Firebirds’ Kole Sherwood named CHL Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Kole Sherwood of the Flint Firebirds is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending January 15 after scoring seven goals and four assists for 11 points in three games with a plus-minus rating of plus-7.

Sherwood recorded a trio of multi-point efforts last week helping the Firebirds earn three of a possible six road points to stay competitive in the OHL’s Western Conference playoff race maintaining a record of 20-18-1-3 holding onto eighth place.  His week was highlighted by a seven-point performance last Tuesday where he tied an all-time franchise record with five goals, one shy of the all-time OHL record of six, while adding two assists as first star of an 11-2 victory over the Saginaw Spirit.  Sherwood continued to play a key role in the Firebirds offense into the weekend scoring once with an assist on Friday despite a 5-2 loss to the Niagara IceDogs, then extended his personal point-streak to a career-high eight games on Saturday with a goal and assist as third star of a 4-3 shootout loss to the Erie Otters.

Kole Sherwood of the Flint Firebirds. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Kole Sherwood of the Flint Firebirds. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

A 19-year-old from New Albany, Ohio, Sherwood is playing in his second career OHL season and first with the Firebirds after winning an OHL and Mastercard Memorial Cup title with the London Knights last season.  He currently ranks 13th in OHL scoring with 50 points in 38 games including 22 goals and 28 assists.  Sherwood made history in July, 2015, when he became the first Columbus native to sign an entry-level contract with the hometown Blue Jackets.

Also considered for the award this week was Tyler Wong of the Lethbridge Hurricanes who scored five goals and five assists for 10 points in four games, and Tyler Boland of the Rimouski Oceanic who scored three goals and six assists for nine points in four games.

2016-17 CHL Players of the Week:

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)

Spitfires’ Michael DiPietro named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that 2017 NHL Draft prospect Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending January 15 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 1.44 and save percentage of .954.

DiPietro becomes the first two-time award recipient of the 2016-17 campaign after turning aside 62 shots in a pair of victories for the Spitfires who improve their record to 27-8-5-1 holding onto fourth place in the OHL’s Western Conference standings.  DiPietro was spectacular in the national spotlight during Thursday’s CHL on Sportsnet broadcast earning first star honours in a 3-2 shootout triumph over the Kitchener Rangers making 36 saves including seven during the three-on-three extra frame before denying all four shootout attempts.  He followed that effort with a 26-save performance on Sunday in a 5-1 victory over the Saginaw Spirit.

Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

A 17-year-old from Amherstburg, ON, DiPietro is playing in his second career season with the Spitfires who chose him in the second round of the 2015 OHL Priority Selection.  So far this season he carries a record of 20-6-4-0 including four shutouts ranking second among OHL netminders in both goals-against-average and save percentage with marks of 2.20 and .921 respectively.  On January 30 he will represent Team Orr in Quebec City at the Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

Also considered for the award this week was rookie Olivier Rodrigue of the Drummondville Voltigeurs who posted a 1-0-0-1 record making 52 saves for a goals-against-average of 1.40 and save percentage of .945, and Philadelphia Flyers prospect Carter Hart of the Everett Silvertips who went 1-0-1-0 including a shutout victory stopping 56 shots for a goals-against-average of 1.92 and save percentage of .933.

 2016-17 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week:
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)

Firebirds’ Kole Sherwood named Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Kole Sherwood of the Flint Firebirds is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending January 15 after recording 11 points in three games including seven goals and four assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-7.

Sherwood produced a trio of multi-point efforts last week on the road highlighted by an impressive seven points on Tuesday where he tied an all-time franchise record with five goals.  The best single-game performance in the OHL this season led the Firebirds to an 11-2 victory over the Saginaw Spirit with Sherwood claiming first star honours.  His seven points shattered a previous career-high of three, while the five goal output topped a career-best of two and equal the all-time franchise mark set by Kevin Brown on December 1, 1993, for the Detroit Jr. Red Wings, one shy of the OHL’s best single game mark of six.  Sherwood’s week also included a goal and an assist on Friday despite a 5-2 loss to the Niagara IceDogs, and wrapped up with another goal and assist on Saturday as third star of a 4-3 shootout loss to the Erie Otters.  The Firebirds now carry a 20-18-1-3 record for 44 points holding onto the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot.

