Will Bitten – Flint Firebirds – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height:  5’10”

Weight: 167 pounds

Date of birth: July 10, 1998. Gloucester, Ontario

Position: Center

Shoots: Right

OHL Draft: Round 1, 7th overall, 2014 Priority Selection

Bitten comes from a sports family. His parents were both Olympians with dad having competed in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics while mom competed in those same Olympics as well as 1996 in Atlanta. Both competed in Badminton. His cousin Sebastien Piche has played in the QMJHL, AHL, and ECHL and is currently playing in Austria.

Bitten captained his Minor Midget AAA Ottawa Jr 67’s in 2013-14 and in his 29 games scored 36 goals while adding 42 assists. He added 5 more goals and 9 assists while appearing in 11 playoff games. He went on to lead the OHL Cup in scoring with 5 goals and 5 assists in 6 games. He was also named the Ontario East Minor hockey player of the year.

Internationally, Bitten won a gold medal at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial in August while contributing a goal and an assist in 4 games. In 2014 he played for Team Red at the World Hockey Challenge U-17 and in 5 games scored twice while adding 3 assists.

He also appeared for Team OHL earlier this week in the CHL Super Series versus Russia in the precursor to Team Canada selection for the World Junior Championships. While he didn’t put up any points, Bitten didn’t look out of place showcasing his speed while being physical and getting under the skin of the Russians.

Team OHL defeated the Russian Selects 2-1 in Windsor, ON on Monday November 16, 2015. Photo by Terry Wilson - CHL Images.
Will Bitten, Team OHL, CHL Super Series. Photo by Terry Wilson/CHL Images

Bitten made his OHL debut last season with the Plymouth Whalers (now the Flint Firebirds). He finished 14th in rookie scoring with 15 goals and 16 assists. He’s well on his way to surpassing those totals with 10 goals and 17 assists in just 19 games to date.

Bitten is an excellent skater who possesses high end breakaway and top speed and can keep control of the puck and make plays at that speed. He is elusive and can sneak away undetected putting himself in scoring position while making himself open to receive a teammate’s set up.

Bitten plays with an ultra high compete level and is surprisingly physical despite his size. His skating allows him to get in on the forecheck and he is relentless in battles for pucks once he gets on top of defenders. He has the ability to go end to end and bring fans to their feet. You will be hard pressed to find a player who possesses a higher work ethic than Bitten.

Bitten is also a dynamic one on one player. With his speed and puck handling abilities, he can often make defenders look like they are standing still.

Bitten made NHL Central Scouting’s list of players to watch as a B prospect – which places him in the 2nd or 3rd round.

Olli Juolevi – London Knights – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height:  6’2”

Weight: 185 pounds

Date of birth: May 5, 1998. Helsinki, Finland

Position: Defence

Shoots: Left

OHL Draft:  Round 1, 45th overall, CHL Import Draft.

Prior to arriving in North America, Juolevi played Junior A hockey for Jokerit U-20 in Finland’s SM-liiga Jr A.  He appeared in 44 games and notched 6 goals while adding 26 assists. He was voted the league’s top defenseman and was named the league’s top rookie. Surprisingly, or not, he appeared in 11 games for Jokerit the previous season as a 15 year old and contributed a goal and 3 assists.

Internationally, Juolevi has played for Finland’s under-16 and under-17 junior squads and has a combined total of 5 goals and 10 assists in 30 games. He also played for Finland at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial and in 4 games had an assist.

Olli Juolevi of the London Knights. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Olli Juolevi of the London Knights. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

When you hear Juolevi’s name it is often compared to fellow countryman and former London Knights’ defender Olli Maatta. While there are similarities to their game, I would contend that Juolevi’s ceiling is higher than the Pittsburgh Penguins’ first round draft pick (22nd overall) from 2012.

Juolevi has good size with skating at an elite level. He’s a well rounded two way defenseman whose only weaknesses can be overcome simply by gaining more experience on North American ice. He has tremendous vision, and learning to make intelligent puck decisions as he gains experience. Early in the season, he would periodically make some bad decisions at the offensive blue line, but he has overcome that and learned to pick his spots.

Juolevi has a good shot from the point and is usually on target. He has a knack for getting it through traffic and uses a variety of shots, depending on the situation in front of him. His ability to quarterback the powerplay is excellent. His ability to make tape to tape passes even through coverage is bordering on elite.

Perhaps the biggest surprise may be Juolevi’s ability to make a stretch pass. Given his excellent vision and passing ability it shouldn’t be a shocker, but periodically he stretches the ice with a pass that leaves you scratching your head wondering how he was even able to get the puck through. He has the ability to skate the puck out of danger and I would like to see him use that ability more often.

