CHL Announces BMO CHL Top 10 Rankings

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the twenty-first edition of the BMO CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2015-16 season.  The weekly rankings of the CHL’s Top-10 teams are selected by a panel of National Hockey League scouts.

BMO

 BMO CHL Top 10 Rankings – Week 21

Rank: Team: Last Week Rank: Number of Weeks Ranked:
1 Erie Otters (42-10-1-0) 1 21
2 Val-d’Or Foreurs (41-10-2-1) 2 12
3 Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (40-8-3-2) 3 20
4 London Knights (39-12-2-1) 5 21
5 Kitchener Rangers (37-11-5-0) 4 17
6 Kelowna Rockets (40-15-3-0) 7 15
7 Lethbridge Hurricanes (40-16-1-0) 8 11
8 Gatineau Olympiques (37-15-2-1) – 10
9 Victoria Royals (37-16-3-3) 6 5
10 Shawinigan Cataractes (35-15-4-0) 9 17
Honourable Mention:
Saint John Sea Dogs (35-14-4-0) – 2
Brandon Wheat Kings (35-17-2-2) 10 10
Kingston Frontenacs (35-14-2-2) – 1

CHL Large

 

 

OHL Announces Minor Midget Top-10 Rankings for 2016 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

GTHL’s Toronto Jr. Canadiens officially qualify for 2016 OHL Cup

 

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the twelfth edition of the weekly minor midget rankings for the 2016 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament 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 15-21, 2016.  All games will be played at the Scotiabank Pond in Toronto until the Championship Final moves to the Mattamy Athletic Centre on Monday March 21.

Minor Midget Rankings for the 2016 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament – Week 12

RANK TEAM LEAGUE LAST WEEK WEEKS RANKED
1 Mississauga Rebels GTHL 1 12
2 York Simcoe Express OMHA 2 12
3 Toronto Marlies GTHL 3 12
4 Toronto Jr. Canadiens GTHL 4 12
5 Toronto Red Wings GTHL 5 12
6 Barrie Jr. Colts OMHA 6 11
7 Waterloo Wolves ALLIANCE 8 10
8 Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs OMHA 9 12
9 Don Mills Flyers GTHL 7 10
10 Kingston Frontenacs OMHA 10 5
         
  Honourable Mention      
  London Jr. Knights ALLIANCE – 1
  Southern Tier Admirals OMHA – –
  Kitchener Jr. Rangers ALLIANCE – –
  North Central Predators OMHA – 3

Four teams from the GTHL have now officially qualified for the 2016 OHL Cup by advancing to their league Semi-Finals including the Mississauga Rebels, Toronto Marlies, Toronto Red Wings, and Toronto Jr. Canadiens who most recently defeated the Don Mills Flyers in the final Quarter-Final matchup.  The Jr. Canadiens will face the Marlies, and the Rebels will face the Red Wings in the league’s Semi-Finals set to begin later this month.  Also beginning later this month is the GTHL Wild Card Series featuring the four teams eliminated from the first round of playoffs including the Flyers who will face the Vaughan Kings, and the Mississauga Senators who will face the Markham Majors for the opportunity to keep their hopes alive with a Wild Card tournament entry.

Semi-Finals are underway in the ALLIANCE featuring the Waterloo Wolves against the Kitchener Jr. Rangers, and the London Jr. Knights against the Windsor Jr. Spitfires.  Both series winners will earn automatic entry into the 2016 OHL Cup, with the losing teams competing in a Semi-Final Wild Card Series with the winner also granted a berth in the tournament.  The fourth place team will be eligible for an OHL Cup Wild Card Play-In Game.

The OHL Cup continues to showcase 20 participating teams from across Ontario and the United States, but as of February, 2016, 15 of the 20 spots are now guaranteed through league competition.  The 15 guaranteed spots 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.  Two tournament entries are reserved for United States competition, while both an HNO and NOHA representative will also compete.

Also announced in February, 2016, is the addition of one Wild Card Play-In Game whereupon the final five entries at the 2016 OHL Cup will now be Wild Cards determined among 10 teams that will play a one game ‘win and in’ scenario.  The 10 competing teams aiming for the final five tournament spots will now include five teams named by the Tournament Selection Committee based on regular season, playoff, and tournament play.  The other Wild Card Play-In Game spots will continue to include the fifth place team at the OMHA Championship, and the loser of the ALLIANCE Semi-Final Wild Card Series.  Two spots in Wild Card games are also 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.  The final spot in a Wild Card will 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.  All five Wild Card games will take place on Tuesday March 15 with specific matchups and times of play to be determined by random draw among the 10 competing teams on Monday March 14.

