Serron Noel – Oshawa Generals – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height: 6’5”

Weight: 203 pounds

Date of birth: August 8, 2000

Hometown: Ottawa, Ontario

Position: Right Wing

Shoots: Right

OHL Draft: Round 2, 25th overall, 2016 Priority Selection

When National Hockey League Central Scouting released it’s players to watch list in October, there were some in the hockey circle that questioned Oshawa Generals’ power forward Serron Noel appearing on the list as a B prospect – defined by Central Scouting as a 2nd or 3rd round candidate.

Many of those same people, including yours truly, were happy to see that Central Scouting then upgraded him to an A prospect – a 1st round candidate – on their November players to watch list.

Noel played his minor midget hockey for the Brockville Braves during the 2015 – 2016 season in which he recorded 17 goals and 11 assists in 45 games and earned the league’s top prospect award and appearing in that season’s all-star game. Prior to that season, the Braves had made Noel the first overall pick at the CCHL Bantam Draft.

Serron Noel of the Oshawa Generals. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Serron Noel of the Oshawa Generals. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Noel also played in the OHL Gold Cup (winning bronze) scoring 2 goals and 2 assists in the tournament. The Generals would select Noel in the second round, 25th overall at the 2016 draft.

Last season, Noel made the Generals’ roster appearing in 63 of the Genies’ 68 regular season games. He would score 8 times to go along with 13 assists, and add a goal and 2 assists in 9 playoff games. He also represented Canada at the World Hockey Challenge Under-17 producing a goal and 3 assists in 5 games.

This season began with Noel representing Team Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial where Canada captured yet another gold medal. He would score once in Canada’s 5 games.

As of today, Noel has appeared in 19 games and is second among Generals in goals (10) and fourth in points (14). The stat that sticks out the most however is that his 10 goals have come on just 31 shots on goal (tenth among Generals) for a whopping 32.2% shooting percentage, which puts him second in the OHL in that category.

So, what exactly does Serron Noel bring to the table?

Well, at 6’5” and tipping the scales at just a hair above 200 pounds, he has NHL size. He’s improved his skating so much, that it is very noticeable. He moves so well for a player of his size. His long strides allow him to put separation between himself and an opponent. He has the agility of a much smaller player. Combined with his stickhandling abilities, he can beat defenders one-on-one. In fact, Noel has been known to go on end-to-end rushes and when he does, he brings Generals’ fans to the edge of their seats.

Noel is still learning how much he can impact the offense. With the skillset I’ve already mentioned, once he learns how to utilize his teammates more, he will help improve the Generals offense. It’s not that he lacks playmaking abilities, he possesses them as well. And even though we’d like to see it utilized more, how can you argue about a player who is scoring on 32% of his attempts? He has a pretty good shot with a deceptively quick release.

One of the things that stands out is his work ethic. We would like to see more consistency however. When he’s on, he is an extremely efficient forechecker who gets on top of pucks, uses his size and strength to win battles in the corners and along the wall, and can be an immoveable force in front of the opposition net. We believe that consistency will come as he gains more confidence and experience.

Noel has shown the willingness to play both sides of the puck. He works extremely hard to get back on the backcheck, puts himself in good position in the defensive zone whether it’s with the body or his stick. He uses his long reach and stick to get into passing and shooting lanes. It is and will continue to be a work in progress, but you can’t underestimate the value of watching and learning from Jack Studnicka has on him.

I often get asked by Oshawa fans if I would choose Noel or the Generals’ other top-flight prospect Allan McShane. (Admittedly, I am surprised McShane wasn’t upgraded to an A prospect by Central Scouting, but that’s a story for another day). There’s a long way to go until June 2018 in Dallas. But Noel’s combination of size, skillset and potential is very appealing.

Serron Noel

Eliteprospects.com stat page of Serron Noel,

CHL Announces Weekly Award Winners

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Big weeks for rising clubs as Pu and Morrone lead Knights and Tigres 

Knights’ Cliff Pu named CHL Player of the Week 

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Buffalo Sabres prospect Cliff Pu of the London Knights is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending November 19 after recording 12 points in four games including four goals and eight assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-6.

Pu delivered four multi-point performances last week for the Knights who picked up three straight wins to improve their record to 10-10-2-0 which ranks seventh in the OHL’s Western Conference.  His week began with two assists despite a 4-2 loss to the Kitchener Rangers on Tuesday before producing a career-high four points on Thursday with a goal and three assists as second star of a 7-4 win against the Guelph Storm.  Pu continued his strong play over the weekend with a goal and two assists on Friday as second star of a 4-3 overtime win against the Saginaw Spirit, and Sunday with two goals and one assist as second star of a 4-0 win against the Windsor Spitfires.

