Dominic Tiano

MIGNOSA, PARSONS AND MEDVEDEV NAMED OHL TOP PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK

Posted on November 4, 2024 by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Week for the week of regular season games ending Sunday, November 3, 2024

Greyhounds’ Marco Mignosa Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week

Marco Mignosa of the Soo Greyhounds is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, registering four goals, four assists and eight points over three road games.

Mignosa’s eight points led the league as he started off fast, scoring two goals and adding an assist on Wednesday to earn second star honours in the Greyhounds’ 3-1 win over the Windsor Spitfires. He followed up with another goal on Friday despite a close 4-3 loss to the London Knights. On Saturday, Mignosa tied his career-high with a four-point performance, contributing a goal and three assists to help the Greyhounds secure a 4-0 victory over the Flint Firebirds.

A 19-year-old right-winger from Vaughan, Ont., Mignosa has skated in five games with the Greyhounds this season, tallying five goals, six assists and 11 points. Selected by Sault Ste. Marie in the second round (36th overall) at the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, the 5-foot-11, 170lb. forward has tallied 126 points (50-76-126) in 185 regular season games over four seasons.

Also given consideration for the award this week, defenceman Cameron Reid helped the Kitchener Rangers earn six points last week, registering seven points (2-5-7) in three games played. Fellow NHL Draft-eligible prospect Porter Martone of the Brampton Steelheads was also a standout, recording four goals, three assists and seven points over three games played.

2024-25 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Oct. 28 – Nov. 3: Marco Mignosa (Soo Greyhounds)
Oct. 21 – Oct. 27: Sam Dickinson (London Knights)
Oct. 14 – Oct. 20: Liam Greentree (Windsor Spitfires)
Oct. 7 – Oct. 13: Calvin Crombie (Brantford Bulldogs)
Sept. 30 – Oct. 6: Kevin He (Niagara IceDogs)
Sep. 25 – Sept. 29: Michael Misa (Saginaw Spirit)

Rangers’ Jackson Parsons Named OHL Goaltender of the Week

Jackson Parsons of the Kitchener Rangers is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, going 2-0-0-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average, and a .952 save percentage.

Parsons turned aside 60 shots last week as the Rangers extended their current winning streak to nine games. He made 21 saves in Tuesday’s 6-1 win over the Sarnia Sting, before returning between the pipes on Sunday afternoon, stopping 39 of the 41 shots he faced in a 4-2 win against the Saginaw Spirit.

A soon-to-be 20-year-old from Embrun, Ont., Parsons is 9-2-1-0 on the season with a 2.73 goals-against average and .905 save percentage over 12 games. The former third round (53rd overall) pick by Kitchener in 2020 is now in his fourth OHL season, owning a career mark of 46-34-5-0 with a 3.24 goals-against average, .896 save percentage and four shutouts over 90 regular season games.

Also considered for the award this week, Windsor Spitfires netminder Joey Costanzo went 2-1-0-0 with a 1.01 goals-against average and .948 save percentage including a shutout, while Noah Erliden of the Erie Otters was also a standout in the crease, going 2-0-0-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average and .940 save percentage including a shutout.

2024-25 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Oct. 28 – Nov. 3: Jackson Parsons (Kitchener Rangers)
Oct. 21 – Oct. 27: Nathan Day (Flint Firebirds)
Oct. 14 – Oct. 20: Joey Costanzo (Windsor Spitfires)
Oct. 7 – Oct. 13: Finn Marshall (Sudbury Wolves)
Sept. 30 – Oct. 6: Joey Costanzo (Windsor Spitfires)
Sept. 25 – Sept. 29: Jack Ivankovic (Brampton Steelheads)

Knights’ Aleksei Medvedev Named OHL Rookie of the Week

Aleksei Medvedev is the OHL Rookie of the Week after a standout 1-0 performance last week.

Medvedev made 38 saves in Sunday’s 2-1 road win over the Owen Sound Attack, earning his fifth OHL win with a 0.94 goals-against average and a .974 save percentage.

The 17-year-old from Vaughan, Ont., has appeared in nine games with the Knights this season, posting a 5-2-0-0 record, along with a 2.89 goals-against average, and .912 save percentage. The 6-foot-1, 164Ib. netminder was selected by London in the second round (38th overall) of the 2023 OHL Priority Selection. Medvedev was recently listed as a C-rated prospect in NHL Central Scouting’s Preliminary Players to Watch list for the 2025 NHL Draft.

2024-25 OHL Rookies of the Week – Regular Season:
Oct. 28 – Nov. 3: Aleksei Medvedev (London Knights)
Oct. 21 – Oct. 27: Cole Zurawski (Flint Firebirds)
Oct. 14 – Oct. 20: Alessandro Di Iorio (Sarnia Sting)
Oct. 7 – Oct. 13: Pierce Mbuyi (Owen Sound Attack)
Sept. 30 – Oct. 6: Beckham Edwards (Sarnia Sting)
Sept. 25 – Sept. 29: Ethan Belchetz (Windsor Spitfires)

OHL Writers Draft Eligible Players of the Month: October

Posted on November 3, 2024 by Dominic Tiano

Each Ontario Hockey League season, we make our selections for forward of the month, defenceman of the month and goaltender of the month among the league’s players eligible for the NHL Entry Draft. Now that the month of October is behind us, let’s take a look at our choices.

