Bouchard racks up the points, Keyser shuts the door
Knights’ Evan Bouchard named CHL Player of the Week
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that defenceman Evan Bouchard of the London Knights is the CHL Player of the Week for the first week of playoff action ending March 24 with seven points in two games including two goals and five assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-3.
The Knights captain helped his squad climb to a 2-0 series advantage over the eighth-seed Windsor Spitfires beginning with a four-point effort as first star of Game 1 on Friday that saw him notch two goals and two assists, including a helper on teammate Alec Regula’s game-winning goal in the 4-3 decision. The Edmonton Oilers first round draft pick then added another three assists and earned third star honours in a 5-0 victory in Game 2 and sits first in OHL playoff scoring. Game 3 against the Spitfires goes Tuesday in Windsor.
Bouchard, 19, is in his fourth season with the Knights and is coming off a campaign in which he recorded 16 goals and 37 assists for 53 points in just 45 games. The Oakville, Ont., native also appeared in seven games with the Oilers earlier this season and was part of Team Canada at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. In all, Bouchard has registered 201 points in 223 career OHL regular-season contests.
Also considered for the award this week was Everett Silvertips blue-liner Jake Christiansen, who tallied one goal and four assists for five points in two playoff games against the Tri-City Americans, as well as Charlottetown Islanders left-wing Daniel Hardie, who registered three goals and one assist for four points in two contests versus the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.
2018-19 CHL Players of the Week – Playoffs:
Mar. 18 – Mar. 24: Evan Bouchard (London Knights)
2018-19 CHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Mar. 11 – Mar. 17: Jason Robertson (Niagara IceDogs)
Mar. 4 – Mar. 10: Greg Meireles (Kitchener Rangers)
Feb. 25 – Mar. 3: Nate Schnarr (Guelph Storm)
Feb. 18 – Feb. 24: Brayden Tracey (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Feb. 11 – Feb. 17: Maxime Comtois (Drummondville Voltigeurs)
Feb. 4 – Feb. 10: Alexis Lafreniere (Rimouski Oceanic)
Jan. 28 – Feb. 3: Samuel Asselin (Halifax Mooseheads)
Jan. 21 – Jan. 27: Ethan Crossman (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)
Jan. 14 – Jan. 20: Morgan Frost (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Jan. 7 – Jan. 13: Bowen Byram (Vancouver Giants)
Dec. 31 – Jan. 6: Arthur Kaliyev (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Dec. 24 – Dec. 30: Kyle Maksimovich (Erie Otters)
Dec. 10 – Dec. 16: Justin Brazeau (North Bay Battalion)
Dec. 3 – Dec. 9: Ivan Chekhovich (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)
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)
Generals’ Kyle Keyser named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Kyle Keyser of the Oshawa Generals is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the first week of playoff action ending March 24 with a 2-0 record, a goals-against average of 1.00, and save percentage of .967.
Keyser claims the honour for the first time this year after turning aside 58 shots over two playoff games versus the Peterborough Petes to help his team find the win column in both contests. In Friday’s series opener, Keyser stopped all 33 shots to record his first career OHL playoff shutout and received first star honours in a 7-0 final. The Boston Bruins prospect then followed up that performance in Game 2 on Sunday when he surrendered just two goals on 27 shots en route to an 8-2 victory and a 2-0 series lead. The series resumes Tuesday in Peterborough.
The 20-year-old Keyser has completed four seasons in the OHL. Through 47 games this year, the Floridian posted a 32-8-3-0 record with a 2.75 goals-against average and .915 save percentage.
Also considered for the award this week was Colten Ellis of the Rimouski Oceanic, who won both of his appearances versus the Chicoutimi Sagueneens, including a four-overtime marathon in Game 2 on Saturday in which he turned aside 53 shots in an eventual 3-2 win. Ellis holds a .944 save rate across the two games. In the WHL, Carl Tetachuk of the Lethbridge Hurricanes helped carry his squad to a 2-0 series edge over the Calgary Hitmen, coming away with a goals-against average of 1.43 and a save percentage of .955 in the pair of victories.
2018-19 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week – Playoffs:
Mar. 18 – Mar. 24: Kyle Keyser (Oshawa Generals)
2018-19 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Mar. 11 – Mar. 17: Matthew Villalta (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Mar. 4 – Mar. 10: Ian Scott (Prince Albert Raiders)
Feb. 25 – Mar. 3: Dustin Wolf (Everett Silvertips)
Feb. 18 – Feb. 24: Stephen Dhillon (Niagara IceDogs)
Feb. 11 – Feb. 17: Joel Hofer (Portland Winterhawks)
Feb. 4 – Feb. 10: Mads Sogaard (Medicine Hat Tigers)
Jan. 28 – Feb. 3: Jet Greaves (Barrie Colts)
Jan. 21 – Jan. 27: Dustin Wolf (Everett Silvertips)
Jan. 14 – Jan. 20: Olivier Rodrigue (Drummondville Voltigeurs)
Jan. 7 – Jan. 13: Kevin Mandolese (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles)
Dec. 31 – Jan. 6: Ivan Prosvetov (Saginaw Spirit)
Dec. 24 – Dec. 30: Cedrick Andree (Ottawa 67’s)
Dec. 10 – Dec. 16: Mads Sogaard (Medicine Hat Tigers)
Dec. 3 – Dec. 9: Dustin Wolf (Everett Silvertips)
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: Emile 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 