CHL Grads Well Represented at 2016-17 U SPORTS Awards and University Cup

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Press Release

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League is proud to announce that five recipients of U SPORTS All-Canadian Awards, 92% of the All-Canadian Teams, and 100% of the U SPORTS All-Rookie Team for the 2016-17 season are CHL graduates.

In addition, 169 CHL graduates are competing on the eight teams in contention for the 2017 University Cup Championship representing over 80% of all players in the tournament.

The 2017 U SPORTS Cavendish Farms University Cup, hosted by UNB, gets underway Thursday, March 16th at the Aitken University Centre. The action closes on Sunday, March 19 with the gold medal final, live on Sportsnet 360 (1 p.m. AT). Saturday’s semifinals are also live on Sportsnet 360 (12 p.m. AT & 4 p.m. AT), while the quarter-finals and the bronze medal match are set to air on USPORTS.LIVE.

CHL graduates are able to compete in U SPORTS hockey programs and receive their education paid for by taking advantage of the Scholarship Programs throughout the CHL which are funded by the member clubs of the Western Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League, and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

During the 2016-17 season more than 945 CHL alumni utilized their Scholarship Packages including over 550 graduates on U SPORTS rosters and representing a financial contribution of over $6.8 million by CHL teams.

2016-2017 U SPORTS MEN’S HOCKEY AWARDS & ALL-CANADIANS – CHL GRADS:

Senator Joseph A. Sullivan Trophy (Player of the Year): Philippe Maillet (Victoriaville Tigres 2013) UNB

Defenceman of the year: Jordan Murray (Drummondville Voltigeurs 2013) UNB
Goaltender of the year: Jordon Cooke (Kelowna Rockets 2014) Saskatchewan
Clare Drake Award (Rookie of the Year): Anthony De Luca (Rimouski Oceanic 2015) Concordia
R.W. Pugh Award (Most Sportsmanlike Player): Elgin Pearce (Medicine Hat Tigers 2013) Calgary

Pos. – Athlete – Last CHL team and season – University – Year – Hometown – Academic Program

First Team
G – Jordon Cooke (Kelowna Rockets 2014) – Saskatchewan – 3 – Leduc, Alta. – Business Admin.
D – Jordan Murray (Drummondville Voltigeurs 2013) – UNB – 4 – Riverview, N.B. – Rec & Sports Studies
D – Martin Lefebvre (Quebec Remparts 2013) – UQTR – 4 – Laval, Que. – Business Admin.
F – Philippe Maillet (Victoriaville Tigres 2013) – UNB – 4 – Terrebonne, Que. – Business Admin.
F – Elgin Pearce (Medicine Hat Tigers 2013) – Calgary – 4 – Port Coquitlam, B.C. – Arts
F – Michael McNamee (Quebec Remparts 2012) – Carleton – 4 – Perth, Ont. – Psychology

Second Team

G – Mack Shields (Medicine Hat Tigers 2016) – York – 1 – Saskatoon, Sask. – Accounting
D – Jesse Forsberg (Moose Jaw Warriors 2014) – Saskatchewan – 3 – Waldheim, Sask. Agriculture & Bio
D – Geoff Schemitsch (Oshawa Generals 2013) – Acadia – 4 – Thornhill, Ont. – Kinesiology
F – Hunter Garlent (Peterborough Petes 2016) – Saint Mary’s – 1 – Thorold, Ont. – Communications
F – Connor Rankin (Calgary Hitmen 2015) – Mount Royal – 2 – North Vancouver, B.C. – Business Admin.

All-Rookie Team
G – Mack Shields (Medicine Hat Tigers 2016) – York – 1 – Saskatoon, Sask. – Accounting
D – Matt Murphy (Saint John Sea Dogs 2016) – UNB – 1 – Fredericton, N.B. – UGND
D – Jesse Lees (Prince Albert Raiders 2016) – Mount Royal – 1 – Calgary, Alta. – Open Studies
F – Anthony De Luca (Rimouski Oceanic 2015) – Concordia – 1 – Rosemere, Que. – Independent Studies
F – Hunter Garlent (Peterborough Petes 2016) – Saint Mary’s – 1 – Thorold, Ont. – Communications
F – Tyson Baillie (Kelowna Rockets 2016) – Alberta – 1 – Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. – Native Studies

2016-2017 U SPORTS MEN’S HOCKEY UNIVERSITY CUP – CHL GRADS:

Acadia Axemen (23 CHL grads):

Goaltenders:
Brandon Glover (Seattle Thunderbirds 2013)
Robert Steeves (Gatineau Olympiques 2014)
Devin Williams (Erie Otters 2016)

Defencemen:
Tyler Ferry (London Knights 2013)
Alex Lepkowski (Barrie Colts 2013)
Liam Maaskant (Kitchener Rangers 2015)
Marc McNulty (Moose Jaw Warriors 2016)
Matthew Pufahl (Everett Silvertips 2014)
Geoffrey Schemitsch (Oshawa Generals 2013)
Stephen Woodworth (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 2014)

Forwards:
Chance Braid (Kelowna Rockets 2015)
Brendan Childerley (Brampton Battalion 2013)
Michael Clarke (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 2013)
Kyle Farrell (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 2015)
Sam Fioretti (Moose Jaw Warriors 2014)
Remy Giftopoulos (Windsor Spitfires 2014)
Stephen Harper (Niagara IceDogs 2016)
Kris Hodge (Shawinigan Cataractes 2015)
Boston Leier (Regina Pats 2014)
Taylor Makin (Vancouver Giants 2012)
Daniel Pettersson (Moncton Wildcats 2011)
Brett Thompson (Sarnia Sting 2012)
Scott Trask (Moncton Wildcats 2012)

Alberta Golden Bears (27 CHL grads):

Goaltenders:
Brendan Burke (London Knights 2016)
Kenny Cameron (Medicine Hat Tigers 2012)
Luke Siemens (Prince Albert Raiders 2013)

Defencemen:
Ben Carroll (Edmonton Oil Kings 2016)
Nick Charif (Spokane Chiefs 2015)
Graeme Craig (Prince Albert Raiders 2014)
Jason Fram (Spokane Chiefs 2016)
Sawyer Lange (Prince Albert Raiders 2015)
Ryan Rehill (Kamloops Blazers 2016)
Joel Topping (Lethbridge Hurricanes 2014)
Mitch Topping (Tri-City Americans 2014)
Will Tomchuk (Prince George Cougars 2015)
Brennan Yadlowski (Everett Silvertips 2012)

Forwards:
Tyson Baillie (Kelowna Rockets 2016)
Taylor Cooper (Chicoutimi Sagueneens 2016)
Trevor Cox (Vancouver Giants 2016)
Jamie Crooks (Victoria Royals 2013)
Joshua Derko (Lethbridge Hurricanes 2014)
Todd Fiddler (Prince George Cougars 2014)
Jayden Hart (Prince Albert Raiders 2015)
Riley Kieser (Edmonton Oil Kings 2014)
Stephane Legault (Edmonton Oil Kings 2013)
Cole Linaker (Kelowna Rockets 2016)
Lucas Nickles (Tri-City Americans 2015)
Luke Philp (Red Deer Rebels 2016)
Rhett Rachinski (Edmonton Oil Kings 2012)
Cole Sanford (Regina Pats 2016)

McGill Redmen (24 CHL grads):

Goaltenders:
Joe Fleschler (Drummondville Voltigeurs 2015)
Jacob Gervais-Chouinard (Sherbrooke Phoenix 2013)
Louis-Philip Guindon (Rimouski Oceanic 2016)

Defencemen:
Redgie Bois (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 2015)
Alexandre Chenevert (Baie-Comeau Drakkar 2014)
Nathan Chiarlitti (Owen Sound Attack 2013)
Gianluca Curcuruto (Plymouth Whalers 2015)
Nathanael Halbert (Sherbrooke Phoenix 2016)
Francis Lambert-Lemay (Quebec Remparts 2014)
Dominic Talbot-Tassi (Moncton Wildcats 2015) 