Forward of the Month – Michael Misa – Saginaw Spirit

Misa appeared in 10 games for the Spirit in October and scored 10 goals while adding 8 assists in those games. Only one of those goals came with the man advantage while another came while down a man. He never managed less than 3 SOG and had a high of 9 SOG on October 26 against the London Knights. Misa was named the OHL’s player of the month for October.

Also considered was Porter Martone of the Brampton Steelheads. Martone appeared in 9 games and scored 11 goals and added 8 assists. He was only held off the scoresheet once on October 12 against the Barrie Colts. Martone was runner up to Misa for the OHL’s player of the month.

Defenceman of the Month – Cameron Reid – Kitchener Rangers

Reid appeared in 12 games in October and scored 3 goals and adding 10 assists to lead all draft eligible defencemen. Five of his games were multi point games and he was a minus player in just 3 games in October.

Also considered were Jack Brauti of the Niagara IceDogs with 1 goal and 7 assists in 11 games and Mitch Young of the Sarnia Sting with 2 goals and 6 assists in 13 games.

Goaltender of the Month – Joey Costanzo – Windsor Spitfires

Costanzo appeared in 8 games and went 7-1-0-0 in those games while stopping 190 of 201 shots he faced for a save percentage of .945 and a goals-against average of 1.63. He was named the OHL’s goaltender of the month for October.

Also considered was Noah Erliden of the Erie Otters who played in 7 games with a 4-1-1-9 record. He stopped 239 of 256 shots he faced for a .934 save percentage.

OHL’s Draft Eligible Statistical Leaders: October

Posted on November 3, 2024 by Dominic Tiano

The first full month of the Ontario Hockey League season is behind us and it should come as no surprise that Michael Misa and Porter Martone are ahead of the rest of the players eligible for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft when it comes to Point production. The pair of first round prospects should go neck and neck through the season.

Here’s a look at the statistical leaders among the OHL’s draft eligible players:

Points Leaders
Player	Team	GP	G	A	Pts
Michael Misa	Saginaw	13	17	9	26
Porter Martone	Brampton	11	12	13	25
Kristian Epperson	Saginaw	12	6	11	17
Jack Nesbitt	Windsor	13	9	6	15
Cameron Reid	Kitchener	14	3	12	15
Malcolm Spence	Erie	12	5	9	14
Matthew Soto	Kingston	13	6	7	13
Matthew Buckley	Oshawa	14	6	7	13
Luca Romano	Kitchener	14	5	8	13
Christopher Thibodeau	Flint	12	2	11	13
Goal Scoring Leaders
Player	Team		GP	G	GPG
Michael Misa	Saginaw		13	17	1.31
Porter Martone	Brampton		11	12	1.09
Jack Nesbitt	Windsor		13	9	0.69
Chase Coughlin	Sudbury		12	8	0.67
Luke Ellinas	Kitchener		14	8	0.57
Adam Zidlicky	Brampton		11	7	0.64
Evan Van Gorp	London		11	7	0.64
Kristian Epperson	Saginaw		12	6	0.50
Matthew Soto	Kingston		13	6	0.46
Matthew Buckley	Oshawa		14	6	0.43
Assist Leaders
Player	Team		GP	A	APG
Porter Martone	Brampton		11	13	1.18
Cameron Reid	Kitchener		14	12	0.86
Kristian Epperson	Saginaw		12	11	0.92
Christopher Thibodeau	Flint		12	11	0.92
Calvin Crombie	Brantford		11	11	1.00
Anthony Cristoforo	Windsor		13	10	0.77
Mitch Young	Sarnia		15	10	0.67
Henry Brzustewicz	London		11	10	0.91
Bode Stewart	Barrie		12	10	0.83
Michael Misa	Saginaw		13	9	0.69
Defencemen Point Leaders
Player	Team	GP	G	A	Pts
Cameron Reid	Kitchener	14	3	12	15
Anthony Cristoforo	Windsor	13	2	10	12
Mitch Young	Sarnia	15	2	10	12
Henry Brzustewicz	London	11	0	10	10
Jack Brauti	Niagara	13	1	8	9
Jakub Chromiak	Kitchener	9	1	7	8
Matthew Virgilio	Niagara	13	1	7	8
Braedyn Rogers	Owen Sound	13	0	8	8
Kashawn Aitcheson	Barrie	10	3	4	7
Alexis Daviault	Erie	12	2	5	7
Goaltenders Leaders – Goals Against Average
Player	Team	GP	Min	GA	Avg
Joey Costanzo	Windsor	10	600	19	1.90
Jack Ivankovic	Brampton	7	365	13	2.14
Noah Erliden	Erie	9	544	23	2.54
Sam Hillebrandt	Barrie	9	536	23	2.57
Nate Krawchuk	Sudbury	7	319	15	2.82
Goaltending Leaders – Save Percentage
Player	Team	GP	SH	SVS	SV%
Joey Costanzo	Windsor	10	260	243	0.935
Jack Ivankovic	Brampton	7	182	169	0.929
Noah Erliden	Erie	9	319	296	0.928
Nate Krawchuk	Sudbury	7	191	176	0.921
Mike McIvor	North Bay	8	274	252	0.920

OHL ANNOUNCES TOP PERFORMERS OF THE MONTH FOR OCTOBER

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Month for October, including a small number of games played in September to begin the 2024-25 regular season.

