CHL Announces Top 10 Rankings

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Top 10

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the week 20 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 20

Rank: Team: Last Week Rank: Number of Weeks Ranked:
1 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (43-5-2-1) 1 20
2 Moose Jaw Warriors (40-9-1-2) 2 18
3 Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (36-9-3-2) 3 20
4 Sarnia Sting (36-12-4-0) 4 17
5 Swift Current Broncos (37-13-3-1) 5 17
6 Halifax Mooseheads (34-12-5-1) 6 9
7 Drummondville Voltigeurs (35-14-1-1) 8 11
8 Kitchener Rangers (35-15-2-0) 9 5
9 Hamilton Bulldogs (33-12-3-3) 7 10
10 Everett Silvertips (34-17-1-2) – 1
Honourable Mention:
Rimouski Oceanic (31-14-5-1) – 7
Kelowna Rockets (32-16-3-1) 10 6
Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (30-14-5-3) – 5

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

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Mississauga Reps and Vaughan Kings next to officially qualify

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the twelfth 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 12

RANK TEAM LEAGUE LAST WEEK WEEKS RANKED
1 Toronto Marlboros* GTHL 1 12
2 Oakville Rangers OMHA 2 12
3 Mississauga Reps* GTHL 4 12
4 Vaughan Kings* GTHL 3 12
5 Toronto Jr. Canadiens* GTHL 5 6
6 Detroit Little Caesars U15 USA 6 12
7 Don Mills Flyers GTHL 7 12
8 York-Simcoe Express OMHA 8 10
9 Barrie Colts OMHA – 8
10 Cambridge Hawks ALLIANCE 9 9
   
  Honourable Mention:  
  Peterborough Petes OMHA – 4
  Guelph Gryphons OMHA – 1
  Niagara North Stars OMHA 10 10

Two more teams have clinched spots at the 2018 OHL Cup Powered by Under Armour as the Mississauga Reps and Vaughan Kings advanced to the final four of the GTHL’s playoffs. The Reps rise one spot this week, taking a 4-0 series lead in points over the fifth-ranked Toronto Jr. Canadiens in their second round series. The OMHA’s Barrie Colts return to the Top-10 in the ninth spot, holding a 4-0 series lead in points on the North Central Predators in their first round playoff series. 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

Ronning and Bouthillier best in the CHL to start February  

Giants’ Ty Ronning named CHL Player of the Week 

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that New York Rangers prospect Ty Ronning of the Vancouver Giants is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending February 4 scoring five goals and two assists for seven points in three games with a plus-minus rating of plus-3. 

Ronning delivered a trio of multi-point performances last week helping the Giants win all three games to improve their record to 28-16-5-3 in the WHL’s B.C. Division standings.  Opening the week with two home games against the Calgary Hitmen, Ronning scored twice with an assist in Wednesday’s 4-1 victory then scored another two goals including the game-winner on Friday earning first star honours in the 4-2 win.  On Saturday he produced another first star effort scoring once and assisting on the game-winner to reach the 200-point milestone for his career in a 5-4 triumph over the Medicine Hat Tigers.  The Giants sit just four points back of the Kelowna Rockets and Victoria Royals who are tied for the division lead. 

A 20-year-old from Burnaby, BC, Ronning is playing in his fifth season with the Giants who chose him in the first round of the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft.  He currently ranks second in the WHL with 47 goals and his 66 points through 52 games are a new career high.  Ronning is just one goal shy of Evander Kane’s single season record of 48 goals and ranks third on the club’s all-time list with 113 in 267 games played.  He was a seventh round pick of the Rangers in the 2016 NHL Draft. 

Also considered for the award this week was 2018 NHL Draft prospect Joe Veleno of the Drummondville Voltigeurs with one goal and six assists for seven points in three games, and Kenny Huether of the Oshawa Generals who scored three goals with four assists for seven points in three games. 

2017-18 CHL Players of the Week:

Jan. 29 – Feb. 4: Ty Ronning (Vancouver Giants)
Jan. 22 – Jan. 28: Peter Abbandonato (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)
Jan. 15 – Jan. 21: Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia Sting)
Jan. 8 – Jan. 14: Taylor Raddysh (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Jan. 1 – Jan. 7: Owen Tippett (Mississauga Steelheads)
Dec. 25 – Dec. 31: Ivan Kosorenkov (Victoriaville Tigres)
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)  

Sagueneens’ Zachary Bouthillier named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week 

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Zachary Bouthillier of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending February 4 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 1.88 and save percentage of .948. 

