Forwards Evangelista & Francis added to 2020 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Press Release

2020 Top Prospects Game

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League in association with National Hockey League Central Scouting announce that forwards Luke Evangelista of the London Knights and Ryan Francis of the Cape Breton Eagles have been added to the 2020 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

The pair replace Hendrix Lapierre of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens and Oliver Suni of the Oshawa Generals who will be unable to compete due to injury.

Evangelista is a 17-year-old from Oakville, Ontario, playing in his second season with the Knights after being chosen in the first round of the 2018 OHL Priority Selection.  He ranks fourth in team scoring with 33 points in 35 games including 14 goals and 19 assists.  Francis, an 18-year-old from Beaver Bank, Nova Scotia, is in his third season with the Eagles where he ranks second in team scoring with 15 goals and 32 assists for 47 points in 35 games.  He was originally selected by the club in the second round of the 2017 QMJHL Entry Draft.  Both players were identified as ‘C’ rated prospects in NHL Central Scouting’s Players to Watch list released in November.

The 25th annual showcase of top CHL players eligible for the NHL Draft takes place on Thursday January 16, 2020, and is hosted by the Hamilton Bulldogs with 40 talents from across the Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League, and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

The 2020 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is proudly supported by new title partner Kubota Canada, and CHL associate partners CIBC, Kia Canada, and Cooper Tires.  The game will be broadcast live across Canada on Sportsnet and TVA Sports, and in the United States on NHL Network.

Tickets are on sale for the 2020 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game at ticketmaster.ca or call 855-985-4357.  For group and promotional inquiries, please contact the Hamilton Bulldogs at 905-529-8500.

For more information please visit http://kubotatopprospects.ca.

About Kubota Canada
Kubota Canada Ltd. (KCL) is a subsidiary of Kubota Corporation, a tractor and heavy equipment manufacturer based in Osaka, Japan. KCL markets and distributes Kubota-engineered and manufactured equipment, which includes a complete line of tractors (up to 210-horsepower), performance-matched implements, compact and utility tractors, compact construction, landscaping and public work equipment, residential lawn and garden equipment, commercial turf products and utility vehicles. For product literature or dealer rentals, visit: kubota.ca.

OHL ANNOUNCES ACADEMIC PLAYERS OF THE MONTH FOR DECEMBER

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Press Release

academic players for December

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Giordano Biondi of the Sudbury Wolves, Cameron Tolnai of the Ottawa 67’s, Stuart Rolofs of the London Knights, and Jacob Holmes of the Soo Greyhounds have been named the OHL Academic Players of the Month for December.

East Division: Ottawa’s Cameron Tolnai is the East Division Academic Player for the month of December. He boasts a 92% average in his grade 12 university level courses that include International Business, Economics, Kinesiology, and Advanced Functions at Blyth Academy Ottawa. Upon graduating, Tolnai plans on pursuing a Business Commerce university degree.

His work ethic has stood out among his teachers, teammates, and peers. “Cam epitomizes a student athlete,” said Eileen Duffin, 67’s Academic Advisor. “He is an extremely motivated student, committed to only turning in top notch work while balancing the demands of the hockey schedule.”

The 67’s drafted the Oakville, Ont. native sixth overall in 2018 OHL Priority Selection after he put up 80 points (31-49-80) in just 35 games with the Oakville Rangers Minor Midgets. Tolnai totaled three goals and 10 assists for 13 points in his rookie season as a 67, and has seven points (2-5-7) through 28 games so far in his sophomore year.

Central Division: Giordano Biondi of the Sudbury Wolves has been named December’s OHL Central Division Academic Player of the Month. He holds an 87.3% average in three grade 12 courses (Advanced Functions, Kinesiology, and Chemistry) at Lo Ellen Park Secondary.

“Giordano is always engaged in class lessons and activities,” writes one of his teachers. “[He] takes responsibility for his own learning.”

