Toronto, Ont. – December is here and it’s Teddy Bear Toss season! Get the latest on what’s happening across the Ontario Hockey League:
Nine OHL players crowned champions of Capital City Challenge with Canada Black:
Of the 25 players that competed at the 2021 Capital City Challenge in Ottawa this past week, nine are champions as members of Team Black following a 5-4 overtime win on Wednesday. Read more
Nine past and present OHL players named to Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp roster:
Nine past and present OHL players have been named to Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp Roster for the 2022 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. Read more
Dickinson, McDonnell and Pastujov named to U.S. National Junior Team preliminary roster:
Three OHL players have been named to the U.S. National Junior Team preliminary roster for the 2022 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. Read more
OHL announces Top Performers of the Month for November:
The Ontario Hockey League today announced the Top OHL Performers of the Month for regular season games played in November 2021 including North Bay Battalion teammates Kyle Jackson and Joe Vrbetic, Hamilton Bulldogs defenceman Nathan Staios and Mississauga Steelheads forward Owen Beck. Read more
OHL announces Academic Players of the Month for November:
The OHL announced Academic Players of the Month for November including Flint’s Ethan Hay, Erie’s Nolan Lalonde, Barrie’s Hunter Haight and Hamilton’s Cole Brown. Read more
OHL announces suspension of team activities for Sudbury Wolves Hockey Club:
In accordance with established protocols, the OHL on Tuesday announced that the Sudbury Wolves Hockey Club has suspended all team activities due to positive tests for Covid-19. Read more
Knights, Battalion and Bulldogs included in Week 9 edition of Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings:
The London Knights, North Bay Battalion and Hamilton Bulldogs are included in the Week 9 edition of the Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings. Read more
Firebirds’ Othmann named OHL Player of the Week, recognized on CHL Team of the Week:
New York Rangers prospect Brennan Othmann of the Flint Firebirds is the OHL Player of the Week with seven points across three games. The crafty winger was also recognized on the CHL Team of the Week. Read more
Petes’ Austin named OHL Goaltender of the Week:
Tye Austin of the Peterborough Petes is the OHL Goaltender of the Week after winning a pair of games while posting a 2.50 goals-against average and .923 save percentage. Read more
Knights’ Evangelista leads OHL Plays of the Week:
Revisiting the top plays from across the Ontario Hockey League this week featuring Guelph’s Braeden Bowman, North Bay’s Brandon Coe, London’s Brett Brochu, Mississauga’s Ethan Del Mastro, and London’s Luke Evangelista. Watch
Behold brilliance between the pipes on the OHL Saves of the Week:
Behold brilliance between the pipes in the latest edition of the OHL Saves of the Week featuring London’s Brett Brochu, Mississauga’s Roman Basran, Oshawa’s Zach Paputsakis, Sudbury’s Mitchell Weeks, Barrie’s Mack Guzda, Peterborough’s Tye Austin and Sarnia’s Ben Gaudreau. Watch
Nine first goals and a shutout in OHL Milestone Moments:
Check out 9 first career OHL goals as well as Samuel Ivanov’s first career shutouts from the past week of action in the latest edition of OHL Milestone Moments! Watch
OHL Cup Powered by Under Armour Top 10 Rankings – Week 1:
It’s time for the premiere edition of the OHL Cup powered by Under Armour Top 10 Rankings, with the Silver Stick champion Toronto Jr. Canadiens leading the way. Read more / Watch
#OHLDraft prospects on display at Whitby Silver Stick:
A total of 35 competitive U16 AAA teams converged on Whitby this past weekend for the Gloria Rints Memorial International Silver Stick. Watch
Storm’s Walker named Assistant Coach with Canada’s National Men’s Team:
Hockey Canada has named Guelph Storm president of hockey operations Scott Walker as an assistant coach of Canada’s National Men’s Team. Read more
Duncan Schneider commits to Frontenacs:
The Kingston Frontenacs have received a commitment from fifth round 2021 OHL Priority Selection choice Duncan Schneider who made his debut on Sunday. Read more
Marcus Vanderberg commits to Rangers:
The Kitchener Rangers have received a commitment from ninth round 2020 OHL Priority Selection choice Marcus Vandenberg. Read more
Tickets now on sale for 2022 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game:
The Kitchener Rangers are looking ahead to hosting the 2022 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game as the Canadian Hockey League’s top draft eligible talent converges on The Aud on February 2, 2022. More details at kitchenerrangers.com.