Bouthillier turned aside 73 shots and earned first star honours twice last week backstopping the Sags to a pair of victories over top QMJHL competition.  On Tuesday night against the first place Blainville-Boisbriand Armada he made 30 saves in a 3-2 overtime win, then made 43 saves on Friday against the East Division’s first place Rimouski Oceanic as part of a 4-3 win.  The Sagueneens have now won four straight games and stand 15th in the league’s overall standings with a 21-24-4-0 record. 

An 18-year-old from Chambly, QC, Bouthillier is playing in his second QMJHL season and first in Chicoutimi after being selected by the Shawinigan Cataractes in the second round of the 2015 QMJHL Entry Draft.  In 25 games this season he carries a 7-10-2-0 record including one shutout with a goals-against-average of 3.22 and save percentage of .900. 

Also considered for the award this week was Los Angeles Kings prospect Matthew Villalta of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds who posted a 3-0-0-0 record including one shutout making 69 saves for a goals-against-average of 1.64 and save percentage of .932.  In the WHL, Riley Lamb of the Red Deer Rebels went 2-0-0-0 stopping 57 shots for a goals-against-average of 1.96 and save percentage of .934. 

2017-18 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week:

Jan. 29 – Feb. 4: Zachary Bouthillier (Chicoutimi Sagueneens)
Jan. 22 – Jan. 28: Jeremy Helvig (Kingston Frontenacs)
Jan. 15 – Jan. 21: Mario Culina (Kitchener Rangers)
Jan. 8 – Jan. 14: Stuart Skinner (Swift Current Broncos)
Jan. 1 – Jan. 7: Samuel Harvey (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)
Dec. 25 – Dec. 31: James Porter (Kelowna Rockets)
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)

Generals’ Kenny Huether named OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that forward Kenny Huether of the Oshawa Generals is the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week for the week ending February 4 after scoring three goals and four assists for seven points in three games with a plus-minus rating of plus-5. 

Huether produced a pair of multi-point performances that helped the Generals finish the weekend with two straight victories climbing into a tie for fifth in the Eastern Conference standings with a 25-23-3-0 record.  Following a 7-1 loss to the Kingston Frontenacs on Friday, Huether put together a first star effort on Saturday in Peterborough scoring one of five first period goals for the Generals and assisting on two which led to an 8-2 road win over their rival Petes.  His week wrapped up Sunday with a season-high four points including two goals and two assists earning second star honours in a 6-3 win over the Windsor Spitfires. 

Kenny Huether of the Oshawa Generals. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Kenny Huether of the Oshawa Generals. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

A 20-year-old from Londesborough, Ont., Huether is playing in his fourth season in Oshawa after being chosen by the club in the ninth round of the 2013 OHL Priority Selection.  The overage forward is currently the longest serving General with his tenure dating back to the 2014-15 season which included an OHL and Mastercard Memorial Cup title.  In 236 career games he’s compiled 145 points including 39 points in 51 games this season with a team-high 24 goals. 

Watch video highlights of Huether and the Generals against the Petes and Spitfires. 

Huether wasn’t the only General to have a strong week as Domenico Commisso tallied three goals and four assists for seven points in three games.  A pair of Barrie Colts were also considered for the award after each recording seven points in three games including top NHL Draft prospect Andrei Svechnikov with six goals and one assist, and Ottawa Senators prospect Aaron Luchuk with two goals and five assists.  In goal, Los Angeles Kings prospect Matthew Villalta of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds posted a 3-0-0-0 record including one shutout making 69 saves for a goals-against-average of 1.64 and save percentage of .932.

