Get bundled up for the Outdoor Showcase in Hamilton, and there’s lots to cover with a 10-game Friday night on the horizon. Here’s your latest edition of the OHL This Week.
Tickets on sale for Hamilton Outdoor Showcase:
The Hamilton Bulldogs play host to the Oshawa Generals on Monday, March 14th at Tim Hortons Field! Tickets are now on sale for this special event and can be purchased at ticketmaster.ca.
Bulldogs and Knights included in Week 19 edition of Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings:
The Hamilton Bulldogs and London Knights are included in the Week 19 edition of the Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings while the Flint Firebirds received an honourable mention. Read more
OHL Celebrates International Women’s Day:
Join host Joelle Wood as she chats with Aly Munro, Lauren Kelly and Julia Tocheri about their roles in sports media as part of International Women’s Day celebrations. Watch
Hill and Costantini named to CHL Team of the Week:
Sarnia Sting forward Theo Hill and Hamilton Bulldogs goaltender Marco Costantini are included on the 16th edition of the CHL Team of the Week. Read more
Sting’s Theo Hill named OHL Player of the Week:
Sarnia Sting forward Theo Hill is the OHL Player of the Week, putting together nine assists in three games as the Sting won a pair of games. Read more
Bulldogs’ Marco Costantini named OHL Goaltender of the Week:
Marco Costantini of the Hamilton Bulldogs is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, backstopping his first place team to a pair of wins. Read more
Counting down the OHL Plays of the Week:
Reviewing the OHL Plays of the Week, with appearances from Peterborough’s J.R. Avon and Chase Stillman, Ottawa’s Jack Matier, Kitchener’s Justin Nolet and London’s Antonio Stranges. Watch
Sensational stops in OHL Saves of the Week:
Getting our fill of sensational saves from Sarnia’s Anson Thornton and Ben Gaudreau, Niagara’s Josh Rosenzweig, London’s Brett Brochu, Kitchener’s Pavel Cajan, Kingston’s Leevi Merilainen, Hamilton’s Marco Costantini, Soo’s Tucker Tynan, and Erie’s Nolan Lalonde. Watch
Four first goals in OHL Milestone Moments:
Revisit first goals from Barrie’s Zach Wigle, Peterborough’s Artem Guryev, Saginaw’s Brayden Hislop, and Ottawa’s Chris Barlas. 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
Jr. Canadiens on top in Week 8 edition of OHL Cup Top 10 Rankings:
There’s lots of movement on the Week 8 edition of the OHL Cup presented by Under Armour Top 10 Rankings, with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens back in the driver’s seat after a perfect week of hockey. Read more
Inaugural U14 OHL Cup presented by Dairy Farmers of Ontario set for April 14-16:
The OHL is excited to partner with the Ontario Minor Hockey Association and presenting sponsor Dairy Farmers of Ontario for the inaugural U14 OHL Cup on April 14-16 in Oakville. Read more
Dustin McCrank shares Olympic experience:
Long-time OHL official Dustin McCrank shares his experience working the lines at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, China. Watch
Rangers’ Mutter signs with Predators
Veteran Kitchener Rangers forward Navrin Mutter has signed a three-year entry level NHL contract with the Nashville Predators. Read more
Greyhounds’ Calisti signs AHL contract with Panthers:
Soo Greyhounds defenceman Robert Calisti has signed a two-year AHL contract with the Florida Panthers organization. Read more
Owen MacDonald commits to Sting:
The Sarnia Sting have signed local product and third round 2021 OHL U18 Priority Selection choice Owen MacDonald. Read more
COMMUNITY CORNER
67’s turn back the clock Friday night: The Ottawa 67’s celebrate their past on Friday, bringing out the Killer Puck for a clash with the Peterborough Petes. Legacy Night at TD Place Arena will feature some familiar faces from the past like past captain Dan Tessier as the 67’s hit the ice in retro jerseys for an East Division matchup.