Last season the Toronto Marlboros captured their fifth OHL Cup title in 11 years with a 3-2 overtime win over the Don Mills Flyers. Marlies forward and OHL Cup MVP Ryan McLeod followed up older brother Michael McLeod’s MVP effort in 2014 with three goals and four assists in the tournament.

McLeod was one of 12 first round draft selections from 2015 OHL Cup teams, including six of the top ten picks. Those names include David Levin (Don Mills Flyers – 1st overall to the Sudbury Wolves), Ryan McLeod (Toronto Marlboros – 3rd overall to the Flint Firebirds), Brady Gilmour (Quinte Red Devils – 6th overall to the Saginaw Spirit), Ben Jones (Toronto Marlboros – 7th overall to the Niagara IceDogs), Matthew Strome (Toronto Marlboros – 8th overall to the Hamilton Bulldogs) and Markus Phillips (Toronto Titans – 9th overall to the Owen Sound Attack).

Five first round selections in the 2015 NHL Draft are also OHL Cup graduates including Connor McDavid (Toronto Marlboros/Edmonton Oilers), Dylan Strome (Toronto Marlboros/Arizona Coyotes), Mitch Marner (Don Mills Flyers/Toronto Maple Leafs), Lawson Crouse (Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs/Florida Panthers) and Travis Konecny (Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs/Philadelphia Flyers).

Notable OHL Cup graduates currently playing in the NHL include Taylor Hall (Greater Kingston Frontenacs/Edmonton Oilers), John Tavares (Toronto Marlboros/New York Islanders), Steven Stamkos (Markham Waxers/Tampa Bay Lightning), Tyler Seguin (Toronto Nationals/Dallas Stars), 2013 Norris Trophy winner P.K. Subban (Markham Islanders/Montreal Canadiens) and 2010 OHL Cup MVP Sean Monahan (Mississauga Rebels/Calgary Flames).

For more information, please visit ohlcup.ca.

Colts’ Kevin Labanc named CHL Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that San Jose Sharks prospect Kevin Labanc of the Barrie Colts is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending February 14 after recording 11 points in three games including four goals and seven assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-6.

Labanc earns the award for the third time this season after becoming the first player in the OHL to eclipse 100 points.  His three multi-point performances helped the Colts extend their winning-streak to eight games securing their hold on second place in the league’s Eastern Conference standings with 70 points.  On Wednesday night he earned first star honours netting his third hat-trick of the season plus an assist in a 5-0 victory against the Owen Sound Attack, then earned second star honours on Thursday with a goal and three assists in a 7-6 win over the Hamilton Bulldogs.  Labanc reached then surpassed the 100-point milestone on Saturday with three assists as second star of a 5-1 victory over the Guelph Storm.

A 20-year-old from Staten Island, New York, Labanc is playing in his third career OHL season with the Colts and currently ranks fourth in all-time franchise scoring with 245 points in 184 games.  A sixth round pick of the Sharks in the 2014 NHL Draft, Labanc now has 103 points in 51 games for his second consecutive 100-point campaign and is second to only Conor Garland of the Moncton Wildcats (109 points in 50 games) in CHL scoring.

Also considered for the award this week was WHL Top Scorer Dryden Hunt of the Moose Jaw Warriors who scored six goals and three assists for nine points in three games, and Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Mathieu Joseph of the Saint John Sea Dogs who scored three goals and four assists for seven points in three games.