Player of the Month – Michael Misa (Saginaw Spirit)
Top 2025 NHL Draft prospect Michael Misa of the Saginaw Spirit is the OHL Player of the Month for October, leading the league with 17 goals over 13 games with a plus/minus rating of plus-8. Misa, who added nine assists to his stat line for a total of 26 points, has been held without a goal just twice so far this season, and has recorded at least one point in all 13 of his outings. Misa’s start to the season was headlined by a hat-trick as part of a four-point effort on Sept. 27th against the Soo Greyhounds. He enters November having scored in five consecutive games. Misa is the first Spirit player to earn OHL Player of the Month honours since Eric Locke in February 2013.

A 17-year-old from Oakville, Ont., Misa was selected by the Spirit as an exceptional status player with the first overall pick of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection. The 6-foot-1, 185Ib. centreman has accumulated 68 goals, 89 assists and 157 points over 125 season games with the Spirit, tacking on an additional 19 points (7-12–19) over 28 playoff contests. Misa, who hoisted the Memorial Cup with Saginaw this past June, was included as an A-rated prospect on NHL Central Scouting’s Preliminary Players to Watch List. He’ll compete as a member of Team CHL in the upcoming CHL/USA Prospects Challenge slated to take place on Nov. 26th and 27th in London and Oshawa.

Also considered for the award this month, Los Angeles Kings prospect Liam Greentree of the Windsor Spitfires put up 27 points (7-20–27) over 12 contests. NHL Draft prospect Porter Martone of the Brampton Steelheads was also a standout, registering 25 points (12-13–25) over 11 games to begin the campaign.

Defenceman of the Month – Luca Marrelli (Oshawa Generals)
Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Luca Marrelli of the Oshawa Generals is the OHL Defenceman of the Month for October, leading blueliners with 17 points including eight goals and nine assists over 14 games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-13. Marrelli’s eight goals, just one of which has come on the power play while two have been game-winners, lead OHL blueliners. Marrelli has been held off the scoresheet just three times and he enters November with multi-point outputs in three consecutive games. Marrelli is the first Generals defender to earn OHL Defenceman of the Month recognition since Michael Del Zotto in December 2008.

A 19-year-old from Toronto, Ont., Marrelli has recorded 114 points (19-95–114) over 201 OHL regular season games since being selected by the Generals with their fifth-round (81st overall) pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection. The 6-foot-2, 184Ib. defender helped Oshawa win an Eastern Conference title last spring, producing 13 points (2-11–13) over 21 playoff games. Marrelli was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the third-round (86th overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft.

Also considered for the award this month, London Knights defenceman Sam Dickinson returned from the San Jose Sharks to produce 15 points (7-8–15) over his first 10 games of the season. Windsor Spitfires blueliner Anthony Cristoforo was also excellent, leading the OHL with a plus/minus rating of plus-20 while recording 12 points (2-10–12) over 13 games.

Goaltender of the Month – Joey Costanzo (Windsor Spitfires)
Windsor Spitfires netminder Joey Costanzo is the OHL Goaltender of the Month for October, playing to a 9-1-0-0 record with a 1.90 goals-against average, .934 save percentage and one shutout. Costanzo has surrendered more than two goals in a game just twice so far in 2024-25, steering the Spitfires to the top of the West Division standings. The fourth-year veteran came out of the gate with nine consecutive wins to start the season, making 30+ saves on four different occasions. Costanzo becomes the first Spitfire to get the nod as OHL Goaltender of the Month since Michael DiPietro in December 2016.

A 19-year-old from Toronto, Ont., Costanzo owns a career mark of 50-40-2-3 with a 3.96 goals-against average, .882 save percentage and two shutouts over 106 career regular season matchups between Windsor and Niagara. The 6-foot-1, 174Ib. Costanzo was the first goaltender chosen in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, going in the second-round (23rd overall) to the Niagara IceDogs from the Toronto Marlboros U16 AAA program.

Also considered for the award this month, Owen Flores of the Niagara IceDogs was impressive, playing to a 7-1-0-0 record with a 2.26 goals-against average and .935 save percentage. Edmonton Oilers prospect Nathan Day of the Flint Firebirds turned aside 280 shots, going 6-4-0-1 with a 2.26 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage.

Rookie of the Month – Ethan Belchetz (Windsor Spitfires)
First overall 2024 OHL Priority Selection choice Ethan Belchetz is off to a great start, being named October’s OHL Rookie of the Month with 12 points including four goals and eight assists over 12 games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-6. Belchetz led OHL rookies in points (12) and shots on goal (41) to begin the campaign, with two of his four markers coming shorthanded. His six-points effort (4-2–6) on Sept, 28th vs. Kitchener was the most productive single game performance by a 16-year-old rookie in the OHL since March 2010. Belchetz enters November with points in each of his last two outings and joins teammates Cole Davis (November 2023) and Liam Greentree (March 2023) in earning Rookie of the Month honours.