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

Jan. 29 – Feb. 4: Kenny Huether (Oshawa Generals)
Jan. 22 – Jan. 28: Jeremy Helvig (Kingston Frontenacs)
Jan. 15 – Jan. 21: Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia Sting)
Jan. 8 – Jan. 14: Taylor Raddysh (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Jan. 1 – Jan. 7: Owen Tippett (Mississauga Steelheads)
Dec. 25 – Dec. 31: Ben Jones (Niagara IceDogs)
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)

Barrett Hayton – Soo Greyhounds – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height: 6’1”

Weight: 190 pounds

Date of birth: June 9, 2000

Hometown: Peterborough, Ontario

Position: Center

Shoots: Left

OHL Draft: Round 1, 9th overall, 2016 OHL Priority Selection

He played his minor midget hockey with the Toronto Red Wings and scored 36 goals and 37 assists in 59 games. He came off an OHL Gold Cup Championship scoring 3 goals in 5 games. And in the OHL Cup, he scored 4 goals and added 2 assists in 5 games.

When Barrett Hayton was still available at the ninth spot of the 2016 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection, it was a no hesitation pick by Kyle Raftis and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

Hayton had already won a championship with the Eastern Triple A Minor Midget’s Peterborough Petes. Coming into this season, he won gold with Team Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial where he had 3 goals and 3 assists in 5 games.

Barrett Hayton of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Photo by Terrry Wilson / OHL Images.
Barrett Hayton of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

To put it simply, Hayton has won and contributed to that winning at every level. And with his Greyhounds being the top dog (no pun intended) in Canadian Major Junior, a run at an OHL and Memorial Cup championship is certainly not out of the question. That can only improve his draft stock as his performance will certainly be fresh in scout’s minds come June in Dallas for the National Hockey League Draft.

His rookie season saw Hayton score 9 goals and add 18 assists on a very deep Greyhounds roster. He also represented Canada at the World Hockey Challenge Under-17 (1 goal and 1 assist in 6 games).

But this season, Hayton is playing a more prominent offensive role with the Greyhounds. He’s posted 17 goals and 28 assists in 48 games. Among the OHL’s draft eligible players, he sits 6th in assists, 7th in points, and 8th in goals.

Coming into the season, Hayton was ranked as an A prospect on NHL Central Scouting’s Players to Watch List.  On their mid-term rankings, Hayton was ranked sixth among North American skaters. On Bob McKenzie’s ever popular mid-season rankings, Hayton was ranked 12th among all skaters. McKenzie’s rankings are done by polling NHL scouts so if you’re looking at what NHL scouts may be leaning towards, there is no better source.

When talking about Hayton, the thing that most people will say about him from the get go is “soft and incredible hands.” And that is an understatement. Along with it, he brings an above average – NHL ready – shot. He releases that shot quickly, sometimes deceptively and with a purpose.

Hayton does not lack in the hockey sense department, which means he can play any role and lineup with and against anyone. At 6’1”, he has some size and plays heavy on the puck with a relentless work ethic and forecheck. His vision is very good which allows him to make plays, and when he’s on the receiving end, as mentioned, his shot makes him a threat to score. He has a willingness to drive the net with or without the puck.

Playing in the middle is relatively new for Hayton. While he has good technique, has some agility and is strong on his skates, he needs to add some speed to his game. He plays a very good three-zone game, but I believe to play pivot at the next level, adding speed will be necessary. I agree with others who maintain that the rest of his game means he’s better suited to play the wing in the NHL. Faceoffs are not a strong suit, winning just 48.2% of his draws.

The possession game is a thriving area of Hayton’s game. His vision and passing abilities allows him to find mates and keep possession, while he is so elusive and puts himself in position for teammates to feed him and keeping possession.

Everyone you talk to speak of Hayton’s excellent leadership qualities both on and off the ice. It’s difficult to find others that work harder, and he leads by example – when you watch him work on his game, you just want to follow his lead.

Barrett Hayton

Stat page of Barrett Hayton, from Elite Prospects

OHL’s Draft Eligible Statistical Leaders: January

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

January 31 brings us within a hair of the three-quarter mark of the Ontario Hockey League season and there are many interesting individual races in a variety of statistical categories. As always, we look at players eligible for the National Hockey League Draft in June in Dallas Texas, for the first time. That is not meant to take away from players re-entering the draft. While I believe some of them will get drafted the second time around, history has shown that they are usually passed over the second time.

