Louka Henault – Windsor Spitfires – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height: 6’

Weight: 181 pounds

Date of birth: January 31, 2001

Hometown: Montreal, Quebec

Position: Defence

Shoots: Left

OHL Draft: Round 5, 96th overall, 2017 Priority Selection

NHL Central Scouting Rankings: Pre-season, November: Not Ranked. Mid-term: 163 North America

Born in Montreal Quebec and growing up in Etobicoke Ontario, Windsor Spitfires blueliner Louka Henault played his minor midget AAA hockey with the Toronto Marlboros during the 2016-2017 season. Henault played in 33 games and scored twice while adding 22 assists. The Spitfires would use the 96th overall pick at the 2017 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection to draft Henault.

During the 2015-2016 season, Henault also played Minor Midget AAA hockey with the Don Mills Flyers. He would play in 39 games and score once with 5 helpers.

Henault appeared in the OHL Cup in back-to-back seasons, first with the Flyers and then the Marlboros. In 11 combined games he scored once and assisted on 4 others.

Louka Henault of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Louka Henault of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images

Henault broke onto the Spitfires roster during the 2017-2018 season and played in 42 games and notching 2 assists. This season Henault played in 66 games and scored twice while assisting on 20. In the four game playoff series where the London Knights eliminating the Spitfires, Henault had a goal and an assist.

If Henault is going to hear his name called at the National Hockey League Draft in Vancouver British Columbia on June 21-22, it will most definitely be on day two of the draft – if at all. That said, if an NHL team isn’t willing to use a pick on him on draft day, he is precisely the type of player that will get an invite to a Team’s Development Camp in the summer.

So, what does Henault bring to the table?

Henault is a mobile two-way defender who has his head on a swivel when in possession of the puck, almost always seemingly surveying the ice and looking for the best options available. He’s a good skater that has good mobility both north-south and east-west. He walks the offensive blue line very well and creates lanes by doing so. And he can jump up the wall and make pinches when he needs to.

Henault is known for his shot. While he hasn’t shown that he can overpower goaltenders with it, he usually finds the target and he doesn’t try to score, but to put it in areas where he can create rebounds and second chance opportunities. The fact that he averaged one shot per game and the bulk of his assists were primary assists speaks to that and his passing abilities. That said, that he only averaged one shot per game and his attempted shots were not much better, you know that he has to shoot more often.

Defensively, Henault was steady on the backend for the Spitfires who still have a young and somewhat green blueline. He understands positioning, uses his stick well to defend, and is willing to battle in all the hard areas. And he is effective at moving the puck out of his zone.

Henault is one of those players that doesn’t excel at any one thing, but you get an honest effort and steady performances at both ends of the ice.

Stat page from Elite Prospects

 

CHL Announces Weekly Award Winners

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Knights’ Adam Boqvist named CHL Player of the Week

 

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that defenceman Adam Boqvist of the London Knights is the CHL Player of the Week for the second week of playoff action ending March 31 with six goals in two games.

The Knights blue-liner helped cap a four-game sweep of the eighth-seed Windsor Spitfires in first round OHL Western Conference action thanks to an incredible four-goal effort in Game 3 that saw him cash in three times on the power play before adding the eventual game winner late in the final frame of the 6-3 victory en route to first-star recognition. The Chicago Blackhawks first-round pick then added two more tallies in a 5-2 win in Game 4 for his second-straight first-star honour to help punch London’s ticket to the second round and a date with the Guelph Storm beginning Friday night. Through four playoff games, Boqvist has collected seven points, including an OHL-leading six goals.

Boqvist, 20, is in his first season with the Knights, coming off a campaign in which he registered 20 goals and 40 assists for 60 points in just 54 games to lead all London defencemen and finish third in team scoring. Earlier this year, Boqvist competed in five games with his native Sweden at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, where he notched one goal and three assists for four points.

Also considered for the award this week was 2019 NHL Draft hopeful and Vancouver Giants blue-liner Bowen Byram, who tallied two goals and four assists for six points in four games to lead his squad to a six-game defeat of the Seattle Thunderbirds, as well as 2019 Jean Beliveau Trophy winner Peter Abbandonato, who notched eight assists and a plus-seven rating over three games to power the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies to a six-game series win over the Shawinigan Cataractes.

2018-19 CHL Players of the Week – Playoffs:

Mar. 25 – Mar. 31: Adam Boqvist (London Knights)

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)

IceDogs’ Stephen Dhillon named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Stephen Dhillon of the Niagara IceDogs is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the second week of playoff action ending March 31 with a 3-0 record, including two shutouts, a goals-against average of 1.00, and save percentage of .959.

Dhillon claims the honour for the third time this year after turning aside 70 shots over three contests versus the North Bay Battalion to help win the first round OHL Eastern Conference series in five games. His week began with a 6-0 road victory in which he stopped 20 shots and was named the game’s third star. He then chalked up his second-straight road win in a 5-3 final where he made 23 saves. Dhillon then wrapped up the series Friday with his third shutout in five games as he turned aside 27 shots in the 4-0 final earning third star recognition and setting up a second round series versus the Oshawa Generals.

A native of Buffalo, N.Y., the 20-year-old Dhillon is in his fifth season with Niagara. Through 58 games this year, he posted a 38-11-7-0 record with a 2.97 goals-against average and .909 save percentage, helping him claim the franchise record for single season wins as well as career wins, with 98. Through five playoff appearances in 2018-19, Dhillon is 4-1 with a 1.41 goals-against average and .943 save percentage.