A 6-foot-5, 226Ib. 16-year-old from Oakville, Ont., Belchetz was chosen by the Spitfires with the first overall pick of the 2024 OHL Priority Selection. Last year’s OHL Cup MVP was instrumental in leading the Oakville Rangers to a championship title in the annual showcase. Belchetz is set to represent Canada White in the 2024 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge taking place in Sarnia beginning on Sunday.

Also considered for the award this month, Sarnia Sting forward Beckham Edwards had 11 points (6-5–11) in his first 14 OHL games. Draft eligible forward Filip Ekberg of the Ottawa 67’s put up 10 points (5-5–10) over 12 contests.

INAUGURAL CONNOR MCDAVID OHL TOP PROSPECTS GAME PRESENTED BYENBRIDGE GAS COMING TO BRANTFORDON JANUARY 15, 2025

Posted on October 30, 2024 by Dominic Tiano

The OHL’s top NHL Draft eligibles go head-to-head in an East vs. West showcase in the Telephone City

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League’s top NHL Draft eligible prospects will hit the ice on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 7:00pm at the Civic Centre in Brantford as the Eastern Conference battles the Western Conference in the all-new Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game presented by Enbridge Gas.

“The OHL produced 39 players selected in the 2024 NHL Draft, the most by any league in the world,” said OHL Commissioner Bryan Crawford. “We’ve produced more than 2,500 NHL Draft selections over the past 55 years, and this event, named after one of the league’s distinguished alumni and one of the best players to ever play the game, will only serve to build on that great tradition of development.”

The OHL’s top NHL Draft prospects will represent their respective conferences before NHL scouts and an enthusiastic Brantford crowd that has supported the hometown Bulldogs consistently since their arrival in the Telephone City at the start of last season.

“We are honoured to host the Top Prospects Game and welcome the next generation of hockey stars to the City of Brantford,” said Mayor Kevin Davis, who has held office in Brantford since 2018. “This event is a fantastic chance to highlight our community’s passion for hockey and the Brantford Bulldogs, bringing fans together for an unforgettable showcase of talent.”

Enbridge Gas, proud sponsors of the Ontario Hockey League, will serve as the presenting sponsor of the annual showcase that gives rising stars a platform to make their mark against other top draft eligibles from across the league.

One of the game’s marquee talents, Connor McDavid’s OHL legacy during his time with the Erie Otters is commemorated in the title of the annual showcase. McDavid, whose #97 will be retired by the Otters on January 10, 2025, is a former Most Outstanding Player, Rookie of the Year, Playoff MVP and two-time Academic Player of the Year in the OHL and today serves as captain of the Edmonton Oilers where he’s amassed nearly 1,000 points over parts of 10 NHL seasons. McDavid is a former first overall NHL Draft pick, three-time recipient of the Hart Trophy presented to the NHL’s Most Valuable Player, and has led the NHL in scoring on five different occasions.

Players selected as MVP for their respective teams in the annual showcase will be recognized with the Connor McDavid 97 Award as a result of their performance.

Following a pre-sale to Bulldogs season ticket members, tickets for the Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game will go on sale at a date soon to be announced, with rosters selected by NHL Member Teams and NHL Central Scouting to be announced in mid to late November.

Follow along for more updates at ontariohockeyleague.com and by following along on social media with the hashtag #OHLTopProspects.

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CHL Top-10 Rankings: Moncton remains at No. 1, while Saskatoon enters the Top-10 for the first time in 2024-25

Posted on October 29, 2024 by Dominic Tiano

TORONTO, ON — Today, the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced the Week 5 edition of its CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2024-25 season.

With nine victories over their last 10 games, the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) rank first for a third straight week. Holding the best point percentage in the CHL at .875, the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) are up to their highest ranking of the season at No. 2. Meanwhile, the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the QMJHL moved up to third as they remain one of only three teams in the CHL with at least 11 wins this season.

Among some of the other biggest movers and shakers was the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League (WHL) and London Knights of the OHL, who both climbed up the rankings to No. 4 and No. 5 respectively after going undefeated last week. Additionally, as one of only four teams in the CHL with a point percentage greater than .800, the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL are making their Top-10 debut of the 2024-25 season in ninth.

The next rankings will be released the week of November 4, following the sixth week of regular season action in all three member leagues of the CHL.

CHL Top-10 Rankings – Week 5
1. Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
2. Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
3. Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
4. Everett Silvertips (WHL)
5. London Knights (OHL)
6. Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL)
7. Prince George Cougars (WHL)
8. Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
9. Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
10. Brampton Steelheads (OHL)

For information and details about each individual club ranked in the CHL’s latest Top-10 Rankings, please visit chl.ca/video/2024-25-chl-top-10-rankings-week-5.

OHL ANNOUNCES ACADEMIC PLAYERS OF THE MONTH PRESENTED BY HOCKLEY VALLEY RESORT

Posted on October 29, 2024 by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Academic Players of the Month for October, proudly presented by Hockley Valley Resort.

East Division – Mason Vaccari (Kingston Frontenacs)
Kingston Frontenacs goaltender Mason Vaccari is the East Division Academic Player of the Month for October. The 19-year-old from Mississauga, Ont. is currently studying at Nipissing University, maintaining a 93 percent average in his Bachelor of Commerce distance program. Vaccari has excelled in Organizational Human Resources and Accounting courses.

