Dominic Tiano

OHL ANNOUNCES TOP PERFORMERS OF THE MONTH FOR OCTOBER

Posted on November 1, 2025 by Dominic Tiano

TORONTO (Saturday, November 1, 2025) – The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) today announced Top Performers of the Month for October, with additional totals from September’s opening weeks of the regular season also recognized.

Player of the Month – Jake O’Brien (Brantford Bulldogs) – 12 GP, 7G, 19A, 26 PTS., +15
Seattle Kraken prospect Jake O’Brien of the Brantford Bulldogs is the OHL Player of the Month for October, starting his season with a league-leading 26 points (7-19–26) through just 12 games. O’Brien’s start featured seven different multi-point outings highlighted by five points (3-2–5) on Oct. 12th in an 8-5 win over the Ottawa 67’s. He tallied four points (1-3–4) in a game on Oct. 26th as the Bulldogs defeated the host Oshawa Generals 4-1. Behind O’Brien’s leadership, Brantford remains the lone OHL team that is undefeated in regulation (11-0-2-1) entering the month of November.

Named Bulldogs captain to start the season, the 18-year-old O’Brien leads the OHL with 26 points in his third OHL season. The former OHL Rookie of the Year in 2023-24 has 188 career points (52-136–188) over 139 regular season games as a Bulldog. Brantford selected O’Brien with the eighth overall pick in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection. He was Seattle’s first round (8th overall) pick last summer, signing an entry-level NHL contract with the Kraken on July 3, 2025.

Also considered for the award this month, Owen Sound Attack forward Tristan Delisle rides a 16-game point streak, producing 24 points (9-15–24) in that span. Bulldogs teammate Adam Benak, a Minnesota Wild prospect, was also productive with 24 points (7-17–24) over 12 games.

Defenceman of the Month – Carson Woodall (Windsor Spitfires) – 16 GP, 2G, 20A, 22 PTS., +4
Windsor Spitfires blueliner Carson Woodall is the OHL Defenceman of the Month for October, leading OHL rearguards with 22 points (2-20–22) over 16 contests. The third year veteran has recorded a point in all but two of his outings this season, scoring his two goals in a 2-0 win over the Ottawa 67’s on Oct. 23rd. Woodall’s offensive productivity has helped the Spitfires put together the league’s third-ranked power play at 32.8 percent, with him leading all OHL players in power play points with 14 (1-13–14).

A 19-year-old from nearby Belle River, ON, Woodall is a former 10th round (202nd overall) pick by the Spitfires in 2022 who has developed into a reliable contributor on the blueline. The 5-foot-11, 183Ib. defenceman has accrued 89 points (11-78–89) over his 142 career regular season games with the Spitfires.

Also considered for the award this month, New York Islanders prospect Kashawn Aitcheson of the Barrie Colts leads OHL defencemen with nine goals, including a pair of recent overtime winners. The 18-year-old Aitcheson has 15 points (9-6–15) in as many games.

Goaltender of the Month – Joey Costanzo (Windsor Spitfires) – 11 GP, 9-1-0-0, 1.66 GAA, .923 SV%, 2 SO
Joey Costanzo of the Windsor Spitfires is the OHL Goaltender of the Month for October, compiling an impressive record of 9-1 with a 1.66 goals-against average and .923 save percentage over 11 contests. Costanzo’s success featured a pair of shutouts, with the first in a 4-0 win over the Sudbury Wolves on Sept. 25th followed by another in a 6-0 triumph over the Niagara IceDogs on Oct. 2nd.

A 20-year-old from Toronto, Costanzo owns a career OHL record of 84-50-5-4 with a 3.61 goals-against average and .884 save percentage with seven shutouts over 158 regular season games between Windsor and Niagara. He was originally. Niagara’s second round (23rd overall) pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection.

Also considered for the award this week, Mason Vaccari of the Flint Firebirds was very good in October, going 7-2-1-0 with a 2.66 goals-against average and .923 save percentage and two shutouts over 10 games. Niagara IceDogs newcomer Vladislav Yermolenko also made a strong impression, going 6-1-0-1 with a 2.63 goals-against average, a .925 save percentage and one shutout over nine games. Additionally, San Jose Sharks prospect Christian Kirsch of the Kitchener Rangers played to an 8-2-0-0 mark with a 1.99 goals-against average, .920 save percentage and one shutout.

Rookie of the Month – Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit) – 15 GP, 10G, 13A, 23 PTS., +2
First-year Saginaw Spirit forward Nikita Klepov is the OHL Rookie of the Month for October, pacing OHL newcomers with 23 points (10-13–23) over 15 games. Klepov’s introduction to the OHL has been headlined by a five-point effort (2-3–5) on Oct. 4th as the Spirit skated to a 7-5 road win over the Owen Sound Attack. He’s proceeded to post a goal and an assist on Oct. 18th at Flint and Oct. 24th vs. Erie. Klepov currently leads all OHL skaters with 71 shots on goal.

A 17-year-old from Deerfield Beach, Florida, Klepov comes to the OHL from the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers where he posted 31 points (12-19–31) over 59 games in 2024-25. Selected 35th overall by the Spirit in the 2025 CHL Import Draft, Klepov is an A-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary players to watch list, indicating a potential first round NHL Draft pick. The 6-foot, 180Ib. right-wing won gold with the United States at this past summer’s Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. Klepov is committed to Michigan State (NCAA).

Also considered for the award this week, fellow NHL Draft prospect Caleb Malhotra of the Brantford Bulldogs piled up 19 points (6-13–19) over 14 games. Spirit teammate Levi Harper was a productive force on the blueline, recording 15 points (5-10–15) over 15 contests. In the crease, Ryder Fetterolf of the Ottawa 67’s went 5-2-1-0 with a 2.10 goals-against average and .919 save percentage.