OHL Online Media Information Guide available for download:
The 2021-22 online edition of the Ontario Hockey League Media and Information Guide is now available for download. The Guide includes OHL team directories, statistics and standings from last season as well as historical seasons along with award winners. This year’s instalment includes a new layout featuring expanded franchise records as well as an additional section documenting historical 100-point and 50-goal seasons. Read more
COMMUNITY CORNER:
Teddy Bear Toss season gets underway: It’s Teddy Bear Toss time across the Ontario Hockey League! The fur takes flight in Peterborough on Thursday, in Kingston on Friday, in London and Niagara on Saturday and in Sarnia and Sault Ste. Marie on Sunday.
Spitfires host First Responders Night on Thursday: The Windsor Spitfires are all set for First Responders Night at the WFCU Centre on Thursday. They’ll take the opportunity to honour former video coach and volunteer firefighter Sean DeMuynck who tragically passed away in the line of duty this past July.
Spirit host Storm for Hometown Heroes Hockey Night on Saturday: The Saginaw Spirit will be decked out as superheroes on Saturday when the Guelph Storm visit the Dow Event Center. There’s a cape giveaway for kids attending the game, and the Spirit will be auctioning off their specially themed threads for charitable causes.
Otters raise $1,025 for men’s health through Movember campaign: The Erie Otters announced that they raised a total of $1,025 towards men’s health through their club Movember campaign.
Steelheads get visit from Indian superstar: The Mississauga Steelheads welcomed a special guest to the Paramount Fine Foods Centre on November 18. Indian superstar Dr. Satinder Sartaaj made his way to the arena to meet the Steelheads before their road trip to Niagara. Read more at mississaugasteelheads.com.
Sting set for “Season of Giving” throughout December: Christmas is a time for giving and each season the Sarnia Sting have dubbed December home games as the “Season of Giving.” With the support of the loyal fans, the Sarnia Sting can give to those who need it most at this special time of year. For full details visit sarniasting.com.
Petes release Pink in the Rink campaign details: The Peterborough Petes have announced details around their 13th annual Pink in the Rink campaign, with Petes alumnus Doug Gibson and Global News sports anchor Meaghan Roy named honourary co-chairs. The Petes have raised a total of $812,099 in the past 12 years and prepare to build on that total on February 5th when they play host to the Niagara IceDogs. Proceeds are donated to the Canadian Cancer Society. Read more at gopetesgo.com.
ALUMNI NOTES:
OHL mourns the loss of Bob Kilger: The OHL is saddened by the loss of former Cornwall Royals head coach and one-time Oshawa General Bob Kilger who passed away on Nov. 29th at the age of 77. A former Mayor of Cornwall, Kilger coached the Royals to a Memorial Cup title during their QMJHL tenure in 1981 before remaining behind the bench during their first two seasons in the OHL. He is the father of OHL graduate and former long-time NHL forward Chad Kilger. Bob was inducted into the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. Read more on the life and career of Bob Kilger at cornwallseawaynews.com.
Campbell, Kadri recognized as NHL Stars of the Month: A pair of OHL graduates earned monthly recognition in the NHL. Former Windsor Spitfires and Soo Greyhounds netminder Jack Campbell of the Toronto Maple Leafs was named the NHL’s second star for November, posting nine wins, a 1.27 goals-against average, .927 save percentage and three shutouts. Former Kitchener Rangers and London Knights forward Nazem Kadri of the Colorado Avalanche earned third star recognition with 21 points (4-17–21) over 10 games. He’s the first Avs player to post two points-per-game over a calendar month since Joe Sakic last did so in March of 2000.
Niemelainen makes NHL debut with Oilers: Former Saginaw Spirit defenceman Markus Niemelainen made his NHL debut with the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. The 6-foot-6 Finnish defenceman has recorded three points (1-2–3) in 14 games with the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors this season, and got into Thursday’s game against Pittsburgh to see just over 10 minutes of ice. Niemelainen played two seasons in Saginaw from 2015-17 and was Edmonton’s third round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft.