“Mason continues to be a role model for his teammates and young fans,” said Frontenacs academic advisor Kristi LeSarge. “We couldn’t be prouder to work with him.”

On the ice, Vaccari owns a record of 2-2-1-0 with a 3.64 goals-against average and .878 save percentage through seven games this season. Last year’s OHL and CHL Humanitarian of the Year Award recipient owns a career mark of 40-43-4-0 with a 3.55 goals-against average and .886 save percentage through 95 regular season games since being Kingston’s fourth-round pick in 2021.

Central Division – Kent Greer (North Bay Battalion)
North Bay Battalion first-year blueliner Kent Greer is the Central Division Academic Player of the Month for October. Greer has achieved high standing in Grade 11 studies at Chippewa Secondary School, engaged in Mathematics, Healthy, Active Living, International Business and Co-operative Education courses.

“Kent is the type of student whose teachers all took the time during the first, very hectic week of school to seek me out and let me know how much they enjoy having him in their class,” said Stephanie Silverthorn, academic advisor for the Battalion. He is a diligent, motivated student whose positive attitude and strong work ethic enable him to be a natural leader in the class.”

North Bay’s second-round pick last spring, Greer has four points (2-2–4) through his first 14 career OHL contests. The 16-year-old from Renfrew, Ont. spent the 2023-24 season with the Barrie Colts U16 AAA program where he contributed to an OMHA championship.

“Kent has seamlessly joined our program and has been a leader on and off the ice,” said Battalion GM John Winstanley. “He does an excellent job at balancing his academic and athletic commitments.”

Midwest Division – Jimmy Sutherland (Guelph Storm)
Guelph Storm forward Jimmy Sutherland is the Midwest Division Academic Player of the Month for October. Sutherland has maintained a 93 percent average in Grade 12 university-level studies at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School, excelling in Data Management, Economics and International Business.

“Jimmy is conscientious and self-motivated,” said Storm academic advisor Coleen Driscoll. “He takes initiative in his learning and collaborates well with his peers. His teachers describe him as an excellent student with a positive work ethic.”

A 17-year-old left-winger from Komoka, Ont., Sutherland has appeared in nine games with the Storm this season along with an additional two with the GOJHL’s Elmira Sugar Kings. The former 13th-round pick in 2023 had a strong season with the GOJHL’s Strathroy Rockets in 2023-24, producing 31 points (16-15–31) over 50 regular season games. He’s a graduate of the Bishop Kearney Selects program.

West Division – Kaden Sienko (Saginaw Spirit)
Saginaw Spirit first-year defender Kaden Sienko is the West Division Academic Player of the Month. The 16-year-old from Binghamton, NY is achieving a 95 percent average across five Grade 11 courses at Heritage High School, learning English, Biology, Pre-Calculus, US History and engaged in a Co-op.

“Kaden is gifted and very dedicated to his studies,” said Spirit academic advisor Pamela Moretuzzo. “He embodies the ideal balance between academic excellence and athletic achievement. His commitment to his studies is evident in both the quality of his work and his well-organized approach to managing his time between demanding academic and athletic schedules.”

Saginaw’s 13th-round pick last spring, Sienko has recorded two assists across his first 10 OHL contests. The Spirit selected Sienko from the South Kent School AAA program, where he wore the ‘C’ last season.

DICKINSON, DAY AND ZURAWSKI NAMED OHL TOP PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK

Posted on October 28, 2024October 28, 2024 by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Week for the week of regular season games ending Sunday, October 27, 2024.

Knights’ Sam Dickinson Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week

London Knights defenceman Sam Dickinson is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording seven points including two goals and five assists as the Knights strung together three straight wins.

Dickinson, who was selected by the San Jose Sharks with the 11th overall pick of the 2024 NHL Draft, started the week off with an overtime winner along with an assist in Friday’s 4-3 win over the Brantford Bulldogs. Dickinson followed Friday’s first star performance with another on Saturday in Saginaw, scoring and tacking on a helper as the Knights defeated the host Spirit 4-1. He rounded-out the weekend with three assists as London defeated the Sarnia Sting 5-2 on the road.

An 18-year-old from Toronto, Dickinson leads the Knights in scoring, and is second in points among OHL blueliners with 15 (7-8–15) over 10 games. The 6-foot-3, 200Ib. left-shot blueliner leads OHL defencemen with 55 shots on goal in this, his third OHL season. Formerly a fourth overall pick by the Niagara IceDogs in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, Dickinson has recorded 108 points (34-74–108) over 140 career regular season contests in London. He put up 13 points (4-9–13) over 18 games in last year’s playoffs as the Knights were crowned OHL champions.

Also considered for the award this week, Anaheim Ducks prospect Beckett Sennecke produced seven points (5-2–7) in three games for the Oshawa Generals, Peterborough Petes sophomore Aiden Young (5-2–7) had a similar stat line and Calgary Flames prospect Luke Misa of the Brampton Steelheads had seven points (4-3–7) in two outings, getting in on Sunday’s 10-1 win over the Guelph Storm.

