Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that goaltender Stephen Dhillon of the Niagara IceDogs is the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week for the playoff week ending March 31 carrying a 3-0 record including two shutouts with an overall goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .959.
Dhillon is recognized for a third time this season after turning aside 70 shots over the final three games of the IceDogs’ Eastern Conference Quarter-Final series against the North Bay Battalion. With the series tied 1-1 headed north, Dhillon stopped 20 shots in Game 3 on Tuesday night earning third star honours in a 6-0 win then made 23 saves in Game 4 on Thursday to preserve the 5-3 victory. Dhillon and the IceDogs wrapped up the series at home in Game 5 on Friday before a national audience on Sportsnet with a 27-save performance as third star of the 4-0 triumph. It was the third time Dhillon was perfect between-the-pipes against the Troops which marks the first time the league has seen a trio of shutouts in a single playoff series since JP Anderson and the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors against the Belleville Bulls in 2011. The IceDogs will now face the Oshawa Generals in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals beginning Friday night.
A 20-year-old from Buffalo, New York, Dhillon has been a five-year member of the IceDogs since joining the club as a third round pick in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection. Through five playoff games he carries a goals-against-average of 1.41 and save percentage of .943 after a record setting 2018-19 regular season where he set franchise marks for single season and career wins with 38 and 98 respectively. His 197 career games played is also the most by any IceDogs goaltender.
Watch video highlights of Dhillon and the IceDogs against the Battalion in Game 3, Game 4, and Game 5.
Also considered for the award this week was Chicago Blackhawks prospect Adam Boqvist of the London Knights who scored six goals in two wins against the Windsor Spitfires. In addition, Arizona Coyotes prospect Barrett Hayton of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds scored twice with six assists for eight points in three wins against the Owen Sound Attack while teammate Jaden Peca picked up eight assists. Ottawa Senators prospect Alex Formenton of the Knights also recorded eight points accumulating one goal and seven assists in two games.
2018-19 OHL ‘On the Run’ Players of the Week – Playoffs:
Mar. 25 – Mar. 31: Stephen Dhillon (Niagara IceDogs)
Mar. 18 – Mar. 24: Evan Bouchard (London Knights)
2018-19 OHL ‘On the Run’ 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: Stephen Dhillon (Niagara IceDogs)
Feb. 11 – Feb. 17: Nando Eggenberger (Oshawa Generals)
Feb. 4 – Feb. 10: Jacob Ingham (Mississauga Steelheads)
Jan. 28 – Feb. 3: Riley Damiani (Kitchener Rangers)
Jan. 21 – Jan. 27: Liam Foudy (London Knights)
Jan. 14 – Jan. 20: Morgan Frost (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Jan. 7 – Jan. 13: Isaac Ratcliffe (Guelph Storm)
Dec. 31 – Jan. 6: Arthur Kaliyev (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Dec. 24 – Dec. 30: Kyle Maksimovich (Erie Otters)
Dec. 10 – Dec. 16: Andrew MacLean (Owen Sound Attack)
Dec. 3 – Dec. 9: Brett Neumann (Kingston Frontenacs)
Nov. 26 – Dec. 2: Jason Robertson (Niagara IceDogs)
Nov. 19 – Nov. 25: Morgan Frost (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Nov. 12 – Nov. 18: Owen Tippett (Mississauga Steelheads)
Nov. 5 – Nov. 11: Jason Robertson (Kingston Frontenacs)
Oct. 29 – Nov. 4: Kevin Hancock (Owen Sound Attack)
Oct. 22 – Oct. 28: Stephen Dhillon (Niagara IceDogs)
Oct. 15 – Oct. 21: Justin Brazeau (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 8 – Oct. 14: Damien Giroux (Saginaw Spirit)
Oct. 1 – Oct. 7: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Sudbury Wolves)
Sept. 24 – Sept. 30: Lucas Chiodo (Barrie Colts)
Sept. 19 – Sept. 23: Akil Thomas (Niagara IceDogs)
OHL Writers 