OHL ANNOUNCES ACADEMIC PLAYERS OF THE MONTH FOR OCTOBER

Posted on November 1, 2025 by Dominic Tiano

TORONTO (Friday, October 31, 2025) – The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) today announced Academic Players of the Month for October, recognizing dedication to excellence in the classroom in the opening month of the season.

East Division – Aiden O’Donnell (Oshawa Generals)
Newly acquired Oshawa Generals forward Aiden O’Donnell is the OHL East Division Academic Player of the Month for October, achieving a 95% grade in his Grade 12 University-level Advanced Functions program, in addition to an 86% average in Grade 12 University-level English.

“Aiden has proven to be an outstanding student,” said Maureen Alfano, who served as O’Donnell’s Academic Advisor over the past two seasons in Brantford. “He manages his academic responsibilities with quiet confidence, consistently excelling in all of his courses. Calm and focused, he stays on top of his assignments, meets deadlines, and demonstrates a strong commitment to his education. We are incredibly proud of his academic efforts and accomplishments.”

O’Donnell was acquired by the Generals in a trade announced Thursday. The 17-year-old from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia has eight points (4-4–8) through his first 14 games of the season after recording 17 points (7-10–17) over 58 games as a rookie in 2024-25. The Bulldogs selected O’Donnell with the 14th overall pick of the 2024 OHL Priority Selection. He was included as a B-rated prospect by NHL Central Scouting on their preliminary players to watch list released on Oct. 20th.

Central Division – Cole Emerton (Barrie Colts)
Barrie Colts defenceman Cole Emerton is the OHL Central Division Academic Player of the Month for October, registering an average above 90% in four Grade 12 University-level courses including Data, Functions, Biology and High Performance.

“Cole is a very diligent student who takes his education very seriously,” said Colts Academic Advisor Brent Preston. “His teachers say he’s an exemplary student who works extremely hard.”

An 18-year-old defenceman from Oro-Medonte, just outside of Barrie, Emerton is off to a strong start in his first OHL season, recording nine assists over 15 games. The 5-foot-11, 183Ib. blueliner was the Colts’ third round (50th overall) pick in 2024 from the GTHL champion Vaughan Kings AAA program. He recorded 25 points (10-15–25) over 50 games with the OJHL’s Toronto Patriots in 2024-25.

Midwest Division – Lucas Ambrosio (Erie Otters)
Erie Otters defenceman Lucas Ambrosio is the OHL Midwest Division Academic Player of the Month for October, posting a 92.6% average in Grade 12 Sports Analytics, as well as an 81.5% mark in World Religions. He’s also produced strong results in a Math Data Management course.

“Lucas has shown tremendous initiative throughout the month, getting off to a fantastic start academically,” said Otters Assistant General Manager and Director of Hockey Operations Scott Grieve. “He has put in a lot of work on his courses since the beginning of the season. We are very proud of Lucas’ continued accomplishments in the classroom, in the community and on the ice.”

A 6-foot-4, 194Ib. left-shot defenceman from Oakville, ON, the 17-year-old Ambrosio has three assists through his first 16 games of the season. He started his OHL career with 13 points (4-9–13) over 52 games in 2024-25 after being selected by Erie in the second round (25th overall) of the 2024 OHL Priority Selection. Ambrosio was listed as a B-rated prospect on NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary players to watch list released earlier this month.

West Division – Mason Vaccari (Flint Firebirds)
Flint Firebirds goaltender Mason Vaccari is the OHL West Division Academic Player of the Month for October, achieving a 95% in a University Microeconomics course through Nipissing University.

“Mason is a hard-working student athlete with excellent time management skills, a positive attitude, and a goal-oriented growth mindset,” said Firebirds Academic Advisor Michelle Horning. “We are extremely proud of his accomplishments so far this season, both on and off the ice.”

Vaccari is off to a successful start to his overage season, going 7-2-1-0 with a 2.66 goals-against average, .923 save percentage and two shutouts through 10 games. The 20-year-old from Mississauga, ON was acquired by Flint over the summer following three seasons in Kingston. He’s compiled a career record of 56-47-5-3 with a 3.38 goals-against average and .890 save percentage with three shutouts over 123 regular season contests. Originally Kingston’s fourth round (61st overall) pick in 2021, Vaccari earned OHL and CHL Humanitarian of the Year honours in 2024 through his work with Mason’s Miracles benefitting the Kingston Health Sciences Centre pediatric wing. He attended rookie camp with the Columbus Blue Jackets this past September, representing them at the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo, NY.

Roster Announced for Team CHL Ahead of 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge

Posted on October 28, 2025 by Dominic Tiano

Fifteen “A”-rated prospects — all projected first-round selections for the 2026 NHL Draft — headline this year’s Team CHL roster. Both games will air live on TSN and RDS at 6:00 p.m. MT / 8:00 p.m. ET — November 25 in Calgary and November 26 in Lethbridge. Tickets are available now at chl.ca/prospectschallenge.

TORONTO, ON – The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is proud to announce the full roster for Team CHL (see full roster below) ahead of the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge, which will see the top 2026 NHL Draft-eligible prospects from the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) face off against the U.S. National Under-18 Team in a two-game series hosted by the Calgary Hitmen and Lethbridge Hurricanes — Tuesday, November 25 at Calgary’s Scotiabank Saddledome and Wednesday, November 26 at Lethbridge’s VisitLethbridge.com Arena.

Announced in September, defenceman Ryan Lin (Vancouver Giants / WHL), forward Ryan Roobroeck (Niagara IceDogs / OHL), and defenceman Xavier Villeneuve (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada / QMJHL) were the first players named to Team CHL after being identified by NHL Central Scouting. They now join 19 additional top NHL Draft prospects from across the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL, who complete the roster representing the league’s next generation at this premier showcase.

