Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the week seven 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.
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the roster for Team Russia that will compete in the 2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series which begins on Monday November 7 in Prince George, BC.
A team of 23 Russian players including three goaltenders, eight defencemen, and 12 forwards will travel across Canada as part of the 14th annual series playing six games against CHL competition from November 7-17 in preparation for the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship hosted by Toronto and Montreal.
Team Russia features several players with NHL affiliations including Philadelphia Flyers first round pick German Rubtsov, Calgary Flames prospect Pavel Karnaukhov, and Nashville Predators prospect Konstantin Volkov. The roster also includes 17-year-old forward Klim Kostin who is a top prospect for the 2017 NHL Draft. Team Russia is led once again by head coach Valery Bragin making his fifth appearance and third straight year behind the bench at this event. In his tenure as head coach of the Russian National Junior Team the program has earned World Junior gold (2011 in Buffalo), and three silver medals (2016 in Finland, 2015 in Toronto, 2012 in Calgary).
An additional 10 Russian-born CHL players will compete in various games of the series including four from the WHL, four OHL, and two QMJHL players. The WHL players competing in Prince George on November 7 and Edmonton on November 8 include 2017 NHL Draft top prospects Artem Minulin of the Swift Current Broncos and Nikita Popugaev of the Moose Jaw Warriors. Washington Capitals prospect Dmitry Zaitsev of the Warriors and New York Rangers prospect Sergey Zborovskiy of the Regina Pats will also compete. In the OHL, Montreal Canadiens prospect Mikhail Sergachev of the Windsor Spitfires and Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Nikita Korostelev of the Sarnia Sting will compete in North Bay on November 10 and Hamilton on November 14, while Minnesota Wild prospect Dmitry Sokolov of the Sudbury Wolves and Artur Tyanulin of the Ottawa 67’s will only compete in North Bay. In the QMJHL, a pair of Gatineau Olympiques will compete in Chicoutimi on November 15 and Baie-Comeau on November 17 including Predators prospect Yakov Trenin and Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Vitalii Abramov.
Team Russia has captured three series victories in 2014, 2012, and 2010.
2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series – Team Russia:
Most recent club team listed in brackets
Goaltenders:
Anton Krasotkin (HK Ryazan – VHL)
Vladislav Sukhachev (Chelmet Chelyabinsk – VHL)
Konstantin Volkov (SKA-1946 St. Petersburg – MHL)
Doctor – Alexander Kostyukov
Doctor – Valery Egorov
Physiotherapist – Artem Timofeev
Equipment Manager – Alexander Rezepov
Media Manager – Petr Tereshchenkov
The 2016 CIBC Canada Russia series is supported by title sponsor and Official Bank of the CHL, CIBC, and CHL associate sponsors Cooper Tire, autoTRADER.ca and Sherwin-Williams. All games will be broadcast nationally on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.
2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series Schedule:
Game 1 – Monday November 7 at Prince George, BC
Game 2 – Tuesday November 8 at Edmonton, AB
Game 3 – Thursday November 10 at North Bay, ON
Game 4 – Monday November 14 at Hamilton, ON
Game 5 – Tuesday November 15 at Chicoutimi, QC
Game 6 – Thursday November 17 at Baie-Comeau, QC
For event information including how to purchase tickets please visit www.chlcanadarussia.ca.
Well it is November 1st and every month of the Ontario Hockey League season is the time I select my player of the month eligible for the National Hockey League Draft. For October there was no easy choice as there were several worthy candidates. In the end, I settles on Gabriel Vilardi of the Windsor Spitfires.
Gabriel Vilardi of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
The OHL season began with Vilardi injured but he made his anticipated return showing no rust and on fire. In just 9 games through October, Vilardi scored 6 goals and 8 assists and finishing with a plus 5. His six goals came on twenty five shots, good for a 24 per cent shooting percentage.
In his nine games, Vilardi was named the game’s first star three times. He’s climbed up the Spitfires’ scoring chart and sits tied for second with his fourteen points which is tied for fifth among draft eligible players.
Also garnering attention is Mississauga Steelheads’ star Owen Tippet who leads the Steelheads (and tied for tops among draft eligible players) in scoring. In eleven October games Tippett registered twelve goals and four assists.