2015-16 CHL Regular Season Players of the Week:

Feb. 8 – Feb. 14: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Feb. 1 – Feb. 7: Ivan Provorov (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Jan. 25 – Jan. 31: Frédéric Allard (Chicoutimi Sagueneens)
Jan. 18 – Jan. 24: Giorgio Estephan (Lethbridge Hurricanes)
Jan. 11 – Jan. 17: Reid Gardiner (Prince Albert Raiders)
Jan. 4 – Jan. 10: Maxime Comtois (Victoriaville Tigres)
Dec. 28 – Jan. 3: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Dec. 14 – Dec. 20: Brendan Lemieux (Windsor Spitfires)
Dec. 7 – Dec. 13: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 30 – Dec. 6: Mitchell Marner (London Knights)
Nov. 23 – Nov. 29: Conor Garland (Moncton Wildcats)
Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Pierre-Luc Dubois (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles)
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Dylan Strome (Erie Otters)
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Nikolas Brouillard (Quebec Remparts)
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Mathew Barzal (Seattle Thunderbirds)
Oct. 19 – Oct. 25: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Oct. 12 – Oct. 18: Zach Bratina (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 5 – Oct. 11: Dennis Yan (Shawinigan Cataractes)
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Conor Garland (Moncton Wildcats)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 27: Alex Forsberg (Victoria Royals)

CHL Leagues

67’s’ Leo Lazarev named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Vaughn

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Leo Lazarev of the Ottawa 67’s is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending February 14 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory with a goals-against-average of 0.50 and save percentage of .983.

Lazarev made 57 saves and allowed just one goal in two games last week for the 67’s who are in the midst of a tight battle for playoff positioning in the OHL’s Eastern Conference currently in a three-way tie for fourth place and just two points shy of third.  He earned first star honours in both contests including Friday night with a 31-save performance for his third shutout of the season in a 3-0 victory over the Oshawa Generals, and on Sunday under Sportsnet’s national spotlight making 26 saves in a 2-1 triumph over the Windsor Spitfires.

Born in Moscow, Russia, Lazarev was chosen by the 67’s in the second round of the 2014 OHL Priority Selection and is playing in his second season with the club.  The 18-year-old carries a 21-13-0-0 record so far this season with a save percentage of .905 and a goals-against-average of 2.72 which ranks seventh in the OHL.

Also considered for the award this week was Connor Ingram of the Kamloops Blazers who posted a 3-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory stopping 105 shots for a goals-against-average of 1.64 and save percentage of .955.  In the QMJHL, Philippe Cadorette of the Shawinigan Cataractes set a new league record with his 17th career shutout as part of a week that included two wins along with a 0.99 goals-against-average and a .959 save percentage turning aside 47 shots between the pipes.

2015-16 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week:

Feb. 8 – Feb. 14: Leo Lazarev (Ottawa 67’s)
Feb. 1 – Feb. 7: Taz Burman (Swift Current Broncos)
Jan. 25 – Jan. 31: Luke Opilka (Kitchener Rangers)
Jan. 18 – Jan. 24: Jordan Papirny (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Jan. 11 – Jan. 17: Zach Sawchenko (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Jan. 4 – Jan. 10: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)
Dec. 28 – Jan. 3: Étienne Montpetit (Val-d’Or Foreurs)
Dec. 14 – Dec. 20: Callum Booth (Quebec Remparts)
Dec. 7 – Dec. 13: Jack Flinn (Mississauga Steelheads)
Nov. 30 – Dec. 6: Ty Edmonds (Prince George Cougars)
Nov. 23 – Nov. 29: Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips)
Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Keven Bouchard (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Devin Williams (Erie Otters)
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Etienne Montpetit (Val-d’Or Foreurs)
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Tyler Parsons (London Knights)
Oct. 19 – Oct. 25: Adin Hill (Portland Winterhawks)
Oct. 12 – Oct. 18: Julio Billia (Chicoutimi Sagueneens)
Oct. 5 – Oct. 11: Coleman Vollrath (Victoria Royals)
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Louis-Philip Guindon (Rimouski Oceanic)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 27: Zack Bowman (Flint Firebirds)

CHL Leagues

PLAYERS, EXECUTIVES SELECTED AS 2016 DISTINGUISHED HONOUREES OF THE ORDER OF HOCKEY IN CANADA

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

David Branch, Geraldine Heaney, Mario Lemieux, Bob Nicholson to be honoured as part of 13th annual Hockey Canada Foundation Celebrity Classic

Hockey Canada

 HALIFAX, N.S. – The Order of Hockey in Canada welcomes two players and two executives to its ranks of distinguished honourees who have made outstanding contributions or service to the growth and development of the sport of hockey in Canada.