The final 19 players were selected from a list of top 2026 NHL Draft prospects developed in consultation with all 32 NHL clubs. Leading the process was General Manager Yanick Lemay (Drummondville Voltigeurs / QMJHL), working in collaboration with Head Coach Willie Desjardins (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL) and assistant coaches Jay McKee (Brantford Bulldogs / OHL), Sylvain Favreau (Drummondville Voltigeurs / QMJHL), and Mike Johnston (Portland Winterhawks / WHL). Together, they assembled a roster featuring 13 forwards, seven defencemen, and two goaltenders selected to represent the CHL at this year’s event.

“The CHL USA Prospects Challenge is a tremendous opportunity for our top draft-eligible players to compete against elite competition from the U.S. National Under-18 Team while showcasing the strength of our player development system across the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL,” said Dan MacKenzie, President of the CHL. “We’re proud of each of these players for earning this opportunity and congratulate them on being selected to represent the CHL at this prestigious event, which shines a light on the next generation of NHL talent.”

“The Team CHL coaching staff is thrilled to have such a deep, talented roster for the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge,” stated Willie Desjardins, Head Coach of Team CHL and General Manager and Head Coach of the Medicine Hat Tigers. “We look forward to coaching the best of the best players from across the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.”

Among the forwards set to compete for Team CHL are JP Hurlbert (Kamloops Blazers / WHL), Ethan Belchetz (Windsor Spitfires / OHL), Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit / OHL), and Egor Shilov (Victoriaville Tigres / QMJHL). Hurlbert leads both the WHL and CHL in scoring with 28 points (11G-17A) through 14 games this season. In the OHL, Klepov ranks second in league scoring with 22 points (9G-13A) – the highest total among first-year players in the OHL – while Belchetz stands alone atop the OHL and ranks tied for second in the CHL with 12 goals. Meanwhile, Shilov continues to pace all QMJHL rookies with 21 points (7G-14A) in 12 games.

On the blueline, Lin and Villeneuve headline a defensive group that also includes Daxon Rudolph (Prince Albert Raiders / WHL), Chase Reid (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds / OHL), and Charlie Morrison (Québec Remparts / QMJHL) among the seven defencemen named to Team CHL. Reid leads all first-year NHL Draft-eligible defencemen in the OHL with 14 points (2G-12A), ranking second only to Villeneuve (4G-18A-22 PTS) among that same group of blueliners across the CHL. Rudolph has tallied nine points (3G-6A) in 11 games while helping the Raiders climb to No. 8 in the CHL Top-10 Rankings with an unbeaten record in regulation. Meanwhile, Morrison, one of just six QMJHL players to earn a “B” rating from NHL Central Scouting on its preliminary rankings, has yet to appear in a game this season but is expected to be healthy in time for the event.

Between the pipes, Team CHL features Harrison Boettiger (Kelowna Rockets / WHL) and Zachary Jovanovski (Guelph Storm / OHL). Jovanovski has recorded five 30-plus save performances through his first ten starts (5-3-1-0) in 2025-26, while Boettiger has allowed two goals or fewer in two of his four starts this season, posting at least 28 saves in both those outings. Notably, Boettiger is the lone returning player from last year’s event – then representing the U.S. National Under-18 Team – when he made 35 saves and posted a .921 save percentage in a 3-2 loss to Team CHL in Game 2 of the 2024 CHL USA Prospects Challenge.

The 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge will be broadcast live across Canada on TSN and RDS, with Game 1 in Calgary on November 25 and Game 2 in Lethbridge on November 26. Puck drop is set for 6:00 p.m. MT / 8:00 p.m. ET both nights. Tickets are available now at chl.ca/prospectschallenge.

Quick Facts on Team CHL

All 15 CHL players who received an “A” rating from NHL Central Scouting – identifying them as projected first-round candidates for the 2026 NHL Draft – have been named to Team CHL’s roster.
This year’s roster features 10 players from the OHL, eight from the WHL, and four from the QMJHL.
Five American-born players are included, highlighted by Nikita Klepov and Brooks Rogowski, who captured gold with Team USA at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Eight additional players represented Canada at that same event, earning bronze medals: Belchetz, Carels, Di Iorio, Edwards, Lin, Pantelas, Preston, and Rudolph.
Six members of Team CHL – Carels, Di Iorio, Lin, Roobroeck, Rudolph, and Villeneuve – helped Canada capture gold at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship.
Two players on Team CHL hail from outside North America: Czech forward Adam Novotný and Russian forward Egor Shilov.
Six players on the team are competing in their first CHL season: Boettiger, Hurlbert, Klepov, Malhotra, Novotný, and Shilov.
In total, 19 CHL clubs are represented on the roster, including three teams featuring a pair of teammates — Spokane Chiefs (Preston & Harrington), Sarnia Sting (Di Iorio & Edwards), and Québec Remparts (Dagenais & Morrison).

Name	Team	League	Hometown	NHL CS Grade
Forwards (13)
Ethan Belchetz	Windsor Spitfires	OHL	Oakville, ON	A
Maddox Dagenais	Québec Remparts	QMJHL	Saint-Lazare, QC	B
Alessandro Di Iorio	Sarnia Sting	OHL	Vaughan, ON	A
Beckham Edwards	Sarnia Sting	OHL	Komoka, ON	B
Chase Harrington	Spokane Chiefs	WHL	Prince George, BC	B
JP Hurlbert	Kamloops Blazers	WHL	Allen, TX (USA)	A
Nikita Klepov	Saginaw Spirit	OHL	Deerfield Beach, FL (USA)	A
Caleb Malhotra	Brantford Bulldogs	OHL	Toronto, ON	A
Adam Novotný	Peterborough Petes	OHL	Kobylice, CZE	A
Mathis Preston	Spokane Chiefs	WHL	Penticton, BC	A
Brooks Rogowski	Oshawa Generals	OHL	Brighton, MI (USA)	A
Ryan Roobroeck	Niagara IceDogs	OHL	London, ON	A
Egor Shilov	Victoriaville Tigres	QMJHL	Tyumen, RUS	A
Defencemen (7)
Carson Carels	Prince George Cougars	WHL	Cypress River, MB	A
Ryan Lin	Vancouver Giants	WHL	Richmond, BC	A
Charlie Morrison	Québec Remparts	QMJHL	Miramichi, NB	B
Giorgos Pantelas	Brandon Wheat Kings	WHL	Victoria, BC	B
Chase Reid	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds	OHL	Chesterfield, MI (USA)	A
Daxon Rudolph	Prince Albert Raiders	WHL	Lacombe, AB	A
Xavier Villeneuve	Blainville-Boisbriand Armada	QMJHL	Les Cèdres, QC	A
Goaltenders (2)
Harrison Boettiger	Kelowna Rockets	WHL	Wheat Rudge, CO (USA)	B
Zachary Jovanovski	Guelph Storm	OHL	Tecumseh, ON	B