Forwards:
Etienne Boutet (Gatineau Olympiques 2013)
Jasmin Boutet (Drummondville Voltigeurs 2016)
Patrick Delisle-Houde (Moncton Wildcats 2012)
Frederic Gamelin (Baie-Comeau Drakkar 2015)
Guillaume Gauthier (Sherbrooke Phoenix 2016)
Jan Kaminsky (Belleville Bulls 2011)
Christophe Lalonde (Shawinigan Cataractes 2015)
Samuel Hodhod (Chicoutimi Sagueneens 2015)
Daniel Milne (Owen Sound Attack 2015)
Rock Regimbald (Gatineau Olympiques 2013)
Alexandre Sills (Quebec Remparts 2016)
Simon Tardif-Richard (Gatineau Olympiques 2014)
Samuel Tremblay (Gatineau Olympiques 2016)
Jerome Verrier (Quebec Remparts 2015)

Saskatchewan Huskies (22 CHL grads):

Goaltenders:
Jordon Cooke (Kelowna Rockets 2014)
Daniel Wapple (Vancouver Giants 2016)

Defencemen:
Tyler Borstmayer (Regina Pats 2011)
Connor Cox (Everett Silvertips 2013)
Jesse Forsberg (Moose Jaw Warriors 2014)
Jordan Fransoo (Victoria Royals 2014)
Colby Harmsworth (Calgary Hitmen 2016)
Tanner Lishchynsky (Kootenay Ice 2016)
Kendal McFaull (Moose Jaw Warriors 2013) 

Forwards:
Kohl Bauml (Everett Silvertips 2015)
Levi Cable (Kootenay Ice 2015)
Alex Forsberg (Victoria Royals 2016)
Connor Gay (Saskatoon Blades 2016)
Andrew Johnson (Swift Current Broncos 2015)
Wyatt Johnson (Spokane Chiefs 2016)
John Lawrence (Calgary Hitmen 2011)
Logan McVeigh (Kamloops Blazers 2015)
Michael Sofillas (Lethbridge Hurricanes 2013)
Carson Stadnyk (Everett Silvertips 2016)
Lukas Sutter (Red Deer Rebels 2014)
Jordan Tkatch (Prince Albert Raiders 2016)
Jaimen Yakubowski (Moose Jaw Warriors 2015) 

Queen’s Gaels (14 CHL grads):

Goaltenders:
Kevin Bailie (London Knights 2013)
Jacob Brennan (Mississauga Steelheads 2015)

Defencemen:
Spencer Abraham (Erie Otters 2014)
Graeme Brown (Kingston Frontenacs 2016)
Patrick Downe (Moncton Wildcats 2013)
Cory Genovese (Erie Otters 2015)
Nevin Guy (Ottawa 67’s 2016)
Warren Steele (Kingston Frontenacs 2014) 

Forwards:
Dylan Anderson (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 2012)
Luke Bertolucci (Edmonton Oil Kings 2016)
Slater Doggett (Windsor Spitfires 2015)
Darcy Greenaway (Kingston Frontenacs 2014)
Eric Ming (Niagara IceDogs 2014)
Francesco Vilardi (Flint Firebirds 2016)

StFX X-Men (21 CHL grads):

Goaltenders:
Brandon Hope (Niagara IceDogs 2015)
Chase Marchand (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 2016)

Defencemen:
Jagger Dirk (Kootenay Ice 2014)
Craig Duininck (Sudbury Wolves 2014)
Aaron Hoyles (Sherbrooke Phoenix (2015)
Max Iafrate (Kitchener Rangers 2015)
Cole MacDonald (Everett Silvertips 2015)
Mitch Wheaton (Brandon Wheat Kings 2016) 

Forwards:
Bryson Cianfrone (Owen Sound Attack 2016)
Michael Clarke (Peterborough Petes 2015)
Holden Cook (Owen Sound Attack 2015)
Marcus Cuomo (Quebec Remparts 2015)
Anthony DiFruscia (Niagara IceDogs 2016)
Kristoff Kontos (Saginaw Spirit 2014)
Eric Locke (Saginaw Spirit 2014)
Matt Needham (Kamloops Blazers 2016)
Nathan Pancel (Peterborough Petes 2015)
Adam Stevens (Gatineau Olympiques 2014)
Sam Studnicka (Sarnia Sting 2016)
Mark Tremaine (Saint John Sea Dogs 2015)
Brent Turnbull (Rimouski Oceanic 2014)

UNB Varsity Reds (25 CHL grads):

Goaltenders:
Alex Dubeau (Moncton Wildcats 2015)
Luke Lee-Knight (Tri-City Americans 2013)
Etienne Marcoux (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 2014) 

Defencemen:
Randy Gazzola (Val-d’Or Foreurs 2014)
Marcus McIvor (North Bay Battalion 2015)
Matt Murphy (Saint John Sea Dogs 2015)
Jordan Murray (Drummondville Voltigeurs 2013)
Matt Petgrave (Oshawa Generals 2013)
Colin Suellentrop (Oshawa Generals 2014)

Forwards:
Stephen Anderson (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 2015)
Francis Beauvillier (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 2014)
Matt Boudens (Drummondville Voltigeurs 2014)
Cameron Brace (Belleville Bulls 2014)
Cam Braes (Moose Jaw Warriors 2012)
Christopher Caissy (Moncton Wildcats 2014)
Christopher Clapperton (Rimouski Oceanic 2015)
Oliver Cooper (Charlottetown Islanders 2016)
Cam Critchlow (Halifax Mooseheads 2012)
Philippe Halley (Victoriaville Tigres 2013)
Philippe Maillet (Victoriaville Tigres 2013)
Rob Mignardi (Owen Sound Attack 2011)
Mark Simpson (Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2016)
Mike Thomas (Saint John Sea Dogs 2011)
Peter Trainor (Rimouski Oceanic 2014)
Dylan Willick (Kamloops Blazers 2013) 

York Lions (13 CHL grads):

Goaltenders:
Alex Fotinos (Windsor Spitfires 2015)
Mack Shields (Medicine Hat Tigers 2016)

Defencemen:
Tyler Mort (Niagara IceDogs 2013)
Shayne Rover (Niagara IceDogs 2013)
Derek Sheppard (Gatineau Olympiques 2014)
Nick Zottl (Mississauga Steelheads 2015)

Forwards:
Dexter Bricker (Lethbridge Hurricanes 2015)
Kyle Campbell (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 2013)
Scott Feser (Swift Current Broncos 2016)
Steven Janes (Windsor Spitfires 2014)
Bryce Milson (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 2013)
Daniel Nikandrov (Peterborough Petes 2016)
Trevor Petersen (Niagara IceDogs 2013)

For more information please visit www.universitycup.ca.

CHL Leagues

2017 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament Powered by Under Armour – Day 3 Summary

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Top ranked London Jr. Knights improve to 3-0
All eight Quarter-Final berths to be determined Friday
Livestreams available at https://ohlcup.gameonstream.com.
Free access for Media and Fans for duration of OHL Cup

OHL Cup

Toronto, ON – Round-robin action continued on Thursday with eight games at the 2017 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament powered by Under Armour and hosted by the Greater Toronto Hockey League.

Day 3 action was headlined by the London Jr. Knights who maintain a perfect 3-0 record following a 6-2 win over the Brampton 45’s.

Thursday also included a pair of tie games as well as the first game of the 2017 OHL Cup to be settled in overtime as the Toronto Titans edged the Waterloo Wolves 2-1.

Mississauga Reps foward Mike Petizian leads the OHL Cup scoring race with six points including a goal and five assists in three games. Toronto Marlboros winger Graeme Clarke leads all players with four goals.