 The Distinguished Honourees of the Order of Hockey in Canada were announced in Halifax, host-city of the 2016 Hockey Canada Foundation Celebrity Classic gala and golf tournament, where David Branch, Geraldine Heaney, Mario Lemieux, and Bob Nicholson will be formally celebrated.

 David Branch – As president of the Canadian Hockey League since 1996 and commissioner of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) since 1979, Branch oversees the world’s largest development league encompassing the OHL, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and Western Hockey League. He has been instrumental in leading a number of player-safety campaigns on topics that include anti-violence and mental health.

Geraldine Heaney – A two-time Olympic medallist and seven-time world champion in women’s hockey, Heaney has been inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame (2008), Hockey Hall of Fame (2013), and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame (2014). Heaney helped put women’s hockey on the map with her gold medal-winning goal at the inaugural IIHF World Women’s Championship in 1990, and her impact on the next crop of female hockey talent continues through her coaching activity in her hometown.

Mario Lemieux – Co-owner and chairman of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Lemieux’s NHL and international successes have left their mark on hockey in Canada and around the world. As a member of Team Canada, Lemieux recorded 49 points in 36 games, and he served as captain for the 2004 World Cup of Hockey-winning team and the golden 2002 Olympic Winter Games team. Other international successes include winning the 1987 Canada Cup, a silver medal at the 1985 IIHF World Championship, and a bronze at the 1983 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Bob Nicholson – CEO and vice-chair of the Oilers Entertainment Group, Nicholson served as president and CEO of Hockey Canada from 1998-2014, overseeing the nation’s gold-medal performances at seven Olympic Winter Games, 12 IIHF World Junior Championships, five IIHF World Championships, 10 IIHF World Women’s Championships, four IIHF World Women’s U18 Championships, three IIHF World U18 Championships, two IPC Sledge Hockey World Championships, and one Paralympic Winter Games. In addition to the high-performance wins, Nicholson continues to dedicate himself to the growth and development of the sport through his work as chairman of the IIHF Development & Coaching Committee.

 “Between David, Geraldine, Mario, and Bob, they have impacted millions of people in Canada and around the world through their work within the sport of hockey,” said Tom Renney, president and chief executive officer, Hockey Canada. “I congratulate them all, on behalf of my colleagues at Hockey Canada and the Order of Hockey in Canada selection committee, as well as our board of directors, volunteers, and the 750,000 registered members from coast-to-coast-to-coast, on this well-deserved recognition.”

 The addition of this year’s class brings the total number of honourees to 18 since the Order of Hockey in Canada’s inception in 2012, including: Jean Béliveau (2012); Cassie Campbell-Pascall (2012); Clare Drake (2014); Jim Gregory (2015); Wayne Gretzky (2012); Paul Henderson (2013); Gordie Howe (2012); Dave King (2013); Mark Messier (2013); Pat Quinn (2015); Gordon Renwick (2012); France St-Louis (2014); Serge Savard (2015); and Steve Yzerman (2014).

 A selection committee of 12 members – appointed by the Order of Hockey in Canada executive committee, established by Hockey Canada – is tasked with nominating and selecting, via secret ballot, the annual recipients of the Order of Hockey in Canada. The committee members represent a cross-section of individuals with great and varied experience around the game of hockey in Canada.

 This year’s honourees will be celebrated as part of the 2016 Hockey Canada Foundation Celebrity Classic, June 20 and 21 in Halifax.

 Nova Scotia legacy plans unveiled

 Halifax is the first city without an NHL team to host the prestigious event. Half of the proceeds from the 2016 Hockey Canada Foundation Celebrity Classic will support a provincial legacy plan as selected by the local steering committee for the event.

 Daniel Gallivan, Q.C., chair of the steering committee, announced Tuesday that Hockey Nova Scotia, the Sidney Crosby Foundation, and the Long Pond Hockey Arena Building Society will share the proceeds that will remain locally, to be used for programs and projects that support the growth and development of the sport in the province.

 “We have seen tremendous support from the community to-date, and I believe that is in large part because of the knowledge that the Celebrity Classic benefits our region directly, and in a very meaningful way,” said Gallivan. “Our committee considered several options. We ultimately agreed to support these three because we believe that, together, they will have a lasting and positive effect on hockey and those who play the game in Nova Scotia.”

 The remaining proceeds from the 2016 Hockey Canada Foundation Celebrity Classic will go to the Foundation to support the future development and delivery of Hockey Canada programs, projects, and activities across the country.