While not a big hitter, Juolevi uses his size to separate the opposition from the puck. His skating allows him to close gaps quickly and he has a very active stick. He’ll battle along the boards for pucks and uses his hockey smarts along with his size to win battles. Shying away from physicality is not part of his game.

Juolevi is averaging 22:57 of even strength time on ice. He plays in every situation and with his powerplay and penalty killing time is at 30 plus minutes of time on ice per game. His 3 goals on 38 shots to date have him at an 8% shooting percentage.

Two characteristics you’ll find attached to Juolevi the most often are poise and calm. And he has those in abundance.

Victor Mete – London Knights – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height:  5’10”

Weight: 175 pounds

Date of birth: June 7, 1998. Woodbridge, Ontario

Position: Defence

Shoots: Left

OHL Draft: Round 1, 8th overall, 2014 Priority Selection (Owen Sound Attack)

“Prior to the draft, nobody was ever misled or it was never indicated that he had any interest in the OHL. Every team was aware of that. Owen Sound, they have all the right to select him. But at this time he’s got no interest.”

Advisor Ryan Barnes to Yahoo Sports.

Too often, when a situation arises where a player will not report to the OHL and is considering the NCAA option instead, we wonder about a player’s character. But we have to remember that a player at his age has to look at what is best for him. He (his family and advisors) has to consider life beyond hockey because there is never a guarantee. And for Mete and his family, education was at the top of his list.

One cannot deny that the City of Owen Sound could offer everything Mete was looking for in terms of education. Enter the London Knights, an elite organization when it comes to educational opportunities provided to its players. They paid a huge price to acquire his services and they will reap the benefits.

In an organization with the likes of Matthew Tkachuk, Max Jones and Olli Juolevi – all projected to be first round picks in the 2016 NHL Draft – there will be plenty of eyes on Mete. He himself has the potential to break into the first round and set a new standard for first round picks from one organization.

Many in the OHL circle have compared him to former Kitchener Rangers’ star defenseman Ryan Murphy – and almost as many say he is a better skater. More on that to come.

Mete played his Midget hockey for the Toronto Jr Canadiens where he scored 12 goals and 18 assists in 33 games.

Victor Mete of the London Knights. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Victor Mete of the London Knights. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

The following season he joined the Knights and during his rookie campaign he scored 7 goals and added 16 assists in 58 games. But it wasn’t until the playoffs where he came into his own and became arguably the Knights’ best defender while scoring 1 goal and 7 assists in 10 games. He was named to the OHL second All Rookie Team.

Mete went on to represent Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and won a gold medal registering an assist in 4 games. Internationally he’s also represented Canada for Team Red at the World Hockey Challenge U-17 where he scored once and added an assist in 5 games and was an Alternate Captain.

Mete’s rookie season didn’t start out all sunshine and roses. He struggled defensively at times and was either tentative or lacking confidence offensively. However it all came together during the playoffs. It’s also carried over to this season.

Mete is an elite skater. It’s that skating ability that opens up options for him, whether it’s skating the puck out of danger or eluding a forechecker and getting himself into position to make a clean breakout pass. He has a very powerful shot and can quarterback the powerplay. It’s here that one can draw comparisons to Murphy.

However it’s defensively where the comparisons to Murphy should end. Mete has made tremendous strides defending. Despite the lack of size, he uses his skating abilities to put himself in position defensively and combined with his active stick and surprising strength, keeps players much bigger than him to the outside. He’s also not afraid to battle down low and in front of his goal and it’s surprising how often he skates away with the puck.

Mete made NHL Central Scouting’s list of players to watch as a B prospect – typically a second or third round pick. The first round is still very much within reach.

Here is an isolation video of Mete with the Toronto Jr Canadiens courtesy of TheScout.ca

Cherry and Orr to Coach 2016 BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

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Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League in association with BMO Financial group, and the Western Hockey League’s Vancouver Giants Hockey Club, today announced that Canadian hockey icons Don Cherry and Bobby Orr will serve as coaches in the 2016 BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Vancouver, BC.

 Taking place on Thursday January 28, 2016, the 2016 BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is the 21st annual showcase of the CHL’s top-40 NHL Draft eligible players featuring talent from across the WHL, the Ontario Hockey League, and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, competing before hundreds of NHL scouts in attendance.

 “The BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game has evolved into a truly prestigious annual event for all of our players and fans thanks to the support of Don Cherry and Bobby Orr who have helped build this showcase since it first started in 1996,” said CHL President David Branch. “The CHL is honoured that Don and Bobby are returning behind the bench in January for what will be a very special experience for the 40 players competing on the ice, and for hockey fans in Vancouver and across the entire CHL.”