It’s hard to imagine, or maybe it is not, where Andrei Svechnikov of the Barrie Colts would be had he not missed almost two months with a wrist injury. Despite missing seven weeks and playing in twenty fewer games, Svechnikov leads all draft eligible players with 23 goals in 27 games. That’s two more then Aidan Dudas of the Owen Sound Attack and three more then Ty Dellandria of the Flint Firebirds, who both have played 47 games.

Andrei Svechnikovof the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Andrei Svechnikov of the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Thanks in part to Svechnikov’s absence, a pair of highly touted defensemen lead all players in points. Evan Bouchard of the London Knights leads the pack with 60 points in 47 games. He is followed closely by Ryan Merkley of the Guelph Storm who has 57 points in 47 games. Akil Thomas of the Niagara IceDogs comes in third with 56 points in 47 games.

Of course, it goes without saying that Bouchard and Merkley lead all defensemen in the point scoring race. Rasmus Sandin of the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds sits in the next tier by himself with 30 points in 34 games. Yours truly has made it no secret that Sandin would be my choice as the second defenseman taken from the OHL. Giovanni Vallati of the Kitchener Rangers comes in fourth with 20 points in 47 games.

Over the years, there has been a great debate over the value of the plus-minus stat. Whether you agree or not, there is some value to the stat. And Sandin leads the way with a plus-28. That’s a comfortable plus-10 more than teammate Barrett Hayton and Nathan Dunkley of the London Knights.

Serron Noel of the Oshawa Generals led the entire OHL for most of the season in shooting percentage. As of January 31, he drops to second, but still leads all draft eligible players at 25%. Svechnikov comes in second, scoring on 22.3% of his shots, while Cam Hillis of the Guelph Storm comes in third at 21.8%.

Bouchard leads all shooters in shots on goal with 211, which is good enough for second overall in the OHL. He has a comfortable lead over Dellandria (173) and Dudas (172).

While we take great care in compiling stats, always refer to the OHL website for official stats.

