It’s playoff time! Here’s what’s happening across the League as the 2022 OHL Playoffs get underway.
CHL TV playoff packages now on sale:
The OHL Playoffs are getting underway and CHL TV playoff packages are now on sale! Get in on an OHL All Access Pass for $59.99 or keep tabs on the entirety of the CHL Playoffs for $89.99. Visit watch.chl.ca for more information
Saginaw Spirit to Select First Overall in 2022 OHL Priority Selection Presented by Real Canadian Superstore:
The results from the 2022 OHL Priority Selection Draft Lottery are in, and the Saginaw Spirit will be selecting first on April 29-30 when OHL member teams build toward the future in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection Presented by Real Canadian Superstore. Read more
OHL Western Conference Playoff Preview:
A look at first round playoff matchups in the Western Conference. Read more
OHL Eastern Conference Playoff Preview:
A look at first round playoff matchups in the Eastern Conference. Read more
OHL Announces 2021-22 Coaches Poll Winners:
The Ontario Hockey League has announced results of the Eastern and Western Conference Coaches Polls for the 2021-22 OHL Regular Season. Read more
OHL Announces 2021-22 Regular Season Award Winners:
The OHL announced recipients of the League’s regular season awards earlier this week including Windsor’s Wyatt Johnston, Kingston’s Lucas Edmonds, North Bay’s Dom DiVincentiis and Hamilton netminders Marco Costantini and Matteo Drobac. Read more
OHL Top Performers of the Month for April:
Soo Greyhounds teammates Rory Kerins and Jack Thompson, Peterborough Petes netminder Michael Simpson and Kingston Frontenacs rookie Paul Ludwinski have been named the OHL top performers for the month of April. Read more
Bulldogs, Spitfires, Battalion included in Week 25 Edition of Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings:
The Hamilton Bulldogs, Windsor Spitfires and North Bay Battalion are included in the Week 25 edition of the Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings. Read more
Three OHL players named to CHL Team for the Week for Apr. 11-17:
Robert Calisti of the Soo Greyhounds, Mitchell Smith of the Saginaw Spirit and Max Donoso of the Ottawa 67’s have been named to the CHL Team of the Week. Read more
Greyhounds’ Calisti named OHL Player of the Week:
Robert Calisti of the Soo Greyhounds is the OHL Player of the Week, putting together three straight multi-point performances as the Greyhounds took two of three to close out the season in fourth place in the Western Conference. Read more
67’s’ Donoso named OHL Goaltender of the Week:
Max Donoso of the Ottawa 67’s is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, playing to a 1-0-0-1 record with a 0.48 goals-against average, .984 save percentage and one shutout. Read more
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
One first goal and a shutout in OHL Milestone Moments:
Check out a first career goal from Hamilton’s Braeden O’Keefe and a first career shutout from Ottawa’s Max Donoso. Watch
Six OHL Players to Represent Canada at 2022 IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship:
Kocha Delic, Nolan Collins and David Goyette of the Sudbury Wolves, Nolan Lalonde and Spencer Sova of the Erie Otters, and Pano Fimis of the Niagara IceDogs have been named to Canada’s roster for the 2022 IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship. Read more
Final regular season edition of OHL Plays of the Week:
It’s the final regular season edition of the OHL Plays of the Week! See contributions from Erie’s Brett Bressette, North Bay’s Liam Arnsby, Owen Sound’s Sam Sedley, Flint’s Coulson Pitre, and Niagara’s Pano Fimis. Watch
Rolling back the OHL Saves of the Week:
Scope out season-ending saves from Kitchener’s duo of Jackson Parsons and Pavel Cajan, Erie’s Nolan Lalonde, Sarnia’s pairing of Ben Gaudreau and Anson Thornton, Owen Sound’s Nick Chenard, Soo’s Samuel Ivanov and Tucker Tynan, North Bay’s Joe Vrbetic, and Windsor’s Xavier Medina. Watch
Spirit’s Bloom signs with Sabres:
The Buffalo Sabres have signed Saginaw Spirit forward Josh Bloom to a three-year, entry-level contract. Read more
Vaughan Kings are Inaugural U14 OHL Cup Champions:
The Vaughan Kings are the first-ever champions of the U14 OHL Cup presented by Dairy Farmers of Ontario and hosted by the Ontario Minor Hockey Association. Read more
OHL Mourns the Loss of Lance Galbraith:
The Ontario Hockey League is mourning the sudden loss of Ottawa 67’s alumnus and former Memorial Cup champion Lance Galbraith. Read more
OHL Mourns the Loss of Tom McCarthy:
The Ontario Hockey League is saddened by news of the loss of former Oshawa Generals forward and Minnesota North Stars standout Tom McCarthy. Read more
COMMUNITY CORNER
Hounds hold Ryan Vendramin Appreciation Night on Thursday: The Soo Greyhounds will honour Officer Ryan Vendramin on Thursday prior to puck drop in Game 1 of their first round series against the Guelph Storm. A former Sarnia Sting forward, Vendramin was injured in the line of duty in September 2021.
