OHL THIS WEEK: OCTOBER 21 TO 24, 2021

Toronto, Ont. – The 2021-22 OHL season is up and running! Here’s a look at what’s happening across the Ontario Hockey League this week.

OHL comes to CBC on Saturday with Colts and 67’s:
The Ontario Hockey League makes its first appearance on national television this season as the Barrie Colts play host to the Ottawa 67’s Saturday at 3:00pm on CBC. Los Angeles Kings prospect Brandt Clarke and the Colts face the OHL’s back-to-back Hamilton Spectator Trophy recipient 67’s who are under new head coach Dave Cameron. Learn more about Clarke, one the League’s top defencemen as he prepares to face his hometown team. Watch

66 OHL players included on NHL Central Scouting ‘Players to Watch’ List for October:
A total of 66 OHL players have been included on NHL Central Scouting’s October ‘Players to Watch’ List for the 2022 NHL Draft scheduled to take place July 7-8 in Montreal, Quebec. Forwards Shane Wright of the Kingston Frontenacs and Matthew Poitras of the Guelph Storm each received ‘A’ ratings indicating a potential first round selection. All 20 OHL member teams were represented on the list led by the London Knights with eight players included. Full list

Knights, Bulldogs and Frontenacs flying high in Week 3 edition of Kia CHL Top 10:
The London Knights continue to climb the Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings, leading OHL clubs in the fifth slot this week. The undefeated Hamilton Bulldogs make their debut on the list at seventh, while the Kingston Frontenacs hold steady as the ninth-ranked team in the country. Read more

Generals’ Ritchie named OHL Player of the Week:
Rookie forward Calum Ritchie of the Oshawa Generals is the OHL Player of the Week with a league-leading seven points including four goals and three assists over three games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-4. Ritchie’s six goals tie him with teammate Ryan Stepien for the League lead. Read more

Knights’ Brochu named OHL Goaltender of the Week:
London Knights netminder Brett Brochu is the OHL Goaltender of the Week with three wins, a 2.55 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage. Brochu helped the Knights improve to a League-best 5-0 record with back-to-back wins over the Windsor Spitfires before edging the Sarnia Sting in a shootout on Saturday. Read more

Attack’s Perrott named to CHL Team of the Week:
Owen Sound Attack rearguard Andrew Perrott is the OHL’s lone representative on this week’s CHL Team of the Week. Perrott finished the week with five points (1-4–5) over two contests. Facing the Soo on Saturday, Perrott finished with a career single-game high of three points en route to first-star recognition. He currently leads the Attack in scoring with six points in four games.

Firebirds’ Giroux headlines OHL Plays of the Week:
Fancy stick work, highlight reel goals, a beautiful penalty shot finish…it’s all featured in OHL Plays of the Week! Take in the talent of North Bay’s Brandon Coe, Saginaw’s T-Bone Codd, Hamilton’s Jonathan Melee, Barrie’s Oskar Olausson and Flint’s Zacharie Giroux. Watch

Terrific turnaways in OHL Saves of the Week:
The latest edition of Saves of the Week features terrific turnaways from Mississauga’s Roman Basran, London’s Brett Brochu, Sudbury’s Mitchell Weeks, Erie’s Nolan Lalonde, North Bay’s Joe Vrbetic, Barrie’s Matteo Lalama, Owen Sound’s Mack Guzda, Saginaw’s Tristan Lennox and Peterborough’s Michael Simpson. Watch

OHL Milestone Moments:
Check out a total of 31 first OHL goals along with a trio of inaugural shutouts in the latest edition of OHL Milestone Moments. Watch

OHL Weekend Notebook:
The OHL Weekend Notebook recaps the weekend that was with news, information and interesting facts from both on and off the ice. Read more

Spearing named Petes captain:
The Peterborough Petes have identified their leadership group for the 2021-22 season, naming veteran defenceman Shawn Spearing team captain. Read more

OHL mourns the loss of Leo Boivin:
The Ontario Hockey League is saddened by the loss of former Ottawa 67’s head coach, long-time NHL defenceman and Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Leo Boivin who passed away at the age of 90 on Saturday. Read more

OHL Live streaming packages now on sale:
For just $109.99, OHL fans can enjoy full access to all scheduled games throughout the 2021-22 regular season. Fans can also purchase a monthly pass providing access to all OHL games over the span of one month for the price of $24.99. If a 24-hour pass is more your flavour, OHL Live has you covered for the price of $6.99. Full details at watch.chl.ca.