Points Leaders
Player Team GP G A Pts
Evan Bouchard London Knights 47 16 44 60
Ryan Merkley Guelph Storm 47 12 45 57
Akil Thomas Niagara Ice Dogs 47 13 43 56
Ryan McLeod Mississauga Steelheads 47 17 36 53
Aidan Dudas Owen Sound Attack 47 21 25 46
Cam Hillis Guelph Storm 47 18 28 46
Barrett Hayton Soo Greyhounds 47 17 27 44
Ty Dellandrea Flint Firebirds 47 20 21 41
Nathan Dunkley London Knights 40 15 24 39
Andrei Svechnikov Barrie Colts 27 23 15 38
Goal Scoring Leaders
Player Team GP G GPG
Andrei Svechnikov Barrie Colts 27 23 0.85
Aidan Dudas Owen Sound Attack 47 21 0.45
Ty Dellandrea Flint Firebirds 47 20 0.43
Cam Hillis Guelph Storm 47 18 0.38
Serron Noel Oshawa Generals 42 18 0.43
Pavel Gogolev Peterborough Petes 43 18 0.42
Ryan McLeod Mississauga Steelheads 47 17 0.36
Barrett Hayton Soo Greyhounds 47 17 0.36
Evan Bouchard London Knights 47 16 0.34
Kody Clark Ottawa 67’s 38 16 0.42
Assist Leaders
Player Team GP A APG
Ryan Merkley Guelph Storm 47 45 0.96
Evan Bouchard London Knights 47 44 0.94
Akil Thomas Niagara Ice Dogs 47 43 0.91
Ryan McLeod Mississauga Steelheads 47 36 0.77
Cam Hillis Guelph Storm 47 28 0.60
Barrett Hayton Soo Greyhounds 47 27 0.57
Allan McShane Oshawa Generals 47 27 0.57
Aidan Dudas Owen Sound Attack 47 25 0.53
Rasmus Sandin Soo Greyhounds 34 24 0.71
Nathan Dunkley London Knights 40 24 0.60
Defencemen Point Leaders
Player Team GP G A Pts
Evan Bouchard London Knights 47 16 44 60
Ryan Merkley Guelph Storm 47 12 45 57
Rasmus Sandin Soo Greyhounds 34 6 24 30
Giovanni Vallati Kitchener Rangers 46 3 17 20
Merrick Rippon Ottawa 67’s 48 2 16 18
Peter Stratis Sudbury Wolves 49 5 12 17
Caleb Everett Saginaw Spirit 39 4 13 17
Kevin Bahl Ottawa 67’s 48 1 16 17
Plus/Minus Leaders
Player Team GP +/-
Rasmus Sandin Soo Greyhounds 34 +28
Nathan Dunkley London Knights 40 +18
Barrett Hayton Soo Greyhounds 47 +18
Evan Bouchard London Knights 47 +17
Tyler Tucker Barrie Colts 40 +16
Adam Liska Kitchener Rangers 44 +12
Andrei Svechnikov Barrie Colts 27 +11
Alec Regula London Knights 47 +11
William Sirman Windsor Spitfires 46 +10
Ryan Roth Soo Greyhounds 49 +10
Penalty Minutes Leaders
Player Team GP PIM M/G
Tyler Tucker Barrie Colts 40 67 1.68
Kevin Bahl Ottawa 67’s 48 67 1.40
Daylon Groulx Owen Sound Attack 39 60 1.54
Merrick Rippon Ottawa 67’s 48 57 1.19
Curtis Douglas Windsor Spitfires 46 55 1.20
Ryan Merkley Guelph Storm 47 50 1.06
Max Grondin Saginaw Spirit 46 47 1.02
Faceoff Leaders  (Minimum 200 faceoffs)
Player Team GP FOA FOW %
Billy Moskal London Knights 46 445 266 59.8
Allan McShane Oshawa Generals 47 695 382 55.0
Nathan Dunkley London Knights 40 484 263 54.3
David Levin Sudbury Wolves 32 232 125 53.9
Ryan McLeod Mississauga Steelheads 48 1043 556 53.3
Akil Thomas Niagara Ice Dogs 47 761 405 53.2
Ty Dellandrea Flint Firebirds 47 985 500 50.8
Aidan Dudas Owen Sound Attack 47 662 326 49.2
Barret Kirwin Guelph Storm 48 659 324 49.2
Cam Hillis Guelph Storm 48 776 379 48.8
Longest Goal Scoring Streak
Player Team From To Gms Goals
Brady Hinz Sarnia Sting 10/9 10/19 5 7
Kody Clark Ottawa 67’s 10/12 10/21 5 6
Nathan Dunkley Kingston Frontenacs 11/26 12/3 4 5
Blade Jenkins Saginaw Spirit 10/29 11/4 4 6
Ryan McLeod Mississauga Steelheads 1/19 1/26 3 6
Longest Assist Streak
Player Team From To Gms Assts
Ryan Merkley Guelph Storm 10/22 11/16 9 13
Akil Thomas Niagara Ice Dogs 9/30 10/19 8 10
Ryan Merkley Guelph Storm 1/11 1/28 8 10
Ryan McLeod Mississauga Steelheads 10/27 11/9 6 9
Akil Thomas Niagara Ice Dogs 12/7 12/31 6 6
Longest Point Streak
Player Team From To Gms Pts
Ryan McLeod Mississauga Steelheads 10/6 11/10 14 20
Akil Thomas Niagara Ice Dogs 12/9 1/13 12 18
Ryan Merkley Guelph Storm 11/19 12/15 10 16
Ryan Merkley Guelph Storm 10/22 11/16 9 17
Akil Thomas Niagara Ice Dogs 9/29 10/19 9 15
Shooting Percentage
Player Team GP G S %
Serron Noel Oshawa Generals 42 18 72 25.0
Andrei Svechnikov Barrie Colts 27 23 103 22.3
Cam Hillis Guelph Storm 48 19 87 21.8
Nathan Dunkley London Knights 40 15 74 20.3
Brady Hinz Peterborough Petes 49 14 73 19.2
Shots On Goal Leaders
Player Team GP SOG
Evan Bouchard London Knights 47 211
Ty Dellandrea Flint Firebirds 47 173
Aidan Dudas Owen Sound Attack 47 172
Riley Damiani Kitchener Rangers 49 133
Barrett Hayton Soo Greyhounds 47 131
Goaltenders Leaders – Goals Against Average (Min 10 games)
Player Team GP Min GA Avg
Jordon Kooy London Knights 17 827 40 2.90
Nick Donofrio Hamilton Bulldogs 11 581 30 3.10
Kai Edmonds Barrie Colts 12 569 32 3.37
Jacob Ingham Mississauga Steelheads 33 1865 117 3.76
Cameron Lamour Saginaw Spirit 12 522 37 4.25
Goaltending Leaders – Save Percentage (Min 10 games)
Player Team GP SH  SVS SV%
Jordon Kooy London Knights 17 442 402 0.910
Nick Donofrio Hamilton Bulldogs 11 270 240 0.889
Kai Edmonds Barrie Colts 12 278 246 0.885
Jacob Ingham Mississauga Steelheads 33 959 842 0.878
Marshall Frappier Sudbury Wolves 13 376 329 0.875
Goaltending Leaders – Wins
Player Team GP W L OL
Jacob Ingham Mississauga Steelheads 17 13 16 1
Nick Donofrio Hamilton Bulldogs 11 7 1 1
Jordon Kooy London Knights 17 6 6 1
Kai Edmonds Barrie Colts 12 5 4 0
Cameron Lamour Saginaw Spirit 12 5 4 0
Goaltending Leaders – Shutouts
Player Team GP SO
Nick Donofrio Hamilton Bulldogs 11 1
Mario Peccia Oshawa Generals 8 1

