Storm)
Oct. 30 – Nov. 5: Albert Michnac (Mississauga Steelheads)
Oct. 23 – Oct. 29: Aaron Luchuk (Windsor Spitfires)
Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia Sting)
Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Brady Hinz (Sarnia Sting)
Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Nick Suzuki (Owen Sound Attack)
Sept. 25 – Oct. 1: Jonathan Ang (Peterborough Petes)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 24: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)

 

Canadian roster set for 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Canada has taken a giant step towards Buffalo, naming the 22 players who will wear red and white.

Source: Canadian roster set for 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship

Greyhounds Could be Heading to Something Special

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Eighteen.

That’s the number of consecutive games the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds had won heading into last nights’ action. Their opponent was none other than the Kitchener Rangers, the team that currently holds the record of consecutive games won at twenty-five, who accomplished the feat from January 11 to March 24, 1984.

Soo_Greyhounds

But two other win streaks stand between the Greyhounds and the Rangers’ record. The Barrie Colts strung together twenty-two victories from October 14 to December 9, 2009. Most recently. The London Knights knocked on the Rangers’ door when they put together 24 wins from November 2, to December 31, 2012.

Last night it looked as though the streak might come to an end. The Rangers dominated territorial play and were it not for some spectacular saves by Matthew Villalta, the Rangers could have held a lead after one period. Instead, they finished the frame scoreless. The Greyhounds had trouble with the Rangers’ speed, forecheck and their cycle game and the 8-7 shot advantage held in the period was not indicative of the play.

The second period started with more of the same. Adam Mascherin finally put the Rangers on the board one second shy of the eight-minute mark of the second. Just over a minute later, the Rangers would go on the first powerplay of the night. While on that powerplay, Greg Meireles would go in on a partial breakaway and get taken down and would be awarded a penalty shot. Meireles went in with speed, and just as he was about to go on his backhand, the puck hopped over his stick and he lost control.

However, just fifty seconds after the missed penalty shot, Rickard Hogg would put the Rangers up 2-0. They seemed in control and it was their game to lose at that point.

Despite missing Boris Katchouk and Conor Timmins who were at Team Canada’s camp (and named to the final roster last night), the Greyhounds are still a dangerous team and you should never count them out.

Just over four minutes after Hugg’s goal, The Greyhounds got on the board on a Noah Carroll goal. It took just fifty-five seconds for the Rangers to restore their two-goal lead as Connor Bunnaman scored one what was somewhat of a fluky goal. But they all count.

Again, never count the Greyhounds out. With a minute-ten remaining in the frame, Keeghan Howdeshell pulled the Greyhounds back within one and the period would end with the Rangers up 3-2.

In the third period, you could sense some urgency in the Greyhounds’ game and the Rangers departed from their game plan that got them ahead. They seemed at times to sit back and wait for the Greyhounds to come at them, sometimes not sending a forechecker in and waiting in the neutral zone.

At 13:50 of the third, Mac Hollowell scored a controversial goal as the referee’s missed a high sticking penalty and the Greyhounds would capitalize.

Just as it looked like we were heading to overtime, Howdeshell scored his second of the game with just 2.9 seconds remaining on the clock.

That now leaves the Greyhounds needing six victories to tie the longest winning steak in Ontario Hockey League history. So, what is next? Here’s a look at the Greyhounds six next opponents:

December 16 at Guelph Storm

December 28 at Saginaw Spirit

December 29 versus Flint Firebirds

December 30 versus Guelph Storm

January 4 at Mississauga Steelheads

January 5 at Oshawa Generals

And should they win those six games, the potential record breaking game would be January 7, 2018 versus the Storm in Guelph.

Good luck to the Soo Greyhounds.

CHL Announces Top 10 Rankings

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Top 10

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the week 13 edition of the CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2017-18 season.  The weekly rankings of the CHL’s Top-10 teams are selected by a panel of National Hockey League scouts.