Wolves in green for Heart and Stroke Night on Friday: The Sudbury Wolves will be decked out in green for Heart and Stroke Night on Friday, playing host to a traditionally green opponent in the North Bay Battalion. The Wolves, who wore green in the franchise’s infancy, revisit their roots for a good cause as proceeds from game worn uniforms will go to benefit the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Since 2016, the Sudbury community has raised over $5,000 in support of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Watch more at sudburywolves.com
Firebirds host Teacher Appreciation Night on Saturday: The Flint Firebirds play host to the Guelph Storm on Saturday and its Teacher Appreciation Night at the Dort Financial Center. All school staff can show their ID for free admittance to the game. For more information visit flintfirebirds.com
Spirit host Hockey for the Homeless Night on Saturday: The Saginaw Spirit feature back-to-back home matchups against the Owen Sound Attack this weekend, with Saturday’s matchup penciled in as Hockey for the Homeless Night at the Dow Event Center. The Spirit will be wearing special limited edition red uniforms to be auctioned off post-game, with proceeds benefitting Rescue Ministries of Mid-Michigan.
Otters roll out the green for St. Patrick’s Day game: The Erie Otters will be in green Saturday night at home to the Windsor Spitfires. Stay tuned for a post-game jersey auction to get your hands on one of these limited edition green Otters uniforms.
Generals host Petes for St. Patrick’s Game on Sunday: The Oshawa Generals encourage all of their fans to wear green to the rink Sunday evening when they play host to their age-old rivals the Peterborough Petes. The Gens will be suited up in green to close out the weekend for this great matchup.
Frontenacs’ Haché draws 30 donors through blood drive: Kingston Frontenacs defenceman Braden Haché hosted a community blood drive through Hockey Gives Blood, drawing 30 donors in support on Tuesday. The Florida Panthers prospect was the recipient of the Dayna Brons Honourary Award last season, a distinction presented in the honour of the former athletic therapist for the Humboldt Broncos Hockey Club who tragically passed away on April 11, 2018. Haché is recognized as a leader in his efforts to raise awareness toward the important cause of blood and stem cell donation.
Otters host Women’s Empowerment Week webinar: The Erie Otters held a Women’s Empowerment Week webinar on Tuesday, one that included special guests from the Arizona Coyotes and Macon Mayhem along with members of the Otters’ front office staff. Check out the full webinar at ottershockey.com.
Rangers host Women in Hockey Conference: As part of International Women’s Day Celebrations, the Kitchener Rangers hosted a Women in Hockey Conference including special guests such as Kim Davis of the National Hockey League, Christine Simpson of Sportsnet, PHF Commissioner Tyler Tumminia and several others. Check out the full conference on YouTube
PWHPA comes to Peterborough March 26 with all-woman broadcast crew: The Peterborough Petes will host a PWHPA regional game on March 26th at the Memorial Centre, one that will feature an all-woman broadcast crew of Katrina Squazzin, Meaghan Roy and Julia Tocheri. Team Sonnet and Team Harvey’s will square off inside the square corners! For more information visit gopetesgo.com
ALUMNI NOTES
Giordano, Simmonds play 1,000th NHL contest: A pair of well-known OHL graduates recently played in their 1,000th career NHL contest. Both former members of the Owen Sound Attack, Seattle Kraken blueliner Mark Giordano and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Wayne Simmonds reached the millennium on Saturday. Giordano, 38, is with the expansion Kraken following parts of 15 NHL seasons with the Calgary Flames. He played in Owen Sound from 2002-04 and was never drafted into the OHL or the NHL. Simmonds, 33, has spent his NHL career largely between Los Angeles and Philadelphia. He played in Owen Sound and Sault Ste. Marie from 2006-08. Read more on their careers at attackhockey.com
Robertson named NHL’s First Star of the Week: Former Eddie Powers Trophy recipient Jason Robertson is the NHL’s First Star of the Week, putting up seven goals in three games for the Dallas Stars. Robertson netted consecutive hat tricks and game-winning goals. He joins Bill Goldsworthy (March 1971) as the second player in Stars/North Stars history to register a hat trick in consecutive games. Robertson has 54 points (29-25–54) in 47 games this season. The 22-year-old from Arcadia, Calif. played four OHL seasons between Kingston and Niagara from 2015-19, graduating with 317 career points.