OHL Writers Draft Eligible Player of the Month for January

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Barrie Colts’ Andrei Svechnikov is our draft eligible player of the month for January.

Svechnikov had a dominant offensive performance for the Colts posting 9 goals and 8 assists in 11 games in January. He was held off the score sheet just once, on January 13 versus the North Bay Battalion. Seven of his remaining ten games were multi-point games. He was named the OHL Rookie of the Month for January.

Andrei Svechnikovof the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Andrei Svechnikov of the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Heading into the season, Svechnikov was a consensus top-two pick for the 2018 National Hockey League draft. More recently, it’s almost assured that Sweden’s Rasmus Dahlin will be the first player selected, while Filip Zadina (Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL) is challenging Svechnikov to go second.

Svechnikov missed almost two months with a wrist injury. Prior to his injury, he was second in the Ontario Hockey League with 10 goals in 10 games. Despite playing in 20 fewer games, he still leads all draft eligible players in goals with 23 at the end of January (27 games played) and is among the top 10 in points. He sits second next to fellow draft eligible Serron Noel of the Oshawa Generals in shooting percentage at 22.3% on 23 goals on 103 shots.

Also considered was Mississauga Steelheads’ Ryan McLeod who had 7 goals and 8 assists in 10 games. Evan Bouchard of the London Knights was also given consideration after posting 3 goals and 11 assists in 11 OHL games and tying the NHL/CHL Top Prospects Game record with 4 assists and being named player of the game. Akil Thomas was also considered after posting 3 goals and 14 assists in 12 games.

Player of the Month

Andrei Svechnikov – Barrie Colts (January)

Evan Bouchard – London Knights (December)

Evan Bouchard – London Knights (November)

Brady Hinz – Sarnia Sting (October)

Matthew Struthers – Owen Sound Attack (September)

OHL Academic Players of the Month for January

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the OHL Academic Players of the Month for January 2018, including Jakob Brahaney of the Kingston Frontenacs, Travis Mailhot of the North Bay Battalion, Tag Bertuzzi of the Guelph Storm, and Damien Giroux of the Saginaw Spirit.

East Division: Kingston Frontenacs blueliner Jakob Brahaney is the OHL East Division Academic Player of the Month for January. The 18-year-old native of Campbellford, Ont. has maintained high academic standing in the Bachelor of Business Administration program at St. Lawrence College. “Jakob’s dedication to academics mirrors his success on the ice,” said Frontenacs academic advisor Mike Hamilton. “He has a reputation with coaches and teachers as being a committed, hard-working individual on and off the ice.” Kingston’s second round pick in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection, Brahaney leads the Frontenacs with a plus-minus rating of plus-30 this season, collecting 20 points (4-16–20) in 47 games.


