2018 CHL Import Draft Results

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the final results of the 2018 CHL Import Draft.

The 27th annual CHL Import Draft included a total of 77 players consisting of 47 forwards and 23 defencemen while seven goaltenders were selected, marking the first time since 2013 that they have been eligible. The 77 players were chosen from across 12 different countries featuring a draft-high 16 players from the Czech Republic.

The two-round draft took place online with the order of selection rotating through each of the CHL’s three leagues using an inverse order of final regular season standings within each league from the 2017-18 season.

The Saint John Sea Dogs used the first overall pick to select Slovakian forward Maxim Cajkovic, a 2019 NHL Draft prospect who spent last season with Malmo of Sweden’s top junior league while also starring for his country at the IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship.  The Edmonton Oil Kings used the second overall pick to select Belarusian forward Vladimir Alistrov who, like Cajkovic, was a standout at the IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship for his native Belarus. At third overall the Sudbury Wolves chose the first goaltender of the draft, selecting Buffalo Sabres second round pick Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen who spent much of the past season with LeKi of Finland’s Mestis league while also representing his country at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.

A trio of different countries made their return to the CHL Import Draft selections list including Austria (Marco Rossi, 18th to Ottawa and David Maier, 87th to North Bay) for the first time since 2016, Norway (Kristian Roykas Marthinsen, 83rd to Saskatoon) for the first time since 2014 and Great Britain (Liam Kirk, 9th to Peterborough) for the first time since 2010.

CLICK HERE TO SEE 2018 CHL IMPORT DRAFT ORDER AND RESULTS

The 2018 CHL Import Draft featured 12 players previously selected by NHL teams in 2017 and 2018 drafts.  Of that group, six players were selected at the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas this past weekend including second round pick Axel Andersson (57th, Boston) chosen 51st overall by the Kitchener Rangers, third round pick Jan Jenik (65th, Arizona) chosen sixth overall by the Flint Firebirds, fourth round picks in forward Matej Pekar (94th, Buffalo) chosen 108th overall by the Barrie Colts and goaltender Ivan Prosvetov (114th, Arizona) selected 15th overall by the Saginaw Spirit. Fifth round pick goaltender Akira Schmid (136th, New Jersey) was selected 20th overall by the Lethbridge Hurricanes while British standout and seventh round pick Liam Kirk (189th, Arizona) was chosen 9th overall by the Peterborough Petes to round out 2018 NHL Draft choices.

The Brandon Wheat Kings selected the lone first round NHL pick in the CHL Import Draft, picking Vegas Golden Knights prospect Erik Brannstrom, the 15th overall pick of the 2017 NHL Draft, with the 44th overall pick.

A total of 40 players selected in the 2018 CHL Import Draft are first-year eligible for the 2019 NHL Draft, while six players selected are not eligible for the NHL Draft until 2020.

Each team in the CHL is permitted to dress and play a maximum of two import players each season who are selected annually through the CHL Import Draft.

2018 CHL Import Draft Summary:

Draft Picks by Position:

Forward – 47

Defence – 23

Goaltender – 7

Draft Picks by Country:

Czech Republic – 16

Russia – 15

Belarus – 8

Finland – 8

Slovakia – 7

Switzerland – 7

Germany – 5

Sweden – 5

Denmark – 2

Austria – 2

Great Britain – 1 Norway – 1

Draft picks by Birthdate and NHL Status:

2001-born late and 2020 NHL Draft eligible – 6

2001-born and 2019 NHL Draft eligible – 32

2000-born late and 2019 NHL Draft eligible – 8

2000-born and 2018 NHL Drafted – 5

2000-born early and NHL Undrafted – 13

1999-born and NHL Drafted – 7

1999-born and NHL Undrafted – 6

NHL Draft picks in CHL Import Draft:

3. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (G) (Sudbury – 2nd round to Buffalo in 2017)

6. Jan Jenik (RW) (Flint – 3rd round to Arizona in 2018)

9. Liam Kirk (LW) (Peterborough – 7th round to Arizona in 2018)

15. Ivan Prosvetov (G) (Saginaw – 4th round to Arizona in 2018)

20. Akira Schmid (G) (Lethbridge – 5th round to New Jersey in 2018)

44. Erik Brannstrom (D) (Brandon – 1st round to Vegas in 2017)

48. Maksim Zhukov (G) (Barrie – 4th round to Vegas in 2017)

51. Axel Andersson (D) (Kitchener – 2nd round to Boston in 2018)

83. Kristian Roykas Marthinsen (LW) (Saskatoon – 7th round to Washington in 2017)

96. Daniel Bukac (D) (Niagara – 7th round to Boston in 2017)

104. Jiri Patera (G) (Brandon – 6th round to Vegas in 2017)

108. Matej Pekar (C) (Buffalo – 4th round to Buffalo in 2018)

A total of 12 players acquired through the CHL Import Draft were recently selected in the 2017 NHL Draft including Carolina Hurricanes second overall pick Andrei Svechnikov of the Barrie Colts, Detroit Red Wings sixth overall pick Filip Zadina of the Halifax Mooseheads, Toronto Maple Leafs 29th overall pick Rasmus Sandin of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and Washington Capitals 31st overall pick Alexander Alexeyev of the Red Deer Rebels all going in the first round. Last season a total of 72 players were selected from 11 different countries led by 19 players from Russia and consisting of 50 forwards and 22 defencemen.