 This season will mark the 13th meeting and second straight in the historic coaching rivalry between Cherry and Orr that began with a 9-3 Team Cherry victory at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1996.  Team Orr emerged with a 6-0 win last season in St. Catharines, ON, while Team Cherry won the previous head-to-head matchup by a 4-2 score in Windsor, ON, back in 2010.  Orr holds an 8-4 all-time winning record against Cherry in their previous 12 games.  Cherry has participated in this event on three other occasions without Orr including 2005 in Vancouver when he was victorious over coaching opponent John Davidson, followed by 2011 in Toronto falling to Team Orr led by Doug Gilmour and Wendel Clark, and in 2013 in Halifax, NS, in a defeat against Team Orr led by Mike McPhee.  Since 2006, the winning team has been presented with the Don Cherry and Bobby Orr CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Trophy engraved with the names of every player to ever participate in this prestigious event.

 “The Vancouver Giants are honoured to have Bobby and Don make the trip out to Vancouver to make this event as good as it gets,”said Giants majority owner Ron Toigo. “To have these hockey icons here for the BMO Top Prospects game, junior hockey’s best on best, and having the proceeds going towards the Pat Quinn Legacy and Scholarship funds will make this a truly special event you won’t want to miss.”

 Cherry, a native of Kingston, ON, has been the star of Hockey Night in Canada’s Coach’s Corner for more than 25 years.  He coached in the NHL with the Boston Bruins and Colorado Rockies from 1974 to 1980 coaching Orr in his first season behind the Bruins bench and part of the 1975-76 season where he won the Jack Adams Trophy as the NHL’s Coach of the Year.  In 480 games as a NHL coach he has a won-lost-tied record of 250-153-77.  Cherry played his major junior hockey with the Windsor Spitfires in 1951-52 before competing as a member of the Barrie Flyers’ 1953 Memorial Cup winning team.

 Orr, a native of Parry Sound, ON, was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979 after playing 12 seasons in the NHL with the Boston Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks recording 915 points on 270 goals and 645 assists.  A winner of two Stanley Cup Championships with the Bruins, Orr also captured two NHL scoring titles and was selected winner of the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player three times and won a record eight-straight James Norris Trophy awards presented annually to the NHL’s top defenceman.  In 1999 Orr was selected to the MasterCard All-time CHL team and in 2008 had his number 2 jersey retired by the Oshawa Generals where he played from 1962-66.

 Since the event was first introduced in 1996 the game has featured 13 players that were selected with the first overall pick in the NHL Draft including Chris Phillips, Joe Thornton, Vincent Lecavalier, Rick Nash, Marc-Andre Fleury, Patrick Kane, Steven Stamkos, John Tavares, Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nathan MacKinnon, Aaron Ekblad, and most recently Connor McDavid of the Erie Otters selected first overall by the Edmonton Oilers.  McDavid, who captained Team Orr last season, was the first of 13 CHL players who competed in the 2015 BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game to be selected in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft.

 Ticket prices for the 2016 BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game range from $19-$49 plus applicable fees and can be purchased atVancouverGiants.com, TicketLeader.ca, by calling the Vancouver Giants office or at the Pacific Coliseum box office which is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm or during all Vancouver Giants home games.

For group tickets (10 or more), call the Vancouver Giants office at 604-4-GIANTS (604-444-2687), Monday through Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm.

The 2016 BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is proudly supported by title partner BMO Bank of Montreal, and CHL associate sponsors Cooper Tire, autoTRADER.ca and Sherwin-Williams.

For more information please visit www.bmotopprospects.ca.

BMO and the Canadian Hockey League

BMO Financial Group and the Canadian Hockey League announced BMO as the Official Bank of the Canadian Hockey League in 2011. The sponsorship builds on BMO’s partnership with the CHL of more than 10 years and affirms BMO’s exclusivity as a financial services sponsor of the league in the retail banking category. It also engrains a presence with the 48 teams which currently participate in the BMO CHL Affinity MasterCard program, which enables CHL fans to support their favourite teams through a co-branded credit card.

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Taylor Raddysh – Player Profile – Erie Otters

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 200 pounds

Date of birth: February 18, 1998. Caledon, Ontario

Position: Right Wing

Shoots: Right

OHL Draft: Round 1, 19th overall, 2014 Priority Selection

Taylor Raddysh of the Erie Otters. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Taylor Raddysh of the Erie Otters. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Taylor Raddysh played his Minor Midget hockey for the Toronto Marlboros where he scored 21 goals and added 6 assists in 31 games which led him to being a first round selection of the Otters in the 2014 Priority Selection.