Ekblad records first 50-point season: Barrie Colts graduate Aaron Ekblad has hit the 50-point milestone for the first time in his NHL career. The 26-year-old joins Cale Makar, Roman Josi, Victor Hedman and Adam Fox in that category, becoming the fourth Panthers blueliner to reach the mark after Keith Yandle, Robert Svehla and Brian Campbell. Now in his eighth season with the Panthers after being selected first overall in 2014, Ekblad played three seasons in Barrie from 2011-14.
Rymsha named ECHL Player of the Week: Sarnia Sting graduate Drake Rymsha is the ECHL Player of the Week after posting four goals, three assists and seven points in three games for the Fort Wayne Komets. Rymsha has 11 points (5-6–11) in eight games with Fort Wayne this season while adding seven assists across 32 games with the AHL’s Hershey Bears. The 23-year-old from Huntington Woods, Mich. played four OHL seasons between London, Ottawa and Sarnia from 2014-18. He made his NHL debut with the Los Angeles Kings during the 2020-21 season, appearing in one game.
KEY MATCHUPS
Owen Sound Attack at Windsor Spitfires
Thursday March 10th – 7:30pm
Two competitive Western Conference teams both trending in the right direction meet in Windsor on Thursday night as the Owen Sound Attack ride a six-game winning streak into action. The Bears, who recently lost eight in a row from Feb. 6-23, have turned things around behind offensive contributions from NHL Draft prospects Servac Petrovsky and Cedrick Guindon. Rookie winger Colby Barlow has also been a steady scorer, sitting one goal back of Bobby Ryan’s club record of 22 goals by a 16-year-old rookie. The Spitfires have won three of their last four, flirting with second place in the West Division in a neck-and-neck race with Sault Ste. Marie. Wyatt Johnston enters action as the OHL’s scoring leader with 90 points (30-60–90) on the campaign.
Flint Firebirds at London Knights
Friday March 11th – 7:30pm
The Western Conference-leading Flint Firebirds go into London for a test against the Knights who have struggled of late, dropping their last three contests. Flint recently won a franchise record 21st road game and has benefitted from the strong play of Winnipeg Jets prospect Dmitry Kuzmin on the back end of late. London recently lost the services of injured goaltender Brett Brochu, and has missed big bodies in Logan Mailloux, Kirill Steklov and Bryce Montgomery on the blue line. The Knights try and right the ship against a Flint squad they are 1-1 against this season.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Thursday March 10th:
Kingston at Peterborough – 7:05pm
Hamilton at Barrie – 7:30pm
Owen Sound at Windsor – 7:30pm
Friday March 11th:
Windsor at Erie – 7:00pm
Oshawa at Kingston – 7:00pm
Hamilton at Mississauga – 7:00pm
Barrie at Niagara – 7:00pm
Peterborough at Ottawa – 7:00pm
Owen Sound at Saginaw – 7:05pm
Guelph at Sarnia – 7:05pm
North Bay at Sudbury – 7:05pm
Kitchener at Sault Ste. Marie – 7:07pm
Flint at London – 7:30pm
Saturday March 12th:
Windsor at Erie – 7:00pm
Guelph at Flint – 7:00pm
Owen Sound at Saginaw – 7:05pm
Kitchener at Sault Ste. Marie – 7:07pm
Mississauga at Barrie – 7:30pm
Sunday March 13th:
Niagara at Kingston – 2:00pm
London at Sarnia – 2:05pm (Live on TSN Digital)
North Bay at Sudbury – 2:05pm
Peterborough at Oshawa – 6:05pm
Monday March 14th:
Niagara at Ottawa – 2:00pm
Oshawa at Hamilton – 7:00pm (Outdoor Showcase at Tim Hortons Field)
Saginaw at London – 7:00pm
Erie at Guelph – 7:00pm
OHL Writers 