Biondi has scored one goal through his first 13 games with the Wolves. He was selected in the 14th round of the 2018 OHL Priority Selection out of the Sudbury Wolves Minor Midget program where he registered nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points in 21 games played. A Sudbury native, Biondi spent the 2018-19 season with the NOJHL’s Rayside-Belfour Canadians, amassing 32 points (15-17-32) in 47 games.

Midwest Division: London’s Stuart Rolofs has been recognized as the Midwest Division’s Academic Player of the Month for December. A grade 11 student at Blyth Academy in London, he’s maintained an 84% average and has received praise for his respect and determination in the classroom.

“Stuart is a dedicated and ambitious student who maintains strong relationships with both his peers and teachers,” said Patricia Hurley, the Knights’ Academic Advisor.

Rolofs, who hails from Carp, Ont., was drafted 20th overall by the Knights last April. He’s earned two assists through his first 15 OHL games and put up high numbers with the Kanata Lasers U18 program last year, rounding out the season with 33 goals and 24 assists for 57 points in 39 games.

West Division: West Division Academic Player of the Month honours have been awarded to Jacob Holmes of the Soo Greyhounds. He holds an overall average of 81% at Superior Heights Secondary School that notably includes a 99% mark in Mathematics. Holmes is described by his teachers as “a well-liked student/athlete who works willingly and cooperatively with his classmates.” Holmes has also received positive comments on behalf of the school’s administrative staff.

“[Jacob] has successfully demonstrated that he has adjusted well to the many challenges of life in the Ontario Hockey League,” stated Greyhounds Academic Advisors Jerry Bumbacco and Mary-Lynne Lukenda.

Holmes, a native of Alliston, Ont., was a first round draft pick of the Greyhounds in last April’s OHL Priority Selection. He has collected three goals and four assists for seven points through 33 games with the Greyhounds in his rookie season. He represented Team Black at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in November where he registered an assist in five games.

2019-20 OHL Academic Players of the Month:

East Division:
December – Cameron Tolnai (Ottawa 67’s)
November – Lleyton Moore (Oshawa Generals)
October – Shane Wright (Kingston Frontenacs)

Central Division:
December – Giordano Biondi (Sudbury Wolves)
November – Jonah De Simone (Niagara IceDogs)
October – Pacey Schlueting (North Bay Battalion)

Midwest Division:
December – Stuart Rolofs (London Knights)
November – Michael Vukojevic (Kitchener Rangers)
October – Zack Terry (Guelph Storm)

West Division:
December – Jacob Holmes (Soo Greyhounds)
November – Ryan Mast (Sarnia Sting)
October – Cole Perfetti (Saginaw Spirit)

Last season, the OHL Centrally Administered Scholarship Program facilitated scholarships for 340 OHL Alumni at 69 different academic institutions across North America with a total scholarship payment in excess of $3.2 million. Since the 2007-08 season, OHL Scholarship payments have totalled more than $25 million.

Click here for more information about ‘OHL Players First’ programs.

OHL Writers Draft Eligible Player of the Month for December.

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

We hope that everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. While we enjoyed the holidays with friends and family and the great entertainment of the World Junior Championships, we need to take care of a little business and announce our draft eligible player of the month for December.

And that player is Marco Rossi of the Ottawa 67’s.

Rossi, Marco
Marco Rossi of the Ottawa 67’s. Photo by OHL Images

Rossi appeared in six games through the month of December, scoring 9 goals and adding 7 helpers. He had three multi goal games, two multi assist games and all but one game was a multi point game. Rossi was named the game’s first star in four contests and second star in another.

Not only does Rossi lead all draft eligible players in most offensive categories, but leads the entire OHL in points (66), sixth in goals (24), second in assists (42) and has a large lead over the rest of the league with a plus-42.

Also considered were Brandon Coe of the North Bay Battalion with 7 goals and 7 assists in 9 games, Jacob Perreault of the Sarnia Sting with 8 goals and 7 assists in 10 games and Cole Perfetti of the Saginaw Spirit with 7 goals and 6 assists in 8 games.