Kole Sherwood of the Flint Firebirds. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Kole Sherwood of the Flint Firebirds. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

A 19-year-old from New Albany, Ohio, Sherwood is playing in his second career OHL season and first with the Firebirds after winning an OHL and Mastercard Memorial Cup title with the London Knights last season.  He currently ranks 13th in league scoring with 50 points in 38 games including 22 goals and 28 assists surpassing previous career-highs (34–12-22) in all offensive categories.  Sherwood made history in July, 2015, when he became the first Columbus native to sign an entry-level contract with the hometown Blue Jackets.

Watch video highlights of Sherwood and the Firebirds against the Spirit, IceDogs, and Otters.

Also considered for the award this week was IceDogs’ captain Ryan Mantha who recorded nine points including one goal and eight assists from the blue line in a trio of Niagara wins, and Florida Panthers prospect Adam Mascherin of the Kitchener Rangers who took over the OHL’s scoring lead with eight assists in four games to bring his current totals to 27 goals and 46 assists for 73 points in 41 games.  In goal, 2017 NHL Draft prospect Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires went 2-0-0-0 stopping 62 shots for a goals-against-average of 1.44 and save percentage of .954.

2016-17 Pioneer Energy OHL Players of the Week:

Jan. 9 – Jan. 15: Kole Sherwood (Flint Firebirds)
Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Santino Centorame (Owen Sound Attack)
Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Michael McNiven (Owen Sound Attack)
Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Dylan Wells (Peterborough Petes)
Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)
Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Boris Katchouk (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Jeremy Bracco (Kitchener Rangers)
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Jonathan Ang (Peterborough Petes)
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Troy Timpano (Erie Otters)
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Max Jones (London Knights)
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Jeremy Bracco (Kitchener Rangers)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Logan Brown (Windsor Spitfires)
Sept. 26 – Oct. 2: Joseph Raaymakers (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 25: Matt Luff (Hamilton Bulldogs)

Ontario Hockey League Teams up with Teachers Life

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Teachers Life becomes the Presenting Sponsor of the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Talk Today Program as part of multi-year OHL partnership

Toronto, Ontario, January 11, 2017 – The Ontario Hockey League in association with Teachers Life proudly announce the launch of a two-year partnership as Teachers Life becomes the Presenting Sponsor of the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Talk Today Program in 16 OHL communities.

teachers-lifeTalk Today is one of the most comprehensive mental health programs for amateur sports in Canada.  It aims to promote the mental health of young athletes and to spread awareness about the benefits of positive mental health throughout communities across the country.

“Mental illness directly or indirectly affects everyone at some point in their life,” said David Branch, OHL Commissioner. “Our partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association for the Talk Today program has further enhanced the playing environment for our student athletes.  With the support of Teachers Life we look forward to building this program and continuing to make a positive difference in OHL communities.”

Originally launched by the OHL in partnership with CMHA Ontario in 2014, Talk Today has made a sizable impact with over 725 players, 204 billets, and more than 85 coaches and front office staff receiving mental health and suicide prevention training to date.  The partnership has since expanded between the Canadian Hockey League and CMHA to include all 60 CHL teams beginning this season.

“CMHA Ontario is extremely grateful to Teachers Life for its generosity and backing of Talk Today, an important program that is providing help to OHL players and teams while helping to eliminate stigma and discrimination too often associated with mental health,” said Camille Quenneville, CEO, CMHA Ontario. “The Teachers Life commitment will help us provide mental health and suicide prevention training for individuals in OHL communities who, in turn, help the CMHA spread positive messages of mental health throughout Ontario.”

As part of its partnership, Teachers Life will help the OHL and CMHA Ontario branches raise awareness about the importance of mental health during upcoming OHL games beginning Friday January 13 in London when the Knights host the Saginaw Spirit.  Talk Today awareness nights presented by Teachers Life will continue league wide in February with a full schedule to be announced in the coming weeks.

“Teachers Life recognizes the challenges that mental health issues can bring to students, families, and those who work in education,” said Doug Baker, President and CEO of Teachers Life Insurance. “We are proud to be a part of the OHL’s Talk Today program to help raise awareness of the benefits of positive mental health. We know that by destigmatizing mental health issues, lives and communities are greatly improved.”

Teachers Life sponsored OHL teams include the Barrie Colts, Guelph Storm, Kingston Frontenacs, Kitchener Rangers, London Knights, Mississauga Steelheads, Niagara IceDogs, North Bay Battalion, Oshawa Generals, Ottawa 67’s, Owen Sound Attack, Peterborough Petes, Sarnia Sting, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Sudbury Wolves, and Windsor Spitfires.