2024-25 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Oct. 21 – Oct. 27: Sam Dickinson (London Knights)
Oct. 14 – Oct. 20: Liam Greentree (Windsor Spitfires)
Oct. 7 – Oct. 13: Calvin Crombie (Brantford Bulldogs)
Sept. 30 – Oct. 6: Kevin He (Niagara IceDogs)
Sep. 25 – Sept. 29: Michael Misa (Saginaw Spirit)

Firebirds’ Nathan Day Named OHL Goaltender of the Week

Edmonton Oilers prospect Nathan Day of the Flint Firebirds is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, going 2-0-0-1 with a 0.97 goals-against average, .969 save percentage and one shutout.

Day turned aside 94 shots last week, helping the Firebirds collect five of a possible six points. He made 22 saves in Wednesday morning’s 2-1 shootout loss in Sarnia before rebounding on Friday in Guelph, turning aside 35 shots as Flint beat the Storm 7-2. Day was at his best on Saturday back at home, making 37 saves in his first career OHL shutout as the Firebirds beat Owen Sound 3-0.

A 19-year-old from Grimsby, Ont., Day is 6-4-0-1 on the season with a 2.26 goals-against average and .918 save percentage over 11 games. Day was Edmonton’s sixth-round (184th overall) pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. The former third round (57th overall) pick by Flint in 2021 is now in his fourth OHL season, owning a career mark of 50-43-1-3 with a 3.60 goals-against average, .876 save percentage and one shutout over 105 regular season games.

Also considered for the award this week, Kitchener Rangers netminder Jackson Parsons went 2-0 with a 2.49 goals-against average and .919 save percentage while Sam Hillebrandt of the Barrie Colts was also sharp, going 1-1-0-0 with a 1.51 goals-against average and .949 save percentage.

2024-25 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Oct. 21 – Oct. 27: Nathan Day (Flint Firebirds)
Oct. 14 – Oct. 20: Joey Costanzo (Windsor Spitfires)
Oct. 7 – Oct. 13: Finn Marshall (Sudbury Wolves)
Sept. 30 – Oct. 6: Joey Costanzo (Windsor Spitfires)
Sept. 25 – Sept. 29: Jack Ivankovic (Brampton Steelheads)

Firebirds’ Cole Zurawski Named OHL Rookie of the Week

Flint Firebirds forward Cole Zurawski is the OHL Rookie of the Week, recording two goals and two assists over three contests.

Zurawski recorded his first career multi-goal effort on Friday in Guelph, scoring twice while adding an assist as the Firebirds beat the Guelph Storm 7-2. Zurawski followed-up the second star performance with an assist as the Firebirds defeated the Owen Sound Attack at home on Saturday.

A 16-year-old from Barrie, Ont., Zurawski has recorded nine points (4-5–9) through his first 12 games of the season. The 6-foot, 181Ib. right-winger was selected by Flint with the sixth overall pick of the 2024 OHL Priority Selection. Zurawski will represent Canada White at the 2024 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge that begins on Nov. 3rd in Sarnia.

Also considered for the award this week, Owen Sound Attack forward Pierce Mbuyi recorded four points (1-3–4) in three games while Barrie Colts forward Parker Vaughan produced three (2-1–3) in as many games.

2024-25 OHL Rookies of the Week – Regular Season:
Oct. 21 – Oct. 27: Cole Zurawski (Flint Firebirds)
Oct. 14 – Oct. 20: Alessandro Di Iorio (Sarnia Sting)
Oct. 7 – Oct. 13: Pierce Mbuyi (Owen Sound Attack)
Sept. 30 – Oct. 6: Beckham Edwards (Sarnia Sting)
Sept. 25 – Sept. 29: Ethan Belchetz (Windsor Spitfires)

SIXTY-TWO OHL PLAYERS INCLUDED ON NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING PRELIMINARY PLAYERS TO WATCH LIST

Posted on October 23, 2024 by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League is proud to announce that 62 OHL players have been included on NHL Central Scouting’s October ‘Players to Watch’ List for the 2025 NHL Draft scheduled to take place next summer.

The 62 OHL players are part of an overall total of 155 players from across the Canadian Hockey League included on the list.

Kashawn Aitcheson of the Barrie Colts, Brady Martin of the Soo Greyhounds, Michael Misa of the Saginaw Spirit, Porter Martone of the Brampton Steelheads, Jake O’Brien of the Brantford Bulldogs, along with Matthew Schaefer and Malcolm Spence of the Erie Otters received ‘A’ ratings, indicating a potential first round selection.

An additional six players were assigned ‘B’ ratings indicating a potential second or third round selection, and 16 received ‘C’ designations indicating a potential fourth or fifth round candidate, while 33 received ‘W’ ratings indicating potential sixth or seventh round picks.

All 20 OHL member teams are represented on the list led by the Brampton Steelheads, Brantford Bulldogs, Soo Greyhounds and Owen Sound Attack with six players included, followed by the Saginaw Spirit, Guelph Storm and North Bay Battalion with five.

The list includes 38 OHL forwards, 15 defencemen and nine goaltenders.

