Each Ontario Hockey League season, we make our selections for forward of the month, defenceman of the month and goaltender of the month among the league’s players eligible for the NHL Entry Draft. Now that the month of November is behind us, let’s take a look at our choices.
Forward of the Month: Michael Misa – Saginaw Spirit
Misa takes this in consecutive months after posting 7 goals and 15 assists in just 12 games in the month of November. He was held pointless just once on November third against the Kitchener Rangers. He recorded a Gordie Howe Hattrick on November 30 against Brampton. He also finished the month a plus-12. Surprisingly, he did not register a game winning goal and only one of his goals came on the powerplay and that came on November 2 against Owen Sound.
Also considered was Porter Martone of the Brampton Steelheads. Martone finished with 6 goals and 16 assists in 12 games and was held off the score sheet just twice. He finished the month with an even plus/minus. Jake O’Brien of the Brantford Bulldogs was also considered. O’Brien had 7 goals and 15 assists in November. He was held off the scoresheet in 4 games and was a minus-5 in the month of November.
Defenceman of the Month: Matthew Schaefer – Erie Otters
Schaefer appeared in 11 games during the Month of November and scored 5 goals and added 10 assists. He was held off the score sheet 3 times and finished the month with a plus-16. He was a minus player just twice with the first being November 8 against the Guelph Storm and the other November 23 against the Kitchener Rangers. He had a whopping 41 shots on goal in those 11 games.
There wasn’t much considered after Schaefer. James Guo of the Saginaw Spirit had 2 goals and 8 assists in 12 games while Jack Brauti of the Niagara IceDogs has 2 goals and 7 assists in 11 games.
Goaltender of the Month: Aleksei Medvedev – London Knights
Medvedev went a perfect 6-0-0-0 in the month of November stopping 174 of 186 shots for a .935 save percentage with 1 shutout. His goals against average in those 6 games was a measly 1.98.
Also considered was Ben Hrebik of the Barrie Colts. Hrebik went 3-1-0-0 in 5 appearances for the Colts. He stopped 124 of 131 shots for a .947 save percentage. Two of his appearances were in relief.
Previous choices
Forward of the Month
October: Michael Misa – Saginaw Spirit
November: Michael Misa – Saginaw Spirit
Defenceman of the Month
October: Cameron Reid – Kitchener Rangers
November: Matthew Schaefer – Erie Otters
Goaltender of the Month
October: Joey Costanzo – Windsor Spitfires
November: Aleksei Medvedev – London Knights