In goal, Owen Bennett of the Guelph Storm gets the nod as he tries to hold the fort while Nico Daws represents Canada at the World Junior Championships. Bennett went 4-2-0-1 through December with a .903 Save Percentage.

Our previous players of the month

December – Marco Rossi – Ottawa 67’s

November – Marco Rossi – Ottawa 67’s

October – Cole Perfetti – Saginaw Spirit

OHL’s Draft Eligible Statistical Leaders as of December

Posted on by Dominic Tiano
Rossi, Marco
Marco Rossi of the Ottawa 67’s. Photo by OHL Images

Everyone saw it coming, or at least should have. At least we here at OHL Writers were paying attention in October. There’s a new king at the top of the pack among the Ontario Hockey League’s players eligible for the 2020 National Hockey League Draft.

That player: Marco Rossi of the Ottawa 67’s.

Rossi leads in just about every offensive category. First in goals, assists, points, tops in faceoff winning percentage and a whopping plus/minus of +41, well ahead of his counterparts. Rossi also possesses the longest goal scoring streak, assist streak and point streak of the season.

Someone is sure to mention this: Quinton Byfield of the Sudbury Wolves, who has been at the top of the lists and projected as the second overall pick at the NHL Draft has missed time while at Team Canada’s Camp and the 2020 World Junior Championships.

Sure, that is a fact. But Rossi has missed time himself, albeit for a suspension and has played in 4 fewer games then Byfield.

This is not an attempt to make a case for Rossi to be ranked ahead of Byfield. Central Scouting has him ranked in the first round as does many others. Where in the first round is anyone’s guess right now.

One thing we do know for sure is the NHL GM’s shy away from pick a 5’9” forward such as Rossi too early. Over the years, they haven’t learned that these smaller guys can excel at the NHL level. Maybe, just maybe, they’ve learned from watching Alex DeBrincat and Rossi gets selected where he deserves to be.

Let’s not hold our breaths though.

Here are the statistical leaders at the end of December. While we take great care in compiling stats, always refer to the OHL Website for official stats.

