Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Joseph Garreffa of the Kitchener Rangers is the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week for the playoff week ending April 29 after scoring one goal with seven assists for eight points in four games.
Garreffa helped the Rangers win three of four games played last week in the Western Conference Championship Series against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds forcing a Game 7 to decide the Wayne Gretzky Trophy winner on Monday night. Down 2-0 in the series after a pair of weekend road games, the Rangers countered with home ice success of their own including a 3-0 shutout in Game 3 last Monday followed by a 7-4 triumph in Game 4 on Wednesday where Garreffa earned first star honours with four assists. The forward turned defenceman chipped in an assist despite a 7-3 loss in Game 5 on Friday, then finished the week with a goal and two assists in Sunday’s Game 6 thriller won 4-3 by the Rangers in overtime to lock the series at three wins apiece.
An 18-year-old from Toronto, Ont., Garreffa is playing in his third season with the Rangers after being chosen by the club in the third round of the 2015 OHL Priority Selection. This marks the second Player of the Week honour for Garreffa who was also recognized for his play for the week ending December 3. This season was his most productive offensively with 65 points in 68 games which included 12 goals, a career-high 53 assists, and just eight penalty minutes as a finalist for Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year. His post-season figures to date include eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points in 18 games which ranks fourth on the team.
Watch video highlights of Garreffa and the Rangers against the Greyhounds in Game 3, Game 4, Game 5, Game 6.
Also considered for the award this week was Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Kole Sherwood who scored four goals and two assists for six points in four games for the Rangers, and Anaheim Ducks prospect Jack Kopacka of the Greyhounds with three goals and two assists for five points in four games. In goal, Mario Culina made 136 saves across four games for the Rangers posting a 3-1 record including one shutout for a goals-against-average of 3.10 and save percentage of .913.
2017-18 OHL ‘On the Run’ Players of the Week – Playoffs:Game 6
Apr. 23 – Apr. 30: Joseph Garreffa (Kitchener Rangers)
Apr. 16 – Apr. 22: Boris Katchouk (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Apr. 9 – Apr. 15: Jeremy Helvig (Kingston Frontenacs)
Apr. 2 – Apr. 8: Andrei Svechnikov (Barrie Colts)
Mar. 26 – Apr. 1: Gabriel Vilardi (Kingston Frontenacs)
Mar. 19 – Mar. 25: Noel Hoefenmayer (Ottawa 67’s)
2017-18 OHL ‘On the Run’ Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Mar. 12 – Mar. 18: Nick Suzuki (Owen Sound Attack)
Mar. 5 – Mar. 11: Dmitry Sokolov (Barrie Colts)
Feb. 26 – Mar. 4: Robert Thomas (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Feb. 19 – Feb. 25: Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia Sting)
Feb. 12 – Feb. 18: Aaron Luchuk (Barrie Colts)
Feb. 5 – Feb. 11: Liam Foudy (London Knights)
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)
OHL Writers 