 Central Division: North Bay Battalion defenceman Travis Mailhot is the OHL Central Division Academic Player of the Month for January. The 18-year-old native of Caledon East, Ont. holds an 86% average in Grade 12 university-level Law, International Business and Co-op courses at Chippewa Secondary School. “Travis is a very consciencious student who is a hard worker and good role model in class,” noted Battalion academic advisor Colleen Point. The 6-foot-5, 210Ib. former fifth round pick in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection has appeared in 15 games with the Troops this season. 


 Midwest Division: Guelph Storm rookie forward Tag Bertuzzi is the OHL Midwest Division Academic Player of the Month for January. The 16-year-old native of Vancouver, BC has maintained an 80% average in Grade 11 university-level English and Accounting courses at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School. “Tag’s respectful and positive attitude make him a pleasure to teach,” said Storm academic advisor Colleen Driscoll. “His ability to balance his academic and hockey commitments is a direct result of his work ethic and determination.” The second overall pick of the 2017 OHL Priority Selection, Bertuzzi has eight points (3-5–8) in 33 games this season. He represented Team Canada Black at the 2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.


 West Division: Saginaw Spirit sophomore forward Damien Giroux is the OHL West Division Academic Player of the Month for January. The 17-year-old native of Hanmer, Ont. holds a 96% average in Grade 12 Mathematics, Chemistry, English and French courses at Heritage High School. “Damien is an exceptional young man and a pleasure to know,” said Spirit academic advisor Pam Moretuzzo. “He is polite, responsible, honest, hard-working and a role model for others.” Saginaw’s third round pick in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection, Giroux has 33 points (15-18–33) in 48 games this season.


 2017-18 OHL Academic Players of the Month:


 East Division:
January – Jakob Brahaney (Kingston Frontenacs)
December – Jake Murray (Hamilton Bulldogs)
November – Chad Denault (Peterborough Petes)
October – Kevin Bahl (Ottawa 67’s)


 Central Division:
January – Travis Mailhot (North Bay Battalion)
December – Kai Edmonds (Barrie Colts)
November – Isaac Walker (Mississauga Steelheads)
October – Blake McConville (Sudbury Wolves)


 Midwest Division:
January – Tag Bertuzzi (Guelph Storm)
December – Alex Gritz (Erie Otters)
November – Aidan Dudas (Owen Sound Attack)
October – Billy Moskal (London Knights)


 West Division:
January – Damien Giroux (Saginaw Spirit)
December – Ty Dellandrea (Flint Firebirds)
November – Chris Playfair (Windsor Spitfires)
October – Brett Jacklin (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)


 Last season, the OHL Centrally Administered Scholarship Program facilitated scholarships for 301 OHL Alumni with a total scholarship payment in excess of $3.17 million.  Since the 2007-08 season, OHL Scholarship payments have totaled more than $18.8 million.

Click here for more information about ‘OHL Players First’ programs.

OHL Top Performers of the Month for January

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 January 2018, including Niagara IceDogs forward Sam Miletic, Mississauga Steelheads defenceman Nicolas Hague, Barrie Colts rookie Andrei Svechnikov and Kitchener Rangers netminder Mario Culina.

OHL Player of the Month – Sam Miletic (Niagara IceDogs):

Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Sam Miletic of the Niagara IceDogs is the OHL Player of the Month for January after leading all players with 25 points including 12 goals, 13 assists over 13 games with a plus/minus rating of plus-7. Acquired by the IceDogs early in the month, Miletic recorded 15 of his 25 points with his new club including a four-point effort on Jan. 26th against Sarnia, completing a hat-trick on the overtime winner. He had a total of seven multi-point efforts including two-goal outings on Jan. 7th with the London Knights against the North Bay Battalion as well as on Jan. 12th with the IceDogs against the Barrie Colts. Miletic earned first star of the game honours three different times, helping the IceDogs play to a 5-2-1-1 record since acquiring him as they lead the Central Division.

A 20-year-old native of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., Miletic sits fourth in OHL scoring with 69 points and tied for third in league assists with 45. Signed by the Pittsburgh Penguins to a three-year entry level NHL contract this past fall, Miletic was originally a 15th round pick of the London Knights in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection. He’s recorded 138 points (64-74–138) over his 144-game OHL career.