2025 NHL Central Scouting October Players to Watch List – OHL

Players have been identified using the following criteria:

• A Rating – Indicates a first round candidate
• B Rating – Indicates a second or third round candidate
• C Rating – Indicates a fourth/fifth round candidate
• W Rating – Indicates a sixth/seventh round candidate

SKATERS

RATING	PLAYER	POS.	TEAM
A	Kashawn Aitcheson	D	Barrie Colts
A	Brady Martin	C	Soo Greyhounds
A	Porter Martone	RW	Brampton Steelheads
A	Michael Misa	C	Saginaw Spirit
A	Jake O’Brien	C	Brantford Bulldogs
A	Matthew Schaefer	D	Erie Otters
A	Malcolm Spence	LW	Erie Otters
B	David Bedkowski	D	Owen Sound Attack
B	Jimmy Lombardi	C	Flint Firebirds
B	Jack Nesbitt	C	Windsor Spitfires
B	Cameron Reid	D	Kitchener Rangers
B	Luca Romano	C	Kitchener Rangers
C	Henry Brzustewicz	D	London Knights
C	Carson Cameron	D	Peterborough Petes
C	Jake Crawford	C	Owen Sound Attack
C	Filip Ekberg	RW	Ottawa 67’s
C	Kristian Epperson	LW	Saginaw Spirit
C	Travis Hayes	RW	Soo Greyhounds
C	Tyler Hopkins	C	Kingston Frontenacs
C	Lucas Karmiris	C	Brampton Steelheads
C	Shamar Moses	RW	North Bay Battalion
C	Harry Nansi	RW	Owen Sound Attack
C	Evan Passmore	D	Barrie Colts
C	Daniil Skvortsov	D	Guelph Storm
C	Caden Taylor	LW	Peterborough Petes
C	Quinn Beauchesne	D	Guelph Storm
W	Lirim Amidovski	RW	North Bay Battalion
W	Blake Arrowsmith	RW	London Knights
W	Joshua Avery	C	Brantford Bulldogs
W	Gabriel Chiarot	RW	Brampton Steelheads
W	Jacob Cloutier	RW	Saginaw Spirit
W	Ethan Czata	C	Niagara IceDogs
W	Tristan Delisle	C	Owen Sound Attack
W	Luke Dragusica	D	Brampton Steelheads
W	Josh Glavin	D	Saginaw Spirit
W	Owen Griffin	C	Oshawa Generals
W	Charlie Hilton	LW	Soo Greyhounds
W	Parker Holmes	LW	Brantford Bulldogs
W	Hughston Hurt	D	Sarnia Sting
W	Ruslan Karimov	RW	Sarnia Sting
W	Kimi Korbler	RW	Ottawa 67’s
W	Tanner Lam	RW	Kitchener Rangers
W	Jeremy Martin	LW	Flint Firebirds
W	Hunter McKenzie	LW	Guelph Storm
W	Lauri Sinivuori	LW	Oshawa Generals
W	Gabriel Smith	D	Owen Sound Attack
W	Brady Smith	C	Soo Greyhounds
W	Parker Snelgrove	C	Guelph Storm
W	Grant Spada	D	Guelph Storm
W	Luca Testa	LW	Brantford Bulldogs
W	Xander Velliaris	D	Kingston Frontenacs
W	Aiden Young	LW	Peterborough Petes
W	David Egorov	G	Brantford Bulldogs
W	Jacob Gibbons	G	Brampton Steelheads
W	Matthew Koprowski	G	Owen Sound Attack
W	Finn Marshall	G	Sudbury Wolves
W	Mike McIvor	G	North Bay Battalion
W	Jaeden Nelson	G	Ottawa 67’s

GOALTENDERS

RATING	GOALTENDER	TEAM
B	Jack Ivankovic	Brampton Steelheads
C	Charlie Larocque	North Bay Battalion
C	Alexei Medvedev	London Knights
W	David Egorov	Brantford Bulldogs
W	Jacob Gibbons	Brampton Steelheads
W	Matthew Koprowski	Owen Sound Attack
W	Finn Marshall	Sudbury Wolves
W	Mike McIvor	North Bay Battalion
W	Jaeden Nelson	Ottawa 67’s
W	Michael Newlove	Windsor Spitfires

To view the complete list, visit NHL.com.

Team CHL roster revealed for 2024 CHL USA Prospects Challenge presented by Kubota Canada

Posted on October 22, 2024 by Dominic Tiano

TORONTO, ON — The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is proud to announce the roster for Team CHL ahead of the 2024 CHL USA Prospects Challenge presented by Kubota Canada (see complete roster below). The latter is a new event that will see the top first-year 2025 NHL Draft-eligible prospects from the CHL’s Member Leagues – the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) – face off against USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program (NTDP) Under-18 Team in a two-game series on November 26 in London, Ont., and November 27 in Oshawa, Ont. (Game 1 – London; Game 2 – Oshawa).

The 22 players on Team CHL were selected from a list of the top 2025 NHL Draft prospects as generated by a survey conducted with all 32 NHL clubs. Using that list of players produced by surveying NHL teams, the CHL coaching staff comprised of head coach Kris Mallette (Kelowna Rockets / WHL), assistant coaches Gordie Dwyer (Acadie-Bathurst Titan / QMJHL) and Ryan Oulahen (North Bay Battalion / OHL) along with general manager Dave Brown (Erie Otters / OHL) worked together to identify the final 13 forwards, seven defensemen, and two goaltenders chosen to be on the team.