2018 National Men\’s Summer Under-18 Selection Camp Roster

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

CALGARY, Alta. – Forty-four of the nation’s top under-18 hockey prospects will gather in Calgary at the end of July to compete for a chance to wear the Maple Leaf on home ice as part of Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team competing at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton and Red Deer this August.

The invitations have been extended to four goaltenders, 14 defencemen, and 26 forwards who are developing in the CHL and CJHL, including three players who were part of Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team that competed at the 2018 IIHF U18 World Championship in Russia last April, going undefeated in preliminary-round action (Byram, Lafrenière, Robertson).

“Unlike our other summer camps, these players are part of a selection process from the moment they arrive, and the opportunity is to represent Canada on the world stage,” said Scott Salmond, vice-president of hockey operations and national teams for Hockey Canada. “We have a very talented group of players coming to Calgary in late July, and we will no doubt have some very difficult decisions to make when it’s time to select this year’s Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team. The players are excited to arrive and get started, and they are all coming in with the goal of making our decision a difficult one.”

Source: 2018 National Men\’s Summer Under-18 Selection Camp Roster

OHL Writers’ Final Draft Rankings

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

If you’ve followed us in the past, you’ll notice a couple of different things we’ve done for the 2018 National Hockey League Draft. In the past, we’ve only ranked Ontario Hockey League players.

But, for the first time ever, we are including players that played in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) and three players make our list. They are Jack McBain, Mason Snell, Dustyn McFaul and goaltender Jett Alexander.

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

In previous years that we’ve done these lists, we’ve only included players eligible for the National Hockey League Draft for the first time. Usually, the number of players re-entering the draft (and getting drafted) are few, but in 2018, there are as many as half dozen with a legitimate chance of being selected on day two in Dallas.

Beginning with goaltenders, there are two netminders re-entering the draft that make NHL Central Scouting’s list: Christian Propp and Anthony Popovich but do not make our list.

Five skaters re-entering the draft made our OHL players list. We had two, Linus Nyman (26th) and Sean Durzi (32nd) ranked a season ago.

Two other re-entry players were ranked on our 2016 list. Brandon Saigeon and Justin Brazeau were on our list at 48th and 50th respectively two summers ago. Four others made Central’s list of top 50 OHL players but not ours: Albert Michnac, Mac Hollowell, Joey Keane and Hugo Leufvenius. Adam Mascherin re-entered the draft after Central Scouting released it’s final list.

Six first time eligible players are on Central’s top 50 OHL players, Riley McCourt, Oliver True, Andrew Bruder, Hunter Holmes, William Ennis and Adam Liska. However, they too are on the outside looking in. Tyler Tucker does not make Central’s top 50 but makes the cut on this list.

As much as Andrei Svechnikov is the consensus top player from Ontario, and may I add from start to finish, Evan Bouchard is the consensus number two pick and Barrett Hayton is the consensus third pick. But from there on, lists are going to vary.

You can click on most of the player’s names to read their profile, written at different points throughout the season.  This season, we’ve done the top 46 skaters and top 4 goaltenders. These are the players we feel should be drafted.

Players with an asterisk (*) are re-entering the draft for the second time. Players with two asterisks (**) are re-entering for the first time. The NHLCS column is the player’s rank (North American) on Central Scouting’s final ranking.

 