A 19-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., Pu is playing in his fourth OHL season after being a first round choice of the Oshawa Generals in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection.  He joined the Knights during his rookie campaign and helped the club to Robertson Cup and Mastercard Memorial Cup titles the following season.  He is currently tied for 15th in league scoring with nine goals and 18 assists for 27 points in 21 games following a 2016-17 campaign where he generated 86 points in 63 games.  The third round pick of the Sabres in the 2016 NHL Draft was recently signed to an entry-level contract and represented Team OHL in the 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series.

Also considered for the award this week was Jayden Halbgewachs of the Moose Jaw Warriors who scored six goals and five assists for 11 points in four games, and defenceman Olivier Galipeau of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens who scored three goals and two assists for five points in three games. 

2017-18 CHL Players of the Week:

Nov. 13 – Nov. 19: Cliff Pu (London Knights)

Nov. 6 – Nov. 12: Aleksi Heponiemi (Swift Current Broncos)

Oct. 30 – Nov. 5: Albert Michnac (Mississauga Steelheads)

Oct. 23 – Oct. 29: Aaron Luchuk (Windsor Spitfires)

Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: Drake Batherson (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles)

Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Tyler Soy (Victoria Royals)

Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Kale Clague (Brandon Wheat Kings)

Sept. 25 – Oct. 1: Tyler Steenbergen (Swift Current Broncos)

Sept. 21 – Sept. 24: Kole Lind (Kelowna Rockets)

Tigres’ Anthony Morrone named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that rookie Anthony Morrone of the Victoriaville Tigres is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending November 19 after posting back-to-back shutouts for a 2-0-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 0.00 and save percentage of 1.000.

Morrone was perfect between-the-pipes last week for the Tigres turning aside all 61 shots he faced helping the club improve their record to 11-10-1-0 where they rank 12th overall in the QMJHL standings.  The shutouts were the first two of his career and earned him first star honours both games including Friday night with 27 saves in a 4-0 road win against the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, and Sunday at home with a 34-save performance in a 2-0 win over the Rimouski Oceanic.

An 18-year-old from Montreal, Morrone has made eight appearances in goal for the Tigres during his first season playing to a 3-4-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 3.01 and save percentage of .906.  His shutout streak currently stands at 134 minutes and 21 seconds approaching the club record of 137 minutes and 46 seconds set last year by James Povall.

Also considered for the award this week was Philadelphia Flyers prospect Carter Hart of the WHL’s Everett Silvertips who posted a 2-1-0-0 record including a shutout victory with 104 saves for a goals-against-average of 1.34 and save percentage of .963.  In the OHL, Joseph Raaymakers of the London Knights posted a 3-1-0-0 record including a shutout victory stopping 123 shots for a goals-against-average of 2.74 and save percentage of .918.

2017-18 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week:

Nov. 13 – Nov. 19: Anthony Morrone (Victoriaville Tigres)

Nov. 6 – Nov. 12: Justin Fazio (Sarnia Sting)

Oct. 30 – Nov. 5: Cole Kehler (Portland Winterhawks)

Oct. 23 – Oct. 29: Dustin Wolf (Everett Silvertips)

Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: Samuel Harvey (Rouyn-Noranada Huskies)

Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Logan Flodell (Swift Current Broncos)

Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Cole Kehler (Portland Winterhawks)

Sept. 25 – Oct. 1: Dereck Baribeau (Quebec Remparts)

Sept. 21 – Sept. 24: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)

Knights’ Cliff Pu named OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Buffalo Sabres prospect Cliff Pu of the London Knights is the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week for the week ending November 19 after leading the league with 12 points in four games scoring four goals and eight assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-6.

Cliff Pu of the London Knights. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Cliff Pu of the London Knights. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Pu recorded four multi-point performances last week helping the Knights win three straight games to improve their record to 10-10-2-0 where they rank seventh in the Western Conference standings.  After collecting two assists despite a 4-2 loss to the Kitchener Rangers on Tuesday, Pu delivered a career-high four points on Thursday with a goal and three assists earning second star honours in a 7-4 win over the Guelph Storm.  Pu was also named second star of both weekend wins for the Knights including Friday with a goal and two assists in a 4-3 overtime triumph against the Saginaw Spirit, and Sunday with two goals and one assist contributing to a 4-0 victory over the Windsor Spitfires.  Pu’s eventful week also included the CIBC Canada Russia Series where he helped Team OHL to a 4-2 victory on Monday night in Sudbury.

A 19-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., Pu is playing in his fourth OHL season after being a first round choice of the Oshawa Generals in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection.  He joined the Knights during his rookie campaign and helped the club to Robertson Cup and Mastercard Memorial Cup titles the following season.  Last year he recorded a career-high 86 points in 63 games and currently ranks tied for 15th in league scoring with nine goals and 18 assists for 27 points in 21 games.  Pu was a third round pick by the Sabres in the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo and last month was signed to a three-year entry-level contract.