Here’s a quick look at Thursday’s action:

2017 OHL Cup Powered by Under Armour Round-Robin Results:

Thursday March 16, 2017

Game 21: Elite Hockey Group 7 vs. Quinte Red Devils 2
Elite Hockey Group MVP – Gabriel Malek (2G)
Red Devils MVP – Michael Andrews (2G)
Recap – Stats

Game 22: Toronto Young Nationals 1 vs. Cambridge Hawks 0
Nationals MVP – Zach Roy (22 SV)
Hawks MVP – A.J. Scala (24 SV)
Recap – Stats

Game 23: Whitby Wildcats 3 vs. Team NOHA 3
Wildcats MVP – Jacob DiDanieli (1A)
NOHA MVP – Payton Vescio (2A)
Recap – Stats

Game 24: Toronto Marlboros 6 vs. Eastern Ontario Wild 3
Marlboros MVP – Billy Constantinou (1G)
Wild MVP – Luke Cavallin (28 SV)
Recap – Stats

Game 25: London Jr. Knights 6 vs. Brampton 45’s 2
Jr. Knights MVP – Peter Fleming (2A)
45’s MVP – Christopher Ishmael (2G)
Recap – Stats

Game 26: Mississauga Reps 2 vs. Ajax-Pickering Raiders 2
Reps MVP – Mike Petizian (1G)
Raiders MVP – Connor McMichael (1G)
Recap – Stats

Game 27: Toronto Titans 2 vs. Waterloo Wolves 1
Titans MVP – David Cunti (32 SV)
Wolves MVP – Riley McCabe (17 SV)
Recap – Stats

Game 28: Toronto Jr. Canadiens 3 – Mississauga Senators 0
Jr. Canadiens MVP – Justin Law Cobb (1G)
Senators MVP – Jordan Frasca
Recap – Stats

All tournament games feature live scoring complete with the OHL’s Game Centre module that includes individual shots on goal and face-off results.

Round-Robin action continues Friday with 12 games before the Quarter-Final and Semi-Final rounds take place on Saturday. The 2017 OHL Cup powered by Under Armour will conclude with Monday’s Championship Final.

2017 OHL Cup Powered by Under Armour Remaining Schedule:

Friday March 17, 2017

Scotiabank Pond 1
8:00 am Toronto Titans vs. Whitby Wildcats
9:45 am Toronto Marlboros vs. Thunder Bay Kings
11:30 am Mississauga Rebels vs. Elite Hockey Group
1:15 pm Toronto Young Nationals vs. Quinte Red Devils
3:00 pm Toronto Titans vs. NOHA
4:45 pm London Jr. Knights vs. TPH Thunder

Scotiabank Pond 2
8:30 am TPH Thunder vs. Mississauga Senators
10:15 am Vaughan Kings vs. Waterloo Wolves
12:00 pm Toronto Jr. Canadiens vs. Brampton 45s
1:45 pm Mississauga Reps vs. Eastern Ontario Wild
3:30 pm Thunder Bay Kings vs. Ajax-Pickering Raiders
5:15 pm Mississauga Rebels vs. Cambridge Hawks

Saturday March 18, 2017

Quarter-Final Playoff Round:

Scotiabank Pond 1
10:30 am Quarter-Final 2 – 1ST Place Shanahan Division vs. 2ND Place Subban Division
12:15 pm Quarter-Final 4 – 1ST Place Lindros Division vs. 2ND Place Nash Division

Scotiabank Pond 2
10:00 am Quarter-Final 1 – 1ST Place Subban Division vs. 2ND Place Shanahan Division
11:45 am Quarter-Final 3 – 1ST Place Nash Division vs. 2ND Place Lindros Division

Semi-Final Playoff Round:

Scotiabank Pond 1
6:00 pm Semi-Final 1 – Winner Quarter-Final 1 vs. Winner Quarter-Final 2
8:00 pm Semi-Final 2 – Winner Quarter-Final 3 vs. Winner Quarter-Final 4

Monday March 20, 2017

Mattamy Athletic Centre

6:30 pm Championship Final – Winner Semi-Final 1 vs. Winner Semi-Final 2

Monday’s Championship Final will be broadcast live on Sportsnet Ontario.

The showcase provides fans and scouts one last opportunity to see many of the top minor midget aged players from across Ontario and parts of the United States compete for the OHL Cup performing against the best competition prior to the 2017 OHL Priority Selection.

For more information, please visit ohlcup.ca.

OHL Announces 2016-17 Coaches Poll Winners

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the results of the Eastern and Western Conference Coaches Polls for the 2016-17 OHL regular season.

The OHL Coaches Poll provides member club coaches with the opportunity to recognize the top three players in 20 different skill categories within their own conference.

OHL

In the Eastern Conference, the Central Division champion Mississauga Steelheads and the East Division’s first place Peterborough Petes lead the way with representation across 13 of the 20 different categories.  The Steelheads finished first in six different votes with Spencer Watson and Owen Tippett both receiving top honours in two categories with Watson claiming the title of Smartest Player and Best Playmaker, while Tippett was recognized as being Most Dangerous in the Goal Area and having the conference’s Best Shot.  The Petes finished first across seven different categories led by Zach Gallant and Josh Coyle who each topped the list in two separate votes.  Gallant received Best Defensive Forward honours and was also named Best on Face-offs, while Coyle was voted Best Shot Blocker and Best Penalty Killer.

Niagara IceDogs captain Ryan Mantha was the top individual winner by appearing in the Top-3 in four different categories including first place votes as Most Improved and Best Defensive Defenceman.  Oshawa Generals netminder Jeremy Brodeur also finished first in multiple categories named Best Puck-Handling Goalie and Best Shootout Goalie.

In the Western Conference, the first place Erie Otters lead the way with representation in 15 of the 20 categories including a league-high 10 first place votes.  Top scorer Alex DeBrincat received first place votes twice including Best Shot and was recognized as Most Dangerous in the Goal Area for a third straight season.  Dylan Strome and Kyle Pettit also topped two different categories apiece with Strome voted Best Playmaker along with Smartest Player for a second straight season, with Pettit honoured as Best Shot Blocker and Best on Face-offs for the second time in three seasons.  The Owen Sound Attack finished second in the Western Conference by appearing in 10 different categories highlighted by five different first place finishers including Kevin Hancock (Most Underrated), Jonah Gadjovich (Most Improved), Petrus Palmu (Best Stickhandler), Jacob Friend (Best Body Checker), and Michael McNiven (Best Shootout Goalie).

Other notable Western Conference vote getters include Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds forward Zach Senyshyn who was named Best Skater for a second straight season, and Windsor Spitfires defenceman Mikhail Sergachev who claimed the Hardest Shot vote for the second season in a row.

The Coaches Poll is tabulated when each team submits one nominee per category, and coaches then vote for the top three players for each category within their conference.  Players receive five points for a first place vote, three points for a second place vote, and one point for a third place vote.  Clubs are not permitted to vote for players from their own team allowing for a maximum of 45 possible points for each winner.

All 20 categories are listed below with Eastern Conference and Western Conference winners including their final point totals in brackets.

