Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Week for the week of regular season games ending Sunday, November 5, 2023.
Firebirds’ Braeden Kressler Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week
Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Braeden Kressler of the Flint Firebirds is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording two goals, five assists, and seven points over three contests as the Firebirds moved up to second place in the West Division.
Kressler had a strong showing on Wednesday, registering three helpers to earn second star honours as the Firebirds defeated the Owen Sound Attack 6-3. The 5-foot-9, 170lb. centreman found the scoresheet again on Friday, tallying a goal and an assist as the Firebirds fell to the Erie Otters in a 4-3 shootout loss. Kressler closed out the weekend with another goal and assist on Saturday in a 5-1 win over the Mississauga Steelheads. He won 54 percent of his faceoffs last week, and rides a current trend of six consecutive multi-point outings.
A 20-year-old from Kitchener, Ont., Kressler has recorded seven goals, 10 assists, and 17 points in 12 games played so far this season. Signed as a free-agent by the Toronto Maple Leafs after an impressive training camp in 2021, Kressler comes off a standout 2022-23 season, tallying 52 points (25-27-52) in 47 appearances with Flint. The overage forward was Flint’s second round (28th overall) pick in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection.
Also considered for the award this week, Seattle Kraken prospect Carson Rehkopf of the Kitchener Rangers scored three times and added four assists in three appearances to boost his OHL scoring lead. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan of the London Knights also had a solid performance last week, tallying a pair of goals and four assists in three games.
2023-24 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Oct. 30 – Nov. 5: Braeden Kressler (Flint Firebirds)
Oct. 23 – Oct. 29: Kirill Kudryavtsev (Soo Greyhounds)
Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: Anthony Romani (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Carson Rehkopf (Kitchener Rangers)
Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Jordan D’Intino (Soo Greyhounds)
Sep. 28 – Oct. 1: Jax Dubois (Peterborough Petes)
Generals’ Jacob Oster Named OHL Goaltender of the Week
Jacob Oster of the Oshawa Generals is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, playing to a 2-1 record with a 2.34 goals-against average, and .944 save percentage.
Making 117 saves in three appearances last week, Oster had a strong showing on Thursday, stopping 48 of the 51 shots he faced, earning second star honours as the Generals fell to the Peterborough Petes 3-2. Back in the crease the following night, the Generals redeemed themselves against the Petes in overtime as Oster blocked 38 of the 40 shots that came his way to clinch a 3-2 victory on Friday. The 6-foot-3, 190lb. netminder closed out the weekend with a 31-save performance on Sunday as Oshawa bested the Brantford Bulldogs 6-2 at home.
A 19-year-old from Ottawa, Ont., Oster has played to a 7-7 record this season, along with a 3.15 goals-against average, and a .909 save percentage. Selected in the fifth round (92nd overall) by the Guelph Storm in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection, the veteran goaltender has appeared in 97 career regular season contests, recording a 3.59 goals-against average and .885 save percentage over three seasons.
Also considered for the award this week, Collin MacKenzie of the Ottawa 67’s went 2-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average and .943 save percentage. Jackson Parsons of the Kitchener Rangers also found success, going 2-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average and .931 save percentage.
2023-24 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Oct. 30 – Nov. 7: Jacob Oster (Oshawa Generals)
Oct. 23 – Oct. 29: Sam Hillebrandt (Barrie Colts)
Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: Brayden Gillespie (Guelph Storm)
Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Collin MacKenzie (Ottawa 67’s)
Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Ryerson Leenders (Mississauga Steelheads)
Sep. 28 – Oct. 1: Ryerson Leenders (Mississauga Steelheads)
About the Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League which is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and four American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL is made up of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U SPORTS than any other league.
OHL Writers 