Two defencemen drew plenty of attention as well. Tippett’s teammate Nicolas Hague had 7 goals and 4 assists in 10 games while Noel Hoefenmayer of the Ottawa 67’s had 4 goals and 8 assists in 12 games.
In goal, Michael DiPietro posted a 5-2-0-0 record with a 2.25 goals against average and .924 save percentage with one shutout.
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Bobby MacIntyre of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending October 30 after scoring two goals and five assists for seven points in three games with a plus-minus rating of plus-4.
MacIntyre extended his point-streak to nine games last week as the Greyhounds picked up four of a possible six points in three road contests. On Thursday night he recorded two assists in a 5-2 loss to the Windsor Spitfires, then tallied an assist on Friday in a 4-3 overtime win against the London Knights. His week wrapped up Sunday with a four-point performance scoring twice with two assists as first star of a 5-2 win over the Guelph Storm.
A 20-year-old from Oshawa, ON, MacIntyre is playing in his fifth career OHL season and second with the Greyhounds after playing his first three seasons with the Mississauga Steelheads. He is currently tied for second in OHL scoring with eight goals and 19 assists for 27 points in 16 games.
Also considered for the award this week was Alexandre Goulet of the Victoriaville Tigres who scored two goals and six assists for eight points in four games, and 2017 NHL Draft prospect Kailer Yamamoto of the Spokane Chiefs who scored three goals and four assists for seven points in four games,
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Troy Timpano of the Erie Otters is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending October 30 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory with a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .962.
Troy Timpano of the Erie Otters. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Timpano extended his personal win-streak to a perfect eight games to start the 2016-17 campaign making 51 saves last week for the first place Otters. On Thursday night he made 24 saves as part of a 5-2 win over the Barrie Colts, then earned first star honours Saturday with a 27-save performance recording his second shutout of the season by a 6-0 score over the Saginaw Spirit. The Otters have a share of the OHL’s Midwest Division lead with 21 points powered by a 10-3-1-0 record through 14 games.
An 18-year-old from Pickering, ON, Timpano is playing in his fourth career OHL season and first with the Otters after being acquired in the off-season from the Sudbury Wolves where he was a second round pick in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection. Through eight games he leads the OHL with a 1.88 goals-against-average, and has the second best save percentage with a mark of .931.
Also considered for the award this week was Payton Lee of the Kootenay Ice who posted a 2-0-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 1.50 and save percentage of .957, and Florida Panthers prospect Samuel Montembeault of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada who went 3-0-0-0 with a goals-against-average of 2.00 and save percentage of .933.
Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the Top OHL Performers of the Month for regular season games played in October 2016, including Erie Otters forward Taylor Raddysh, Flint Firebirds defenceman Mathieu Henderson, Guelph Storm rookie Ryan Merkley and Erie Otters goaltender Troy Timpano.
OHL Player of the Month – Taylor Raddysh (Erie Otters): Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Taylor Raddysh of the Erie Otters is the OHL Player of the Month for October after he recorded 11 goals, 17 assists and 28 points over 12 games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-21. Raddysh had points in all 12 of his October contests, collecting four points in back-to-back games on October 15th against London (0-4–4) and again on October 19th in Niagara(2-2–4). He registered four different three-point efforts over the course of the month, most recently doing so on Thursday (1-2–3) in a 5-2 win over the Barrie Colts. Raddysh received star of the game recognition in six of his 12 contests, once earning first star honours, twice being named second star and three times being recognized as third star.
Taylor Raddysh of the Erie Otters. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
A native of Caledon, Ont., Raddysh currently leads the OHL in scoring despite missing the Otters first two games of the season while attending training camp with the Lightning. He represented the OHL at the 2015 CIBC Canada Russia Series and will do so again this coming month on November 14th in Hamilton. He was Tampa Bay’s second round (58th overall) pick in the 2016 NHL Draft this past summer. Erie selected him with their first round (19th overall) pick in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection.
OHL Defenceman of the Month – Mathieu Henderson (Flint Firebirds): Flint Firebirds overage veteran Mathieu Henderson has been named the OHL’s Defenceman of the Month for October. Henderson led all OHL defencemen with 17 points, including five goals and 12 assists over 13 October contests to go along with a plus/minus rating of plus-9. Henderson’s month was headlined by a four assist effort in a 7-4 win over the Sarnia Sting on October 1st. He recorded his first OHL multi-goal game, scoring twice in a 4-2 loss to the Peterborough Petes on October 27th and finished the month with a goal and two assists in an 8-6 win over the Ottawa 67’s on Sunday. Henderson strung together a seven game point streak from October 13th to 27th, helping the Firebirds finish the month with an 8-7-0-1 record.