OHL Defenceman of the Month – Nicolas Hague (Mississauga Steelheads):

Vegas Golden Knights prospect Nicolas Hague of the Mississauga Steelheads is the OHL Defenceman of the Month for January, leading all blueliners with 16 points including five goals and 11 assists over 10 games. The 6-foot-5, 216Ib. Hague registered five multi-point outings last month including three assists on Jan. 3rd at Erie. He ended January with back-to-back three point efforts that both included a goal and two assists on Jan. 26th against Peterborough and again on Jan. 28th against Sudbury. Hague enters February on a three-game goal-scoring streak after helping the Steelheads play to an 8-2-0-0 record in the month of January.

A 19-year-old native of Kitchener, Ont., Hague leads the Steelheads in scoring with 56 points including 25 goals and 31 assists in 46 games. Mississauga’s all-time leader in points by a defenceman, Hague set a single-season franchise record for goals by a blueliner when he scored his 21st back on Jan. 5th against Kitchener. His 25 goals are the most by an OHL defenceman since Anthony DeAngelo and Jordan Subban both reached the mark during the 2014-15 season. Hague represented Team OHL in the 2017 CIBC Canada-Russia Series back in November and was a second round pick of the Vegas Golden Knights this past summer. He was Mississauga’s second round pick in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection.

OHL Rookie of the Month – Andrei Svechnikov (Barrie Colts):

For the second time this season, Barrie Colts forward Andrei Svechnikov is the OHL Rookie of the Month. The top-ranked North American skater in NHL Central Scouting’s Midterm Rankings released earlier this month, Svechnikov led OHL rookies with 17 points including nine goals and eight assists over 11 games in January. Svechnikov returned from the 2018 World Junior Hockey Championship where he represented Russia to register points in 10 of 11 games, entering the month of February on a six-game run of multi-point performances. He had a pair of two-goal games including Jan. 19th at Mississauga as well as Jan. 31st at Owen Sound.

A 17-year-old native of Barnaul, Russia, Svechnikov leads OHL rookies with 23 goals to go with 15 assists for 38 points in just 27 games after missing time with an injury. The 6-foot-3, 184Ib. left-handed shot was the first overall pick of the 2017 CHL Import Draft and represented Team Orr in the recent 2018 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

Vaughn OHL Goaltender of the Month – Mario Culina (Kitchener Rangers):

Overage netminder Mario Culina of the Kitchener Rangers is the Vaughn OHL Goaltender of the Month for January. Suiting up for both the Rangers and Sudbury Wolves this month, Culina played to an overall record of 6-1-1-0, posting a 1.74 goals-against average, a .946 save percentage and two shutouts over eight games. He is a perfect 6-0-0-0 since joining the Rangers on Jan. 8th. His month was headlined by back-to-back shutout efforts including a 34-save performance on Jan. 17th at Niagara followed by a 36-save showing at home to the Erie Otters on Jan. 19th. He enters the month of February on a six-game winning streak, making over 30 saves in three of his last four games.

A 20-year-old native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Culina joined the Sudbury Wolves in late November after starting the season with the Ryerson University Ram’s Men’s Hockey team. A Mastercard Memorial Cup champion with Windsor last spring, Culina has posted a 2.61 goals-against average, .921 save percentage and 8-5-2-0 record in 16 games this season, improving to 31-18-4-1 in his OHL career. He was originally signed as a free agent by the Windsor Spitfires in September 2015.

2017-18 OHL Performers of the Month:

Player of the Month:

January – Sam Miletic (Niagara IceDogs)

December – Morgan Frost (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)

November – Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia Sting)

October – Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia Sting)

Defenceman of the Month:

January – Nicolas Hague (Mississauga Steelheads)

December – Evan Bouchard (London Knights)

November – Evan Bouchard (London Knights)

October – Sean Durzi (Owen Sound Attack)

Rookie of the Month:

January – Andrei Svechnikov (Barrie Colts)

December – Rasmus Sandin (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)

November – Blade Jenkins (Saginaw Spirit)

October – Andrei Svechnikov (Barrie Colts)

Vaughn Goaltender of the Month:

January – Mario Culina (Kitchener Rangers)

December – Matthew Villalta (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)

November – Matthew Villalta (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)

October – Justin Fazio (Sarnia Sting)