 Visit the Hockey Canada website for more information on the Hockey Canada Foundation, the 2016 Celebrity Classic, and the Order of Hockey in Canada.

CHL Leagues

Colts’ Kevin Labanc named Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that San Jose Sharks prospect Kevin Labanc of the Barrie Colts is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending February 14 after leading the league with 11 points in three games scoring four goals and seven assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-6.

Labanc became the first player to eclipse the century mark in points this season producing three multi-point performances that helped the Colts extend their winning-streak to eight games.  The OHL’s top scorer had back-to-back four point efforts includingWednesday night where he collected his third hat-trick of the season plus an assist as first star of a 5-0 victory over the Owen Sound Attack, then scored once with three assists on Thursday as second star of a 7-6 triumph over the Hamilton Bulldogs.  Labanc reached then surpassed the 100-point milestone on Saturday with three assists as second star of a 5-1 victory over the Guelph Storm.  His performance marks the 11th time the Colts have had a 100-point scorer in franchise history and third time a player has reached the milestone in consecutive seasons joining Bryan Little (2005-07) and Sheldon Keefe (1998-2000) in the record books.

A 20-year-old from Staten Island, New York, Labanc has now captured Player of the Week honours four times this season.  With 101 points (33 goals and 68 assists) through 50 games, the three-year Colt has totaled 243 points in 183 career regular season games and currently sits fifth in all-time franchise scoring behind Little (342), Daniel Tkaczuk (334), Hunter Tremblay (274), and Michael Henrich (244).  The overage forward was a sixth round pick of the Sharks in the 2014 NHL Draft.

Watch video highlights of Labanc and the Colts against the Attack, Bulldogs, and Storm.

Also considered for the award this week was Labanc’s fellow Colt Andrew Mangiapane.  The Calgary Flames prospect picked up five goals including his league-best fifth hat-trick of the season along with four assists for nine points in three games.  Los Angeles Kings prospect Mike Amadio of the North Bay Battalion recorded seven points in three games including a franchise record five goals on Saturday against the Kingston Frontenacs.  In goal, Leo Lazarev of the Ottawa 67’s went 2-0-0-0 including a shutout victory while posting a goals-against-average of 0.50 and save percentage of .983.

Pioneer

2015-16 Pioneer Energy OHL Players of the Week:

Feb. 8 – Feb. 14: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Feb. 1 – Feb. 7: Spencer Watson (Kingston Frontenacs)
Jan. 25 – Jan. 31: Jonah Gadjovich (Owen Sound Attack)
Jan. 18 – Jan. 24: Matthew Mancina (Peterborough Petes)
Jan. 11 – Jan. 17: Michael Giugovaz (Guelph Storm)
Jan. 4 – Jan. 10: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Dec. 28 – Jan. 3: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Dec. 14 – Dec. 20: Jake Smith (North Bay Battalion)
Dec. 7 – Dec. 13: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 30 – Dec. 6: Mitchell Marner (London Knights)
Nov. 23 – Nov. 29: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Pavel Zacha (Sarnia Sting)
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Devin Williams (Erie Otters)
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Dylan Strome (Erie Otters)
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Tyler Parsons (London Knights)
Oct. 19 – Oct. 25: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Oct. 12 – Oct. 18: Zach Bratina (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 5 – Oct. 11: Hunter Garlent (Peterborough Petes)
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 27: Zack Bowman (Flint Firebirds)

Nicolas Mattinen – Player Profile – London Knights

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height:  6’4”

Weight:  220 pounds

Date of birth: March 5, 1998, Orleans, ON

Position:  Defence

Shoots:  Right

OHL Draft:  Round 6, 110th overall, 2014 Priority Selection

During the 2012-2013 season, Mattinen played his Bantam hockey for the Eastern Ontario Wild and in 29 games he scored 5 goals and added 4 assists. He was selected in the 2013 Central Canada Hockey League Draft by the Cumberland Grads in the 4th round, 37th overall.

Mattinen, Nicolas
Nicolas Mattinen of the London Knights. Photo courtesy of the London Knights

The following season Mattinen moved on to the Wild Minor Midget AAA squad. In 30 games, he notched 6 goals and 14 assists. The Knights would make Mattinen their 6th round selection in the OHL Priority Selection.