 About Teachers Life:

Teachers Life is a not-for-profit federally regulated life-insurance company and North America’s largest educator-owned fraternal insurer. Founded in 1939, Teachers Life offers a full suite of personal insurance products to address the unique needs of the whole education community including educators, administrators, support staff and their families. Teachers Life is the first insurance provider in Canada to underwrite life insurance products online, in as little as 15 minutes. As a not-for-profit fraternal insurer, community commitment is a core value for Teachers Life. For more information, please visit www.teacherslife.com.

About the Canadian Mental Health Association:

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) works toward a single mission: to make mental health possible for all. The vision of CMHA Ontario is a society that believes mental health is the key to well-being. CMHA Ontario works closely with 31 local branches in communities across the province to ensure the quality delivery of services in the areas of mental health, addictions, dual diagnosis and concurrent disorders. Through policy formulation, analysis and implementation, agenda setting, research, evaluation and knowledge exchange, we work to improve the lives of people with mental health and addictions conditions and their families.  Visit www.ontario.cmha.ca to find a CMHA branch in your community

 About the Ontario Hockey League:

The Ontario Hockey League is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League which is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and four American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL is made up of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. Last season, more than nine million fans attended CHL games in the regular season, playoffs and at the Mastercard Memorial Cup. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U Sports than any other league.  For more information visit www.ontariohockeyleague.com.

CHL Announces Top 10 Rankings

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the week sixteen 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 16

Rank: Team: Last Week Rank: Number of Weeks Ranked:
1 Regina Pats (27-4-6-1) 1 15
2 London Knights (26-7-2-3) 2 15
3 Everett Silvertips (25-5-6-1) 3 13
4 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (29-9-2-0) 4 6
5 Shawinigan Cataractes (27-10-1-1) 6 14
6 Erie Otters (27-9-2-1) 8 11
7 Windsor Spitfires (25-8-4-1) 5 15
8 Saint John Sea Dogs (25-11-3-1) 9 11
9 Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (24-10-1-5) 10 16
10 Prince George Cougars (28-12-2-0) 7 15
Honourable Mention:
Medicine Hat Tigers (29-12-1-0) – 5
Owen Sound Attack (26-13-1-0) – 0
Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (23-11-4-2) – 6

Recapping Trade Deadline

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Coming into this season, yours truly couldn’t wait to see how the Ontario Hockey League’s trade deadline would unfold and how the London Knights and the Windsor Spitfires would load up for the Western Conference Championship and the OHL Championship.

Well, they didn’t disappoint, but you must look past the two franchises and at the Sault St Marie Greyhounds and the Erie Otters. This is turning out to be a four-way battle that, if you’re a hockey fan, can expect the best, most hard fought hockey we’ve seen in a long time.

Let the fun begin!

The Otters began it all by adding Warren Foegele from the Kingston Frontenacs. They followed that up with Anthony Cirelli from the Oshawa Generals and Cameron Lizotte from the Barrie Colts

The week leading up to trade deadline day saw the OHL’s top team, the Greyhounds add blueliner Noah Carroll from the Guelph Storm. It’s about all the Greyhounds needed to do – solidify their back end.

Not to be outdone, the Knights added Dante Salituro from the Ottawa 67’s, Mitchell Vande Sompel from the Oshawa Generals and Mitchell Stephens from the Saginaw Spirit.

The Spitfires hosts of the Memorial Cup, wanted to go in as Champions and brought in Jeremy Bracco From the Kitchener Rangers, Daniel Robertson from the Oshawa Generals and Adam Laishram from the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Jeremy Bracco of the Kitchener Rangers. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Jeremy Bracco acquired by the Windsor Spitfires from the Kitchener Rangers Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

I like the Greyhounds as a team and Carroll should help them. But you can’t count out the London Knights with the additions they’ve made. The Otters are improved with Cirelli and the Spitfires….

Ah heck, it’s too close to call. Let’s all watch and enjoy.

Here are the trades for the week leading up to and including trade deadline.