RK PLAYER POS TEAM NHLCS
1 Andrei Svechnikov RW Barrie Colts 1
2 Evan Bouchard D London Knights 4
3 Barrett Hayton LW Soo Greyhounds 9
4 Serron Noel RW Oshawa Generals 10
5 Ty Dellandrea C Flint Firebirds 25
6 Rasmus Sandin D Soo Greyhounds 11
7 Akil Thomas RW Niagara Ice Dogs 15
8 Ryan McLeod C Mississauga Steelheads 16
9 Liam Foudy C London Knights 19
10 Jack McBain C Toronto Jr Canadiens- OJHL 35
11 Kevin Bahl D Ottawa 67’s 29
12 Ryan Merkley D Guelph Storm 45
13 Sean Durzi** D Owen Sound Attack 37
14 Allan McShane C Oshawa Generals 50
15 Kody Clark RW Ottawa 67’s 34
16 Alec Regula D London Knights 72
17 Cam Hillis C Guelph Storm 67
18 Adam Mascherin* Kitchener Rangers *
19 Nico Gross D Oshawa Generals 56
20 Blade Jenkins C Saginaw Spirit 26
21 Giovanni Vallati D Kitchener Rangers 57
22 Aidan Dudas C Owen Sound Attack 68
23 Mitchell Hoelscher C Ottawa 67’s 62
24 Curtis Douglas C Windsor Spifires 63
25 Declan Chisholm  D Peterborough Petes 52
26 Pavel Gogolev RW Peterborough Petes 79
27 Semyon Der-Arguchintsev C Peterborough Petes 82
28 Carter Robertson D Ottawa 67’s 78
29 Caleb Everett D Saginaw Spirit 84
30 Merrick Rippon D Ottawa 67’s 85
31 Linus Nyman ** Kingston Frontenacs 89
32 Maxim Golod LW Erie Otters 97
33 Billy Moskal C London Knights 99
34 Riley Damiani C Kitchener Rangers 100
35 Sam Bitten C Ottawa 67’s 106
36 Nathan Dunkley LW London Knights 109
37 Mason Snell D Wellington Dukes – OJHL 173
38 Dustyn McFaul D Pickering – OJHL 164
39 Tyler Tucker D Barrie Colts 171
40 Matthew Struthers C North Bay Battalion 124
41 Connor Corcoran D Windsor Spifires 123
42 Peter Stratis D Sudbury Wolves 139
43 Brandon Saigeon* Hamilton Bulldogs 147
44 Justin Brazeau* North Bay Battalion 142
45 Connor Roberts C Flint Firebirds 146
46 Dennis Busby D Flint Firebirds NR
GOALIES
1 Jacob Ingham G Mississauga Steelheads 13
2 Jordan Kooy G London Knights 15
3 Nick Donofrio G Hamilton Bulldogs 31
4 Jett Alexander G North York Rangers 30

Dustyn McFaul – Pickering Panthers – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 185 Pounds

Date of birth: August 4, 2000

Hometown: Waterdown, Ontario

Position: Defence

Shoots: Left

OHL Draft: Round 13, 259 overall, 2016 Priority Selection; Round 3, 37 overall, USHL Entry Draft 

NHL Central Scouting pre-season: C Prospect

NHL Central Scouting mid-term: 196 North American Skaters

NHL Central Scouting final rank: 164 North American Skaters

Like fellow Ontario Junior Hockey League defenceman Mason Snell, Pickering Panthers blue-liner Dustyn McFaul has gained some attention as a potential late round find for the 2018 National Hockey League Entry Draft.

With an August 4, 2000 birthdate, McFaul is one of the younger players eligible for the NHL Draft. He attended the training camp of the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League, but that was a tough roster to crack. When he didn’t make the cut with the Frontenacs, he needed a place to play and the Panthers came calling.

Dustyn McFaul
Dustyn McFaul of the Pickering Panthers. Photo by Ray MacAloney/OJHL Images

McFaul was named to the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s Top Prospect Game, Junior A’s version of the CHL and USHL Top Prospects Game but an injury prevented him from taking part. Being named to participate, along with the improvements he’d shown throughout the season, led to an offer from Clarkson University and a full scholarship from the Division 1 NCAA school. But it is said that it was at the Annual Governors Showcase in Buffalo N.Y. that he first caught the attention of Clarkson.

That commitment and scholarship doesn’t take effect until the 2019-2020 season leaving McFaul to make a decision for next season. He’s likely to return to the Panthers and one more season of Junior A hockey. But the USHL is still an option for him.

McFaul appeared in 38 games for the Panthers – missing 16 games due to injury and a suspension. He scored 4 goals and 15 assists during the regular season and adding a goal and a helper in 7 playoff games. He received the Ryan Annesley Award as the team’s Defenceman of the Year and named to the OJHL First All-Prospect Team.

What McFaul accomplished as a rookie in the OJHL came as quite a surprise. He quickly became a player who could eat up large minutes, averaging 28 minutes per game when I saw him. As a youngster, he was thrown into every situation, be it penalty killing, powerplay and 5v5 against the top players the opposition could throw out there.

Not only was McFaul a leader on the blue line, but he showed excellent leadership qualities on a young Panthers squad. He is very coachable and seems to absorb what the coaches are telling him. He’s also very humble and puts aside any personal achievements and goals for those of his teammates.

At 6’2”, McFaul has good size, but will need to put in some work to add much needed bulk to his frame, something that he is aware of. It can only help him in the defensive zone when it comes to battling in those hard areas. He has an above average wing span for a player of his size and he uses it effectively. His mobility is very good and in combination with his stick skills and size, keeps players from getting to the danger areas.

Offensively, McFaul is very good at joining the rush, making very good first passes and has shown he can quarterback a powerplay. He needs to improve his shot, but it can also come along when he adds some muscle.

Above all else, the thing that stood out to me most, and talking to those around his game, it is his work ethic. It may have been a blessing in disguise for McFaul not to make the Frontenacs and the OHL at the time, and he realized that he needed to put some work in and he did. And his attitude tells him just making it isn’t good enough, he’ll continue to put that work in to improve throughout his career.