A native of Brantford, Ont., Henderson leads OHL defencemen in scoring with six goals, 12 assists and 18 points over 16 contests. The fourth-year defenceman is a graduate of the Brantford 99’ers Minor Midget program and was Plymouth’s seventh round (124th overall) pick in the 2012 OHL Priority Selection.
OHL Rookie of the Month – Ryan Merkley (Guelph Storm): Guelph Storm defenceman Ryan Merkley has been named the OHL Rookie of the Month for October. The 16-year-old rearguard excelled in his first full month in the OHL recording two goals, eight assists and 10 points in as many games. Merkley’s month was headlined by a three assist effort in a 5-4 loss to the Hamilton Bulldogs on October 8th. He scored his first OHL goal two days later as the Storm fell to the Kitchener Rangers 8-4 on October 10th. Merkley had points in seven of his 10 October outings and enters November on a four game point streak that dates back to October 16th.
A native of Mississauga, Ont., Merkley leads all rookie defencemen with 11 points (2-9–11) this season. The 2016 GTHL Minor Midget Player of the Year is currently representing Team Canada Red in the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Sault Ste. Marie. His five points (1-4–5) in six games last February helped Canada claim silver at the Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway. He was the first overall pick of the 2016 OHL Priority Selection.
Vaughn OHL Goaltender of the Month – Troy Timpano (Erie Otters): Erie Otters goaltender Troy Timpano has been named the Vaughn OHL Goaltender of the Month for October after he went 8-0-0-0 with a 1.88 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage with two shutouts over eight games. Timpano, who turns 19 on November 13th, helped the Otters climb to first place in the Western Conference with a 10-3-1-0 record to end the month, allowing less than three goals in six of his eight starts. He started his season with a 26-save shutout effort in a 6-0 win over the Oshawa Generals on October 7th. Timpano recorded another shutout to end October, making 27 saves in a 6-0 win over the Saginaw Spiriton Saturday night.
Troy Timpano of the Erie Otters. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
A native of Ajax, Ont., Timpano leads all OHL goaltenders with a 1.88 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage. The fourth-year goaltender is in his first campaign with Erie after being acquired from the Sudbury Wolves over the offseason. Timpano was Sudbury’s second round (27th overall) pick in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection.
2016-17 OHL Performers of the Month:
Player of the Month:
October – Taylor Raddysh (Erie Otters)
Defenceman of the Month:
October – Mathieu Henderson (Flint Firebirds)
Rookie of the Month:
October – Ryan Merkley (Guelph Storm)
Vaughn Goaltender of the Month:
October – Troy Timpano (Erie Otters)
It is November 1st and that means the Ontario Hockey League’s first full month of the season is now in the books. While the month ended on Halloween, there are no disguises, but a few surprises.
While we look at the League’s statistical leaders in various categories, remember we look at first time draft eligible players only. Those passed over in previous drafts are not included. For example, Oshawa Generals’ Domenic Commisso sits 18th in scoring with 18 points in 15 games, but because he was passed over at the 2016 National Hockey League Draft, he is not included here but is still eligible for the 2017 Draft.
Owen Tippett of the Mississauga Steelheads and Austen Keating of the Ottawa 67’s lead the scoring race with 18 points apiece. Right behind them sits Matthew Strome of the Hamilton Bulldogs with 17 points. However, it’s Gabriel Vilardi of the Windsor Spitfires, who began the season injured, leads in points per game with 1.56. Vilardi, considered the top prospect from the OHL has 14 points in just 9 games.
Austen Keating of the Ottawa 67’s. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Another Ottawa 67 leads defencemen in scoring. Noel Hoefenmayer leads the way with 14 points in 15 games. And right there with him is another Mississauga Steelhead in Nicolas Hague with 13 points in 13 games. Adam Thilander of the North Bay Battalion comes in third with 10 points in 15 games.
In goal, Windsor Spitfires’ Michael DiPietro leads in both goals against average and save percentage. His 2.10 GAA and .926 save percentage rank second and third respectively overall in the OHL.
Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Erie Otters goaltender Troy Timpano is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending October 30 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory with a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .962.
Troy Timpano of the Erie Otters. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Timpano made 51 saves in two games backstopping the Otters to a pair of victories for a share of the Midwest Division lead with 21 points (10-3-1-0) in 14 games. On Thursday night he made 24 saves as part of a 5-2 win over the Barrie Colts, then earned first star honours Saturday with a 27-save performance recording his second shutout of the season by a 6-0 score over the Saginaw Spirit. The victory extended Timpano’s personal win-streak to a perfect eight games to start the 2016-17 campaign.
An 18-year-old from Pickering, ON, Timpano is playing in his fourth career OHL season and first with the Otters after being acquired in the off-season from the Sudbury Wolves where he was a second round pick in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection. Through eight games he leads the league with a 1.88 goals-against-average, and has the second best save percentage with a mark of .931.
Watch video highlights of Timpano and the Otters against the Colts and Spirit.
Honourable mention for the award this week goes to Bobby MacIntyre of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds who recorded seven points in three games including two goals and five assists climbing to a tie for second overall in the OHL scoring race with 27 points. Also considered was Vancouver Canucks prospect Brett McKenzie of the North Bay Battalion with six points in three games including three goals and three assists, and the Otters’ Brett Neumann with five points in two games including two goals and three assists.
2016-17 Pioneer Energy OHL Players of the Week:
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)
The Kitchener Rangers selected Greg Meireles in the first round, twelfth overall in the 2015 Ontario Hockey League’s Priority Selection.
Despite being a first round pick, Meireles would play the 2015/2016 season with the Ottawa Jr Senators of the CCHL. He appeared in 48 games for the Jr Sens scoring 7 goals and adding 28 assists. He would suit up for 16 playoff games while scoring twice to go along with 6 assists.
After committing to the Rangers following the draft, Rangers’ GM Murray Heibert had this to say:
“Although he won’t join our team immediately, we see this as a move that is going to strengthen our hockey club in the future. Greg will be available to play games as an affiliate player and we look forward to having him join the team on a full time basis next season. This is a special player that excels at both ends of the ice. He possesses good hockey sense and the ability to make quick decisions at high speeds.”
Rangers’ fans had a glimpse into Meireles’ future when he appeared in 7 games for Kitchener. They were not disappointed with what they saw as he put up two goals and three assists in those seven games.
Internationally, Meireles suited up for Canada White at the 2016 World Hockey Challenge Under-17. In six games he scored once and assisted on another as Canada White won gold at the event. He also played for Team Canada at the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup but was held off the score sheet in four games.
Meireles has been red hot to date this season having 14 points (4 goals and 12 assists) through his first dozen games while leading all rookies in assists, points and penalty minutes. He’s been everything the Rangers’ wanted him to be and more and I named him the OHL draft eligible player of the month for September.
Greg Meireles of the Kitchener Rangers. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Meireles plays the game with intensity and with an extremely high level of energy and combines those tangibles with an excellent work ethic. He applies those traits in all three zones with the same intensity in his own zone as he does in the offensive zone.
Despite being 5’10 and 173 pounds, Meireles battles fiercely along the walls for pucks, often against bigger players, and comes away with the pucks in those battles more often than not. He’s brought an element of physicality to his game that can only improve with added bulk to his frame. His speed, anticipation and work ethic make him relentless on the forecheck.
Meireles is a very good skater with excellent speed and a first step that rockets him to top speed. Combined with his abilities to anticipate, he can get into lanes quickly often taking away attempted passes. He has very good vision and playmaking skills and while he projects as a playmaker first, he possesses an above average shot that can beat goaltenders. He has an extremely high hockey IQ and thinks the game one or two steps ahead.
Mike Farwell, the play by play radio voice of the Kitchener Rangers on 570 News and host of the Post Game show on Rogers Television shared his thoughts with OHLW:
Greg is a highly skilled hockey player. Fast, with good hands and vision. What has impressed me the most is how strong he is. He doesn’t shy away from anything and will go anywhere to get a puck. I haven’t often seen that kind of tenacity from a first year guy.
OHLW also had the opportunity to speak with Gwen Meireles, Greg’s mother, on a variety of topics regarding his path.