About the CHL USA Prospects Challenge
First introduced in 2024, the CHL USA Prospects Challenge is a best-on-best, two-game series spotlighting the top NHL Draft-eligible players from the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL facing off against the U.S. National Under-18 Team. The inaugural edition, held last November in London and Oshawa, proved a major success — 16 of 22 players on Team CHL were selected in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft.

The 2025 edition, hosted by the Calgary Hitmen and Lethbridge Hurricanes, will once again spotlight elite NHL prospects projected to headline the 2026 NHL Draft — including 15 players who earned an “A” rating (first-round candidate) on NHL Central Scouting’s Preliminary Players to Watch List.

Fans can catch both games live in Canada on TSN and RDS on November 25 (Calgary) and November 26 (Lethbridge). Puck drop is set for 6:00 p.m. MT / 8:00 p.m. ET. Tickets for both games are available now at chl.ca/prospectschallenge.

2025-26 CHL Top-10 Rankings presented by Delta Hotels by Marriott: Bulldogs Keep Rolling at No. 1; Spitfires Climb, Raiders Rise & Knights Return

Posted on October 28, 2025 by Dominic Tiano

TORONTO, ON – The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) today unveiled its Week 6 edition of the CHL Top-10 Rankings presented by Delta Hotels by Marriott for the 2025-26 season.

The Brantford Bulldogs continue to set the pace across the CHL, holding firm at No. 1 in the CHL Top-10 Rankings for a third straight week. The Bulldogs (11-0-1-1) remain the only OHL team without a regulation loss – and one of just two across the CHL – after extending their dominance with three more wins by a combined 10-3 margin. Led by Buffalo Sabres prospect Ryerson Leenders, the OHL Goaltender of the Week, and Seattle Kraken prospect Jake O’Brien, who leads the league with 23 points, Brantford has established itself as one of the teams to beat early in the 2025-26 season. The Windsor Spitfires (12-2-1-1) have climbed back to No. 2 – matching their season-best ranking – after earning five of six points last week and becoming the first team in both the OHL and CHL to hit 12 wins. Windsor’s success has been driven by 2026 NHL Draft prospect Ethan Belchetz, CHL defensive scoring co-leader Carson Woodall, and Los Angeles Kings prospect Liam Greentree. Rounding out the top three, the Everett Silvertips (11-1-1-0) slipped one position but remain the WHL’s top club after rebounding from their first regulation loss with a 5-2 road win in Spokane.

Further down the list, the Prince Albert Raiders (9-0-2-0) climbed to No. 8 after extending their unbeaten-in-regulation streak to 11 games with back-to-back shutouts of Swift Current. The Raiders remain the WHL’s lone team without a regulation loss, backstopped by strong goaltending from Michal Orsulak and Dimitri Fortin, and steady play from veteran Brayden Dube. Entering the Top 10 for the first time this season, the London Knights (7-2-3-0) have caught fire with a nine-game point streak (7-0-2-0). The defending Memorial Cup champions were powered over the last week by new captain and Lightning prospect Sam O’Reilly, dynamic defenceman Jared Woolley, and rookie netminder Sebastian Gatto, who earned his first OHL shutout in a 3-0 win at Sarnia.

For the 2025-26 season, fans can catch every game with FloHockey streaming the OHL and QMJHL, and Victory+ serving as the home of the WHL. FloHockey features full regular-season and playoff coverage for the OHL and QMJHL, while Victory+ offers free access to every WHL game along with playoffs and more.

CHL Top-10 Rankings – Week 6
1. Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
2. Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
3. Everett Silvertips (WHL)
4. Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
5. Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)
6. Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL)
7. Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
8. Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
9. Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
10. London Knights (OHL)

For information and details about each club ranked in the CHL’s latest Top-10 Rankings, please visit chl.ca/video/2025-26-chl-top-10-rankings-week-6.

The next rankings will be released the week of November 3, following the seventh week of regular-season action in the CHL’s Member Leagues.

OHL ANNOUNCES TOP PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK FOR OCTOBER 20-26, 2025

Posted on October 27, 2025 by Dominic Tiano

TORONTO (Monday, October 27, 2025) – The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) today announced Top Performers of the Week for the week of regular season games ending Sunday, October 26th.

Wolves’ Kieron Walton Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week

Winnipeg Jets prospect Kieron Walton of the Sudbury Wolves is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, leading the league with eight points (3-5–8) over two victories.

The 6-foot-6 Walton kicked-off the weekend with a goal and two assists in Friday’s 5-3 win over the visiting Barrie Colts. He extended his point streak to six games with a season-high five points (2-3–5) on Sunday, helping Sudbury defeat the Peterborough Petes 8-2 on home ice.