McFaul, like Snell, isn’t one of those guys that you draft hoping he can make your squad in a couple of years. He’s a project that you will need to put in some time with and realistically, if he develops into his full potential, you’re looking at 5 or 6 years away. If you are a team with a deep prospect pool, he’s the type of player you look for in the late rounds.

OHL Announces 2018-19 Regular Season Schedule

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Opening Week 2018-2019

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the regular season schedule of games for 2018-19. 

#OHLOpeningWeek begins on Wednesday September 19 when the Saginaw Spirit host the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, and continues with a trio of games on Thursday September 20, seven games on Friday September 21, five games on Saturday September 22, and two games on Sunday September 23 featuring a total of 14 home openers to launch the new campaign. 

Among the highlights in 2018-19 are home openers for the league’s four division winners including the Central Division’s Barrie Colts on September 20 against the Owen Sound Attack, the West’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds against the Sarnia Sting and the Midwest’s Kitchener Rangers against the Flint Firebirds both on September 21, and the East’s Hamilton Bulldogs who will also celebrate their OHL championship season when they host the Ottawa 67’s on September 30. 

The schedule includes five days that feature special morning starts for a total of eight School Day games.  On Wednesday November 7 the Firebirds host the Sting and the 67’s host the Kingston Frontenacs both at 11:00 am, then on Remembrance Day, Wednesday November 14, the Bulldogs host the Colts at 10:30 am while the Erie Otters host the Rangers and the Mississauga Steelheads host the Guelph Storm both at 11:00 am.  On Wednesday November 28 the Frontenacs host the 67’s at 10:30 am, followed by Thursday February 7 when the Bulldogs host the Oshawa Generals at 10:30 am, and Wednesday February 27 when the Steelheads host the Rangers at 11:00 am. 

YourTV’s sixth annual Hockey Day in the OHL takes place this year on Sunday January 27 with a broadcast tripleheader that includes the Niagara IceDogs at the Windsor Spitfires at 1:00 pm, the Frontenacs visit the North Bay Battalion for a 4:00 pm start, and the Bulldogs visit the Sting to close out the day at 7:00 pm. 

The busiest day on the OHL calendar this season is Friday December 27 when the league resumes play following the holiday break and features all 20 teams in action.  The schedule also includes eight days where nine games will be played including Friday October 12, Saturday November 10, Friday November 23, Friday December 14, Sunday January 6, Friday February 1, Saturday February 2, and most notably Monday February 18 with nine matinee matchups to celebrate Ontario’s Family Day. 

For the second straight season, the schedule includes 681 games due to another interleague series between the 67’s and the QMJHL’s Gatineau Olympiques.  The teams will play their home-and-home series on Friday December 7 in Gatineau and Saturday December 8 in Ottawa. 

Milestone seasons in 2018-19 include the Sting playing their 25th campaign in Sarnia, while it also marks the 30th season for the OHL in Owen Sound. 

The regular season wraps up on Sunday March 17 with six games scheduled before the top eight teams in each conference will compete for the J. Ross Robertson Cup in the 2019 OHL Playoffs. 

Divisional alignment remains the same for 2018-19 with the same 68-game unbalanced schedule. Teams continue to play out of conference opponents a minimum of two times (one home, one away) while the majority of teams play interconference teams a minimum of four times including two games at home and two on the road. Interdivisional teams will play each other up to six times and in a number of cases, closest rivals will play each other up to eight times. 

The OHL continues the tradition of being primarily a weekend league in order to accommodate the student athlete with over 87% (597) games scheduled between Thursday and Sunday.  Friday continues to be the busiest night during the season with 191 games scheduled, followed by 165 on Saturdays, and 143 on Sundays.   

Day – No. of Games (Percentage)

Monday: 16 games (2.4%)

Tuesday: 11 games (1.6%)

Wednesday: 56 games (8.2%)

Thursday: 98 games (14.41%)

Friday: 191 games (28.09%)

Saturday: 165 games (24.26%)

Sunday: 143 games (21.03%) 

CHL Special Events not listed within the official schedule but should be noted include the CIBC Canada Russia Series in OHL markets on Thursday November 8 in Sarnia, and Monday November 12 in Oshawa.  The 2019 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game takes place this season in Red Deer, Alberta, on Wednesday January 23, while the 2019 Memorial Cup will be played for May 16-26 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and will feature the OHL champion along with the host Mooseheads, the Western Hockey League champion, and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champion. 

Full schedule can be found online at www.ontariohockeyleague.com. 

Help promote the launch of the 2018-19 OHL Regular Season on social media by using #OHLOpeningWeek.

53 OHL Draft Picks Invited to Team Canada Camp for 2018 World Hockey Challenge Under-17

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Hockey Canada

Hockey Canada released the list of 111 players invited to the Team Canada Camp for the 2018 World Hockey Challenge Under-17 tournament held from November 3, 2018 through November 10, 2018 in New Brunswick, Canada. The players will be competing for spots on one of three Canadian Teams in the tournament.