Watch video highlights of Pu and the Knights against the Storm, Spirit, and Spitfires.

Also considered for the award this week was Florida Panthers prospect Owen Tippett of the Mississauga Steelheads who scored three goals and four assists for seven points in three games, and forward Cole Coskey of the Saginaw Spirit with two goals and five assists for seven points in three games.  In goal, the Knights’ Joseph Raaymakers posted a 3-1-0-0 record including a shutout victory stopping 123 shots for a goals-against-average of 2.74 and save percentage of .918.

2017-18 OHL ‘On the Run’ Players of the Week:

Nov. 13 – Nov. 19: Cliff Pu (London Knights)

Nov. 6 – Nov. 12: Ryan Merkley (Guelph Storm)

Oct. 30 – Nov. 5: Albert Michnac (Mississauga Steelheads)

Oct. 23 – Oct. 29: Aaron Luchuk (Windsor Spitfires)

Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia Sting)

Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Brady Hinz (Sarnia Sting)

Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Nick Suzuki (Owen Sound Attack)

Sept. 25 – Oct. 1: Jonathan Ang (Peterborough Petes)

Sept. 21 – Sept. 24: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)

Evan Bouchard – London Knights – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height:  6’2”

Weight: 191 pounds

Date of birth: October 20, 1999

Hometown: Oakville, Ontario

Position: Defence

Shoots: Right

OHL Draft: Round 1, 17th overall, 2015 Priority Selection

It was September 26, 2015. I was at the London Knights season opener at the Budweiser Gardens in Downtown London when a kid wearing number 2 stepped onto the ice for his first shift. Something about that shift caught my attention. Maybe it was the poise he displayed? Maybe his skating? Maybe it was the smarts he presented? I’m not sure, but I knew I was going to follow this kid closely for the next couple of years.

I looked at the lineup for the night and discovered I was looking at Evan Bouchard, the Knights first round selection and seventeenth overall pick in that year’s Priority Draft. And he was just 15 years of age. What was most surprising about that is that he made the opening night roster of a Knights team that was deep on defence and would be challenging for the Memorial Cup that year – a cup they eventually ended up winning.

Evan Bouchard of the London Knights. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Evan Bouchard of the London Knights. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

I immediately texted a friend who scouts NHL talent for a living and although the Ontario Hockey League was out of his area, he has a vast knowledge of the talent across North America. At that time, there wasn’t much of a scouting report he could share about Bouchard.

Bouchard played his Minor Midget hockey for the Oakville Blades where his offence was on full display during the 2014-2015 season in which he scored 18 goals and added 13 assists in 35 games. At the OHL Cup, Bouchard would add an assist in three games for the Blades. He was dominant at the OHL Gold Cup where he scored 5 goals and 6 assists in 5 games for Team OMHA White.

That first year in London, Bouchard notched 2 goals and 15 assists and finished with a plus-15 in 43 games for the Knights. Not bad for a fifteen turned sixteen-year-old defenceman playing for coach Dale Hunter, who often likes to bring a player along slowly.

He would represent Canada at the WHC Under-17 that first season and had a very good tournament, going 1-5-6 in three games. He won gold with Canada, was named to the All-Star team and would be the top point getter among defencemen.

It was during that season’s playoff run and Memorial Cup that you just knew the Knights’ coaching staff had faith and trust in Bouchard’s abilities. There a couple of occasions that Hunter would dress Bouchard as a right wing just to have him available on the powerplay. He had the confidence to use Bouchard on the top powerplay unit ahead of his two stud defencemen, Olli Juolevi and Victor Mete on several occasions. He wouldn’t dress in the finale, but the experience he gained cannot be quantified.

Last season, Bouchard played in all 68 games for the Knights and the statistical improvements went right across the board. He scored 11 goals and added 33 assists and finished with a plus-30. He would add 3 goals and 4 assists and a plus-4 in 14 playoff games. He would fire a hair under 2 shots-per-game, doubling that from the prior year – with the confidence instilled in him by his coaches.

This season, Bouchard is well on his way. He’s right there with Guelph Storms’ super d-man Ryan Merkley in points. Through 18 games, less than one-third of the season, Bouchard has 4 goals and 15 assists and on pace to exceed his career highs. And he’s already fired 66 shots on goal, a pace that puts him well above last season. The biggest reason for his shot increase is the powerplay. While he plays the point, you’ll often see him set up in the left face-off circle and his teammates setting him up for one-timers.

Bouchard also represented Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial but was pointless in 4 games. He also represented Team OHL in the CIBC Canada/Russia series, the last chance opportunity for players to make a case for themselves in game action for the World Junior Championships. It’s a very tough lineup to make as an 18-year-old defenceman but Bouchard held his own.