A 19-year-old from Toronto, Walton leads the Wolves with 15 points (7-8–15) through his first eight games of the season. He produced 38 goals, 54 assists and 92 points in 66 games during the 2024-25 campaign, and owns career figures consisting of 71 goals, 92 assists and 163 points over 185 regular season games, all with Sudbury. Walton was selected by the Winnipeg Jets with their sixth round (187th overall) pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, and signed a three-year entry-level deal with the club on Apr. 7, 2025. The Wolves originally drafted Walton in the second round (28th overall) in 2022 from the North York Rangers AAA program.

2025-26 Cogeco OHL Player of the Week
Sept. 18-21: Cole Davis (Windsor Spitfires)
Sept. 22-28: Ethan Czata (Niagara IceDogs)
Sept. 29-Oct. 5: Kashawn Aitcheson (Barrie Colts)
Oct. 6-12: Jake O’Brien (Brantford Bulldogs)
Oct. 13-19: Adam Benak (Brantford Bulldogs)
Oct. 20-26: Kieron Walton (Sudbury Wolves)

Bulldogs’ Ryerson Leenders Named Mary Brown’s Chicken OHL Goaltender of the Week

Buffalo Sabres prospect Ryerson Leenders of the Brantford Bulldogs is the Mary Brown’s Chicken OHL Goaltender of the Week, going 2-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and .966 save percentage.

Leenders backstopped the Bulldogs to victory in Sarnia on Friday, turning aside 38-of-39 shots as Brantford won 3-1 despite being outshot 39-23. Leenders followed-up his first star effort with 18 more saves on Sunday night in Oshawa as the Bulldogs beat the Generals 4-1.

A 19-year-old from Nanticoke, ON, Leenders is 5-0-0-1 with a 2.31 goals-against average and .918 save percentage through six games this season. The fourth-year veteran owns a career mark of 72-46-10-1 with a 3.17 goals-against average and .903 save percentage with four shutouts over 135 regular season games between Brantford and Mississauga. Leenders was Buffalo’s seventh round (219th overall) pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-1, 179Ib. netminder was originally chosen by the Mississauga Steelheads in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection. Internationally, Leenders has won gold with Canada at both the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup as well as the IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship.

2025-26 Mary Brown’s Chicken OHL Goaltender of the Week
Sept. 18-21: Jason Schaubel (Kitchener Rangers)
Sept. 22-28: Joey Costanzo (Windsor Spitfires)
Sept. 29-Oct. 5: Gavin Betts (Kingston Frontenacs)
Oct. 6-12: Mason Vaccari (Flint Firebirds)
Oct. 13-19: Patrick Quinlan (Sarnia Sting)
Oct. 20-26: Ryerson Leenders (Brantford Bulldogs)

Storm’s Jaakko Wycisk Named OHL Rookie of the Week

Guelph Storm forward Jaakko Wycisk is the OHL Rookie of the Week, scoring while recording three assists for four points over a pair of victories.

Wycisk turned in a first star performance on Friday night, scoring while adding two assists on goals by linemate Carter Stevens as the Storm defeated the Kingston Frontenacs 6-3 on home ice. He was back on the scoresheet on Sunday afternoon, seeing ice with the game on the line to record an assist on Noah Jenken’s third period game-winner as Guelph defeated the Ottawa 67’s 4-3.

A product of Tecumseh, ON, the 16-year-old Wycisk leads 2009-born OHL skaters with 13 points (6-7–13) through his first 13 games of the season. Selected by the Storm with the second overall pick of the 2025 OHL Priority Selection, Wycisk was last year’s ALLIANCE U16 Player of the Year, guiding the Sun County Panthers to a second straight league title with 61 points (32-29–61) through 30 games during the regular season and a further 13 points (6-7–13) over 10 playoff outings. Wycisk also saw six games of action with the OJHL’s Leamington Flyers in 2024-25. A prospect eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft, Wycisk has been selected to represent Canada White at the 2025 U17 World Hockey Challenge set to take place in Truro, Nova Scotia from November 2-8.

2025-26 OHL Rookie of the Week
Sept. 18-21: Thomas Vandenberg (Ottawa 67’s)
Sept. 22-28: Caleb Malhotra (Brantford Bulldogs)
Sept. 29-Oct. 5: Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit)
Oct. 6-12: Jaxon Cover (London Knights)
Oct. 13-19: Ryder Cali (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 20-26: Jaakko Wycisk (Guelph Storm)

Spirit Prospect Gensen Geldart Named GOHL Prospect of the Week

Saginaw Spirit prospect Gensen Geldart of the Chatham Maroons is the GOHL Prospect of the Week, recording three goals, one assist and four points over a pair of victories.

Geldart lit the lamp for a hat-trick in Thursday’s 6-2 Maroons road win over the Sarnia Legionnaires, finding the back of the net in the first, second and third periods. He was back on the scoresheet with an assist on Sunday, helping Chatham defeat the visiting LaSalle Vipers 6-3.

A 16-year-old from Toronto, Geldart spent last season with the GTHL’s Vaughan Kings, recording seven points (1-6–7) over four games at the 2025 OHL Cup. The 6-foot-1, 173Ib. forward has 10 points (4-6–10) through 14 games with Chatham and was chosen by the Spirit with their fourth round (75th overall) pick last spring. He won an OHL Cup silver medal as an underage player with Vaughan in 2024.

2025-26 GOHL Prospect of the Week
Sept. 10-21: Brendan Gerber (Elmira Sugar Kings/London Knights)
Sept. 22-28: Alex Forrest (Cambridge RedHawks/Kitchener Rangers)
Sept. 29-Oct. 5: Liam Edgcumbe (Pelham Panthers/Flint Firebirds)
Oct. 6-12: Caden Bell (St. Catharines Falcons/Niagara IceDogs)
Oct. 13-19: Reed Straus (Elmira Sugar Kings/Oshawa Generals)
Oct. 20-26: Gensen Geldart (Chatham Maroons/Saginaw Spirit)

CHL Top-10 Rankings presented by Delta Hotels by Marriott: Bulldogs Stay on Top, Silvertips Surge, Armada Follow Close Behind – and Cougars Roar Into the CHL Top-10

Posted on October 21, 2025 by Dominic Tiano

TORONTO, ON – The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) today unveiled its Week 5 edition of the CHL Top-10 Rankings presented by Delta Hotels by Marriott for the 2025-26 season.