Most Underrated Player:

Eastern Conference:
1. Logan DeNoble, Peterborough Petes (35)
2. Eemeli Rasanen, Kingston Frontenacs (12)
2. Austen Keating, Ottawa 67’s (12)

Western Conference:
1. Kevin Hancock, Owen Sound Attack (30)
2. Kyle Maksimovich, Erie Otters (20)
3. Bobby MacIntyre, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (15)

Most Improved Player:

Eastern Conference:
1. Brandon Saigeon, Hamilton Bulldogs (21)
1. Ryan Mantha, Niagara IceDogs (21)
3. Zach Gallant, Peterborough Petes (16)

Western Conference:
1. Jonah Gadjovich, Owen Sound Attack (39)
2. Isaac Ratcliffe, Guelph Storm (11)
2. Sam Miletic, London Knights (11)
2. Conor Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (11)

Smartest Player:

Eastern Conference:
1. Spencer Watson, Mississauga Steelheads (27)
2. Matthew Strome, Hamilton Bulldogs (24)
3. Jason Robertson, Kingston Frontenacs (22)

Western Conference:
1. Dylan Strome, Erie Otters (32) – finished first in 2015-16 and third in 2014-15
2. Nick Suzuki, Owen Sound Attack (26)
3. Blake Speers, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (12)

Hardest Worker:

Eastern Conference:
1. Ted Nichol, Kingston Frontenacs (22)
2. Michael McLeod, Mississauga Steelheads (17) – finished tied for first in 2015-16 and third in 2014-15
3. Logan DeNoble, Peterborough Petes (12)

Western Conference:
1. Warren Foegele, Erie Otters (31)
2. Hayden Verbeek, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (24) – finished first in 2015-16
3. Jonah Gadjovich, Owen Sound Attack (13) – finished tied for second in 2015-16

Best Playmaker:

Eastern Conference:
1. Spencer Watson, Mississauga Steelheads (29)
2. Artur Tyanulin, Ottawa 67’s (28)
3. Matthew Timms, Peterborough Petes (13)

Western Conference:
1. Dylan Strome, Erie Otters (43) – finished second in 2015-16
2. Jeremy Bracco, Windsor Spitfires (20) – finished third in 2015-16
3. Ryan Merkley, Guelph Storm (9)

Most Dangerous in Goal Area:

Eastern Conference:
1. Owen Tippett, Mississauga Steelheads (35)
2. Jason Robertson, Kingston Frontenacs (24)
3. Dmitry Sokolov, Sudbury Wolves (16)

Western Conference:
1. Alex DeBrincat, Erie Otters (45) – finished first in 2015-16 and 2014-15
2. Adam Mascherin, Kitchener Rangers (24)
3. Jonah Gadjovich, Owen Sound Attack (10)

Best Skater:

Eastern Conference:
1. Jonathan Ang, Peterborough Petes (35) – finished tied for second in 2015-16
2. Niki Petti, Hamilton Bulldogs (18)
3. Ryan McLeod, Mississauga Steelheads (16)

Western Conference:
1. Zach Senyshyn, Soo Greyhounds (32) – finished first in 2015-16 and third in 2014-15
2. Cliff Pu, London Knights (15)
2. Jordan Kyrou, Sarnia Sting (15) – finished tied for third in 2015-16

Best Shot:

Eastern Conference:
1. Owen Tippett, Mississauga Steelheads (41)
2. Ryan Mantha, Niagara IceDogs (17)
3. Dmitry Sokolov, Sudbury Wolves (15)

Western Conference:
1. Alex DeBrincat, Erie Otters (43) – finished third in 2015-16
2. Adam Mascherin, Kitchener Rangers (23) – finished first in 2015-16
3. Kole Sherwood, Flint Firebirds (16)

Hardest Shot:

Eastern Conference:
1. Nicolas Hague, Mississauga Steelheads (32)
2. Medric Mercier, Oshawa Generals (20)
3. Dmitry Sokolov, Sudbury Wolves (11)

Western Conference:
1. Mikhail Sergachev, Windsor Spitfires (35) – finished first in 2015-16
2. Adam Mascherin, Kitchener Rangers (26) – finished third in 2015-16
3. Darren Raddysh, Erie Otters (11)

Best Stickhandler:

Eastern Conference:
1. Artur Tyanulin, Ottawa 67’s (40)
2. Ryan McLeod, Mississauga Steelheads (10)
3. William Bitten, Hamilton Bulldogs (7) – finished second in Western Conference in 2015-16
3. Domenic Commisso, Oshawa Generals (7)
3. Ryan Valentini, Sudbury Wolves (7)

Western Conference:
1. Petrus Palmu, Owen Sound Attack (28)
2. Jordan Kyrou, Sarnia Sting (18)
3. Ryan Merkley, Guelph Storm (13)

Best on Face-Offs:

Eastern Conference:
1. Zach Gallant, Peterborough Petes (33)
2. Michael McLeod, Mississauga Steelheads (28)
3. Brett McKenzie, North Bay Battalion (12)

Western Conference:
1. Kyle Pettit, Erie Otters (33) – finished first in 2014-15
2. Cliff Pu, London Knights (15)
2. Drake Rymsha, Sarnia Sting (15)

Best Body Checker:

Eastern Conference:
1. Zach Shankar, North Bay Battalion (24)
2. Travis Barron, Ottawa 67’s (15)
3. Shaw Boomhower, Mississauga Steelheads (12)

Western Conference:
1. Jacob Friend, Owen Sound Attack (29) – finished tied for second in 2015-16
2. Hayden Hodgson, Saginaw Spirit (14)
3. Kevin Spinozzi, Sarnia Sting (13)

Best Shot Blocker:

Eastern Conference:
1. Josh Coyle, Peterborough Petes (18)
2. Aaron Haydon, Niagara IceDogs (17)
3. Connor Walters, Hamilton Bulldogs (12)
3. Patrick Sanvido, Sudbury Wolves (12) – finished tied for third in Western Conference in 2015-16

Western Conference:
1. Kyle Pettit, Erie Otters (30)
2. Mitchell Stephens, London Knights (18)
3. Jalen Smereck, Flint Firebirds (14)

Best Defensive Forward:

Eastern Conference:
1. Zach Gallant, Peterborough Petes (24)
2. Ted Nichol, Kingston Frontenacs (21)
3. Mason Kohn, Oshawa Generals (15)

Western Conference:
1. Anthony Cirelli, Erie Otters (31) – finished tied for third in Eastern Conference in 2015-16
2. Kevin Hancock, Owen Sound Attack (15)
3. Owen MacDonald, London Knights (14)
Best Penalty Killer:

Eastern Conference:
1. Josh Coyle, Peterborough Petes (21)
2. MacKenzie Entwistle, Hamilton Bulldogs (14)
3. Patrick Sanvido, Sudbury Wolves (12)

Western Conference:
1. Boris Katchouk, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (28)
2. Kyle Pettit, Erie Otters (19) – finished second in 2015-16
2. Jalen Chatfield, Windsor Spitfires (19)

Best Offensive Defenceman:

Eastern Conference:
1. Vili Saarijarvi, Mississauga Steelheads (40) – finished second in Western Conference in 2015-16
2. Ryan Mantha, Niagara IceDogs (15)
3. Matthew Timms, Peterborough Petes (14)

Western Conference:
1. Darren Raddysh, Erie Otters (33)
2. Mikhail Sergachev, Windsor Spitfires (20) – finished third in 2015-16
3. Filip Hronek, Saginaw Spirit (16)

Best Defensive Defenceman:

Eastern Conference:
1. Ryan Mantha, Niagara IceDogs (24)
2. Stephen Desrocher, Kingston Frontenacs (19)
3. Jacob Moverare, Mississauga Steelheads (15)

Western Conference:
1. Erik Cernak, Erie Otters (21)
2. Alex Peters, Flint Firebirds (18)
3. Brandon Crawley, London Knights (16)

Best Puck-Handling Goalie:

Eastern Conference:
1. Jeremy Brodeur, Oshawa Generals (28)
2. Jeremy Helvig, Kingston Frontenacs (22)
3. Dawson Carty, Hamilton Bulldogs (13)
3. Dylan Wells, Peterborough Petes (13)

Western Conference:
1. Tyler Parsons, London Knights (32)
2. Michael McNiven, Owen Sound Attack (27) – finished third in 2015-16
3. Troy Timpano, Erie Otters (11)

Best Shootout Shooter:

Eastern Conference:
1. Nikita Korostelev, Peterborough Petes (22)
2. Spencer Watson, Mississauga Steelheads (20)
3. Jason Robertson, Kingston Frontenacs (16)

Western Conference:
1. Jordan Kyrou, Sarnia Sting (24)
2. Gabriel Vilardi, Windsor Spitfires (18)
3. Ivan Lodnia, Erie Otters (15)

Best Shootout Goalie:

Eastern Conference:
1. Jeremy Brodeur, Oshawa Generals (29)
2. Leo Lazarev, Ottawa 67’s (13)
3. Dylan Wells, Peterborough Petes (11)

Western Conference:
1. Michael McNiven, Owen Sound Attack (27) – finished second in 2015-16
2. Michael DiPietro, Windsor Spitfires (26)
3. Tyler Parsons, London Knights (14)

2017 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament Powered by Under Armour – Day 2 Summary

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

OHL Cup

Three teams carry 2-0 records at midway point of round-robin
Lives treams available at https://ohlcup.gameonstream.com.
Free access for Media and Fans for duration of OHL Cup

Toronto, ON – Round-Robin action continued today with 16 games at the 2017 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament powered by Under Armour and hosted by the Greater Toronto hockey League.