Brown scores in Blues debut: St. Louis native Logan Brown scored in his St. Louis Blues debut on Tuesday, helping them defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 in a shootout. The 6-foot-6, 23-year-old Brown played four OHL seasons between Windsor and Kitchener from 2014-18, hoisting the Memorial Cup with the Spitfires in 2017. He was selected by the Ottawa Senators with the 11th overall pick of the 2016 NHL Draft, and joined the Blues organization earlier this season where he posted 17 points (6-11–17) over 19 games with the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds.
Damiani continuing to produce in year two: Kitchener Rangers graduate Riley Damiani is proving his sensational rookie season wasn’t a flash in the pan. The 21-year-old has 13 points (5-8–13) through 17 games in his second season with the AHL’s Texas Stars. The reigning AHL Rookie of the Year spoke with theahl.com‘s Patrick Williams on the progress of his game. Damiani played four seasons in Kitchener from 2016-20 and was Dallas’ fifth round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. Read more at theahl.com.
KEY MATCHUPS:
North Bay Battalion at Hamilton Bulldogs
Friday December 3rd – 7:00pm
The top two teams in the Eastern Conference standings meet in Hamilton on Friday night, with the CHL’s eighth-ranked North Bay Battalion battling the 10th-ranked Bulldogs. The Troops feature both the OHL’s Player of the Month in Kyle Jackson as well as Goaltender of the Month in Joe Vrbetic while OHL top scorer Brandon Coe enters the weekend with 39 points (11-28–39) over 22 games. The host Bulldogs have won four of their last five with offensive spark plug George Diaco carrying a nine-game point streak. Hamilton is bolstered down the middle by one of the League’s premier centremen in Montreal Canadiens prospect Jan Mysak who leads the club with 27 points (15-12–27). Overage blueliner Nathan Staios became the first defender in Bulldogs history to earn OHL Defenceman of the Month honours, doing so in the month of November with 12 points (3-9–12) over 10 games.
Mississauga Steelheads at Peterborough Petes
Saturday December 4th – 7:05pm
The Mississauga Steelheads come off consecutive losses last weekend, but remain a top tier club in the Eastern Conference big-time goal scorer James Hardie leading the way. Hardie’s 14 goals lead the Steelheads while first-year centreman Owen Beck was named the OHL’s Rookie of the Month for November. Former first round OHL Priority Selection choice Zakary Lavoie is heating up as well, scoring in four of his last six games while riding an eight-game point streak. The Trout visit the Peterborough Petes, who have turned a corner since receiving Mason McTavish back from the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks. The maroon and white have won three in a row, improving their record to 8-10-1-0 as they creep up the Eastern Conference standings. Veteran netminder Tye Austin earned OHL Goaltender of the Week recognition last week.
UPCOMING GAMES:
Thursday December 2nd:
Ottawa at Niagara – 7:00pm
Kingston at Peterborough – 7:05pm
Flint at Saginaw – 7:05pm
Hamilton at Barrie – 7:30pm
Erie at Windsor – 7:30pm
Friday December 3rd:
North Bay at Hamilton – 7:00pm
Oshawa at Kingston – 7:00pm
Ottawa at Mississauga – 7:00pm
Windsor at Sarnia – 7:05pm
Guelph at Sault Ste. Marie – 7:07pm
Owen Sound at Kitchener – 7:30pm
Erie at London – 7:30pm
Saturday December 4th:
Sarnia at London – 4:00pm
North Bay at Niagara – 7:00pm
Mississauga at Peterborough – 7:05pm
Guelph at Saginaw – 7:05pm
Flint at Owen Sound – 7:30pm
Sunday December 5th:
Erie at Hamilton – 2:00pm
Ottawa at Kingston – 2:00pm
Oshawa at Mississauga – 2:00pm
Flint at Owen Sound – 2:00pm
Kitchener at Sarnia – 2:05pm
Saginaw at Sault Ste. Marie – 2:07pm
OHL Writers 