OHL Employment Opportunity – Manager, Communications:
The Ontario Hockey League is pleased to announce the opportunity for a Manager of Communications. The successful candidate will be a key member of the communications department which will contribute to the League and Member Teams’ communication strategy. More details

COMMUNITY CORNER:

First Responders Night in Peterborough on Thursday:
The Peterborough Petes will be recognizing local First Responders on Thursday when they play host to the Oshawa Generals. Representatives from OPP, Peterborough Police, Fire, and Paramedics will be taking the ceremonial puck drop prior to the game. At the first intermission, fans will have the opportunity to catch a live stretcher race. The first 500 fans into the PMC will take home a souvenir First Responders helmet. Read more

Spits celebrate 75 years on Thursday:
The Windsor Spitfires are saluting 75 years of history Thursday night as they play host to the Owen Sound Attack. The Spits will be wearing special commemorative jerseys and a historical museum will be on location at the WFCU Centre. The first 2,000 fans into the building will take home a special souvenir collectible.

Steelheads play home opener on Friday:
The Mississauga Steelheads play their first home regular season game in 595 days on Friday night when they take on the Ottawa 67’s. The Trout visit Niagara on Saturday before returning home to close out a three-in-three against the Hamilton Bulldogs on Sunday at 2:00pm.

Otters prepare for home opener on Saturday:
The long-awaited Erie Otters home opener takes place on Saturday when the Saginaw Spirit visit Erie Insurance Arena. The Otters play their first home game in 594 days and the first 1,500 fans into the building will receive a free rally towel. They follow-up Saturday’s contest with another against Saginaw on Sunday as they host their first Family Funday home date of the season.

Storm support the Guelph Food Bank on Sunday:
The Guelph Storm will hold their annual Food Drive on Sunday afternoon when they take on the rival Kitchener Rangers at 2:00pm. Fans are asked to bring non-perishable food items to the Sleeman Centre. For every food item donated, fans will receive a raffle ticket that will be entered into a draw with the chance to win an autographed Storm jersey. The Storm were able to donate over 1,800 meals to the Guelph Food Bank through the generous donations of their fans the last time they held the event. Read more

Colts show appreciation for First Responders throughout October:
The Barrie Colts are showing their appreciation for First Responders and Health Care workers, providing them a special buy one, get one free offer for home games on October 23, October 28 and October 30. Read more

ALUMNI NOTES:

Katchouk makes NHL debut:
Soo Greyhounds graduate Boris Katchouk made his NHL debut with the Tampa Bay Lightning last weekend. The 23-year-old from Waterloo, Ont. played four seasons in Sault Ste. Marie from 2014-18 and becomes the seventh member of the Greyhounds’ 2018 Western Conference championship squad to play a game in the NHL. Katchouk put up 34 points (11-23–34) over 29 AHL contests with the Syracuse Crunch last season.

Daws recalled by Devils:
Former Jim Rutherford Trophy recipient Nico Daws has been called-up by the New Jersey Devils. The Guelph Storm graduate was the OHL’s Goaltender of the Year in 2019-20, going 23-8-6 with a 2.48 goals-against average and .923 save percentage in 38 games. A former OHL champion, Daws was New Jersey’s third round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft and spent the 2020-21 season playing with ERC Ingolstadt of the German Elite League. He recently won his AHL debut with the Utica Comets.