Day 2 action was headlined by a trio of clubs maintaining a perfect 2-0 record including the GTHL champion Mississauga Rebels, the top ranked ALLIANCE champion London Jr. Knights, and the Wild Card entry Mississauga Reps.

The two-day scoring race features three players ahead of the pack including Mike Petizian of the Reps, Cole Perfetti of the Whitby Wildcats, and Brendan Sellan of the Vaughan Kings each with five points.

Here’s a quick look at today’s action:

2017 OHL Cup Powered by Under Armour Round-Robin Results:

Wednesday March 15, 2017

Game 5: Eastern Ontario Wild 3 vs. Thunder Bay Kings 1
Wild MVP – Alex Johnston (1G, 1A)
Kings MVP – Christian Cicigoi (32 SV)
Recap – Stats

Game 6: Team NOHA 1 vs. Waterloo Wolves 1
NOHA MVP – Camaryn Baber
Wolves MVP – Keean Washkurak
Recap – Stats

Game 7: Elite Hockey Group 4 vs. Cambridge Hawks 2
Elite Hockey Group MVP – Dalton Duhart (3G)
Hawks MVP – David Anderson (1G, 1A)
Recap – Stats

Game 8: TPH Thunder 4 vs. Brampton 45’s 1
TPH MVP – Johnny Beecher (1G, 1A)
45’s MVP – Owen Porter (27 SV)
Recap – Stats

Game 9: Mississauga Rebels 2 vs. Toronto Young Nationals 1
Rebels MVP – Philip Tomasino (2G)
Nationals MVP – Zach Roy (36 SV)
Recap – Stats

Game 10: London Jr. Knights 4 vs. Mississauga Senators 2
Jr. Knights MVP – Aidan Preuter (1G)
Senators MVP – Jordan Frasca (1G)
Recap – Stats

Game 11: Vaughan Kings 3 vs. Toronto Titans 1
Kings MVP – Christian Sbaraglia (13 SV)
Titans MVP – Eli Shiller (32 SV)
Recap – Stats

Game 12: Mississauga Reps 3 vs. Toronto Marlboros 1
Reps MVP – Ryan Dugas (28 SV)
Marlboros MVP – Nicholas Zabaneh (1A)
Recap – Stats

Game 13: Toronto Jr. Canadiens 2 vs. TPH Thunder 1
Jr. Canadiens MVP – Jackson Glassford (31 SV)
TPH MVP – Carson Riddle
Recap – Stats

Game 14: Whitby Wildcats 4 vs. Waterloo Wolves 0
Wildcats MVP – Cole Perfetti (1G, 2A)
Wolves MVP – Washkurak
Recap – Stats

Game 15: Quinte Red Devils 4 vs. Cambridge Hawks 1
Red Devils MVP – Emmet Pierce (3A)
Hawks MVP – Ryan Campbell
Recap – Stats

Game 16: Toronto Young Nationals 4 vs. Elite Hockey Group 3
Nationals MVP – Brandon Coe (1G, 1A)
Elite Hockey Group MVP – Dalton Duhart (1G)
Recap – Stats

Game 17: Ajax-Pickering Raiders 2 vs. Eastern Ontario Wild 1
Raiders MVP – Matthew Altomare
Wild MVP – Alexandre Charlebois
Recap – Stats

Game 18: Vaughan Kings 4 vs. Team NOHA 4
Kings MVP – Drew Ferris (1G, 1A)
NOHA MVP – Cole Craft (1G, 1A)
Recap – Stats

Game 19: Mississauga Reps 3 vs. Thunder Bay Kings 2
Reps MVP – Jamieson Rees (2G)
Kings MVP – Owen Belisle (2G)
Recap – Stats

Game 20: Brampton 45’s 1 vs. Mississauga Senators 1
45’s MVP – Sebastian Labora (32 SV)
Senators MVP – Deacon Holmes
Recap – Stats

All tournament games feature live scoring complete with the OHL’s Game Centre module that includes individual shots on goal and face-off results.

Round-Robin action continues Thursday with eight games on the schedule before wrapping up Friday 12 games.  Quarter-Final and Semi-Final action goes Saturday, concluding with Monday’s Championship Final.

2017 OHL Cup Powered by Under Armour Remaining Schedule:

Thursday March 16, 2017

Scotiabank Pond 1
8:30 am Quinte Red Devils vs. Elite Hockey Group
10:15 am NOHA vs. Whitby Wildcats
12:00 pm Brampton 45s vs. London Jr. Knights
1:45 pm Waterloo Wolves vs. WC4

Scotiabank Pond 2
9:00 am Cambridge Hawks vs. WC1
10:45 am Eastern Ontario Wild vs. Toronto Marlboros
12:30pm Ajax-Pickering Raiders vs. WC3
2:15 pm WC2 vs. Toronto Jr. Canadiens

Friday March 17, 2017

Scotiabank Pond 1
8:00 am WC4 vs. Whitby Wildcats
9:45 am Toronto Marlboros vs. Thunder Bay Kings
11:30 am Mississauga Rebels vs. Elite Hockey Group
1:15 pm WC1 vs. Quinte Red Devils
3:00 pm WC4 vs. NOHA
4:45 pm London Jr. Knights vs. TPH Thunder

Scotiabank Pond 2
8:30 am TPH Thunder vs. WC2
10:15 am Vaughan Kings vs. Waterloo Wolves
12:00 pm Toronto Jr. Canadiens vs. Brampton 45s
1:45 pm WC3 vs. Eastern Ontario Wild
3:30 pm Thunder Bay Kings vs. Ajax-Pickering Raiders
5:15 pm Mississauga Rebels vs. Cambridge Hawks

Saturday March 18, 2017

Quarter-Final Playoff Round:

Scotiabank Pond 1
10:30 am Quarter-Final 2 – 1ST Place Shanahan Division vs. 2ND Place Subban Division
12:15 pm Quarter-Final 4 – 1ST Place Lindros Division vs. 2ND Place Nash Division

Scotiabank Pond 2
10:00 am Quarter-Final 1 – 1ST Place Subban Division vs. 2ND Place Shanahan Division
11:45 am Quarter-Final 3 – 1ST Place Nash Division vs. 2ND Place Lindros Division

Semi-Final Playoff Round:

Scotiabank Pond 1
6:00 pm Semi-Final 1 – Winner Quarter-Final 1 vs. Winner Quarter-Final 2
8:00 pm Semi-Final 2 – Winner Quarter-Final 3 vs. Winner Quarter-Final 4

Monday March 20, 2017

Mattamy Athletic Centre

6:30 pm Championship Final – Winner Semi-Final 1 vs. Winner Semi-Final 2

Monday’s Championship Final will be broadcast live on Sportsnet Ontario.

The showcase provides fans and scouts one last opportunity to see many of the top minor midget aged players from across Ontario and parts of the United States compete for the OHL Cup performing against the best competition prior to the 2017 OHL Priority Selection.