Bouchard is a very good skater with excellent mobility in all directions. He uses that mobility, and his high hockey smarts, to be effective and dangerous jumping up into the play. He can clear his zone with an excellent first pass, but if you’re not on top of him quickly and give him any amount of ice, he can skate the puck up ice quickly and efficiently. He can quarterback a powerplay and is an excellent passer – something that gets overlooked at times.

It’s difficult for a young defenceman to make perfect lead passes, one that catches your forwards skating quickly and putting the puck just out of the range of the opposition and allowing your teammate to skate into it. But Bouchard does it almost picture-perfect. That’s because he’s smart, reads plays quickly and reacts quickly.

He possesses an excellent shot and he gets it off quickly and shoots with a purpose. He’s not always trying to score, but put pucks in a place that you know a rebound will come.

There have been questions raised about his defensive game, and maybe rightfully so. He’s made vast improvements. He’s tough to beat one-on-one mainly because of his skating and hockey IQ. He will sometimes lose coverage in front of his own net. He has learned to be more careful in choosing when to stand in at the opposing blue-line and when to back off. The defensive game is coachable – and he’ll learn from experience and his hockey smarts. Maybe the horrid start by the Knights had something to do with it. And maybe now that the Knights are playing much better, they are starting to disappear from his game. He’s a winner, he wants to keep on winning and was probably trying to do it all himself early on.

There is no question that Merkley and Bouchard are the top two defencemen in this draft class from the OHL. Which one gets picked first in June? There is no question Merkley is the most dynamic, flashy offensive defenceman, but Bouchard is no slouch in the o-zone, he’s just less flashy. But for my liking, Bouchard wins in the all-around category.

I had the opportunity to talk to Knights’ General Manager Rob Simpson about the growth Bouchard has shown as a player. He spoke not only abut his growth in the OHL but the growth he has shown from minor midget. “I know there have been questions about his defensive game as you mentioned. He is so smart that he was anticipating what other players would do and it sometimes looks like he lost coverage. Sometimes he made the wrong choice, but he is so smart that he thinks ‘that didn’t work for me the last time, so I’ll try something different next time’.”

About clearing his own end, Simpson said “if you watch him when he’s being fore-checked, it looks like he’s waiting for the forecheck and he lets it come to him. He’s so smart, it’s easy for us to see from up top, but he sees it down there and that’s not easy. He almost always makes the right play.”

About Bouchard’s current role with the squad he added “he’s the only defenceman with two years experience on the team. He’s accepted that role and excelled in it, and why we are winning now.”

Evan Bouchard

Eliteprospects.com stat page of Evan Bouchard

 

Nick Donofrio – Player Profile – Hamilton Bulldogs

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height: 6’4”

Weight: 204

Date of birth: November 19, 1999

Hometown: Ypsilanti, Michigan

Position: Goaltender

Catches: Left

OHL Draft: Round 5, 96th overall, 2015 Priority Selection

The goaltenders eligible for the 2018 National Hockey League Draft plying their trade in the Ontario Hockey League this season is unlike a season ago. It’s a class that includes names like Mario Peccia (Kingston), Jordan Kooy (London), Jacob Ingham (Mississauga) and Marshall Frappier (Sudbury) among others.

And then there is Nick Donofrio of the Hamilton Bulldogs.

I know there will be readers out there that think “why is he beginning with Donofrio?”

Well, the answer is simple. If I can take everything I’ve seen in his limited playing time in Hamilton and apply one word, that word is “impressive”. Occasionally, a goaltender seems to come out of nowhere, one that few seem to be talking about early during the season and impresses me so much that I won’t stop talking about him. And if you followed along here a season ago or followed me on Twitter, you know that to be the case with a stopper named Matthew Villalta of the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds (Los Angeles Kings – 3rd round, 72nd overall in 2017).

Nick Donofrio of the Hamilton Bulldogs. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Nick Donofrio of the Hamilton Bulldogs. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

That’s not to suggest that there was no chatter on Donofrio coming into this season. There definitely was. But a lot of that chatter when talking top goaltenders for the draft went to Ingham in what I believe is a class that is wide open.

As the backup to Kaden Fulcher, who signed as an undrafted free agent with the Detroit Red Wings prior to the start of the NHL season, Donofrio is going to have very limited starts this season so you’d better make your viewings of him count, or you may just miss out.

Donofrio has only had three starts to date. After losing his first start in a shootout to the Niagara IceDogs, he’s beaten the North Bay Battalion and shutout the defending Memorial Cup Champion Windsor Spitfires. He’s stopped 68 of 73 shots he’s faced and has an excellent .932 save percentage to go along with his 1.62 goals against average.