Kyrou off to hot start in St. Louis:
Sarnia Sting graduate and former OHL Player of the Year Jordan Kyrou is off to a hot start with the St. Louis Blues. The 23-year-old has seven points (2-5–7) through his first three games of the season including a four-point effort in a 7-4 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Oct. 18. St. Louis’ second round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, Kyrou played four seasons in Sarnia, graduating as the club’s all-time leader in assists with 191 over 250 regular season games.

McTavish sidelined in Anaheim:
Third overall 2021 NHL Draft pick Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks is heading to injured reserve. The star Peterborough Petes centreman left Monday’s game against the Calgary Flames and will be sidelined for at least a week. The 6-foot, 213Ib. centre made his NHL debut on Oct. 13, scoring against the Winnipeg Jets in his first game. McTavish finished second among OHL rookies with 29 goals during the 2019-20 season and played a key role in Canada’s gold medal at the 2021 IIHF Under-18 Worlds this past May in Frisco, Texas. The 18-year-old from Carp, Ont. was the fifth overall pick of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection.

161 OHL grads begin the 2021-22 season on AHL rosters:
A total of 161 OHL grads, including four born in 2002, were included on AHL rosters to begin the 2021-22 season. The Kitchener Rangers topped the list with 15 graduates included followed by the Ottawa 67’s with 13 and the London Knights, Saginaw Spirit and Soo Greyhounds with 11 each. Full list

KEY MATCHUPS:

Hamilton Bulldogs at North Bay Battalion
Thursday, October 21, 7:00pm
The Hamilton Bulldogs put their perfect 4-0 record to the test behind enemy lines on Thursday. The Dogs enter action having not surrendered a goal in over 138 minutes of play and hit the ice as the seventh-ranked team in the CHL this week. The Battalion come off a 6-4 home loss to the Barrie Colts on Sunday, closing out a four-game homestand that saw them pick up wins over Sudbury and Mississauga. San Jose Sharks prospect Brandon Coe leads the Troops on the scoresheet with nine points (5-4–9) in five games.

Ottawa 67’s at Barrie Colts
Saturday, October 23, 3:00pm – CHL on CBC
The OHL comes to CBC for the first time on Saturday afternoon as the Barrie Colts and visiting Ottawa 67’s play before a national audience. The Colts feature the electric presence of puck-moving power play quarterback Brandt Clarke who was chosen by the Los Angeles Kings with the eighth overall pick of the 2021 NHL Draft. Colorado Avalanche first round pick Oskar Olausson has been a welcome addition in Barrie, leading the club with six points (4-2–6) through his first five OHL matchups. The Ottawa 67’s enter the weekend with the League’s top power play, going 7-for-19 (36.8%). Dave Cameron makes his return to the OHL following 10 years between the NHL and European pro ranks. Calgary Flames prospect Jack Beck has been red hot for the Barber Poles, with eight points (5-3–8) through his first five games.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

Thursday October 21st
Barrie at Niagara – 7:00pm
Hamilton at North Bay – 7:00pm
Oshawa at Peterborough – 7:05pm
Owen Sound at Windsor – 7:30pm

Friday October 22nd
Peterborough at Kingston – 7:00pm
Ottawa at Mississauga – 7:00pm
Guelph at Sarnia – 7:05pm
Hamilton at Sudbury – 7:05pm
North Bay at Sault Ste. Marie – 7:07pm
Windsor at Kitchener – 7:30pm
Owen Sound at London – 7:30pm
Niagara at Oshawa – 7:35pm

Saturday October 23rd
Ottawa at Barrie – 3:00pm (CHL on CBC)
Saginaw at Erie – 7:00pm
Mississauga at Niagara – 7:00pm
North Bay at Sault Ste. Marie – 7:07pm
Windsor at Owen Sound – 7:30pm

Sunday, October 24th
Saginaw at Erie – 2:00pm
Kitchener at Guelph – 2:00pm
Hamilton at Mississauga – 2:00pm
Ottawa at Oshawa – 6:05pm