OHLW: So I have to ask right from the start, since Ottawa is your hometown, is it safe to assume that the Senators are the family’s favorite team, and Greg’s?
Gwen: Yes, the family has been Sens fans from the beginning. Greg’s first hockey game was playing for the Little Sens AAA spring team. He played defence and wore #6. He was a Wade Redden fan at the time.
OHLW: When did Greg first get involved in hockey and how long has he been dreaming of being an NHL player?
Gwen: I believe we first had him on the ice around 4 years old. He loved it. My husband felt he should learn how to skate before putting a stick in his hands so we put him in public skating during the summer and we built a backyard rink in the winter where he’d spend a lot of his time. I think it was around a year later where we put a stick in his hands. I don’t think early on he dreamed of being an NHL’er. He just loved playing the game.
OHLW: Who was Greg’s favorite player growing up and did he ’emulate’ him?
Gwen: His first favorite player was Wade Redden. He later liked Alex Ovechkin. He liked his skill and his physical play. Greg doesn’t have the same physical body as Alex Ovechkin but he still emulates his physical play.
OHLW: Was Greg (and the rest of the family) involved in other sports growing up and did he have any thoughts of pursuing them or was it always hockey?
Gwen: Greg played a lot of soccer and tennis as well growing up. The whole family played tennis. Actually I met my husband on the tennis court. Greg was an accomplished tennis player and won the U10 city championship when he was 9 years old. At this point we felt that he should concentrate on one sport more but still play multiple sports. We left it up to him and he chose hockey.
OHLW: Greg had an excellent season with the Ottawa Jr 67’s that led to being the 12th overall pick in the 2015 OHL Draft by the Kitchener Rangers. The Rangers are an excellent organization as are the 67’s. Ottawa was picking four spots later. Was there any hoping that he’d be there for the 67’s so Greg could play for his hometown team?
Gwen: Deep down my husband and I wanted him to play in Ottawa but Greg just wanted to play on a team that really wanted him. We were all excited and pleased that an organization such as the Kitchener Rangers selected him.
OHLW: After the OHL draft Greg went on to play a season with Ottawa Jr Senators of the CCHL. What was the thought process for taking that route instead of going directly to the OHL?
Gwen: We just thought that Greg was not quite ready to leave home at such a young age. Another year home gaining size and maturity would help him transition into next year. The Ottawa Jr Sens really wanted him and we felt Greg would develop more here than in Kitchener where all their forwards were returning. Kitchener was going to call him up for some games so we thought that would be the best for Greg. It took some arm twisting but Greg agreed.
OHLW: Was any consideration given to going a different route entirely over the OHL?
Gwen: There were several offers from prestigious NCAA schools but Greg wanted to play in the OHL especially after Kitchener drafted him.
OHLW: We often hear from players in their draft years saying they “try not to think about the draft” or “it’s there in the back of their minds”. How do you help him keep focused on the task at hand or do you leave that to his coaches in Kitchener?
Gwen: We have been driving down to Kitchener every weekend thus far. We talked to him about it last weekend but he says he really doesn’t think about it. He just tries to prepare for each game and play the best he can. We will leave this to his coaches.
OHLW: The NHL is changing, and we’re seeing smaller players that can skate and have skill be more successful. That gives Greg an advantage but he plays much bigger than his 5’10” frame. As a mother, it’s only natural to worry. Do you try to get him to ‘tone it down’?
Gwen: I do worry but he likes to play a physical game. It is tough to watch because many players are taller and heavier but it’s how he likes to play. He works really hard in the gym and I know he is in good physical shape so that helps a bit.
OHLW: At the start of every NHL season, as we are watching Hockey Night in Canada, a player scores his first NHL goal and immediately the cameras turn to his parents sitting in the stands. As you watch that happen, do you ever think about you and your family there as Greg nets his first NHL goal?
Gwen: Yes. We had 11 family members down to watch Greg’s first game this year. The team won, Greg had 1 goal and 2 assists and was named first star. We were so excited and proud. I just can’t explain how proud I was. I know the NHL is a long ways off and may never happen but we would be so proud of him after all these years of him working so hard.
I want to thank Gwen for taking the time out to talk to me and I am sure the readers will greatly appreciate the time as well.
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the week six 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.
OHL Writers 