Through five weeks of the 2025-26 season, the Brantford Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League (WHL), and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) have emerged as the top three teams in the CHL, each continuing to set the standard across their respective leagues. The Bulldogs (8-0-1-1) retain the No. 1 spot for a second straight week, remaining unbeaten in regulation behind a CHL-best 6.10 goals per game and dominant performances from standouts like Adam Benak, Jake O’Brien, and Marek Vanacker. Just behind them, the Everett Silvertips (9-0-1-0) climb to a season-best No. 2 ranking, extending their 10-game point streak while boasting one of the league’s most balanced rosters led by Julius Miettinen, Matias Vanhanen, and Carter Bear. The Armada (9-1-2-0) rounds out the top three, leading all CHL clubs with a +37 goal differential and powered by elite play from Xavier Villeneuve and Justin Carbonneau, whose offensive consistency has kept Blainville-Boisbriand among the nation’s top-tier teams since opening night.

Beyond the top three, several clubs continue to impress and climb the CHL ladder. The Charlottetown Islanders (9-1-1-2) rose to sixth in this week’s rankings on the strength of a six-game point streak and a pair of hat tricks from Will Shields, who now shares the CHL goal-scoring lead. The Chicoutimi Saguenéens (7-2-0-1) also moved up, reclaiming seventh place thanks to exceptional defensive play – allowing just 1.57 goals per game over their last seven contests – and the continued dominance of Raphaël Précourt in goal and Émile Guité up front. Meanwhile, the Prince George Cougars (7-2-0-0) make their 2025-26 debut in the CHL Top-10 Rankings, entering at No. 10 after a scorching start that included a pair of blowout wins and standout performances from Kooper Gizowski and Joshua Ravensbergen.

CHL Top-10 Rankings – Week 5
1. Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
2. Everett Silvertips (WHL)
3. Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
4. Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
5. Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
6. Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL)
7. Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)
8. Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
9. Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
10. Prince George Cougars (WHL)

For information and details about each club ranked in the CHL’s latest Top-10 Rankings, please visit chl.ca/video/2025-26-chl-top-10-rankings-week-5.

The next rankings will be released the week of October 27, following the sixth week of regular-season action in the CHL’s Member Leagues.

OHL ANNOUNCES TOP PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK FOR OCT. 13-19, 2025

Posted on October 20, 2025 by Dominic Tiano

TORONTO (Monday, October 25, 2025) – The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) today announced Top Performers of the Week for the week of regular season games ending Sunday, October 19, 2025.

Bulldogs’ Adam Benak Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week

Minnesota Wild prospect Adam Benak of the Brantford Bulldogs is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording six points over a pair of wins against the Brampton Steelheads while also becoming the OHL’s leading scorer.

Benak recorded a goal and two assists, earning third star recognition as the Bulldogs beat the Steelheads 7-3 on Friday. He tacked on three assists Saturday afternoon, helping to power the Bulldogs past Brampton by a score of 9-3.

An 18-year-old from Plzen, Czechia, Benak leads the OHL with 19 points (5-14–19) over eight games. The 5-foot-8, 163Ib. centre has produced multi-point outputs in six of his eight games this season. Minnesota’s fourth round (102nd overall) pick in 2025, Benak was selected second overall by the Bulldogs in the 2025 CHL Import Draft after he produced 59 points (17-42–59) in 56 games with the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms. Benak has enjoyed success internationally, winning back-to-back silver medals for Czechia at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup held annually in August.

Sarnia Sting netminder Patrick Quinlan is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, going 1-0-1-0 with a 2.93 goals-against average and .920 save percentage as the Sting collected three of a possible four points against the first place Windsor Spitfires.

Quinlan earned first star honours on Friday night at home, making 27 saves as Sarnia fell 3-2 in overtime to Windsor. He backstopped the Sting to victory on Saturday in Windsor, making 42 saves in a 5-3 win as Sarnia was outshot 45-15.

An 18-year-old from Plymouth, Michigan, Quinlan is 2-1-2-0 with a 3.16 goals-against average and .901 save percentage through his first seven games of the season. The 6-foot, 188Ib. netminder spent 2024-25 with the U.S. National Development Program and also won bronze with the United States at the IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship. Quinlan was Sarnia’s eighth round (157th overall) pick in 2023 and is committed to the University of Notre Dame (NCAA).

Also considered for the award this week, Easton Rye of the Peterborough Petes went 2-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average and .925 save percentage in wins over Oshawa and Ottawa.

2025-26 Mary Brown’s Chicken OHL Goaltender of the Week
Sept. 18-21: Jason Schaubel (Kitchener Rangers)
Sept. 22-28: Joey Costanzo (Windsor Spitfires)
Sept. 29-Oct. 5: Gavin Betts (Kingston Frontenacs)
Oct. 6-12: Mason Vaccari (Flint Firebirds)
Oct. 13-19: Patrick Quinlan (Sarnia Sting)

Battalion’s Ryder Cali Named OHL Rookie of the Week

NHL Draft eligible North Bay Battalion forward Ryder Cali is the OHL Rookie of the Week, scoring three times while adding an assist over three contests.

Cali found the back of the net on Thanksgiving Monday in North Bay’s 6-4 loss to visiting Owen Sound. He contributed to a winning cause on Saturday in Barrie, recording the game-tying goal along with an assist as the Battalion beat the Colts 4-3. Cali was back in the goal column on Sunday at home, netting his seventh goal of the season before earning first star honours in a 3-2 shootout win over Barrie.