For more information, please visit ohlcup.ca.

CHL Announces Top 10 Rankings

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the week twenty-five edition of the CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2016-17 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 25

Rank: Team: Last Week Rank: Number of Weeks Ranked:
1 Saint John Sea Dogs (46-13-5-1) 1 20
2 Regina Pats (49-12-7-1) 3 24
3 Erie Otters (48-15-2-1) 2 20
4 London Knights (44-14-3-4) 4 24
5 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (46-15-3-1) 5 15
6 Owen Sound Attack (46-15-2-2) 8 9
7 Charlottetown Islanders (45-17-3-0) 6 5
8 Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (43-15-2-5) 9 22
9 Medicine Hat Tigers (49-20-1-0) 7 11
10 Seattle Thunderbirds (44-19-4-2) – 3
Honourable Mention:
Everett Silvertips (41-16-8-3) – 19
Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (41-18-4-2) – 6
Windsor Spitfires (40-17-5-3) – 17

CHL Leagues

2017 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament Powered by Under Armour – Day 1 Results

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Tournament opened with 4 Wild Card Play-In and 4 Round-Robin Games
Live streams available at https://ohlcup.gameonstream.com.
Free access for Media and Fans for duration of OHL Cup

OHL Cup

Toronto, ON – The puck has dropped at the 2017 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament powered by Under Armour and hosted by the Greater Toronto Hockey League.

For the fourth time in event history a series of Wild Card Play-In Games opened the action to determine final tournament qualifiers.  This season, eight teams competed in four Wild Card matchups.  The GTHL’s Toronto Young Nationals, Mississauga Senators, Mississauga Reps, and Toronto Titans all prevailed and join 16 other clubs competing for the annual Minor Midget crown.

Here’s a look at Day 1 action:

2017 OHL Cup Powered by Under Armour Wild Card Play-In Results:

Tuesday March 14, 2017

WC 1 – Toronto Young Nationals 4 vs. Grey Bruce Highlanders 3
Nationals MVP – Ethan Keppen (2G 1A)
Highlanders MVP – Emmett Sproule (1G 1A)
Recap – Stats

WC 2 – Mississauga Senators 2 vs. York Simcoe Express 1 2OT
Senators MVP – Deacon Holmes (GWG)
Express MVP – Diam Matthew (43 saves)
Recap – Stats

WC 3 – Mississauga Reps 5 vs. Halton Hurricanes 2
Reps MVP – Cole Burtch (2G 1A)
Hurricanes MVP – Lucas Peric (1G)
Recap – Stats

WC 4 – Toronto Titans 7 vs. Kitchener Jr. Rangers 1
Titans MVP – Alec Lovisek (2G 2A)
Rangers MVP – Cole MacKay (1G)
Recap – Stats

2017 OHL Cup Powered by Under Armour Round-Robin Results:

Tuesday March 14, 2017

Game 1: Mississauga Rebels 5 vs. Quinte Red Devils 1
Rebels MVP – Reid Russett (3G)
Red Devils MVP – Cameron Supryka
Recap – Stats

Game 2: London Jr. Knights 3 vs. Toronto Jr. Canadiens 0
Knights MVP – Liam Van Loon (1A)
Canadiens MVP – Joe Howe (30 saves)
Recap – Stats

Game 3: Vaughan Kings 3 vs. Whitby Wildcats 3
Kings MVP – Ty Gilberds
Wildcats MVP – Jacob Sirizzotti (2A)
Recap – Stats

Game 4: Toronto Marlboros 3 vs. Ajax-Pickering Raiders 2
Marlboros MVP – Graeme Clarke (1G 1A)
Raiders MVP – Cole Spencer (1 G)
Recap – Stats

All 20 teams are in action on Wednesday with 16 Round-Robin games on the schedule.  Round-Robin play continues Thursday and Friday before Quarter-Final and Semi-Final action Saturday, concluding with Monday’s Championship Final.

2017 OHL Cup Powered by Under Armour Round-Robin Schedule:

Wednesday March 15, 2017

Scotiabank Pond 1
9:00 am Waterloo Wolves vs. NOHA
10:45 am TPH Thunder vs. Brampton 45s
12:30 pm London Jr. Knights vs. WC2
2:15 pm WC3 vs. Toronto Marlboros
4:00 pm Waterloo Wolves vs. Whitby Wildcats
5:45 pm WC1 vs. Elite Hockey Group
7:30 pm NOHA vs. Vaughan Kings
9:15 pm WC2 vs. Brampton 45s

Scotiabank Pond 2
8:30 am Eastern Ontario Wild vs. Thunder Bay Kings
10:15 am Elite Hockey Group vs. Cambridge Hawks
12:00 pm WC1 vs. Mississauga Rebels
1:45 pm Vaughan Kings vs. WC4
3:30 pm TPH Thunder vs. Toronto Jr. Canadiens
5:15 pm Cambridge Hawks vs. Quite Red Devils
7:00 pm Ajax-Pickering Raiders vs. Eastern Ontario Wild
8:45 pm Thunder Bay Kings vs. WC3

Thursday March 16, 2017

Scotiabank Pond 1
8:30 am Quinte Red Devils vs. Elite Hockey Group
10:15 am NOHA vs. Whitby Wildcats
12:00 pm Brampton 45s vs. London Jr. Knights
1:45 pm Waterloo Wolves vs. WC4

Scotiabank Pond 2
9:00 am Cambridge Hawks vs. WC1
10:45 am Eastern Ontario Wild vs. Toronto Marlboros
12:30pm Ajax-Pickering Raiders vs. WC3
2:15 pm WC2 vs. Toronto Jr. Canadiens

Friday March 17, 2017

Scotiabank Pond 1
8:00 am WC4 vs. Whitby Wildcats
9:45 am Toronto Marlboros vs. Thunder Bay Kings
11:30 am Mississauga Rebels vs. Elite Hockey Group
1:15 pm WC1 vs. Quinte Red Devils
3:00 pm WC4 vs. NOHA
4:45 pm London Jr. Knights vs. TPH Thunder

Scotiabank Pond 2
8:30 am TPH Thunder vs. WC2
10:15 am Vaughan Kings vs. Waterloo Wolves
12:00 pm Toronto Jr. Canadiens vs. Brampton 45s
1:45 pm WC3 vs. Eastern Ontario Wild
3:30 pm Thunder Bay Kings vs. Ajax-Pickering Raiders
5:15 pm Mississauga Rebels vs. Cambridge Hawks

Saturday March 18, 2017

Quarter-Final Playoff Round:

Scotiabank Pond 1
10:30 am Quarter-Final 2 – 1ST Place Shanahan Division vs. 2ND Place Subban Division
12:15 pm Quarter-Final 4 – 1ST Place Lindros Division vs. 2ND Place Nash Division

Scotiabank Pond 2
10:00 am Quarter-Final 1 – 1ST Place Subban Division vs. 2ND Place Shanahan Division
11:45 am Quarter-Final 3 – 1ST Place Nash Division vs. 2ND Place Lindros Division

Semi-Final Playoff Round:

Scotiabank Pond 1
6:00 pm Semi-Final 1 – Winner Quarter-Final 1 vs. Winner Quarter-Final 2
8:00 pm Semi-Final 2 – Winner Quarter-Final 3 vs. Winner Quarter-Final 4

Monday March 20, 2017

Mattamy Athletic Centre

6:30 pm Championship Final – Winner Semi-Final 1 vs. Winner Semi-Final 2

Monday’s Championship Final will be broadcast live on Sportsnet Ontario.

The showcase provides fans and scouts one last opportunity to see many of the top minor midget aged players from across Ontario and parts of the United States compete for the OHL Cup performing against the best competition prior to the 2017 OHL Priority Selection.

For more information, please visit ohlcup.ca.