Of the 111 players invited to attend, almost half (53) are from the Ontario Hockey League. And 53 of the 111 players are first round draft picks in the Canadian Hockey League’s respective drafts in 2018. 19 of the 53 OHL players were first round picks at the 2018 OHL Priority Selection. All but 7 of the 53 OHL players invited are eligible for the 2020 National Hockey League Draft, with those 7 being eligible for 2021. Players born before September 15, 2002 are eligible for 2020.

Four of the 53 OHL draft picks are goaltenders. Another seventeen are defencemen and thirty-two are forwards. Four players invited have dual citizenship (American and Canadian). Because the World Hockey Challenge is not an International Ice Hockey Federation sanctioned tournament, those four can choose to play for Canada or the USA in future IIHF tournaments. Under IIHF rules, once you play for one country in one of their tournaments, you can no longer play for the other country in future tournaments.

Here are the 53 OHL drafted players invited to camp:

Goaltenders
Name Catches HT WT DOB Hometown 2017-2018 Team OHL Draft
Tye Austin L 6’3¾” 171 05/28/02 Dunrobin, Ont. Kanata (HEOMAAA) PBO 2018 (3/43)
Will Cranley L 6’1¾” 160 02/26/02 Peterborough, Ont. Peterborough (OMHA-ETA) OTT 2018 (2/35)
Tristan Lennox L 6’2” 173 10/21/02 Mississauga, Ont. Mississauga Reps (GTHL) SAG 2018 (2/26)
Joe Vrbetic L 6’4” 164 10/24/02 Dunvegan, Ont. Don Mills (GTHL) NB 2018 (2/31)
Defence
Name Shoots HT WT DOB Hometown 2017-2018 Team OHL Draft
Kyle Aucoin L 5’9½” 142 07/02/02 Hinsdale, Ill. Chicago Mission (USU16) SUD 2018 (7/121)
Jack Bar R 6’2” 175 10/07/02 Newmarket, Ont. York Simcoe (OMHA-ETA) PBO 2018 (3/52)
Alec Belanger L 5’11½” 181 05/29/02 Barrie, Ont. Barrie (OMHA-ETA) OTT 2018 (3/44)
Michael Bianconi L 5’11¼” 152 05/19/02 Toronto, Ont. Toronto Jr. Canadiens (GTHL) FLI 2018 (3/48)
Nolan Dillingham-Morelli R 6’1” 196 06/22/02 Mississauga, Ont. Mississauga Rebels (GTHL) SAR 2018 (4/68)
Jamie Drysdale R 5’11” 157 04/08/02 Toronto, Ont. Toronto Marlboros (GTHL) ER 2018 (1/4)
Lleyton Moore L 5’7¼” 159 02/27/02 Woodbridge, Ont. Toronto Marlboros (GTHL) NIA 2018 (1/12)
Jake Murray L 6’2½” 188 04/11/02 Oakville, Ont. Oakville (OMHA-SCTA) KIN 2018 (1/13)
Ryan O’Rourke L 6’0½” 165 05/16/02 Pickering, Ont. Vaughan (GTHL) SSM 2018 (1/20)
Owen Power L 6’4½” 207 11/22/02 Mississauga, Ont. Mississauga Reps (GTHL) FLI 2018 (2/22)
Michael Renwick R 5’10¾” 160 01/26/02 Mississauga, Ont. Mississauga Reps (GTHL) HAM 2018 (2/34)
Ben Roger R 5’11” 128 11/03/02 Brighton, Ont. Quinte (OMHA-ETA) LDN 2018 (4/74)
Pacey Schlueting L 6’0½” 176 01/02/02 Corbeil, Ont. North Bay (GNML) NB 2018 (1/9)
Donovan Sebrango L 5’10¾” 162 01/12/02 Kingston, Ont. CIHA White (HEOMAAA) KIT 2018 (2/40)
Nolan Seed L 5’11½” 152 04/24/02 Newboro, Ont. Smiths Falls (HEOMAAA) OS 2018 (1/15)
Zack Terry L 6’1” 177 04/05/02 Oakville, Ont. Oakville (OMHA-SCTA) GUE 2018 (2/36)
Jack Thompson R 5’11” 161 03/19/02 Courtice, Ont. Clarington (OMHA-ETA) SUD 2018 (2/30)
Forwards
Name Shoots HT WT DOB Hometown 2017-2018 Team OHL Draft
Colby Ambrosio R 5’7” 147 08-07-02 Welland, Ont. Buffalo (USU16) OTT 2018 (4/66)
Josh Barnes L 5’9” 155 09/27/02 Cornwall, Ont. Cornwall (HEOMAAA) OS 2018 (2/24)
Cameron Butler R 6’4” 190 06/09/02 Gloucester, Ont. York Simcoe (OMHA-ETA) PBO 2018 (2/27)