An 17-year-old from Penetanguishene, ON, Cali has seven goals, two assists and nine points through 11 games this season after appearing in five for the Troops in 2024-25. Originally Sault Ste. Marie’s first round (18th overall) pick in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection, the 6-foot-2, 209Ib. left-wing recorded 54 points (24-30–54) over 51 games with the OJHL’s Milton Menace in 2024-25. Cali was assigned a B rating by NHL Central Scouting in the preliminary players to watch list for the 2026 NHL Draft circulated on Monday.

2025-26 OHL Rookie of the Week
Sept. 18-21: Thomas Vandenberg (Ottawa 67’s)
Sept. 22-28: Caleb Malhotra (Brantford Bulldogs)
Sept. 29-Oct. 5: Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit)
Oct. 6-12: Jaxon Cover (London Knights)
Oct. 13-19: Ryder Cali (North Bay Battalion)

Generals Prospect Reed Straus Named GOHL Prospect of the Week

Oshawa Generals prospect Reed Straus of the Elmira Sugar Kings is the GOHL Prospect of the Week, going 2-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and .962 save percentage.

Straus stopped 30 of the 31 shots he faced on Saturday in London, backstopping the Sugar Kings past the Nationals by a score of 2-1. He returned to the crease at home on Saturday, making 20 saves as Elmira defeated the Komoka Kings 2-1.

An 18-year-old from St. Clements, ON, Straus is 4-1 in his second season with Elmira, recording a 2.16 goals-against average and .913 save percentage through five appearances. The 5-foot-11, 180Ib. netminder went 8-7-0-1 with a 2.69 goals-against average and .900 save percentage in 19 games with the Sugar Kings in 2024-25. Straus was Oshawa’s second round (37th overall) pick in the 2024 OHL U18 Priority Selection from the Waterloo Wolves AAA program.

CHL Top-10 Rankings presented by Delta Hotels by Marriott: Brantford tops rankings as Everett, Charlottetown rise and Prince Albert cracks Top 10

Posted on October 15, 2025 by Dominic Tiano

TORONTO, ON – The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) today unveiled its Week 4 edition of the CHL Top-10 Rankings presented by Delta Hotels by Marriott for the 2025-26 season.

The Brantford Bulldogs (OHL) have climbed to the top of the mountain for the first time this season, claiming the No. 1 spot in the CHL Top-10 Rankings after a dominant 3-0-0-0 week. Brantford becomes the first OHL club to reach No. 1 in 2025-26, vaulting past the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL) and Windsor Spitfires (OHL), who round out the top three. The Bulldogs’ high-powered offence — averaging 5.63 goals per game — fueled wins over Niagara, Sudbury, and Ottawa, making them the only OHL team still unbeaten in regulation. Despite slipping to No. 2, the Armada remain the CHL’s top-scoring team (5.78 GPG) and lead the circuit with a +30 goal differential, while the Spitfires stay among the elite after earning five of six possible points last week to extend their run of Top-3 rankings to four straight weeks.

Elsewhere, a pair of clubs made notable climbs in the rankings, with the Everett Silvertips (WHL) jumping three spots to a season-best No. 4 after a perfect weekend sweep on Vancouver Island, while the Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL) rose three places to No. 7 following another strong showing that earned them five of a possible six points. Rounding out this week’s Top 10, the Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) made their 2025-26 debut at No. 10, remaining unbeaten in regulation after back-to-back home victories over Vancouver and Kamloops.

CHL Top-10 Rankings – Week 4
1. Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
2. Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
3. Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
4. Everett Silvertips (WHL)
5. Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
6. Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
7. Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL)
8. Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)
9. Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
10. Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)

For information and details about each club ranked in the CHL’s latest Top-10 Rankings, please visit chl.ca/video/2025-26-chl-top-10-rankings-week-4.

The next rankings will be released the week of October 20, following the fifth week of regular-season action in the CHL’s Member Leagues.

SEVENTEEN OHL PLAYERS SELECTED TO REPRESENT CANADA AT 2025 U17 WORLD CHALLENGE

Posted on October 15, 2025 by Dominic Tiano

TORONTO (Wednesday, October 15, 2025) – The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) is proud to congratulate 17 OHL players on being selected to represent Canada at the 2025 U17 World Challenge set to take place in Truro, Nova Scotia from November 2-8. A total of 44 players from across the Canadian Hockey League were included.

The rosters were selected by head scout Byron Bonora (Brooks, AB), Program of Excellence general manager Alan Millar (Tottenham, ON) and Mike Johnston (Darmouth, NS/Portland, WHL), U17 lead with the POE management group.

Benoit Roy (Sudbury, ON), director of hockey operations, and Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, also provided input, along with regional scouts Pierre Cholette (Quebec), Scott Grieve (Ontario/Erie, OHL), Jared Power (West), Rob Simpson (Ontario/London, OHL) and Darren Sutherland (Atlantic).

U17 directors of operations Dave Drinkill (Elmvale, ON/Saginaw, OHL) and Dylan Seca (Sundridge, ON/Sarnia, OHL) provided additional support.