CHL Top 10 Rankings – Week 13

Rank: Team: Last Week Rank: Number of Weeks Ranked:
1 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (26-3-2-0) 1 13
2 Moose Jaw Warriors (26-5-1-1) 2 11
3 Sarnia Sting (24-6-2-0) 3 10
4 Brandon Wheat Kings (23-7-0-1) 7 4
5 Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (21-7-2-0) 5 13
6 Swift Current Broncos (23-7-2-0) 6 10
7 Rimouski Oceanic (20-7-4-0) 10 5
8 Portland Winterhawks (21-9-0-1) 4 13
9 Drummondville Voltigeurs (21-9-1-1) 8 5
10 Hamilton Bulldogs (18-7-3-3) 9 3
Honourable Mention:
Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (18-7-4-2) – 3
Kitchener Rangers (20-10-2-0) – 1
Acadie-Bathurst Titan (18-8-4-2) – 2

2018 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Rosters Announced

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

40 top NHL Draft eligible CHL players will compete January 25, 2018, in Guelph

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League in association with the host Guelph Storm Hockey Club, and title partner Sherwin-Williams, today announced the 40 players that will compete in the 2018 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game at Sleeman Centre on Thursday January 25, 2018.

Top Prospects Game

40 players from across the Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and Western Hockey League will compete in the 23rd annual showcase of the CHL’s top prospects eligible for the NHL Draft.  The 40 CHL players competing in the game were chosen by all 31 NHL clubs and were divided into teams by NHL Central Scouting.

“One of the highlights of the hockey season undoubtedly is the Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game which has been a fixture on the CHL event calendar since 1996,” said CHL President David Branch. “It’s a truly special experience for the players assembled from across the CHL who have the opportunity to showcase their skills before hundreds of NHL scouts and general managers in attendance in addition to the passionate hockey fans in Guelph and for a nationwide audience watching live on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.”

The rosters include all 16 CHL players who received ‘A’ ratings by NHL Central Scouting in their November ‘Players to Watch’ list which features eight projected first round forwards and eight top ranked defencemen.  The forwards include the likes of Andrei Svechnikov of the Barrie Colts, Joe Veleno of the Saint John Sea Dogs, Barrett Hayton of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Ryan McLeod of the Mississauga Steelheads, Serron Noel of the Oshawa Generals, Akil Thomas of the Niagara IceDogs, plus Filip Zadina and Benoit-Olivier Groulx of the Halifax Mooseheads.  Ryan Merkley of the host Storm headlines the defence that also includes Ty Smith of the Spokane Chiefs, Noah Dobson of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, Evan Bouchard of the London Knights, Alexander Alexeyev of the Red Deer Rebels, Jett Woo of the Moose Jaw Warriors, plus the Mooseheads’ Jared McIsaac and the Greyhounds’ Rasmus Sandin.

“As the Official Paint of the CHL, Sherwin-Williams is proud to sponsor the 2018 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game,” said Lee Diamond, President and General Manager, Sherwin-Williams. “We take great pride in making a difference in the communities we serve and we look forward to celebrating this exciting event alongside these talented players, their families and the fans across Canada.”

28 of the CHL’s 60 member clubs are represented on the rosters led by 16 OHL players from 10 different teams, 15 QMJHL players from 10 teams, and nine WHL players from eight different teams.  Halifax leads the way with four players selected followed by Oshawa with three, host Guelph has two along with Mississauga, Moose Jaw, Sault Ste. Marie, the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, and Ottawa 67’s.

“Best-on-best competition is a valuable way to evaluate talent and that’s exactly what the Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game provides,” said NHL Central Scouting Director Dan Marr. “NHL scouts and general managers will have the unique opportunity to see many of the top CHL players for the 2018 NHL Draft showcase their abilities in a competitive environment.”

All 14 CHL players chosen in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft competed in last year’s game played in Quebec including first overall pick Nico Hischier of the Halifax Mooseheads who captained Team Orr opposite Team Cherry who was led by captain Nolan Patrick of the Brandon Wheat Kings selected second overall in June.  In 22 years, a total of 307 CHL players from this event have been chosen by NHL clubs in the first round of the NHL Draft representing close to 47% of all players selected.  Since the event was first introduced in 1996 the game has featured 14 players selected with the first overall pick in the NHL Draft including Hischier, Connor McDavid, Aaron Ekblad, Nathan MacKinnon, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall, John Tavares, Steven Stamkos, Patrick Kane, Marc-Andre Fleury, Rick Nash, Vincent Lecavalier, Joe Thornton, and Chris Phillips.

Team Cherry and Team Orr will be assigned at a later date with coaching staffs along with captains and alternates still to be announced.