Adam Ruzicka – Sarnia Sting – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height: 6’4”

Weight: 202 pounds

Date of birth: May 11, 1999

Hometown: Bratislava, Slovakia

Position: Center/Left Wing/Right Wing

Shoots: Left

OHL Draft: Round 2, 107th overall, 2016 CHL Import Draft

Versatile Slovakian and Sarnia Sting forward, who can play all three forward positions, Adam Ruzicka played in the Czech Republic a season ago for HC Pardubice in both the Under-18 and Under-20 leagues. Two seasons ago he competed in the Under-16, Under-18 and Under-20. Last season in the Under-20, he was a point-per-game player on 14 goals and 16 assists in 30 games while also putting up 39 penalty minutes.

Adam Ruzicka of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Adam Ruzicka of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Ruzicka also has a wealth of international experience having represented his native Slovakia at the Under-16, the World Hockey Challenge Under-17, World Junior Championship Under-18, World Junior Championship Under-20 and two Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournaments. In total, he has 34 international games under his belt, scoring 18 goals and 16 assists.

It wasn’t a smooth and easy transition into the Ontario Hockey League for Ruzicka with 2 goals and 5 assists (3 of those coming on opening night versus the London Knights) in his first 14 games. But in the 46 games since, he has 23 goals and 15 assists.

The big bodied Ruzicka’s – he already has an NHL frame – number one issue is finding consistency in producing. He scores in bunches, having gone twice without a goal in 7 consecutive games. Scoring in bunches is what most goal scorers do, but prolonged scoring droughts can be a concern for a player known as a goal scorer.

Complimenting his size is the strength he also possesses. Combined, he’s hard to knock off the puck and allows him to keep possession. He needs to become more proficient at using those strengths along the walls. He’s also a very good skater with very good puck handling skills who can take the disc to scoring areas and release a very good shot.

Ruzicka has very good vision and hockey smarts. Earlier in the season he was prone to making some ill-advised decisions but part of that can be attributed to becoming more accustomed to the smaller ice surface. As the season moved along, he has shown some very good improvement in limiting those bad decisions.

Ruzicka was ranked 29th among North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings in January.

Adam Ruzicka

This is the profile page of Adam Ruzicka at Elite Prospects

 

Islanders’ Daniel Sprong named CHL Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Daniel Sprong of the Charlottetown Islanders is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending March 12 after recording nine points in three games including five goals and four assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-7.

Sprong tied an Islanders franchise record on Wednesday with a seven-point performance including four goals and three assists as first star of a 12-3 win over the Moncton Wildcats.  Not only were the seven points a career-high, but the four goals were also a first following three hat-tricks earlier this season.  Sprong was held off the scoresheet in Friday’s 5-1 loss to the Saint John Sea Dogs but turned things around Saturday with a goal and assist in a 6-3 road win over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan.  The Islanders are currently fourth in the QMJHL’s overall standings with a 45-17-3-0 record and have won nine of their last 10 games.

A native of Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sprong turns 20-years-old on Friday when the Islanders host the Sea Dogs in another Maritimes Division battle before the regular season wraps up on Saturday.  Playing in his fourth season in Charlottetown, Sprong was chosen 13th overall in the 2013 QMJHL Entry Draft before being selected by the Penguins in the second round of the 2015 NHL Draft.  Since returning from injury in January he’s tallied 31 goals and 21 assists for 52 points in just 28 games played.

Also considered for the award this week was Petrus Palmu of the Owen Sound Attack scoring four goals and four assists for eight points in three games, and 2017 NHL Draft prospect Cody Glass of the Portland Winterhawks scoring five goals with three assists for eight points in four games.

2016-17 CHL Players of the Week:

Mar. 6 – Mar. 12: Daniel Sprong (Charlottetown Islanders)
Feb. 27 – Mar. 5: Gabriel Vilardi (Windsor Spitfires)
Feb. 20 – Feb. 26: Michael McLeod (Mississauga Steelheads)
Feb. 13 – Feb. 19: Christophe Boivin (Acadie-Bathurst Titan)
Feb. 6 – Feb. 12: Mathew Barzal (Seattle Thunderbirds)
Jan. 30 – Feb. 5: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Jan. 23 – Jan. 29: Tyler Boland (Rimouski Oceanic)
Jan. 16 – Jan. 22: Alexis D’Aoust (Shawinigan Cataractes)
Jan. 9 – Jan. 15: Kole Sherwood (Flint Firebirds)
Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Brayden Burke (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Adam Brooks (Regina Pats)
Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Vitalii Abramov (Gatineau Olympiques)
Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Hayden Hodgson (Saginaw Spirit)
Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Sergey Zborovskiy (Regina Pats)
Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Jayden Halbgewachs (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Alexander Katerinakis (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Nico Hischier (Halifax Mooseheads)
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Bobby MacIntyre (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Kale Clague (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Jeremy Bracco (Kitchener Rangers)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Cameron Askew (Moncton Wildcats)
Sept. 26 – Oct. 2: Sam Steel (Regina Pats)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 25: Kameron Kielly (Charlottetown Islanders)

CHL Leagues

Sea Dogs’ Callum Booth named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Vaughn

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Carolina Hurricanes prospect Callum Booth of the Saint John Sea Dogs is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending March 12 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .962.

Booth turned aside 51 shots last week for the first place Sea Dogs in a pair of victories to stretch the club’s winning-streak to seven and point-streak to 13 which includes 11 victories in that span.  Booth earned first star honours last Tuesday with a 24-save performance in a 3-1 victory over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, then was named third star on Friday with 27 saves in a first place showdown in the Maritimes Division defeating the Charlottetown Islanders by a 5-1 score.  The Sea Dogs enter the final week of regular season action with a chance to secure first place overall carrying a 46-13-5-1 record with three games remaining.

A 19-year-old from Montreal, Quebec, Booth is playing in his fourth QMJHL season.  Originally chosen by the Quebec Remparts in the third round of the 2013 QMJHL Entry Draft, Booth played 126 games for the Remparts over three and a half years before being acquired by the Sea Dogs in December.  The fourth round pick of the Hurricanes in the 2015 NHL Draft currently leads all QMJHL goaltenders with 30 wins, holds the league’s second best save percentage with a mark of .910, and has the fifth best goals-against-average at 2.65.

Also considered for the award this week was Tyler Brown of the Regina Pats who posted a 3-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory making 93 saves for a goals-against-average of 1.67 and save percentage of .949.  In the OHL, rookie Christian Propp of the Barrie Colts made 66 saves and posted a 1-1-0-0 record including his first career shutout victory carrying a goals-against-average of 1.50 and save percentage of .957.

2016-17 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week:

Mar. 6 – Mar. 12: Callum Booth (Saint John Sea Dogs)
Feb. 27 – Mar. 5: Matthew Villalta (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Feb. 20 – Feb. 26: Zach Sawchenko (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Feb. 13 – Feb. 19: Zach Sawchenko (Moose Jaw Warriors)

Feb. 6 – Feb. 12: Brodan Salmond (Kelowna Rockets)
Jan. 30 – Feb. 5: Stuart Skinner (Lethbridge Hurricanes)
Jan. 23 – Jan. 29: Jeremy Helvig (Kingston Frontenacs)
Jan. 16 – Jan. 22: Matthew Welsh (Charlottetown Islanders)
Jan. 9 – Jan. 15: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)
Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Francis Leclerc (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)
Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Griffen Outhouse (Victoria Royals)
Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Dylan Wells (Peterborough Petes)
Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)
Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Connor Ingram (Kamloops Blazers)
Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips)
Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Matthew Villalta (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Patrick Dea (Edmonton Oil Kings)
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Zach Sawchenko (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Troy Timpano (Erie Otters)
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Reilly Pickard (Acadie-Bathurst Titan)
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Ryan Kubic (Vancouver Giants)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Logan Flodell (Saskatoon Blades)
Sept. 26 – Oct. 2: Samuel Harvey (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 25: Liam Herbst (Guelph Storm)

CHL Leagues

OHL Cup Powered by Under Armour Minor Midget Top-10 Rankings

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

GTHL’s Mississauga Rebels, ALLIANCE’s London Jr. Knights win league titles, Cambridge Hawks officially qualify.