Quinton Byfield L 6’3½” 202 08/24/02 Newmarket, Ont. York Simcoe (OMHA-ETA) SUD 2018 (1/1)
Ethan Cardwell R 5’9½” 157 08/30/02 Courtice, Ont. Clarington (OMHA-ETA) SAG 2018 (2/33)
Ty Collins R 6’0” 156 06/11/02 Newmarket, Ont. York Simcoe (OMHA-ETA) GUE 2018 (2/38)
Will Cuylle L 6’2” 187 02/02/02 Toronto, Ont. Toronto Marlboros (GTHL) PBO 2018 (1/3)
George Diaco L 5’5” 140 02/14/02 London, Ont. London (MHAO) HAM 2018 (6/101)
Luke Evangelista R 5’9¾” 149 02/21/02 Oakville, Ont. Oakville (OMHA-SCTA) LDN 2018 (1/14)
Jean-Luc Foudy R 5’10” 153 05/13/02 Scarborough, Ont. Toronto Titans (GTHL) WSR 2018 (1/10)
Stephen Halliday L 6’2½” 203 07/02/02 Glenwood, Md. Toronto Marlboros (GTHL) NIA 2018 (3/41)
James Hardie L 5’10¾” 154 01/18/02 Innisfil, Ont. Barrie (OMHA-ETA) MIS 2018 (1/8)
Isaac Langdon L 5’11½” 170 05/22/02 Belleville, Ont. Quinte (OMHA-ETA) KIT 2018 (2/32)
Matthew Maggio R 5’8¾” 162 11/25/02 Tecumseh, Ont. Sun County (MHAO) OTT 2018 (5/86)
Kyle McDonald R 6’3” 176 02/05/02 Ottawa, Ont. Ottawa (HEOMAAA) WSR 2018 (2/25)
Sean McGurn R 5’9¼” 150 07/20/02 Ottawa, Ont. Ottawa (HEOMAAA) LDN 2018 (3/53)
Dawson McKinney R 6’0” 183 06/23/02 Binbrook, Ont. Hamilton (OMHA-SCTA) OSH 2018 (4/64)
Logan Morrison R 5’9½” 144 07/09/02 Guelph, Ont. Guelph (OMHA-SCTA) HAM 2018 (1/18)
Sahil Panwar L 5’11½” 177 01/26/02 Troy, Mich. Detroit Honeybaked (USU16) LDN 2018 (2/23)
Cole Perfetti L 5’9¼” 170 01/01/02 Whitby, Ont. Vaughan (GTHL) SAG 2018 (1/5)
Jacob Perreault R 5’10” 195 04/15/02 Hinsdale, Ill. Chicago Mission (USU16) SAR 2018 (1/19)
Cameron Peters L 6’0¾” 167 07/09/02 Toronto, Ont. Toronto Marlboros (GTHL) NB 2018 (2/29)
Riley Piercey L 6’2½” 184 03/20/02 Mississauga, Ont. Toronto Marlboros (GTHL) BAR 2018 (1/16)
William Portokalis L 5’9¾” 173 04/04/02 Mississauga, Ont. Don Mills (GTHL) MIS 2018 (2/39)
Dylan Robinson L 6’1” 163 07/02/02 Simcoe, Ont. Toronto Jr. Canadiens (GTHL) OSH 2018 (2/28)
Eric Russell L 6’1½” 178 03/26/02 Oakville, Ont. Vaughan (GTHL) BAR 2018 (3/56)
Spencer Smith L 5’8” 152 05/20/02 St. Catharines, Ont. Niagara North (OMHA-SCTA) GUE 2018 (3/47)
Cameron Tolnai L 6’0” 166 02/14/02 Oakville, Ont. Oakville (OMHA-SCTA) OTT 2018 (1/6)
Tyler Tullio R 5’7½” 140 04/05/02 Lakeshore, Ont. Vaughan (GTHL) OSH 2018 (1/11)
Reid Valade R 5’10” 160 03/14/02 Caledon, Ont. Toronto Marlboros (GTHL) KIT 2018 (1/17)
Evan Vierling L 5’11½” 148 06/20/02 Aurora, Ont. York Simcoe (OMHA-ETA) FLI 2018 (1/2)
Davis Young L 5’10¾” 162 01/03/02 Mississauga, Ont. Mississauga Reps (GTHL) HAM 2018 (2/37)

OHL announces exhibition schedule

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

OHL Logo

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the Exhibition Game Schedule for the 2018-19 season. 

The schedule includes 46 games from Friday August 31 through Sunday September 16 and features a pair of showcase events in Buffalo and Kitchener taking place during the opening weekend of exhibition play August 31 to September 2. 

The second annual HarborCenter OHL Showcase brings four teams together in Buffalo for a round-robin trio of games each to be played between the host Erie Otters, the Flint Firebirds, Hamilton Bulldogs, and Windsor Spitfires.  Kitchener’s Preseason Showcase will also feature four teams and a total of six weekend games played between the host Rangers, the North Bay Battalion, Saginaw Spirit, and the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. 