Points Leaders
Player Team GP G A Pts
Marco Rossi Ottawa 67’s 26 23 39 62
Quinton Byfield Sudbury Wolves 30 22 35 57
Cole Perfetti Saginaw Spirit 34 20 35 55
Jacob Perreault Sarnia Sting 33 22 22 44
Tyson Foerster Barrie Colts 33 19 23 42
Jack Quinn Ottawa 67’s 32 21 15 36
Ty Tullio Oshawa Generals 33 14 21 35
Rory Kerins Soo Greyhounds 37 18 16 34
Luke Evangelista London Knights 35 14 19 33
Jaromir Pytlik Soo Greyhounds 31 14 18 32
Goal Scoring Leaders
Player Team GP G GPG
Marco Rossi Ottawa 67’s 26 23 0.88
Quinton Byfield Sudbury Wolves 30 22 0.73
Jacob Perreault Sarnia Sting 33 22 0.67
Jack Quinn Ottawa 67’s 32 21 0.66
Cole Perfetti Saginaw Spirit 34 20 0.59
Tyson Foerster Barrie Colts 33 19 0.58
Zayde Wisdom Kingston Frontenacs 34 19 0.56
Rory Kerins Soo Greyhounds 37 18 0.49
Antonio Stranges London Knights 34 15 0.44
Ty Tullio Oshawa Generals 33 14 0.42
Assist Leaders
Player Team GP A APG
Marco Rossi Ottawa 67’s 26 39 1.50
Quinton Byfield Sudbury Wolves 30 35 1.17
Cole Perfetti Saginaw Spirit 34 35 1.03
Jamie Drysdale Erie Otters 29 25 0.86
Tyson Foerster Barrie Colts 33 23 0.70
Jacob Perreault Sarnia Sting 33 22 0.67
Ty Tullio Oshawa Generals 33 21 0.64
Tanner Dickinson Soo Greyhounds 37 21 0.57
Brandon Coe North Bay Battalion 33 19 0.58
Luke Evangelista London Knights 35 19 0.54
Defencemen Point Leaders
Player Team GP G A Pts
Jamie Drysdale Erie Otters 29 6 25 31
Jack Thompson Sudbury Wolves 36 9 11 20
Ryan O’Rourke Soo Greyhounds 27 6 14 20
Alec Belanger Ottawa 67’s 32 4 16 20
Ruben Rafkin Windsor Spitfires 31 1 16 17
Donovan Sebrango Kitchener Rangers 29 3 13 16
Isaak Phillips Sudbury Wolves 36 4 9 13
Ole Bjorgvik-Hol Mississauga Steelheads 37 1 12 13
Plus/Minus Leaders
Player Team GP +/-
Marco Rossi Ottawa 67’s 26 +41
Ryan O’Rourke Soo Greyhounds 27 +23
Jack Quinn Ottawa 67’s 32 +23
Cole Perfetti Saginaw Spirit 34 +18
Quinton Byfield Sudbury Wolves 30 +17
Jaromir Pytlik Soo Greyhounds 31 +13
Anthony Costantini Ottawa 67’s 30 +11
Shawn Spearing Peterborough Petes 31 +11
Dylan Robinson Windsor Spitfires 32 +11
Alec Belanger Ottawa 67’s 32 +9
Penalty Minutes Leaders
Player Team GP PIM M/G
Hayden Fowler Erie Otters 33 48 1.45
Ryan O’Rourke Soo Greyhounds 27 44 1.63
Gerard Keane London Knights 32 44 1.38
Reid Valade Kitchener Rangers 30 40 1.33
Michael Renwick Hamilton Bulldogs 35 38 1.09
Faceoff Leaders (minimum 140 faceoffs)
Player Team GP FOA FOW %
Marco Rossi Ottawa 67’s 26 548 320 58.4
Isaac Langdon Kitchener Rangers 30 301 175 58.1
Nick Wong Kingston Frontenacs 34 171 96 56.1
Hayden Fowler Erie Otters 33 204 114 55.9
Will Cuylle Windsor Spitfires 33 141 75 53.2
Aiden Prueter Mississauga Steelheads 37 356 188 52.8
Quinton Byfield Sudbury Wolves 30 416 214 51.4
Rory Kerins Soo Greyhounds 37 657 337 51.3
Cole Perfetti Saginaw Spirit 34 198 101 51.0
Longest Goal Scoring Streak
Player Team From To Gms Goals
Marco Rossi Ottawa 67’s 11/17 12/1 6 10
Longest Assist Streak
Player Team From To Gms Assts
Marco Rossi Ottawa 67’s 11/16 12/28 11 17
Longest Point Streak
Player Team From To Gms Pts
Marco Rossi Ottawa 67’s 11/10 12/29 14 36
Shots On Goal Leaders
Player Team GP SOG
Cole Perfetti Saginaw Spirit 34 139
Tyson Foerster Barrie Colts 33 121
Jacob Perreault Sarnia Sting 33 113
Jaromir Pytlik Soo Greyhounds 31 112
Ty Tullio Oshawa Generals 33 108
Goaltenders Leaders – Goals Against Average
Player Team GP Min GA Avg
Nick Chenard Owen Sound Attack 7 371 15 2.43
Brett Brochu London Knights 21 1007 48 2.86
Zachary Paputsakis Oshawa Generals 20 986 51 3.10
Will Cranley Ottawa 67’s 9 497 27 3.26
Owen Bennett Guelph Storm 14 805 47 3.50
Goaltending Leaders – Save Percentage
Player Team GP SH SVS SV%
Nick Chenard Owen Sound Attack 7 841 772 0.918
Tucker Tynan Niagara IceDogs 23 916 834 0.910
Brett Brochu London Knights 21 485 437 0.901
Zachary Paputsakis Oshawa Generals 20 496 445 0.897
Owen Bennett Guelph Storm 14 451 404 0.896
Goaltending Leaders – Wins
Player Team GP W L OL
Brett Brochu London Knights 21 12 5 0
Tucker Tynan Niagara IceDogs 23 11 8 4
Xavier Medina Windsor Spitfires 16 9 4 2
Owen Bennett Guelph Storm 14 8 5 1
Marco Costantini Hamilton Bulldogs 21 8 9 2
Goaltending Leaders – Shutouts
Player Team GP SO
Brett Brochu London Knights 21 2
Will Cranley Ottawa 67’s 9 1
Zachary Paputsakis Oshawa Generals 20 1

