MacLeod and Luukkonen top weekly performers
Voltigeurs’ Gregor MacLeod named CHL Player of the Week
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that overage forward Gregor MacLeod of the Drummondville Voltigeurs is the CHL Player of the Week for the regular season week ending December 2 recording nine points in two games including four goals and five assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-6.
MacLeod produced a pair of multi-point performances last week helping the Voltigeurs remain one of the hottest teams in the country extending their winning-streak to six. On Friday night he scored a career-high five points with one goal and four assists as first star of a 7-3 win over the Gatineau Olympiques, then scored a hat-trick plus an assist on Sunday afternoon as second star of a 10-3 win against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. MacLeod now has points in seven-straight games while the Voltigeurs have climbed to third place in the QMJHL’s overall standings with a 20-6-1-1 record.
A 20-year-old from Dartmouth, NS, MacLeod is playing in his third QMJHL season and first with the Voltigeurs after beginning his career with the Charlottetown Islanders and finishing last season with the Quebec Remparts. He’s currently tied for ninth in league scoring and second on his team with 38 points in 25 games which includes 17 goals and 21 assists. He’s on pace to surpass his offensive production of a year ago where he scored 19 goals and 26 assists for 45 points in 54 games.
Also considered for the award this week was Vegas Golden Knights prospect Cody Glass of the Portland Winterhawks who scored twice with six assists for eight points in two games, and Dallas Stars prospect Jason Robertson of the Niagara IceDogs with three goals and seven assists for 10 points in three games.
2018-19 CHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Nov. 26 – Dec. 2: Gregor MacLeod (Drummondville Voltigeurs)
Nov. 19 – Nov. 25: Brett Leason (Prince Albert Raiders)
Nov. 12 – Nov. 18: Peter Abbandonato (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)
Nov. 5 – Nov. 11: Jason Robertson (Kingston Frontenacs)
Oct. 29 – Nov. 4: Joachim Blichfeld (Portland Winterhawks)
Oct. 22 – Oct. 28: Ivan Chekhovich (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)
Oct. 15 – Oct. 21: Justin Brazeau (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 8 – Oct. 14: Damien Giroux (Saginaw Spirit)
Oct. 1 – Oct. 7: Dawson Davidson (Saskatoon Blades)
Sept. 24 – Sept. 30: Luka Burzan (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Sept. 19 – Sept. 23: Kirby Dach (Saskatoon Blades)
Wolves’ Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Buffalo Sabres prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen of the Sudbury Wolves is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the regular season week ending December 2 posting a 2-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory for a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .960.
Luukkonen turned aside 48 of the 50 shots he faced last week helping the Wolves extend their winning-streak to four games to keep pace atop a crowded OHL Central Division. He made 20 saves on Friday night as part of a 3-2 win against the Peterborough Petes, then recorded his second shutout of the season on Sunday afternoon against the Mississauga Steelheads with a 28-save performance that earned him first star honours in the 7-0 victory. The Wolves now carry a 17-8-1-1 record and are tied for first in the division with the Niagara IceDogs.
A 19-year-old from Espoo, Finland, Luukkonen was chosen third overall by the Wolves in the 2018 CHL Import Draft becoming the first goaltender selected in the process since 2013. So far this season he carries a 15-5-1-1 record with a goals-against-average of 2.50 and save percentage of .922 which are both among the league’s leaders. Luukkonen was a second round pick by the Sabres in the 2017 NHL Draft and was recently invited to Finland’s Selection Camp for the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Also considered for the award this week was QMJHL rookie William Grimard of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles who also went 2-0-0-0 winning one game by shutout while stopping a total of 34 shots for a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .944. In the WHL, Vegas Golden Knights prospect Jiri Patera of the Brandon Wheat Kings posted a 2-0-0-0 record stopping 62 total shots for a goals-against-average of 1.50 and save percentage of .954.
2018-19 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Nov. 26 – Dec. 2: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Sudbury Wolves)
Nov. 19 – Nov. 25: Kyle Jessiman (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)
Nov. 12 – Nov. 18: Ian Scott (Prince Albert Raiders)
Nov. 5 – Nov. 11: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)
Oct. 29 – Nov. 4: Joseph Raaymakers (London Knights)
Oct. 22 – Oct. 28: Stephen Dhillon (Niagara IceDogs)
Oct. 15 – Oct. 21: Émile Samson (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)
Oct. 8 – Oct. 14: Alexis Gravel (Halifax Mooseheads)
Oct. 1 – Oct. 7: Trent Miner (Vancouver Giants)
Sept. 24 – Sept. 30: Luke Richardson (Kitchener Rangers)
Sept. 19 – Sept. 23: Hunter Jones (Peterborough Petes)
OHL Writers 