Additional interleague games highlight the pre-season schedule including a September 14 matchup between the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies and the Sudbury Wolves to be played in Timmins.  The Ottawa 67’s will also play a pair against the Gatineau Olympiques across the river on September 14 and in Orleans on September 16.   

All OHL clubs are currently scheduled to play between two and five exhibition contests with the potential for additional games still to be added in the coming months. 

The 2018-19 OHL Regular Season Schedule will be announced in full on Tuesday June 12. 

2018 OHL Exhibition Game Schedule:                                                                                                                                                                                               

Fri. Aug 31 Saginaw vs. North Bay 2:00 (Kitchener Preseason Showcase)

Fri. Aug 31 Hamilton vs. Flint 4:00 (OHL Showcase at Buffalo’s HarborCenter)

Fri. Aug 31 Moncton (QMJHL) vs. Kitchener 7:00 (Kitchener Preseason Showcase)

Fri. Aug 31 Windsor vs. Erie 7:00 (OHL Showcase at Buffalo’s HarborCenter)

Fri. Aug 31 Oshawa at Mississauga 7:00 (Hershey Rink 2)

Fri. Aug 31 Barrie at Niagara 7:00

Fri. Aug 31 Ottawa at Sudbury 7:05

Fri. Aug 31 Sarnia at London 7:30

 

Sat. Sept 1 Moncton (QMJHL) vs. North Bay 2:00 (Kitchener Preseason Showcase)

Sat. Sept 1 Windsor vs. Hamilton 2:30 (OHL Showcase at Buffalo’s HarborCenter)

Sat. Sept 1 Saginaw vs. Kitchener 7:00 (Kitchener Preseason Showcase)

Sat. Sept 1 Flint vs. Erie 7:00 (OHL Showcase at Buffalo’s HarborCenter)

Sat. Sept 1 Peterborough at Guelph 7:00

Sat. Sept 1 London at Sarnia 7:05

 

Sun. Sept 2 Moncton (QMJHL) vs. Saginaw 11:00 (Kitchener Preseason Showcase)

Sun. Sept 2 Flint vs. Windsor 12:30 (OHL Showcase at Buffalo’s HarborCenter)

Sun. Sept 2 Ottawa at Kingston 2:00

Sun. Sept 2 Sudbury at Owen Sound 2:00

Sun. Sept 2 North Bay vs. Kitchener 2:00 (Kitchener Preseason Showcase)

Sun. Sept 2 Oshawa at Peterborough 2:05

Sun. Sept 2 Hamilton vs. Erie 3:15 (OHL Showcase at Buffalo’s HarborCenter)

 

Mon. Sept 3 Mississauga at Guelph 2:00

Mon. Sept 3 Kingston vs. Ottawa 2:00 (Cornwall)

Mon. Sept 3 Owen Sound at Barrie 6:00

 

Thurs. Sept 13 Kingston at Peterborough 7:05

Thurs. Sept 13 Sault Ste. Marie at Sudbury 7:05

Thurs. Sept 13 Sarnia at Windsor 7:05

Thurs. Sept 13 Niagara  at Barrie 7:30

 

Fri. Sept 14 Guelph at Mississauga 7:00

Fri. Sept 14 Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL) vs. Sudbury 7:00 (Timmins)

Fri. Sept 14 Ottawa at Gatineau (QMJHL) 7:00

Fri. Sept 14 Saginaw at Flint 7:00

Fri. Sept 14 Windsor at Sarnia 7:05

Fri. Sept 14 Niagara at Kitchener 7:30

Fri. Sept 14 Erie at London 7:30

 

Sat. Sept 15 Owen Sound at North Bay 2:00

Sat. Sept 15 Hamilton at Guelph 7:00

Sat. Sept 15 Flint at Saginaw 7:00

Sat. Sept 15 Kitchener at Niagara 7:00

Sat. Sept 15 London vs. Erie 7:00 (Location-TBA)

Sat. Sept 15 Mississauga vs. Oshawa 7:05 (Ajax Community Centre)

Sat. Sept 15 Peterborough at Barrie 7:30

 

Sun. Sept 16 North Bay at Owen Sound 2:00

Sun. Sept 16 Gatineau (QMJHL) at Ottawa 2:00 (Orleans)

Sun. Sept 16 Sudbury at Sault Ste. Marie 2:07

Sun. Sept 16 Peterborough vs. Oshawa 6:00                  

Mason Snell – Wellington Dukes – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height: 6’0”

Weight: 185 Pounds

Date of birth: June 18, 2000

Hometown: Clarington, Ontario

Position: Defence

Shoots: Left

Junior Draft: Round 3, 54th overall, 2016 OHL Priority Selection: Round 8, 123rd 2017 USHL Draft

NHL Central Scouting pre-season: C Prospect

NHL Central Scouting mid-term: 185 North American Skaters

NHL Central Scouting final rank: 173 North American Skaters

There is an impressive list of OJHL alumni who, although weren’t drafted out of the OJHL, kicked off their junior careers in the OJHL (or the previously known as OPJHL). The list includes the likes of John Tavares, Brent Burns, Corey Perry, Ryan O’Reilly, Mark Giordano, James Neal, Mike Fisher, Josh Bailey and many more.