Donofrio played Midget Hockey for the Compuware Under 15 squad during the 2014-2015 season and in 34 games posted an impressive 2.28 goals against average. He was equally impressive at the OHL Gold Cup for the TPH Thunder Minor Midgets with 1.00 goals against average in 2 games with a shutout. The Bulldogs would use their fifth-round selection and select him 96th overall at the 2015 draft.

Don’t let the fifth-round selection influence your opinion. As an American born player, there is always the possibility that a player could go the USHL route with an eye on the NCAA, thus dropping him a little in the draft. He was selected in the 10th round, 147th overall by the Des Moines Buccaneers at the USHL Futures Draft in 2015.

A season ago, Donofrio would continue his development with the Philadelphia Revolution of the EHL. Once again, his stats would be impressive posting a 2.00 goals against average and .921 save percentage in 25 appearances. He was ready for the OHL.

Donofrio has good size that NHL scouts seem to appreciate. He is a technically sound goaltender who relies more on that technique then pure athleticism. He is positionally sound, controls his rebounds extremely well, tracks the puck well, fights through traffic to find the puck, and rebounds quickly for second chance opportunities. His demeanor is that of an extremely calm netminder who never seems to get rattled. He plays with his emotions in check.

Donofrio gets to the top of his paint well. He plays his angles extremely well and remains square to the shooter. He’s not overly quick, but far from slow. His post to post movement is sufficient, but it’s more his technique that makes him stand out. He plays big in his crease and even when in his butterfly position he stands tall. And I love that he has the old school poke-check in his repertoire.

Speaking to those around him, Donofrio is a team first guy who is more concerned about team success than personal success, and at this level that speaks volumes. He knows and accepts his role and knows his time will eventually come. By all accounts, he has a very good relationship with Fulcher and he works hard to be ready when he’s called upon.

I asked good friend and the play-by-play voice of the Hamilton Bulldogs Reed Duthie to share his thoughts on Donofrio with me.

“Nick Donofrio has been a picture perfect backup for the Hamilton Bulldogs combining his tremendous sense of positioning with starter Kaden Fulcher’s outstanding athleticism. Donofrio is the type of netminder who will keep teammates and coaches at ease while frustrating opponents with his no frills style” he said. 

Reed went on to say “Donofrio has an incredible sense of the net combined with quick reflex and clock like timing that make beating the OHL rookie very difficult. Nick’s biggest win of the season, a 2-0 shutout of the defending Memorial Cup Champion Windsor Spitfires, showed just what kind of upside the Ypsilanti native carries. Standing his ground under intense pressure from the like of Logan Brown, Aaron Luchuk & co, Donofrio made several key and timely saves to keep the Dogs out in front.”

Reed concluded “Nick will only continue to grow as his OHL time mounts, he has a keen awareness of how to use his 6’4” frame which goaltenders of his age usually haven’t developed & his sound fundamentals will mean that Head Coach John Gruden and the Bulldogs staff will have no issues relying on him to put in solid starts moving forward.”

This isolation video from his days with Compuware back in 2014 shows some of the qualities he possesses, even back then.

Nick Donofrio

Eliteprospects.com Stat page of Nick Donofrio,

CHL Announces Weekly Award Winners

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Top clubs produce top stars of the week including Broncos’ Heponiemi and Sting’s Fazio 

 

Broncos’ Aleksi Heponiemi named CHL Player of the Week 

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Florida Panthers prospect Aleksi Heponiemi of the Swift Current Broncos is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending November 12 after recording nine points in two games including two goals and seven assists. 

Heponiemi produced a pair of multi-point performances last week for the Broncos who picked up two wins to keep pace in the competitive WHL East Division where they rank second with a 13-3-1-0 record.  On Friday night he collected his third five-point effort of the season with a goal and four assists as part of a 6-4 road win against the Saskatoon Blades, then scored once with three assists on Saturday earning third star honours in a 6-0 win against the Lethbridge Hurricanes. 

An 18-year-old from Tampere, Finland, Heponiemi is playing in his second WHL season after being selected by the Broncos tenth overall in the 2016 CHL Import Draft.  The second round pick by the Panthers in the 2017 NHL Draft is now tied atop the WHL’s scoring race with teammate Tyler Steenbergen with 46 points including 14 goals and a league-high 32 assists in 15 games. 

Also considered for the award this week were a pair of defencemen including Nicolas Beaudin of the Drummondville Voltigeurs with two goals and four assists for six points in two games, and 2018 NHL Draft prospect Ryan Merkley of the Guelph Storm with one goal and five assists for six points in two games. 