The 2018 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is proudly supported by title partner Sherwin-Williams, and CHL associate sponsors CIBC and Cooper Tires.  The game will be broadcast live on Sportsnet and TVA Sports. Tickets are still available through the box office at 1-519-837-9690 or visit Ticketmaster to purchase online. 2018 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Rosters:

 Team 1:

Goaltenders:

Alexis Gravel (Halifax Moosheads)

Kevin Mandolese (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles)

Defencemen:

Calen Addison (Lethbridge Hurricanes)

Kevin Bahl (Ottawa 67’s)

Noah Dobson (Acadie-Bathurst Titan)

Jared McIsaac (Halifax Mooseheads)

Ty Smith (Spokane Chiefs)

Jett Woo (Moose Jaw Warriors)

Forwards:

Luka Burzan (Moose Jaw Warriors)

Cole Fonstad (Prince Albert Raiders)

Benoit-Olivier Groulx (Halifax Mooseheads)

Anderson MacDonald (Moncton Wildcats)

Ryan McLeod (Mississauga Steelheads)

Allan McShane (Oshawa Generals)

Kirill Nizhnikov (Sudbury Wolves)

Serron Noel (Oshawa Generals)

Milos Roman (Vancouver Giants)

Riley Sutter (Everett Silvertips)

Andrei Svechnikov (Barrie Colts)

Dmitry Zavgorodniy (Rimouski Oceanic)

Team 2:

Goaltenders:

Jacob Ingham (Mississauga Steelheads)

Olivier Rodrigue (Drummondville Voltigeurs)

Defencemen:

Alexander Alexeyev (Red Deer Rebels)

Evan Bouchard (London Knights)

Xavier Bouchard (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)

Nico Gross (Oshawa Generals)

Ryan Merkley (Guelph Storm)

Rasmus Sandin (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)

Forwards:

Kody Clark (Ottawa 67’s)

Ty Dellandrea (Flint Firebirds)

Eric Florchuk (Victoria Royals)

Gabriel Fortier (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)

Barrett Hayton (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)

Cam Hillis (Guelph Storm)

Vladislav Kotkov (Chicoutimi Sagueneens)

Philipp Kurashev (Quebec Remparts)

Egor Sokolov (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles)

Akil Thomas (Niagara IceDogs)

Joe Veleno (Saint John Sea Dogs)

Filip Zadina (Halifax Mooseheads)

For more information please visit http://sherwin-williamstopprospects.ca.   Ask Sherwin-Williams™ For 150 years, Sherwin-Williams has been an industry leader in the development of technologically advanced paint and coatings. As North America’s largest specialty retailer of paint and painting supplies, Sherwin-Williams is dedicated to supporting both do-it-yourselfers and painting professionals with exceptional and exclusive products, resources to make confident colour selections and expert, personalized service at its more than 4,000 neighbourhood stores. For more information, visit sherwin-williams.ca. Join Sherwin-Williams on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn and Tumblr.

 

OHL Cup Powered by Under Armour Minor Midget Top-10 Rankings

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the fourth edition of the weekly minor midget rankings for the 2018 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament powered by Under Armour and hosted by the Greater Toronto Hockey League.

OHL Cup

The 2018 OHL Cup powered by Under Armour and hosted by the GTHL is scheduled for March 13-19 and will feature 20 teams from across Ontario and the United States showcasing many of the top players eligible for the 2018 OHL Priority Selection.  All games will be played at Scotiabank Pond in Toronto until the Championship Final moves to the Mattamy Athletic Centre on Monday March 19 where it will be broadcasted nationally on Sportsnet.

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.

Minor Midget Rankings for the 2018 OHL Cup powered by Under Armour – Week 4

RANK TEAM LEAGUE LAST WEEK WEEKS RANKED
1 Toronto Marlboros GTHL 1 4
2 Oakville Rangers OMHA 2 4
3 Barrie Colts OMHA 3 4
4 Vaughan Kings GTHL 4 4
5 Mississauga Reps GTHL 5 4
6 Cambridge Hawks ALLIANCE 6 4
7 Don Mills Flyers GTHL 7 4
8 Niagara North Stars OMHA 8 3
9 Detroit Little Caesars U15 USA 9 4
10 Peterborough Petes OMHA 10 2
   
  Honourable Mention:  
  York-Simcoe Express OMHA – 2
  Toronto Jr. Canadiens GTHL – –
  North Bay Trappers NOHA – –

The past week of Minor Midget action saw each team in the Top 10 maintain their standing with success on the ice. This week’s lone move comes in the honourable mention department as the North Bay Trappers turned heads, being crowned champions of the Waterloo Gold Puck Tournament.