Picks with an asterisk (*) are conditional picks. You can click on the team for official team releases (where available)

Date Team Trades To For:
02- Jan Kingston Warren Foegele Erie Brett Neumann
3rd round pick 2021
03-Jan Niagara Cal Davis Kingston 5th round pick 2019
06-Jan North Bay Maurizio Colella Flint 5th round pick 2019 (MISS)
06-Jan Oshawa Stephen Templeton North Bay 10th round pick 2017
06-Jan Sault Ste Marie Liam Hawel Guelph Noah Carroll
3rd round pick 2021 3rd round pick 2017 (SAG)
2nd round pick 2020
3rd round pick 2020*
07-Jan Ottawa Drake Rymsha Sarnia 4th round pick 2017
2nd round pick 2018
3rd round pick 2019 (PBO)
2nd round pick 2020 (WSR)
09-Jan Kitchener Jacob Cascagnette Mississauga 3rd round pick 2020
4th round pick 2020*
09-Jan Oshawa Anthony Cirelli Erie Allan McShane
4th round pick 2018
2 round pick 2022
2nd round pick 2023
6th round pick 2020*
2nd round pick 2024*
09-Jan North Bay Stephen Templeton Hamilton Jesse Saban
5th round pick 2017 10th round pick 2017 (KGN)
6th round pick 2019*
09-Jan Owen Sound Justin Brack Niagara 11th round pick 2017
09-Jan Barrie Cordell James Owen Sound 4th round pick 2018 (SSM)
09-Jan London Chris Martenet Ottawa Dante Salituro
3rd round pick 2018 8th round pick 2021
2nd round pick 2021
15th round pick 2021
09-Jan Oshawa Mitchell Vande Sompel London Ian Blacker
2nd round pick 2017
3rd round pick 2018
2nd round pick 2019 (SBY)
3rd round pick 20124*
09-Jan Saginaw Mitchell Stephens London 3rd round pick 2017
2nd round pick 2018 (OTT)
2nd round pick 2018 (KGN)
2nd round pick 2019 (OS)
3rd round pick 2019 (SBY)
2nd round pick 2020 (SBY)
3rd round pick 2021*
09-Jan Niagara Christopher Paquette Peterborough Nate McDonald
4th round pick 2018* 2nd round pick 2017
2nd round pick 2018
2nd round pick 2020 (SSM)
2nd round pick 2021
3rd round pick 2022
09-Jan Peterborough C.J. Clarke Flint 2nd round pick 2018 (GUE)
3rd round pick 2018 (NIA)
09-Jan Kitchener Jeremy Bracco Windsor Andrew Burns
8th round pick 2017 Cole Carter
13th round pick 2018 2nd round pick 2023
2nd round pick 2024
2nd round pick 2025*
09-Jan Barrie Cameron Lizotte Erie 10th round pick 2017 (SSM)
5th round pick 2018
3rdround pick 2022
10-Jan Hamilton Trent Fox Mississauga 5th round pick 2017 (KGN)
4th round pick 2019
3rd round pick 2020 (BAR)
10-Jan Kingston Zack Dorval Ottawa 4th round pick 2017 (SAR)
10-Jan Kitchener Mason Kohn Oshawa 2nd round pick 2019 (KGN)
3rd round pick 2021 (OSH)
3rd round pick 2022* (KNG)
10-Jan Saginaw Kirill Maksimov Niagara Hayden Davis
3rd round pick 2018
2nd round pick 2019 (SAR)
10-Jan Saginaw Robert Proner Barrie 5th round pick 2018 (ER)
10-Jan Oshawa Daniel Robertson Windsor 3rd round pick 2024
10-Jan Mississauga Jason Smith Barrie 7th round pick 2017
10-Jan Guelph Jake Bricknell Peterborough 15th round pick 2018
10-Jan Sudbury Ben Garagan Hamilton 5th round pick 2019
5th round pick 2022*
10-Jan Hamilton Adam Laishram Windsor 2nd round pick 2017 (NIA)
2nd round pick 2017 (WSR) 4th round pick 2017 (KGN)
8th round pick 2017 2nd round pick 2026*

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

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the fourth 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.

Minor Midget Rankings for the 2017 OHL Cup powered by Under Armour – Week 4

RANK TEAM LEAGUE LAST WEEK WEEKS RANKED
1 London Jr. Knights ALLIANCE 1 4
2 Mississauga Reps GTHL 3 4
3 Mississauga Rebels GTHL 2 4
4 Whitby Wildcats OMHA 4 4
5 Mississauga Senators GTHL 5 4
6 Toronto Marlboros GTHL 6 4
7 Toronto Young Nationals GTHL 7 4
8 Ajax-Pickering Raiders OMHA 8 4
9 Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs OMHA 9 4
10 Waterloo Wolves ALLIANCE – 1
         
  Honourable Mention      
  Brampton 45’s OMHA 10 1
  Quinte Red Devils OMHA – 0
  Toronto Jr. Canadiens GTHL – 0
  York Simcoe Express OMHA – 0

Tournament Structure:

16 of the 20 spots in the 2017 OHL Cup powered by Under Armour are guaranteed through league competition.  The 16 guaranteed spots continue to include all four GTHL Semi-Finalists, and the top four teams that place at the OMHA Championship.  Three teams from the ALLIANCE will still be guaranteed a spot in the tournament including the Champion and Finalist, along with the winner of a best-of-three Semi-Final Wild Card Series to be played between the losers of the two league Semi-Finals.  Also as in past years, two tournament entries are reserved for United States competition, while both an HNO and NOHA representative will also compete.  New in 2017, the final guaranteed spot is awarded to HEO but represented by their previous year Bantam Championship team who will be reassembled for tournament competition.  This season, HEO’s entry will be members of the 2016 Bantam Champion Eastern Ontario Wild.

Wild Card Games:

ohl-cupThe final four entries at the 2017 OHL Cup powered by Under Armour will be Wild Cards determined among eight teams that will play a one game ‘win and in’ scenario.  The eight competing teams aiming for the final four tournament spots will continue to include the fifth place team at the OMHA Championship, and the loser of the ALLIANCE Semi-Final Wild Card Series.  As introduced in 2016, two spots in Wild Card games will be reserved for GTHL teams.  The two competing GTHL teams will be determined through a pair of Wild Card Play-In Series matchups involving the four GTHL teams who qualified for the playoffs but lost in the first round.  One spot in a Wild Card will also be reserved for the winner of an OMHA SCTA Consolation Game that features both teams who lost in the SCTA Tournament Semi-Final.  The OMHA teams eligible for this matchup will be determined annually based on the league not hosting the OMHA Championship.  Finally, the three remaining teams who will compete in the Wild Card matchups will be named by the Tournament Selection Committee.  The Committee will evaluate and review a team’s post-season success as the first criteria for selection, with additional criteria to include regular season play and tournament play.  All four Wild Card games will take place onTuesday March 14 with specific matchups and times of play to be determined by random draw among the eight competing teams onWednesday March 8.

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.

Warriors’ Brayden Burke named CHL Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that forward Brayden Burke of the Moose Jaw Warriors is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending January 8 after scoring five goals and seven assists for 12 points in four games with a plus-minus rating of plus-4.

Burke produced four multi-point performances last week helping the Warriors win all four games to improve their second place WHL East Division record to 25-9-6-1.  On Tuesday he scored his first hat-trick of the season and added an assist as first star of a 6-5 shootout win over the Prince Albert Raiders, then notched three assists on Wednesday as third star of a 4-1 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes.  Burke continued to deliver offensively over the weekend with two goals and one assist Friday as second star of a 4-0 win over the Saskatoon Blades, then picked up two assists on Saturday in a 4-1 win over the first place Regina Pats.

A 20-year-old from Edmonton, AB, Burke is playing in his fourth career WHL season and first with the Warriors after being acquired from the Hurricanes in an early season trade.  Originally a seventh round pick of the Red Deer Rebels in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft, Burke is sixth in league scoring with 12 goals and 45 assists for 57 points in 36 games.

Also considered for the award this week was forward Mathieu Sévigny of the Drummondville Voltigeurs who scored four goals and four assists for eight points in three games, and defenceman Santino Centorame who scored once with six assists for seven points in three games helping the Owen Sound Attack extend their winning-streak to 10.

2016-17 CHL Players of the Week:

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

Armada’s Francis Leclerc named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that rookie Francis Leclerc of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending January 8 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record including two shutout victories for a perfect goals-against-average of 0.00 and save percentage of 1.000.

Leclerc turned aside all 41 shots he faced last week backstopping the Armada to a pair of victories helping his club hold onto fourth place in the QMJHL’s overall standings with a 23-11-4-2 record.  He picked up his first of two straight shutouts on Tuesday with 21 saves in the 6-0 win over the Val-d’Or Foreurs, then stopped all 20 shots on Friday earning second star honours in a 3-0 victory over the Chicoutimi Sagueneens extending his shutout streak to 138:52.

An 18-year-old from Chateauguay, QC, Leclerc is playing in his first full QMJHL season with the Armada after appearing in just eight games a year ago.  Originally a sixth round pick of the club in the 2014 QMJHL Entry Draft, Leclerc carries a 10-3-2-2 record including three shutouts with a goals-against-average of 2.27 which ranks second overall in the league, and a .917 save percentage which is tied for top mark.