Also considered for the award this week was Ottawa Senators prospect Kevin Mandolese of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, who won all four of his appearances, in which he posted a 1.92 goals-against average and .935 save percentage with one shutout to push his club to a six-game series win over the Charlottetown Islanders. In the WHL, Everett Silvertips netminder Dustin Wolf guided his club to a five-game defeat of the Tri-City Americans, where his past three appearances saw him come away with two wins, including one shutout, for a goals-against average of 1.34 and save percentage of .945.

2018-19 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week – Playoffs:

Mar. 25 – Mar. 31: Stephen Dhillon (Niagara IceDogs)

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)

IceDogs’ Stephen Dhillon named OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

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)

2019 OHL Playoffs: Second Round Schedule

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

2019 Playoff Bracket

Toronto, ON – The first round of the 2019 Ontario Hockey League Playoffs wrapped up Saturday with the Oshawa Generals becoming the eighth and final team to advance to the Conference Semi-Finals.

With their victory, all four second round matchups have been confirmed and for the third straight season they include the top four seeds on both sides.

In the Eastern Conference, the OHL’s Regular Season and East Division champion Ottawa 67’s advanced with a 4-0 series win over the Hamilton Bulldogs and will face the fourth place Sudbury Wolves who also advanced with a 4-0 series win defeating the Mississauga Steelheads.  The other Eastern Conference Semi-Final features the Central Division champion Niagara IceDogs who advanced following a 4-1 series win over the North Bay Battalion up against the third place Generals who eliminated the Peterborough Petes in five games.

 

In the Western Conference, the first place and Midwest Division champion London Knights advanced with a 4-0 series win over the Windsor Spitfires and will meet division rivals the Guelph Storm who also advanced by way of a 4-0 series victory against the Kitchener Rangers.  The other Western Conference Semi-Final features two West Division rivals including the banner raising Saginaw Spirit and the defending conference champion Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.  The Spirit advanced with a 4-0 series win against the Sarnia Sting, while the Greyhounds eliminated the Owen Sound Attack in five games.

The puck drops on second round action beginning Friday night, April 5th.

2019 #OHLPLAYOFFS BRACKETS


2019 OHL EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF SCHEDULE:


Series E: Ottawa 67’s (1) vs. Sudbury Wolves (4):
Game 1, Fri., April 5, Sudbury at Ottawa 7:00 p.m.
Game 2, Sun., April 7, Sudbury at Ottawa 2:00 p.m.
Game 3, Tues., April 9, Ottawa at Sudbury 7:05 p.m.
Game 4, Thurs., April 11, Ottawa at Sudbury 7:05 p.m.
Game 5, Sat., Apr 13 Sudbury at Ottawa 7:00 p.m.*
Game 6, Mon., Apr 15, Ottawa at Sudbury 7:05 p.m.*
Game 7, Tues., April 16, Sudbury at Ottawa 7:00 p.m.*
#OTTvsSBY


Series F: Niagara IceDogs (2) vs. Oshawa Generals (3):
Game 1, Fri., April 5, Oshawa at Niagara 7:00 p.m.
Game 2, Sun., April 7, Oshawa at Niagara 2:00 p.m.
Game 3, Tue., April 9, Niagara at Oshawa 7:05 p.m.
Game 4, Thurs., April 11, Niagara at Oshawa 7:05 p.m.
Game 5, Sat., April 13, Oshawa at Niagara 7:00 p.m.*
Game 6, Mon., April 15, Niagara at Oshawa 7:05 p.m.*
Game 7, Tues., April 16, Oshawa at Niagara 7:00 p.m.*
#NIAGvsOSH

*if necessary

2019 OHL WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF SCHEDULE:


Series E: London Knights (1) vs. Guelph Storm (4):
Game 1, Fri., April 5, Guelph at London 7:30 p.m.
Game 2, Sun., April 7, Guelph at London 2:00 p.m.
Game 3, Mon., April 8, London at Guelph 7:00 p.m.
Game 4, Wed., Apr 10, London at Guelph 7:00 p.m.
Game 5, Fri., April 12, Guelph at London 7:30 p.m.*
Game 6, Sat., April 13, London at Guelph 7:00 p.m.*
Game 7, Tues., April 16, Guelph at London 7:00 p.m.*
#LDNvsGUE


Series F: Saginaw Spirit (2) vs. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (3):
Game 1, Fri., April 5, Sault Ste. Marie at Saginaw 7:05 p.m.
Game 2, Sun., April 7, Sault Ste. Marie at Saginaw 5:30 p.m.
Game 3, Tues., April 9, Saginaw at Sault Ste. Marie 7:07 p.m.
Game 4, Thurs., April 11, Saginaw at Sault Ste. Marie 7:07 p.m.
Game 5, Fri., April 12, Sault Ste. Marie at Saginaw 7:05 p.m.*
Game 6, Sun., April 14, Saginaw at Sault Ste. Marie 7:07 p.m.*
Game 7, Tues., April 16, Sault Ste. Marie at Saginaw 7:05 p.m.*
#SAGvsSSM
*if necessary

The Ontario Hockey League, in association with its digital media partner NeuLion, are proud to offer special packages and rates for OHL Live coverage of the 2019 OHL Playoffs.  Powered by NeuLion, OHL Live provides coverage of all 20 teams in the OHL delivering all games throughout the regular season and playoffs.

Single Round Team Pass Home and Away: $25.99
Playoff All Access : $79.99


*All prices in Canadian dollars

In addition to these packages, OHL Live continues to offer single game passes and are available at a rate of $7.99 per game.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT OHL LIVE AND TO SUBSCRIBE

OHL fans will continue to enjoy the enhanced OHL Live platform launched in the 2014-15 season. The enhanced OHL Live platform gives viewers the opportunity to watch up to four games at once with picture-in-picture and quad-view options along with the ability to choose between the home or away audio feed. OHL Live is also available for the iPhone, iPad, Android Smartphone, and Android Tablet through the OHL Live app.