Last season Mattinen suited up for the Grads in the CCHL. He appeared in 53 games scoring 4 goals and adding 10 assists. He was named to the CCHL All-Rookie Team.

After a season on a “not so good” Grads’ team in which Mattinen logged huge minutes while showing progression in all areas of his game, it was time to move up to the Knights and the OHL.  The problem is that the Knights were very deep on the blue line with fellow draft eligible teammates in Olli Juolevi and Victor Mete, along with Aiden Jamieson, Brandon Crawley and a young and upcoming Evan Bouchard (watch for him in the 2018 NHL Draft).

To date, Mattinen has appeared in 34 of the Knights 53 games this season. He has 4 goals and 4 assists with 18 penalty minutes and is a plus 3.

Mattinen is more of a stay at home defenceman. He already has very good size with a filled out frame at 6’4” and 220 pounds. He controls his gaps extremely well and with his long reach and active stick shuts down passing lanes quickly and effectively.

Mattinen does not possess huge offensive upside. However, he has shown a willingness and the capability to lead the rush and jump into the play – he has decent wheels for a player of his size. His best offensive asset is his booming shot. It’s hard and it’s heavy. Coach Dale Hunter claims the defenceman can fire it at over 100 miles per hour.

Mattinen was ranked 103rd on NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings released in January.

Tye Felhaber – Player Profile – Saginaw Spirit

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height:  5’11”

Weight:  190 Pounds

Date of birth:  August 5, 1998, Pembroke, Ontario

Position:  Center

Shoots:  Left

OHL Draft:  Round 1, 10th overall, 2014 Priority Selection

Felhaber played his Minor Midget AAA hockey for the Ottawa Valley Titans during the 2013 – 2014 season where he scored 38 goals and added 34 assists in 30 games. He added 8 goals and 4 assists in 9 playoff games.

Felhaber had a productive rookie season with the Spirit last season. His 20 goals were good for fifth among rookies in the OHL while his 37 points ranked seventh. That was good enough to get a look from Team Canada for the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, but he failed to make the final cut.

Tye Felhaber of the Saginaw Spirit. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Tye Felhaber of the Saginaw Spirit. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Felhaber got off to a very slow start this season, maybe even horrific considering his rookie season. The knock on him early on was that he wasn’t utilizing his teammates. I call it a lack of maturing. Whatever the excuse, just 4 goals and 2 assists in his first 24 games are not what anyone expected, especially from a top 10 pick.

But by mid December, something changed. In his last 22 games, Felhaber has scored 8 goals and added 11 assists. At just shy of a point per game clip, this is the Felhaber that most expected to see. So what’s changed?

Early on Felhaber was trying to do too much on his own, almost selfishly, which got him and his teammates into trouble with too many giveaways. But with his skating ability and speed he has the ability to control the puck and move in and out of traffic. What he lacked early on that he’s doing now – he is utilizing his teammates.

Felhaber’s work ethic and attention to detail has also hit the level expected of him in the second half. He’s putting himself into positions where teammates can find him and then get off his terrific shot. When the effort is there, he has the ability to control the game in the O-zone with his puck possession abilities.

Felhaber has raised his work ethic to a new level in all three zones. He comes back hard on the back check and battles along the boards at both ends of the ice.

Felhaber was ranked 139th on NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings in January partially due to his very slow start.

Felhaber Tip Top Tailors plays of the week – week 13

Felhaber Tip Top Tailors plays of the week – week 20

Felhaber plays of the year Western Division 2014-2015

Jordan Kyrou – Player Profile – Sarnia Sting

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height:  6’

Weight:  175 Pounds

Date of birth: May 5, 1998, Toronto, Ontario

Position:  Right Wing

Shoots:  Right

OHL Draft: Round 2, 38th overall, 2014 Priority Selection

Kyrou played his Minor Midget hockey for the Mississauga Senators. In 33 games, Kyrou scored 19 goals and added 21 assists for 40 points.  Kyrou and the Senators appeared in 4 OHL Cup games. Previously, Kyrou had also played in the OHL Gold Cup – capturing a Silver Medal.

Kyrou had four assists in five games for Canada at the World Hockey Challenge Under-17. He won a gold medal with Team Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial. He scored a goal in Canada’s deciding game against Russia in the Canada – Russia Series. He also played in the NHL/CHL Top Prospects game. Kyrou is no stranger to high level hockey within his age group.

Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

In the OHL, Kyrou got an opportunity last season and he didn’t disappoint, finishing the year 8th in OHL rookie scoring with 13 goals and 23 assists in 63 games. But his sophomore season didn’t start where it left off. While he was still setting up plays and goals, he didn’t notch his first goal until game 16 of the season, which was a bit of a disappointment. It took 49 games to surpass his totals from last season.

However, since December he has gotten into a grove and has had some consistency in his production.

Kyrou is a very good skater with soft hands and an ability to keep possession of the puck while moving in and out of traffic. He has very good vision and can wait out defenders and then find his teammates with a very good pass. Early on he tried to do too much and now is playing to his strengths: possession, patience and playmaking.

Kyrou is not just a playmaker. He has a very good shot and has proven that he can beat goaltenders with it. But it is his playmaking and vision in the O-zone that make him an offensive threat. His competitive spirit has also risen as the season has gone on. He plays with energy without the puck, getting in on fore checks and disrupting opposition breakouts. He’s also one of the OHL’s most adept players in causing turnovers.

Kyrou was ranked 45th on NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings in January.

Jordan Kyrou Tip Top plays of the week

Jordon Kyrou Canada – Russia Series

Tyler Parsons – Player Profile – London Knights

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height:  6’1”

Weight:  185 Pounds

Date of birth: September 18, 1997, Chesterfield, MI

Position: Goalie

Catches:  Left

OHL Draft: Signed as a free agent, 2014

With the likes of highly touted draft prospects and fellow teammates Matthew Tkachuk, Olli Juolevi and Max Jones, There are bound to be plenty of eyes on Parsons this season. Add in Mitch Marner and Christian Dvorak and Parsons’ Knights could be in for a long playoff run and a Memorial Cup appearance, which could also help the cause for NHL Central Scouting’s 3rd ranked OHL goaltender and 6th on the North American list.

Parsons played for Little Caesars Under-18 squad and signed on with the Knights as a free agent. However, he was drafted by the Cedar Rapids Rough Riders if the USHL in the second round, 30th overall in 2014.

Tyler Parsons of the London Knights. Photo by Terry Wilson/OHL Images.
Tyler Parsons of the London Knights. Photo by Terry Wilson/OHL Images.

As a rookie, Parsons gained valuable experience during his rookie season appearing in half the Knights games before being named the starter in the playoffs over the experienced Michael Giugovaz. He posted a 15-10-0-2 record with a goals against average of 3.53 and a save percentage of .905. In 8 playoff games, he had a 4-3-0 record with a 3.30 goals against average and .917 save percentage.

Knowing what is expected to be a number one goaltender in this league, and after suffering injuries last season due to what he called “muscle fatigue”,  Parsons did all the necessary work in the offseason. He worked on his lower body strength and became much stronger while growing an inch and gaining 20 pounds.

He came into the season as the de facto number one goaltender which allowed the Knights to trade Giugovaz. But with rookie Emanuel Vella as the backup, the Knights felt they needed to bring in an insurance policy and acquired Brendan Burke to be a capable and experienced backup.

Parsons appeared in the All-American Prospects Game (the American rendition of the NHL/CHL Top Prospects Game) but was injured less than 5 minutes into the game. He was also invited to Team USA’s camp for the World Junior Championships and was the team’s third goaltender.

Parsons doesn’t have the huge size but he isn’t small either. What he lacks in size to cover the net he makes up for with lightning quick reflexes. He will do what he has to do to stop pucks. What he doesn’t have to do with London’s high powered offense is steal games, but when they need a save, his excellent positioning and ability to track pucks ensures that he’ll give you that save.

Last season he struggled a little with his rebound control, but that lack of control has all but disappeared this season. He already possessed excellent lower body movement but is now controlling where rebounds go at a very high level. Combined with a quick glove hand, second opportunities are becoming a rarity.

I have to admit; early on in the season I didn’t think Parsons could lead the Knights to the Promised Land. Things change and that’s why we play the games. And If the Hunters and McRae believe in Parsons, that has to be good enough for me.

Parsons should and could be the top OHL goaltender selected in the June draft.

Tyler Parsons becomes the 8th goalie in OHL history to get credited with a goal