Seventeen OHL Players and Support Staff Selected to Represent Canada at 2025 U17 World Challenge

Canada Red: Max Delisle (F, Owen Sound Attack), Ryerson Edgar (F, Niagara IceDogs), Peter Green (D, Brampton Steelheads), John McLaughlin (F, Windsor Spitfires), Charlie Murata (F, Flint Firebirds), Camryn Warren (F, North Bay Battalion), Dave Drinkill (Director of Operations, Saginaw Spirit), Brendan Taylor (Assistant Coach, Soo Greyhounds), David Pandolfi (Athletic Therapist, Niagara IceDogs)

Canada White: Kaden Aucoin (D, Sarnia Sting), Brock Chitaroni (F, Ottawa 67’s), Alexander Forrest (D, Kitchener Rangers/Cambridge RedHawks, GOHL), Ryan Hanrahan (F, Saginaw Spirit), Matthew Henderson (D, Kingston Frontenacs), Aleks Kulemin (F, Kingston Frontenacs), Brenner Lammens (F, Sarnia Sting), Cooper McAslan (D, London Knights/London Nationals, GOHL), Kaden McGregor (F, Peterborough Petes), Sam Roberts (F, Oshawa Generals), Jaakko Wycisk (F, Guelph Storm), Dylan Seca (Director of Operations, Sarnia Sting), Scott Barney (Head Coach, Sudbury Wolves), Andrew Mercer (Goaltending Consultant, Ottawa 67’s), Alex Darling (Video Coach, Peterborough Petes), J.R. Grant (Equipment Manager, Windsor Spitfires)

The 2025 U17 World Challenge kicks off on Nov. 2, with Canada Red taking on Finland at 3:30pm AT and Canada White facing off against Sweden at 7:30pm AT. Teams will play two preliminary-round games before the medal round, which concludes on Nov. 8 with the medal games. The event will also feature pre-tournament games in Truro, Amherst and Wolfville on Oct. 31 at 7:30pm AT.

TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast the medal games; check local listings for details.

Fans looking to secure their seat to watch the top under-17 players from five countries can purchase a variety of ticket options including full-event packages, weekend packages, family packages and single-game tickets at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets.

For more information on Hockey Canada and the U17 World Challenge, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

OHL ANNOUNCES TOP PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK FOR OCT. 6-12, 2025

Posted on October 13, 2025 by Dominic Tiano

TORONTO (Monday, October 13, 2025) – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Week for the week of regular season games ending Sunday, October 12, 2025.

Bulldogs’ Jake O’Brien Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week

Seattle Kraken prospect Jake O’Brien of the Brantford Bulldogs is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, scoring four times while adding four assists as the Bulldogs went 3-0.

After being held off the scoresheet in Brantford’s 7-4 road win over the Niagara IceDogs on Thursday, O’Brien came up with a goal and two assists in the Bulldogs’ 6-0 blanking of the visiting Sudbury Wolves on Friday. Sunday saw O’Brien match a career high with five points including a hat-trick as the Bulldogs handed the Ottawa 67’s their first loss of the season in an 8-5 outcome. O’Brien earned first star honours in the win, finishing with a plus-4 rating.

An 18-year-old from Toronto, O’Brien sits second in OHL scoring with 13 points (5-8–13) through six games to go with a plus/minus rating of plus-11. The 6-foot-2, 177Ib. centre was selected by the Seattle Kraken with the eighth overall pick of the 2025 NHL Draft after posting 98 points (32-66–98) over 66 games in 2024-25. A former OHL Rookie of the Year Award recipient in 2023-24, O’Brien was originally the Bulldogs’ eighth overall pick in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection after he was named OHL Cup MVP for the victorious Toronto Jr. Canadiens. Internationally, O’Brien helped Canada win gold at the 2024 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup.

Firebirds’ Mason Vaccari Named OHL Goaltender of the Week

Mason Vaccari of the Flint Firebirds is the Mary Brown’s Chicken OHL Goaltender of the Week, posting back-to-back shutouts in victories over Kitchener and Oshawa.

Vaccari stopped all 46 shots sent his direction, making 20 of those saves on Wednesday as the Firebirds blanked the Kitchener Rangers by a score of 3-0. The overage netminder turned aside 26 more on Saturday, earning first star recognition in a second straight game as the Firebirds froze the Oshawa Generals in a 3-0 final.

A 20-year-old from Mississauga, Vaccari is 3-1-1-0 with a 2.75 goals-against average and .914 percentage through five gams to begin his fourth OHL season. The former CHL and OHL Humanitarian of the Year Award recipient in 2024 is a career 52-46-5-3 with a 3.42 goals-against average and .888 save percentage. Vaccari represented the Columbus Blue Jackets in this year’s Prospects Challenge held in Buffalo, NY. He was originally Kingston’s fourth round (61st overall) pick in 2021.

Knights’ Jaxon Cover Named OHL Rookie of the Week

NHL Draft eligible London Knights forward Jaxon Cover is the OHL Rookie of the Week, producing a goal and three assists over a pair of victories.

Cover recorded a goal and an assist in London’s 6-1 win over the Erie Otters on Friday night, returning a night later to chip in with two assists as the Knights beat the Sarnia Sting 5-4 in overtime.

An 17-year-old from Grand Cayman, Cover has five points (3-2–5) through his first seven games of the season. The 6-foot-1, 185Ib. left-wing appeared in three games with London in 2024-25, recording a pair of assists while spending most of the season at St. Andrew’s College where he produced 40 points (21-19–40) over 55 games. The Knights selected Cover in the fourth round (64th overall) of the 2024 OHL Priority Selection.

IceDogs Prospect Caden Bell Named GOHL Prospect of the Week

Niagara IceDogs prospect Caden Bell of the St. Catharines Falcons is the GOHL Prospect of the Week, recording three goals, two assists and five points across three victories.

Bell chipped in an assist in St. Catharines’ 6-1 win over the Caledon Bombers on Tuesday before putting together his best GOHL performance to date on Friday, scoring a pair of power play goals while adding an assist in a 5-3 win over the Port Colborne Sailors. Bell rounded-out the week by extending his point streak to five games on Sunday, scoring in St. Catharines’ 6-2 win over the Welland Jr. Canadians.

Niagara’s third round (49th overall) pick in 2025, Bell sits second among GOHL rookie defencemen with 11 points (5-6–11) in as many games. The 5-foot-11, 165Ib. right-shot defender was an OHL Cup finalist as a member of the Don Mills Flyers AAA program in 2024-25, being named to the tournament all-star team with eight points (4-4–8) in the seven game showcase. Bell produced 20 points (10-19–29) over 32 games in his U16 AAA season.

Author: Dominic Tiano

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