2017-18 CHL Players of the Week:

Nov. 6 – Nov. 12: Aleksi Heponiemi (Swift Current Broncos)
Oct. 30 – Nov. 5: Albert Michnac (Mississauga Steelheads)
Oct. 23 – Oct. 29: Aaron Luchuk (Windsor Spitfires)
Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: Drake Batherson (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles)
Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Tyler Soy (Victoria Royals)
Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Kale Clague (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Sept. 25 – Oct. 1: Tyler Steenbergen (Swift Current Broncos)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 24: Kole Lind (Kelowna Rockets)

Sting’s Justin Fazio named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week 

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Justin Fazio of the Sarnia Sting is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending November 12 after posting a 1-0-1-0 record including one shutout with a goals-against-average of 1.98 and save percentage of .926. 

Fazio stopped 72 shots last week helping the Sting earn three of a possible four points against tough OHL Western Conference competition to maintain first place in the league’s overall standings with a 16-3-1-0 record.  On Friday night Fazio turned aside 33 shots despite a 4-3 overtime loss to the second place Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, then rebounded Sunday to earn his first shutout of the season with 39 saves as third star of a 7-0 win against the Owen Sound Attack.

A 20-year-old from Sarnia, Ont., Fazio is playing in his fifth career season with his hometown Sting after being chosen by the club in the fourth round of the 2013 OHL Priority Selection.  The overage netminder became the club’s all-time wins leader earlier this season and now has 67 in his tenure powered by a league-high 12 victories so far in 2017-18.  In 15 appearance this season he carries a goals-against-average of 2.64 and save percentage of .929.   

Also considered for the award this week was Mark Grametbauer of the Moncton Wildcats who went 2-0-0-0 with 60 saves for a goals-against-average of 1.50 and save percentage of .952, and Brody Willms of the Moose Jaw Warriors who posted a 2-0-0-0 record making 54 saves for a goals-against-average of 1.50 and save percentage of .947. 

2017-18 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week:

Nov. 6 – Nov. 12: Justin Fazio (Sarnia Sting)
Oct. 30 – Nov. 5: Cole Kehler (Portland Winterhawks)
Oct. 23 – Oct. 29: Dustin Wolf (Everett Silvertips)
Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: Samuel Harvey (Rouyn-Noranada Huskies)
Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Logan Flodell (Swift Current Broncos)
Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Cole Kehler (Portland Winterhawks)
Sept. 25 – Oct. 1: Dereck Baribeau (Quebec Remparts)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 24: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)

Storm’s Ryan Merkley named OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that 2018 NHL Draft prospect Ryan Merkley of the Guelph Storm is the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week for the week ending November 12 after scoring one goal with five assists for six points in two games with a plus-minus rating of plus-4.

Ryan Merkley of the Guelph Storm. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Ryan Merkley of the Guelph Storm. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Merkley becomes the first defenceman to earn the award this season after recording two multi-point performances last week helping the Storm to a pair of victories.  On Friday night he scored once and added an assist as part of a 6-2 win over the North Bay Battalion, then collected a career-high four assists on Sunday as first star of a 5-1 win over the Sudbury Wolves.  The two weekend wins give the Storm three straight lifting them into a second place tie in the OHL’s Midwest Division with 22 points from a 10-7-0-2 record.

A 17-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., Merkley is playing in his second season with the Storm after being chosen first overall in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection and earning OHL Rookie of the Year honours.  The first round candidate in NHL Central Scouting’s October ‘Players to Watch’ list leads the Storm in scoring and is currently second among OHL defencemen with 24 points in 19 games including six goals and 18 assists.

Watch video highlights of Merkley and the Storm against the Battalion and Wolves.

Also considered for the award this week were a pair of Philadelphia Flyers prospects including Matthew Strome of the Hamilton Bulldogs who scored three goals and three assists for six points in two games, and Morgan Frost of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds with three goals and two assists for five points in two games.  In goal, Justin Fazio of the Sarnia Sting posted a 1-0-1-0 record including a shutout victory making 72 saves for a goals-against-average of 1.98 and save percentage of .926.

2017-18 OHL ‘On the Run’ Players of the Week:

Nov. 6 – Nov. 12: Ryan Merkley (Guelph Storm)

Oct. 30 – Nov. 5: Albert Michnac (Mississauga Steelheads)

Oct. 23 – Oct. 29: Aaron Luchuk (Windsor Spitfires)

Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia Sting)

Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Brady Hinz (Sarnia Sting)

Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Nick Suzuki (Owen Sound Attack)

Sept. 25 – Oct. 1: Jonathan Ang (Peterborough Petes)

Sept. 21 – Sept. 24: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)

 

Don Cherry named Honourary Chairman of CHL’s 100th Mastercard Memorial Cup Celebration

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Memorial Cup to visit 17 CHL communities beginning November 18 in Barrie – Schedule Below

Commemorative Coin unveiled, on sale November 22 – Attached

CHL launches first video in Champions series – Watch

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced details regarding several of the league’s 100th Mastercard Memorial Cup initiatives including the appointment of Canadian hockey icon Don Cherry as Honourary Chairman of the CHL’s 100th Mastercard Memorial Cup celebrations.

memorial-cup-100-years

“This is a very special season in Canadian Hockey League history as we commemorate the 100th presentation of the Memorial Cup,” said CHL President David Branch. “As we aim to fulfill our goals to capture, preserve, and enhance the legacy of this prestigious trophy while honouring the brave men and women who served and continue to serve our country, it is only fitting that Don Cherry be at the forefront of our celebrations.”