The OJHL is a stepping stone to other, higher leagues, usually prior to their draft years. But a few do get drafted right out of the OJHL.

Which brings me to Wellington Dukes’ defenceman Mason Snell.

Snell is committed to play NCAA Hockey with Penn State University for the upcoming 2018-2019 season. As you are all aware, the NCAA considers Major Junior players professionals, so the OHL was not an option for him and his desire to get an education. His only other alternative would have been to play with Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League, who drafted him in 2017.

Mason Snell
Mason Snell of the Wellington Dukes. Photo by Ed McPherson/OJHL Images

Snell played his Minor Midget AAA hockey during the 2015-2016 season with his hometown Clarington Toros. He appeared in 28 games and put up impressive numbers with 5 goals and 24 points and 96 penalty minutes. That was impressive enough for the North Bay Battalion to use the 54th overall pick at the 2016 OHL Draft to select him. That’s a high pick in the OHL and for a defenceman on a Stan Butler team.

The following season, Snell made the jump to the OJHL and the Whitby Fury. He appeared in 45 games as a rookie and scored 3 goals while assisting on 13 others. He would add another goal and two helpers in seven playoff games.

This season, Snell scored a goal and 3 assists in 13 games with the Fury before the Dukes, who were poised to make a championship run came calling and made a three-for-one deal to acquire the blueliner.

And the rest as they say, is history.

Snell led the Dukes from the back end and in 30 games scored 5 goals and 13 helpers to go along with 62 penalty minutes. But it was during the Dukes big game playoff runs that Snell stood out the most. In 25 playoff games he scored once while adding twelve assists and finished tied for fifth among blueliners during the playoffs en route to an OHA Buckland Cup Championship.

Next up was the Dudley Hewitt Cup. The three Junior A Champions in Ontario and a host team compete in a tournament to determine the champion with the winner moving on to the RBC Cup and the national Junior A Championship. The Dukes steamrolled their way through to a championship with Snell setting up four goals in six games. He was named to the All Tournament Team.

The Dukes made it to the final, losing 4-2 to the host Chilliwack Chiefs. Snell made quite the impression on watchers with his play. He scored twice in six games at the championship, but it was his all-around game that drew the attention and thus nominated for best defenceman at the RBC Cup.

So, what does Snell bring to the table?

He’s a bit of a project, and with potentially four years at Penn State and a couple more in the American Hockey League, he could be the perfect example of a late-round find for a team who has plenty of time and other options in their system already to allow him to develop at his own pace. It’s just my opinion, but I would rather spend a pick on someone like that then one you hope develops quicker, if at all.

Snell is a smooth skating blueliner who plays the game with a lot of confidence. He doesn’t rattle under the pressure of the opposition forecheck. Instead, he surveys his options and can skate the puck out of danger or deliver the puck with a perfect pass up ice. He’s not afraid to jump up into the play and he picks his opportunities well.

Snell has been an excellent powerplay quarterback at the OJHL level. He possesses a very good shot that is hard and accurate and he delivers with a purpose – putting it in spots for a rebound opportunity or where his teammates can get a stick on it. But he is most dangerous setting up teammates. He finds open lanes and delivers the pass quickly, sometimes without looking.

On the defensive side, Snell positions himself well. His skating allows him to keep players to the outside. He gets his stick into lanes quickly but relies on his skating to get there. At 6’ he’s not small but needs to add some strength for those 50-50 battles along the walls. He boxes out opponents well and gets plenty of PK duty because of his abilities. He can also create offence from the backend on the PK.

When it comes to Snell, NHL teams are going to have to have some patience.

Stat page from Elite Prospects

Enter to Win an Authentic, Signed Jack Studnicka Jersey

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

This is something we at OHL Writers have been doing since 2010. This year we are happy to announce we are teaming up with Mark Allred and the Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast team to put a different spin on it.

We are giving you the opportunity to win an authentic Jack Studnicka Oshawa Generals jersey signed by “Captain Jack” himself. The jersey will be shipped to the winner directly by the Oshawa Generals.

All you have to do is correctly guess how many goals and assists Jack Studnicka will score during the 2018-2019 regular season. In the event of a tie, a random draw will take place from all the correct entries. In the event that no one correctly guesses the amount of goals and assists Jack Studnicka scores during the 2018-2019 regular season, a random draw will take place among all entries received.

Jack Studnicka of the Oshawa Generals. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Jack Studnicka of the Oshawa Generals. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Your email must contain the following information:

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Goals Jack Studnicka will score:

Assists Jack Studnicka will register:

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Contest Rules:

 

NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE DOES NOT INCREASE THE CHANCES OF WINNING.

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