Tournament Structure:

16 of the 20 spots in the 2018 OHL Cup powered by Under Armour are guaranteed through league competition.  The 16 guaranteed spots continue to include all four GTHL Semi-Finalists, and the top four teams that place at the OMHA Championship.  Three teams from the ALLIANCE will still be guaranteed a spot in the tournament including the Champion and Finalist, along with the winner of a best-of-three Semi-Final Wild Card Series to be played between the losers of the two league Semi-Finals.  Also as in past years, two tournament entries are reserved for United States competition, while both an HNO and NOHA representative will also compete.  For the second straight season the final guaranteed spot will be awarded to HEO but represented by their previous year Bantam Championship team who will be reassembled for tournament competition.  This season, HEO’s entry will be members of the 2017 Bantam Champion Ottawa Jr. 67’s.

Wild Card Games:

The final four entries at the 2018 OHL Cup powered by Under Armour will be Wild Cards determined among eight teams that will play a one game ‘win and in’ scenario.  The eight competing teams aiming for the final four tournament spots will continue to include the fifth place team at the OMHA Championship, and the loser of the ALLIANCE Semi-Final Wild Card Series.  As introduced in 2016, two spots in Wild Card games will be reserved for GTHL teams.  The two competing GTHL teams will be determined through a pair of Wild Card Play-In Series matchups involving the four GTHL teams who qualified for the playoffs but lost in the first round.  As introduced in 2017, one spot in a Wild Card will also be reserved for the winner of an OMHA SCTA Consolation Game that features both teams who lost in the SCTA Tournament Semi-Final.  The OMHA teams eligible for this matchup will be determined annually based on the league not hosting the OMHA Championship.  Finally, the three remaining teams who will compete in the Wild Card matchups will be named by the Tournament Selection Committee.  The Committee will evaluate and review a team’s post-season success as the first criteria for selection, with additional criteria to include regular season play and tournament play.  All four Wild Card games will take place on Tuesday March 13 with specific matchups and times of play to be determined by random draw among the eight competing teams on Tuesday March 6.

History:

Last season the Mississauga Reps captured their first OHL Cup title, defeating the Toronto Nationals 3-2 on Dennis Golovatchev’s late game winner with nine seconds remaining in the third period.  Current Kitchener Rangers forward Mike Petizian led the showcase with 13 points (5-8—13) in seven games to earn the Tim Adams Memorial Trophy as tournament MVP.

The 2017 OHL Priority Selection featured 15 players chosen in the first round who competed for the OHL Cup including Ryan Suzuki (London Jr. Knights – 1st overall Barrie Colts), Tag Bertuzzi (TPH Hockey – 2nd overall Guelph Storm), Brandon Coe (Toronto Nationals – 3rd overall North Bay Battalion), Nicholas Porco (Vaughan Kings – 4th overall Saginaw Spirit), Philip Tomasino (Mississauga Rebels – 5th overall Niagara IceDogs), Graeme Clarke (Toronto Marlboros – 6th overall Ottawa 67’s), Blake Murray (Whitby Wildcats – 7th overall Sudbury Wolves), Jack Hughes (Toronto Marlboros – 8th overall Mississauga Steelheads), Jamieson Rees (Mississauga Reps – 9th overall Sarnia Sting), Ethan Keppen (Toronto Nationals – 10th overall Flint Firebirds), Connor McMichael (Ajax-Pickering Raiders – 11th overall Hamilton Bulldogs), Cody Morgan (Toronto Jr. Canadiens – 12th overall Kingston Frontenacs), Thomas Harley (Vaughan Kings – 14th overall Mississauga Steelheads), Nathan Staios (Vaughan Kings – 17th overall Windsor Spitfires) and Lucas Rowe (Mississauga Reps – 18th overall London Knights).

Notable OHL Cup graduates currently playing in the NHL include Travis Konecny (Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs/Philadelphia Flyers), Mitch Marner (Vaughan Kings/Toronto Maple Leafs), Connor McDavid (Toronto Marlboros/Edmonton Oilers), Max Domi (Don Mills Flyers/Arizona Coyotes), Sean Monahan (Mississauga Rebels/Calgary Flames), Taylor Hall (Greater Kingston Frontenacs/New Jersey Devils), Tyler Seguin (Toronto Nationals/Dallas Stars), John Tavares (Toronto Marlboros/New York Islanders), P.K Subban (Markham Islanders/Nashville Predators), and Steven Stamkos (Markham Waxers/Tampa Bay Lightning).