Before establishing his legacy as the star of Hockey Night in Canada, Cherry was a Memorial Cup champion as a member of the 1953 Barrie Flyers.  The Kingston, Ont., native’s longstanding and unwavering support of Canadians in uniform have earned him Honourary Lifetime Membership into the Royal Canadian Legion and the appointment as an Honourary Patricia by the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.  Cherry was also instrumental in bringing the CHL to the Greater Toronto Area as part of the Mississauga IceDogs ownership group in 1998, and is recognized with Bobby Orr as a builder of the Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game which began as an annual showcase in 1996.

As part of the CHL’s 100th Mastercard Memorial Cup celebrations, the league has also announced the 17 CHL communities that will comprise the Memorial Cup Tour which begins November 18 in Barrie.  The Memorial Cup will visit various military bases and legions and provide fans the opportunity to see major junior hockey’s top prize as part of a unique game day experience.

The 17 CHL communities are spread across eight provinces with 13 of the stops coinciding with Sportsnet’s new CHL Saturday Showcase national broadcasts.

2017-18 Mastercard Memorial Cup Tour Schedule:

November 18 – Barrie, ON: Barrie Colts vs Kitchener Rangers*

November 25 – Calgary, AB: Calgary Hitmen vs Red Deer Rebels*

December 2 – Ottawa, ON: Ottawa 67’s vs Barrie Colts*

December 9 – Vancouver, BC: Vancouver Giants vs Kootenay Ice

December 16 – Moncton, NB: Moncton Wildcats vs Acadie-Bathurst Titan*

December 30 – Brandon, MB: Brandon Wheat Kings vs Moose Jaw Warriors*

January 6 – Quebec, QC: Quebec Remparts vs Sherbrooke Phoenix

January 13 – Kingston, ON: Kingston Frontenacs vs Oshawa Generals*

January 20 – Chicoutimi, QC: Chicoutimi Sagueneens vs Gatineau Olympiques

January 27 – Swift Current, SK: Swift Current Broncos vs Regina Pats*

February 3 – Sarnia, ON: Sarnia Sting vs London Knights*

February 10 – Edmonton, AB: Edmonton Oil Kings vs Red Deer Rebels*

February 18 – Regina, SK: Regina Pats vs. Moose Jaw Warriors**

February 24 – Halifax, NS: Halifax Mooseheads vs Gatineau Olympiques*

March 3 – Owen Sound, ON: Owen Sound Attack vs Guelph Storm*

March 10 – Bathurst, NB: Acadie-Bathurst Titan vs Halifax Mooseheads*

March 17 – St. Catharines, ON: Niagara IceDogs vs Mississauga Steelheads*

*Sportsnet Saturday Showcase Broadcast

A number of the CHL’s additional 100th Mastercard Memorial Cup celebration initiatives are taking shape.

To mark this special anniversary the CHL has partnered with CIBC, Official Bank of the CHL, to create a commemorative coin in remembrance of all those who have served.  Coins will go on sale November 22 available online at www.cibc.com/preciousmetals and beginning November 23 can be purchased at CHL club stores.

While the 100th celebration logo has been proudly displayed on rink boards across the country since the launch of the 2017-18 campaign, the logo has been converted to a sweater patch that will be worn by all clubs as well as on-ice officials for the duration of the season beginning with today’s Remembrance Day games.

The league has also launched the first segment of the champions video series designed to highlight past winners.  Get to know some of the names engraved on the cup and enjoy the moments of glory from some of history’s most memorable victories beginning with the 2010 Windsor Spitfires.  The weekly videos will debut online and play on video boards in arenas across the CHL.

The centennial celebration at the 2018 Mastercard Memorial Cup will take place May 17-27, 2018, and will feature the host Regina Pats who competed in the very first Memorial Cup championship in 1919, along with the 2018 champions from the Western Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League, and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

The Memorial Cup has a rich tradition that has shaped the way junior hockey is played in North America.  The trophy was original known as the OHA Memorial Cup and was donated by the Ontario Hockey Association in March, 1919, in remembrance of the many soldiers who paid the supreme sacrifice for Canada in the First Wold War.  In 2010 the Memorial Cup was rededicated to the memory of all fallen Canadian Military Personnel.