Among the forwards set to be on Team CHL are Michael Misa (Saginaw Spirit / OHL), Porter Martone (Brampton Steelheads / OHL), Cole Reschny (Victoria Royals / WHL), Cameron Schmidt (Vancouver Giants / WHL), Caleb Desnoyers (Moncton Wildcats / QMJHL), and Justin Carbonneau (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada / QMJHL). Misa (14G-7A in 10 GP), currently riding a 10-game point streak, leads the CHL with 14 goals so far through the 2024-25 campaign. Martone (10G-10A in 9 GP) ranks second in the OHL with 10 goals, while Reschny (2G-11A in 9 GP) has registered points in seven of nine games in the WHL this season. Additionally, with a CHL-best 11-game point streak to start the 2024-25 campaign, Schmidt (12G-7A in 11 GP) leads the WHL with 12 goals and sits atop the scoring leaders of that league with 19 points. Finally, averaging just over 1.4 points per game, both Desnoyers (3G-7A in 7 GP) and Carbonneau (7G-9A in 11 GP) have enjoyed strong starts to their years in the QMJHL.

On the backend, the Team CHL blueline is set to feature five defencemen who helped Canada win gold at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup this summer: Matthew Schaefer (Erie Otters / OHL), Jackson Smith (Tri-City Americans / WHL), Reese Hamilton (Calgary Hitmen / WHL), Quinn Beauchesne (Guelph Storm / OHL), and Cameron Reid (Kitchener Rangers / OHL). At that same tournament, Blake Fiddler (Edmonton Oil Kings / WHL), the lone American on Team CHL, captained Team USA to a fourth-place finish. Meanwhile, Kashawn Aitcheson (Barrie Colts / OHL) was part of Team Canada’s gold-medal-winning squad at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship last spring.

In net, Team CHL will be backstopped by goaltenders Jack Ivankovic (Brampton Steelheads / OHL) and Joshua Ravensbergen (Prince George Cougars / WHL). Ivankovic (4-0-0-0 record, 1.71 GAA, .936 SV%, 1 SO in 5 GP) leads all OHL netminders with a 1.71 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage. At the same time, through 10 starts, Ravensbergen (6-1-2-1 record, 3.14 GAA, .898 SV% in 10 GP) leads the WHL with six wins and he only has one regulation loss to his name to start the year.

In total, 19 CHL clubs will be represented at the 2024 CHL USA Prospects Challenge presented by Kubota Canada, led by the Erie Otters, Calgary Hitmen, and Brampton Steelheads who each feature a pair of players. Among the 22 players on Team CHL, 18 of them have previously won a gold medal representing their country on the international stage, including 13 who helped Canada reach the top of the podium at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton, Alta.

Building off of one of hockey’s greatest rivalries between Canada and the United States, the CHL USA Prospects Challenge will see players from the CHL and NTDP’s U18 team compete before hundreds of NHL scouts and thousands of fans in an effort to improve their draft stock ahead of the upcoming NHL Draft.

The first game will take place on Tuesday, November 26 at Canada Life Place in London, Ont., while the second contest will be held the following night on Wednesday, November 27 at the Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa, Ont. Fans interested in buying tickets for either game can do so in person at the box office or online:

GAME 1 TICKETS: LONDON
GAME 2 TICKETS: OSHAWA

As a reminder, the CHL is now accepting applications for media and photo accreditation to the 2024 CHL USA Prospects Challenge. The deadline to apply for a media and/or photo credential for either game is Monday, November 4, 2024. Media and photographers interested in applying for accreditation can do so below:

Forwards (13)
(F) Carter Bear, Everett Silvertips (WHL)
(F) Justin Carbonneau, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
(F) Braeden Cootes, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
(F) Caleb Desnoyers, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
(F) Benjamin Kindel, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
(F) Lynden Lakovic, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
(F) Brady Martin, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)
(F) Porter Martone, Brampton Steelheads (OHL)
(F) Michael Misa, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
(F) Jake O’Brien, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
(F) Cole Reschny, Victoria Royals (WHL)
(F) Cameron Schmidt, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
(F) Malcolm Spence, Erie Otters (OHL)

*(F) Roger McQueen (Brandon Wheat Kings / WHL) is unable to participate due to a long-term injury

Defencemen (7)
(D) Kashawn Aitcheson, Barrie Colts (OHL)
(D) Quinn Beauchesne, Guelph Storm (OHL)
(D) Blake Fiddler, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
(D) Reese Hamilton, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
(D) Cameron Reid, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
(D) Matthew Schaefer, Erie Otters (OHL)
(D) Jackson Smith, Tri-City Americans (WHL)

Goaltenders (2)
(G) Jack Ivankovic, Brampton Steelheads (OHL)
(G) Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George Cougars (WHL)

Coaching & Support Staff
General Manager – Dave Brown (Erie Otters / OHL)
Head Coach – Kris Mallette (Kelowna Rockets / WHL)
Assistant Coach – Gordie Dwyer (Acadie-Bathurst Titan / QMJHL)
Assistant Coach – Ryan Oulahen (North Bay Battalion / OHL)
Equipment Manager (Game 1) – Chris Maton (London Knights / OHL)
Equipment Manager (Game 2) – Bryan Boyes (Oshawa Generals / OHL)
Athletic Therapist (Game 1) – Luca Paron (London Knights / OHL)
Athletic Therapist (Game 2) – Shawn Winters (Oshawa Generals / OHL)

Author: Dominic Tiano

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