OHL ANNOUNCES TOP PERFORMERS OF THE MONTH FOR DECEMBER

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Top Performers December

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the Top OHL Performers of the Month for regular season games played in December 2019, including Mississauga Steelheads forward Cole Schwindt, Ottawa 67’s defenceman Noel Hoefenmayer, Peterborough Petes rookie Mason McTavish and Kitchener Rangers goaltender Jacob Ingham.

OHL Player of the Month – Cole Schwindt (Mississauga Steelheads):
Florida Panthers prospect Cole Schwindt of the Mississauga Steelheads is the OHL Player of the Month for December, leading the league with 21 points including 12 goals, nine assists and a plus/minus rating of plus-7 over 12 games. The 6-foot-3, 186Ib. centreman recorded at least a point in 11 of his 12 December outings headlined by six different multi-point showings. Schwindt scored the late third period game winner in a 4-2 triumph over the North Bay Battalion on Dec. 13th and put up a goal and an assist a night later as the Steelheads fell to the Sarnia Sting 7-6. He earned second star honours on Dec. 19th in Windsor, scoring twice while adding an assist as the Trout fell to the Windsor Spitfires 5-4 in overtime. Schwindt recorded a career-high four points on Dec. 28th in Owen Sound, posting his first career OHL hat-trick in a 6-3 win over the Attack. He finished 2019 on a high note, scoring another hat-trick as the Steelheads skated to a 5-2 win in Hamilton on Dec. 31st. Schwindt earned three star recognition six times in December, recording over half of his 40 points this season over the course of the month.

An 18-year-old from Kitchener, Ont., Schwindt leads the Steelheads with 40 points including 17 goals and 23 assists in 37 games this season. The third year veteran is well on his way to surpassing last year’s total of 49 points as he continues to produce at over a point-per-game clip. Originally a fourth round pick of the Steelheads in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection, Schwindt was selected by the Florida Panthers in the third round of the 2019 NHL Draft.

OHL Defenceman of the Month – Noel Hoefenmayer (Ottawa 67’s):
Ottawa 67’s overage defenceman Noel Hoefenmayer has been named OHL Defenceman of the Month for the second time this season after recording 13 points including five goals, eight assists and a plus/minus rating of plus-8 over seven contests. Hoefenmayer recorded at least a point in six of his seven December outings including three different three-point efforts as Ottawa enjoyed a perfect 7-0 month. After pitching in with a goal and an assist in a 5-1 win over Gatineau on Dec. 8th, Hoefenmayer dished out three assists on Dec. 14th as the 67’s defeated the Barrie Colts 7-2. He played a central role in Ottawa’s 5-4 road win over the Oshawa Generals on Dec. 20th, earning second star honours with two goals and an assist. Hoefenmayer finished 2019 with another three-point showing, scoring while adding two helpers in a 6-1 win over the Peterborough Petes on Dec. 29th.