The 2018 Mastercard Memorial Cup is proudly supported by Mastercard, title sponsor of this event for 20 straight years.  Associate sponsors include CIBC and Cooper Tires.  All games will be broadcast by Sportsnet and TVA Sports.

For more information please visit www.mmc100.ca or join the conversation on social media using #MMC100.

 

CHL Announces Top 10 Rankings

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Top 10

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the week eight edition of the CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2017-18 season.  The weekly rankings of the CHL’s Top-10 teams are selected by a panel of National Hockey League scouts. 

CHL Top 10 Rankings – Week 8

Rank: Team: Last Week Rank: Number of Weeks Ranked:
1 Sarnia Sting (15-3-0-0) 1 5
2 Swift Current Broncos (11-3-1-0) 2 5
3 Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (12-3-2-0) 3 8
4 Moose Jaw Warriors (13-4-0-0) 4 6
5 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (13-3-2-0) 6 8
6 Portland Winterhawks (12-4-0-0) 9 8
7 Victoria Royals (13-5-1-0) 7 6
8 Quebec Remparts (13-5-1-0) 8 6
9 Rimouski Oceanic (12-4-2-0) – 1
10 Tri-City Americans (11-4-2-0) – 3
Honourable Mention:
Barrie Colts (10-4-1-1) – 0
Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (10-3-3-2) 5 2
Halifax Mooseheads (11-5-3-0) 10 3

 

Steelheads’ Tippett and McLeod added to Team OHL for Game 3 of 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League, in association with the Canadian Hockey League, today announced that forwards Owen Tippett and Ryan McLeod of the Mississauga Steelheads have been added to Team OHL’s roster for Game 3 of the 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series, scheduled for Thursday November 9 in Owen Sound. 

The Steelheads pair replace forwards Jonah Gadjovich of the Owen Sound Attack and Givani Smith of the Guelph Storm both unable to compete due to injury.

Canada Russia

Thursday will mark Tippett’s first game in an OHL sweater this season since returning from the NHL’s Florida Panthers on Monday.  The 18-year-old from Peterborough skated in seven NHL contests with the Panthers who selected him 10th overall in the 2017 NHL Draft.  He made his NHL debut on October 17th in Philadelphia and scored his first career NHL goal on October 26th against the Anaheim Ducks.  Last season in Mississauga he scored 44 goals, the most in all-time franchise history since 2006, adding 31 assists for 75 points in 60 games.  As a member of Team OHL last November, Tippett earned Player of the Game honours in North Bay recording two assists in a 4-3 loss to Team Russia. 

McLeod, an 18-year-old from Mississauga, is a top rated prospect for the 2018 NHL Draft competing in his first CIBC Canada Russia Series for Team OHL.  He is currently second on the Steelheads in scoring with six goals and 16 assists for 22 points through 17 games.  Ryan’s older brother Michael McLeod was a member of Canada’s National Junior Team last season and represented Team OHL in both 2016 and 2015 events.  Along with Tippett, McLeod joins fellow Steelheads in goaltender Jacob Ingham and defenceman Nicolas Hague competing Thursday night in Owen Sound.  

The 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series shifts to Ontario tied 3-3 in points following a pair of games in the Western Hockey League.  Team WHL won the opener by a 7-0 score in Moose Jaw on Monday, with Team Russia evening the series Tuesday with a 4-3 triumph in Swift Current.  Team OHL carries an all-time record of 23-4-1 in Canada Russia Series action. 

2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series Schedule:
 Game 1 – Monday November 6 at Moose Jaw, SK: WHL 7, Russia 0 – Game Summary | Highlights
Game 2 – Tuesday November 7 at Swift Current, SK: Russia 4, WHL 3 – Game Summary | Highlights
Game 3 – Thursday November 9 at Owen Sound, ON (Sportsnet East, Ont, Pacific, 360, TVA Sports 2)
 Game 4 – Monday November 13 at Sudbury, ON (Sportsnet East, Ontario, Pacific, TVA Sports 2)
Game 5 – Tuesday November 14 at Charlottetown, PE (Sportsnet East, Ontario, Pacific, TVA Sports 2)
Game 6 – Thursday November 16 at Moncton, NB (Sportsnet East, Ontario, Pacific, TVA Sports 2) 

All games of the 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series will be available online through NeuLion’s CHL streaming platform at http://chl.neulion.com/chl/.  

All games of the 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series will also be broadcast on the NHL Network U.S the following day at 10:00 am Eastern. 

The 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series is supported by title sponsor CIBC, the Official Bank of the CHL, along with associate sponsors Cooper Tires and Sherwin-Williams.

Join the conversation on social media @CHLHockey using #CANvsRUS

For event information including how to purchase tickets please visit http://chlcanadarussia.ca.