Also considered for the award this week was Rylan Parenteau of the Tri-City Americans who posted a 2-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory stopping a total of 65 shots for a goals-against-average of 0.50 and save percentage of .985, and Montreal Canadiens prospect Michael McNiven of the Owen Sound Attack nominated for the second straight week with a 3-0-0-0 record making 69 saves for a goals-against-average of 1.39 and save percentage of .945.

2016-17 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week:
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

DeNoble, Commisso, Rymsha: Is the Second Time a Charm?

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

It’s not often that, when I rank Ontario Hockey League players for the National Hockey League draft, that I look at players passed over the previous season. It’s not a regularity that players get chosen the second time around.

But this season, there are three players I am keeping at least one eye on: Logan DeNoble of the Peterborough Petes, Domenic Commisso of the Oshawa Generals, and Drake Rymsha, traded from the Ottawa 67’s to the Sarnia Sting on January 7th.

When I do my final rankings at the end of the season, I rank the top five goaltenders and the top fifty skaters. But at the end of the 2015-2016 season, I did the top 50 plus one. That plus one was DeNoble. I was so impressed by his offensive output during the second half of the season, that I wanted to recognize that even though I was confident he wouldn’t get drafted.

Logan DeNoble of the Peterborough Petes. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Logan DeNoble of the Peterborough Petes. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Fast forward to this season. DeNoble is tied with the Soo Greyhounds’ Zachary Senyshyn for sixth spot in goals scored with twenty-four, just two shy from making it into the top five. That surpasses his total of twenty goals last season while playing in sixty-three games versus the thirty-nine to date this season.

Somewhat surprisingly, ten of those twenty-four goals are powerplay goals and six are game winning goals, while firing a 24.2 shooting percentage. The 5’10, 190-pound center/winger is also an astounding 60.3 percent on the face off dot.

But the most surprising statistic when talking about DeNoble is when discussing consistency. Since December 8, 2015 (That’s fifteen not sixteen), he has gone more than one game without a point just four times. You’ll be hard pressed to find more than a handful of players with that kind of consistency. For comparison, League scoring leader Alex DeBrincat of the Erie Otters has gone more than a game without a point two times, while Adam Mascherin of the Kitchener Rangers who trails only DeBrincat in points has gone more than a game without a point four times in the same time frame.

Of course, none of this means DeNoble will get drafted in 2017. But he certainly is going to open some eyes and maybe draw an invite to a team camp in the summer.

Commisso on the other hand, was someone I ranked thirty-seventh among OHL skaters, but he too did not get drafted. He did however, receive an invite to Boston Bruins Development Camp in the summer of 2016.

Domenic Commisso of the Oshawa Generals. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Domenic Commisso of the Oshawa Generals. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images

Commisso leads a surprising Oshawa Generals in scoring through thirty-nine games with thirty-eight points, twelve of them goals. He’s on pace or has exceeded his eighteen, twenty-four, forty-two totals from a year ago.

The 5’11”, 192-pound centreman has five powerplay goals (third on the team) and 12 powerplay assists (tops on the Generals) to go along with one shorthanded goals. He’s clipping along with a 10.1 shooting percentage while winning 351 of 680 faceoffs or 51.6%.

Commisso is a speedster with excellent top end speed and a very explosive first step. He’s strong on his skates with an ability to change direction with relative ease. He is shifty and very good when the opposition keeps him in close. He possesses very good puck skills along with possession skills with excellent vision and an ability to set up teammates. More of a playmaker than goal scorer, he has a good shot and release.

Commisso has a very strong work ethic in all three zones. He gets in on the forecheck and despite his size, doesn’t shy away from physicality. He’s excellent at creating turnovers.

Rymsha was also undrafted and attended Boston Bruins Development camp. The issue with Rymsha was injuries and teams not getting a long enough look at him.

Rymsha was traded on the weekend from the Ottawa 67’s to the Sarnia Sting and automatically becomes the Sting’s third leading scorer with fifteen goals and 14 assists. The 6’, 185-pound center plays in any situation. He’s strong on faceoffs, winning 57.7 percent of the 742 draws he’s taken – usually the first player over the boards for an important faceoff.

Drake Rymsha of the Ottawa 67's. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Drake Rymsha of the Ottawa 67’s. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Rymsha is a two-way player who works hard at both ends of the ice. His positioning in the defensive zone is very good and he is excellent at causing turnovers. He’s slightly above average in the playmaking department and while he has a decent shot is an average goal scorer. Although he is no Brad Marchand, he does agitate and can throw players off their game.

Rymsha projects to be a solid defensive player who can toss in a little offence if he gets to the NHL.