A 20-year-old native of North York, Ont., Hoefenmayer leads OHL defenders with 49 points including 15 goals, 34 assists and a league-leading plus/minus rating of plus-32 over 33 games. The 6-foot-1 rearguard has been a big contributor on Ottawa’s top-ranked 30.2% power play this season, registering 22 points on the man advantage. A fifth-year veteran, Hoefenmayer is currently inside the franchise top-10 for both career points by a defenceman (189) and career games played (273). He was a fourth round pick of the Arizona Coyotes in the 2017 NHL Draft before going unsigned and attended rookie camp with the Carolina Hurricanes in September. Hoefenmayer was a second round pick of the 67’s in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection.

OHL Rookie of the Month – Mason McTavish (Peterborough Petes):
Peterborough Petes forward Mason McTavish has been named OHL Rookie of the Month for the second time this season, leading all OHL freshmen with 11 points including nine goals and two assists along with a plus/minus rating of plus-6 over nine December contests. McTavish struck for his first career OHL hat-trick in a 7-4 win over the Hamilton Bulldogs on Dec. 12th. He followed that up with two goals in a 3-2 road win over the Oshawa Generals a night later. The 6-foot, 198Ib. centre recorded a career-high five points on New Year’s Eve in Niagara, scoring three times while adding two assists in a 7-3 win over the IceDogs. McTavish was a key part of Peterborough’s offence in December, helping them climb to the top of the East Division.

A 16-year-old native of Pembroke, Ont., McTavish leads OHL rookies with 32 points including 24 goals, eight assists and a plus-8 rating over 31 games. The fifth overall pick of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, McTavish represented Canada White at the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, recording three points (2-1–3) over six contests. He was the OHL Rookie of the Month for October.

OHL Goaltender of the Month – Jacob Ingham (Kitchener Rangers):
Los Angeles Kings prospect Jacob Ingham of the Kitchener Rangers is the OHL Goaltender of the Month for December, playing to a 9-1-0-0 record along with a 1.69 goals-against average, .948 save percentage and two shutouts over 10 appearances. Ingham won his first six December starts, posting a career-high 51 saves in a 3-2 shootout road win over the Owen Sound Attack on Dec. 7th. He registered a 28-save shutout on Dec. 10th in London, turned aside 35 of 36 on Dec. 14th for a 6-1 win in Guelph and stopped all 45 shots he faced in a 3-0 road win over Owen Sound on Dec. 18th. Ingham rounded out 2019 by stopping 35 of 36 in a 6-1 New Year’s Eve road win over the Erie Otters. In total, Ingham earned three star recognition six different times in December, receiving first star honours on three occasions.

A 19-year-old native of Barrie, Ont., Ingham owns a 16-4-2-1 record in this, his fourth OHL season. He’s posted a 2.61 goals-against average, .926 save percentage and two shutouts over 23 contests, helping the Rangers turn their season around to sit second in the Midwest Division. The 6-foot-4, 198Ib. netminder owns a career record of 76-57-7-8 with a 3.21 goals-against average and .897 save percentage over 154 regular season games between Kitchener and Mississauga. He was a sixth round pick of the Los Angeles Kings in the 2018 NHL Draft. Ingham was originally selected by the Mississsauga Steelheads in the second round of the 2016 OHL Priority Selection.

2019-20 OHL Performers of the Month:

Player of the Month:
December – Cole Schwindt (Mississauga Steelheads)
November – Jan Jenik (Hamilton Bulldogs)
October – Arthur Kaliyev (Hamilton Bulldogs)

Defenceman of the Month:
December – Noel Hoefenmayer (Ottawa 67’s)
November – Connor Corcoran (Windsor Spitfires)
October – Noel Hoefenmayer (Ottawa 67’s)

Rookie of the Month:
December – Mason McTavish (Peterborough Petes)
November – Shane Wright (Kingston Frontenacs)
October – Mason McTavish (Peterborough Petes)

Goaltender of the Month:
December – Jacob Ingham (Kitchener Rangers)
November – Nico Daws (Guelph Storm)
October – Hunter Jones (Peterborough Petes)