Tuesday action includes 4 Wild Card Play-In Games beginning at 2:00 pm, and 4 Round-Robin contests starting at 7:00 pm.

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the thirteenth and final edition of the weekly minor midget rankings for the 2017 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament powered by Under Armour and hosted by the Greater Toronto Hockey League.

The weekly rankings are determined by a panel of OHL Central Scouting Staff and represent the top teams that are competing to play in the annual year-end championship tournament which takes place March 14-20, 2017.  All games will be played at the Scotiabank Pond in Toronto until the Championship Final moves to the Mattamy Athletic Centre on Monday March 20.

Final Minor Midget Rankings for the 2017 OHL Cup powered by Under Armour – Week 13

RANK TEAM LEAGUE LAST WEEK WEEKS RANKED
1 London Jr. Knights* ALLIANCE 1 13
2 Whitby Wildcats* OMHA 2 13
3 Mississauga Rebels* GTHL 4 13
4 Toronto Marlboros* GTHL 3 13
5 Vaughan Kings* GTHL 5 7
6 Quinte Red Devils* OMHA 6 8
7 Waterloo Wolves* ALLIANCE 7 10
8 Brampton 45’s* OMHA 8 4
9 Ajax-Pickering Raiders* OMHA 9 13
10 Toronto Jr. Canadiens* GTHL 10 4
         
  Honourable Mention      
  Toronto Titans GTHL – 0
  Mississauga Reps GTHL – 10
  Cambridge Hawks* ALLIANCE – 0
  Mississauga Senators GTHL – 8

*Officially qualified for 2017 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament Powered by Under Armour

Minor Midget playoff action wrapped up over the weekend in both the GTHL and ALLIANCE with the Mississauga Rebels and London Jr. Knights emerging victorious in their respective league finals.  The Rebels overtook the Toronto Marlboros 8-6 in points, while the top ranked Knights defeated the Waterloo Wolves 7-1 in points.  The Cambridge Hawks also became the final team to secure an OHL Cup berth defeating the Kitchener Jr. Rangers 2 games to 0 qualifying as the ALLIANCE’s third entry.

The 2017 OHL Cup powered by Under Armour begins on Tuesday afternoon with four Wild Card Play-In Games followed by four Round-Robin contests.  The schedule for the Wild Card Play-In Games has been revised from the original release to accommodate travel in the anticipated inclement weather.

The original Wild Card 1 matchup between the Grey Bruce Highlanders and the Toronto Nationals scheduled for 10:00 amwill now be played at 3:15 pm, while the Wild Card 2 matchup between the Mississauga Senators and the York Simcoe Express originally scheduled for 12:00 pm will now be played at 5:15 pm.  Both games will now be played on Rink 2 at Toronto’s Scotiabank Pond.

2017 OHL Cup Wild Card Play-In Schedule:

Tuesday March 14, 2017
WC 3 – 2:00 pm – Mississauga Reps (GTHL) vs. Halton Hurricanes (OMHA) – Rink 1
WC 1 – 3:15 pm –  Grey Bruce Highlanders (OMHA) vs. Toronto Nationals (GTHL) – Rink 2
WC 4 – 4:00 pm – Toronto Titans (GTHL) vs. Kitchener Jr. Rangers (ALLIANCE) – Rink 1
WC 2 – 5:15 pm – Mississauga Senators (GTHL) vs. York-Simcoe Express (OMHA) – Rink 2

The four winners of the Wild Card Play-In Games will join 16 other clubs who earned their qualification through league play and regional representation.

2017 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament Powered by Under Armour Alignment:

Nash Division:
Mississauga Rebels (GTHL Champ)
Quinte Red Devils (OMHA Bronze)
Cambridge Hawks (ALLIANCE 3rd)
Elite Hockey Group (USA Invite)
WC1

Subban Division:
London Jr. Knights (ALLIANCE Champ)
Brampton 45s (OMHA Silver)
Toronto Jr. Canadiens (GTHL Semi-Finalist)
TPH Thunder (USA Invite)
WC2

Shanahan Division:
Toronto Marlboros (GTHL Finalist)
Ajax-Pickering Raiders (OMHA Semi-Finalist)
Eastern Ontario Wild (HEO Rep)
Thunder Bay Kings (HNO Rep)
WC3

Lindros Division:
Whitby Wildcats (OMHA Gold)
Waterloo Wolves (ALLIANCE Finalist)
Vaughan Kings (GTHL Semi-Finalist)
Team NOHA (NOHA Rep)
WC4

Tuesday March 14, 2017 Round-Robin:

Scotiabank Pond 1
7:00 pm Quinte Red Devils vs. Mississauga Rebels
8:45 pm Whitby Wildcats vs. Vaughan Kings

Scotiabank Pond 2
7:15 pm Toronto Jr. Canadiens vs. London Jr. Knights
9:00 pm Ajax-Pickering Raiders vs. Toronto Marlboros

The showcase provides fans and scouts one last opportunity to see many of the top minor midget aged players from across Ontario and parts of the United States compete for the OHL Cup performing against the best competition prior to the 2017 OHL Priority Selection.

History:

Last season the York Simcoe Express captured their second OHL Cup title and first since 2004 with a 2-1 overtime win over the Toronto Marlboros.  Current North Bay Battalion rookie Rhys Forhan scored both Express goals, while goaltender Andrei Berezinskiy earned tournament MVP honours playing to a 5-0 record with a 2.09 goals-against-average.

The 2016 OHL Priority Selection featured 12 players chosen in the first round who competed in the OHL Cup including Ryan Merkley (Toronto Jr. Canadiens – 1st overall Guelph Storm), Owen Lalonde (Windsor Jr. Spitfires – 2nd overall Sudbury Wolves), Danil Antropov (Toronto Marlboros – 6th overall Oshawa Generals), Kirill Nizhnikov (Toronto Jr. Canadiens – 7th overall Mississauga Steelheads), Barrett Hayton (Toronto Red Wings – 9th overall Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds), Peter Stratis (Mississauga Rebels – 11th overall Ottawa 67’s), Akil Thomas (Toronto Marlboros – 12th overall Niagara IceDogs), Adam McMaster (Niagara North – 13th overall North Bay Battalion), Tyler Weiss (Don Mills Flyers – 15th overall Sarnia Sting), Nathan Dunkley (Quinte Red Devils – 17th overall Kingston Frontenacs), Allan McShane (Toronto Marlboros – 19th overall Erie Otters), and Jack McBain (Don Mills Flyers – 20th overall Barrie Colts).

Notable OHL Cup graduates currently playing in the NHL include Mitch Marner (Vaughan Kings/Toronto Maple Leafs), Connor McDavid (Toronto Marlboros/Edmonton Oilers), Robby Fabbri (Mississauga Rebels/St. Louis Blues), Max Domi (Don Mills Flyers/Arizona Coyotes), Sean Monahan (Mississauga Rebels/Calgary Flames), Taylor Hall (Greater Kingston Frontenacs/New Jersey Devils), Tyler Seguin (Toronto Nationals/Dallas Stars), John Tavares (Toronto Marlboros/New York Islanders), P.K Subban (Markham Islanders/Nashville Predators), and Steven Stamkos (Markham Waxers/Tampa Bay Lightning).

This season the OHL and GTHL announced a new three-year partnership with Under Armour that includes title sponsorship of the OHL Cup Showcase Tournament.  The OHL and GTHL have also announced a five-year partnership extension ensuring the event will continue to be hosted by the GTHL through 2021.

For more information, please visit ohlcup.ca.