2018 marks the second season of a three-year partnership between the OHL and GTHL with Under Armour that includes title sponsorship of the OHL Cup Showcase Tournament.  The OHL and GTHL are also in the second season of a five-year partnership extension announced in 2017 that ensures the event will continue to be hosted by the GTHL through 2021.

For more information, please visit ohlcup.ca

CHL Announces Weekly Award Winners

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Mattheos and Hart lead WHL’s hottest teams

Wheat Kings’ Stelio Mattheos named CHL Player of the Week 

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Carolina Hurricanes prospect Stelio Mattheos of the Brandon Wheat Kings is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending December 10 recording nine points in three games including three goals and six assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-6. 

Mattheos produced three multi-point performances in three home victories last week for the Wheat Kings who extended their winning-streak to a season-high eight games.  On Wednesday night he scored once and added two assists in a 7-4 win over the Regina Pats, then earned first star honours on Friday with a goal and an assist in a 4-3 overtime victory against the Medicine Hat Tigers.  Mattheos stayed hot on Saturday with a season-high four points scoring his 24th goal of the season and adding three assists as third star of a 7-4 victory over the Kelowna Rockets snapping their six-game win-streak.  The week improved the Wheat Kings record to 22-7-0-1 in the WHL’s competitive East Division where they stand third behind fellow Top-10 ranked CHL clubs the Moose Jaw Warriors and Swift Current Broncos.   

An 18-year-old from Winnipeg, Man., Mattheos is playing in his third season in Brandon after being chosen by the Wheat Kings with the first overall pick in the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft.  He helped the club capture the 2016 WHL Championship during his rookie season then scored 26 goals and 35 assists for 61 points in 69 games played as a sophomore.  Since being chosen by the Hurricanes in the third round of the 2017 NHL Draft, Mattheos ranks eighth in WHL scoring with 49 points in 30 games. 

Also considered for the award this week was QMJHL top scorer and last week’s recipient Alex Barré-Boulet of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada who scored six goals and three assists for nine points in four games, and forward Justin Brazeau of the North Bay Battalion who scored five goals and three assists for eight points in three games. 

2017-18 CHL Players of the Week:

Dec. 4 – Dec. 10: Stelio Mattheos (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Nov. 27 – Dec. 3: Alex Barré-Boulet (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)
Nov. 20 – Nov. 26: Cody Glass (Portland Winterhawks)
Nov. 13 – Nov. 19: Cliff Pu (London Knights)
Nov. 6 – Nov. 12: Aleksi Heponiemi (Swift Current Broncos)
Oct. 30 – Nov. 5: Albert Michnac (Mississauga Steelheads)
Oct. 23 – Oct. 29: Aaron Luchuk (Windsor Spitfires)
Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: Drake Batherson (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles)
Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Tyler Soy (Victoria Royals)
Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Kale Clague (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Sept. 25 – Oct. 1: Tyler Steenbergen (Swift Current Broncos)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 24: Kole Lind (Kelowna Rockets)

Silvertips’ Carter Hart named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week 

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Philadelphia Flyers prospect Carter Hart of the Everett Silvertips is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending December 10 after posting a 3-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory with a goals-against-average of 0.67 and save percentage of .982. 

Hart collects the award for an impressive third straight week after turning aside 109 shots in a trio of victories for the Silvertips who extend their winning-streak to nine games.  His week began Wednesday night by making 28 saves and earning third star honours in a 4-1 victory over the Portland Winterhawks, then continued Friday with a 39-save performance for his fifth shutout of the season blanking the Spokane Chiefs by a 3-0 score as the game’s first star.  His week wrapped up Saturday with 42 saves in a 2-1 triumph against the Winterhawks where he was named second star for the second place Silvertips who trail first place Portland by just one point in the WHL’s U.S Division with a 19-12-1-1 record. 