D’Amico awarded Jason Bennett Award for community service: The Windsor Spitfires awarded Daniel D’Amico the Jason Bennett Award for community service. Throughout his last five years, D’Amico has done a tremendous amount of work in the community including hospital visits and special events. For a full look at the Spitfires’ end of season awards, visit windsorspitfires.com.
Spitfires’ Steve Horne awarded Paul Maurice award for determination and dedication to the organization: The Spits awarded Windsor’s Director of Business Operations, Steve Horne, with the Paul Maurice award for determination and dedication to the organization. Steve has been with the Spitfires for over 30 years. For a full look at the Spitfires’ end of season awards, visit windsorspitfires.com.
Owen Sound raises funds for Ukrainian Refugees: The Owen Sound Attack saluted local nurses Tally Grandjean & Shari Chambers and local ER Physician Dr. Kysenia Troyan on Saturday night as they head over to Poland to provide medical care to Ukrainian Refugees. Attack fans raised $5200 for the cause.
ALUMNI NOTES
Okhotyuk recalled to Devils: the New Jersey Devils have recalled Nikita Okhotyuk from Utica of the American Hockey League. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Russian native has three goals, 12 points and 68 penalty minutes in 63 games for Utica. Okhutiuk played three season for the Ottawa 67’s. Read more
Rossi makes Iowa Wild history: With his goal on Tuesday night, Marco Rossi now holds the single season record for most points by a rookie in Iowa Wild history. Rossi played two season for the Ottawa 67’s and was the OHL’s Red Tilson Trophy recipient as the League’s Most Outstanding Player in 2019-20.
Regula scores first NHL goal: London Knights’ alumnus Alec Regula scored his first National Hockey League goal on Monday night for the Chicago Blackhawks. Regula played three seasons for London, racking up 60 points in his final campaign in 2019-20.
Duchene becomes first 40 goal-scorer in Predators franchise history: Scoring his 40th goal of the season on Tuesday, Brampton Battalion alumnus matt Duchene became the first player in Nashville Predators franchise history to reach the milestone. Duchene is in his 13th NHL season, enjoying his most productive campaign to date.
Smith named NHL’s third star of the week: Mike Smith stopped all 69 shots across two starts and became the sixth goaltender in NHL history to record consecutive shutouts at age 40 or older last week. The Edmonton Oilers netminder played three season in the OHL between the Kingston Frontenacs and the Sudbury Wolves from 1999-2002.
Bennett earns ECHL Rookie of the Year: Kris Bennett of the Iowa Heartlanders has been named ECHL Rookie of the Year and the recipient of the John A. Daley Memorial Trophy. Bennett put up 35 goals, 38 assists and 73 points for Iowa this past season after playing three seasons at the University of New Brunswick. He played parts of five seasons for the Saginaw Spirit from 2012-17.
UPCOMING PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Thursday April 21:
Peterborough at Hamilton (Game 1) – 7:00pm
Ottawa at North Bay (Game 1) – 7:00pm
Kitchener at London (Game 1) – 7:00pm
Sarnia at Windsor (Game 1) – 7:05pm
Guelph at Sault Ste. Marie (Game 1) – 7:07pm
Friday April 22:
Oshawa at Kingston (Game 1) – 7:00pm
Barrie at Mississauga (Game 1) – 7:00pm
Kitchener at London (Game 2) – 7:00pm
Owen Sound at Flint (Game 1) – 7:00pm
Saturday April 23:
Ottawa at North Bay (Game 2) – 7:00pm
Owen Sound at Flint (Game 2) – 7:00pm
Sarnia at Windsor (Game 2) – 7:05pm
Guelph at Sault Ste. Marie (Game 2) – 7:07pm
Sunday April 24:
Barrie at Mississauga (Game 2) – 2:00pm
London at Kitchener (Game 3) – 2:00pm
Oshawa at Kingston (Game 2) – 4:00pm
OHL Writers 