A 19-year-old from Sherwood Park, AB, Hart is playing in his fourth season with the Silvertips who selected him in the eighth round of the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft.  He now carries a record of 13-3-0-1 lowering his goals-against-average to 1.32 and raising his save percentage to .961 atop the WHL leaderboard.  The second round pick of the Flyers in the 2016 NHL Draft now has 24 career shutouts inching him closer to the WHL record of 26.  Hart will now attend Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp in St. Catharines as a returning member of Team Canada. 

Also considered for the award this week was Stephen Dhillon of the Niagara IceDogs posting a 2-0-0-0 record including one shutout victory making 59 saves for a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .967, and rookie Colten Ellis of the Rimouski Oceanic who went 2-0-0-0 stopping 57 shots for a goals-against-average of 2.00 and save percentage of .934. 

2017-18 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week:

Dec. 4 – Dec. 10: Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips)
Nov. 27 – Dec. 3: Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips)
Nov. 20 – Nov. 26: Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips)
Nov. 13 – Nov. 19: Anthony Morrone (Victoriaville Tigres)
Nov. 6 – Nov. 12: Justin Fazio (Sarnia Sting)
Oct. 30 – Nov. 5: Cole Kehler (Portland Winterhawks)
Oct. 23 – Oct. 29: Dustin Wolf (Everett Silvertips)
Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: Samuel Harvey (Rouyn-Noranada Huskies)
Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Logan Flodell (Swift Current Broncos)
Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Cole Kehler (Portland Winterhawks)
Sept. 25 – Oct. 1: Dereck Baribeau (Quebec Remparts)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 24: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)

Battalion’s Justin Brazeau named OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Justin Brazeau of the North Bay Battalion is the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week for the week ending December 10 after leading the league with eight points in three games scoring five goals and three assists. 

Brazeau recorded a pair of multi-point performances that helped the Troops earn a pair of victories on home ice to maintain their hold on third place in the Central Division standings.  He contributed to 80% of the Battalion’s total offense last week beginning Thursday night by scoring twice including the game-winner and adding one assist as first star of a 4-3 win over the Mississauga Steelheads.  The win was the tenth of the season for the Battalion and number 682 all-time for head coach Stan Butler who moved into fourth on the OHL wins list ahead of Larry Mavety.  Brazeau was held to just one assist on Friday in a 3-1 loss to the top ranked Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds but rebounded with the best game of his OHL career later that weekend.  It was Sunday where the power forward scored his first hat-trick including another game-winner while assisting on Luke Burghardt’s Teddy Bear Toss goal to earn first star honours in a 5-2 win over the Barrie Colts. 

A 19-year-old from New Liskeard, Ont., Brazeau is playing in his third season with the Battalion who chose him in the 13th round of the 2014 OHL Priority Selection.  The 6’5’’, 221lb winger is currently tied for 18th in league scoring with 36 points in 31 games while his 23 goals are third among OHL leaders.  His goal output has already surpassed the 22 he tallied last season as he stands just one point shy of equalling his 37-point total recorded in 67 games played in 2016-17.  In September Brazeau attended Training Camp with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets as a free agent invite. 

Watch video highlights of Brazeau and the Battalion against the Steelheads, Greyhounds, and Colts. 

Also considered for the award this week was overage forward Aaron Luchuk of the Windsor Spitfires and Florida Panthers prospect Adam Mascherin of the Kitchener Rangers who both scored five goals and two assists for seven points in three contests highlighted by hat-trick performances in the same game head-to-head last Tuesday night.  In goal, Stephen Dhillon of the Niagara IceDogs posted a 2-0-0-0 record including one shutout making 59 saves for a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .967.

2017-18 OHL ‘On the Run’ Players of the Week:

Dec. 4 – Dec. 10: Justin Brazeau (North Bay Battalion)
Nov. 27 – Dec. 3: Joseph Garreffa (Kitchener Rangers)
Nov. 20 – Nov. 26: Serron Noel (Oshawa Generals)
Nov. 13 – Nov. 19: Cliff Pu (London Knights)
Nov. 6 – Nov. 12: Ryan Merkley (Guelph Storm)
Oct. 30 – Nov. 5: Albert Michnac (Mississauga Steelheads)
Oct. 23 – Oct. 29: Aaron Luchuk (Windsor Spitfires)
Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia Sting)
Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Brady Hinz (Sarnia Sting)
Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Nick Suzuki (Owen Sound Attack)
Sept. 25 – Oct. 1: Jonathan Ang (Peterborough Petes)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 24: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)