During his rookie season, Raddysh appeared in 58 games scoring 21 goals and adding 6 assists and contributed 3 goals and 3 assists in 19 playoff games as the Otters went on to the OHL finals only to lose to the Oshawa Generals. He also played in 5 games for Canada White at the World Hockey Challenge-U17 where he contributed a single assist.

Raddysh’s 21 goals were fourth among rookies last season behind Alex DeBrincat’s 51 (2016 Draft Eligible), Zachary Senyshyn’s 26 (Boston Bruins, 2015) and Petrus Palmu’s 22 (undrafted) while his 27 points ranked 19th.

Throughout his career, Raddysh’s stats would suggest he’s a goal scorer first. But do his 6 goals and 21 assists in 17 games to date this season suggest that he’s turned into a playmaker first?

On the contrary.

Raddysh is one of those players that can do a little bit of everything and whatever the coaching staff asks of him. He’s a student of the game and willing to learn.

At 6’2” and 200 pounds, Raddysh has good size and is an above average skater. He has an elusiveness where he can slip away from coverage unnoticed and putting himself in prime scoring areas. He can play a 200 foot game, come back hard on the back check and rarely misses his defensive responsibilities in his own zone.

 He’s also an effective forechecker, able to dump and chase using smarts to put the puck in where he can retrieve it and use his skating to get on top of defensemen and deliver a hard and sometimes punishing hit.

Raddysh has above average puck handling skills. He can carry the puck with ease at top speed and make a play on the rush. He has an excellent shot with a very good release and delivers it with accuracy.

NHL Central Scouting has Raddysh as a B prospect on their September list of players to watch – which typically means a second or third round pick. My opinion as of now is that he’ll be an early second rounder.

Keaton Middleton – Player Profile – Saginaw Spirit

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height: 6’6”

Weight: 235 pounds

Date of birth: February 10, 1998. Stratford, Ontario

Position: Defence

Shoots: Left

OHL Draft: Round 3, 50th overall, 2014 Priority Selection

Keaton Middleton is the younger brother of Ottawa 67’s and Los Angeles Kings draft pick Jacob Middleton. He is currently in his second Ontario Hockey League seasons.

Middleton played his Minor Midget hockey with the Huron Perth Lakers during the 2013-2014 season. There, he played in 31 games scoring twice and adding 20 assists. At the conclusion of his season he appeared in 3 regular season and 4 playoff games for the Stratford Cullitons of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (Junior B).

Keaton Middleton of the Saginaw Spirit. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Keaton Middleton of the Saginaw Spirit. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

The following season, Middleton made the jump to the OHL appearing in 61 games for the Spirit and scoring twice and adding 7 assists with 58 penalty minutes. He also played in 5 games for Team White at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge netting one assist. While with the Spirit he averaged 16:24 of even strength ice time, a total that’s jumped up to 20:16 this season.

Middleton has that size that NHL scouts still drool over and as one of the stronger players in the OHL, the strength to go along with it. He finishes his hits, sometimes punishing, battles down low and is a beast in front of his own goal, making opponents not want to engage with him.

Middleton’s skating isn’t the greatest but his mobility is “good enough”. Combining that with his enormous reach and strong physical game, he has the ability to be a strong shut down defender. While he’s never, and will never be known as an offensive defenseman, he’s shown some flashes throughout his career to date. He possesses a hard and heavy shot from the point but his puck handling skills and decision making need some improvement.

Spirit coach Greg Gilbert had this to say about Middleton: “He has to be one of those big, steady, hard-nosed guys. He’s got to play that way every night. He’s got to let the opposition know it’s going to be a long night for them.”

Gilbert added: “We want our defensemen to get involved offensively, but his priority is to be a big, solid, physical, stay-at-home defenseman.”

Middleton made NHL Central Scouting’s players to watch list as a B prospect – typically second or third round prospects – and exactly where Middleton should settle in come June 2016.

Middleton is a work in progress and is still quite raw but he has the potential to be one of the better shut down defenders in the 2016 NHL Draft.

Adam Mascherin – Player Profile – Kitchener Rangers

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height: 5’9’

Weight: 200 pounds

Date of birth: June 6, 1998. Maple, Ontario

Position: Left Wing

Shoots: Left

OHL Draft: Round 1, 2nd overall, 2014 Priority Selection

Mascherin is a leader both on and off the ice having captained of both his Bantam team (Toronto Jr Canadiens) and Midget team (Vaughan Kings).

Mascherin played the 2012-2013 season with the Jr Canadiens and recorded 94 goals and 91 assists in 71 games. The following season he moved on to the Kings and compiled 67 goals and 62 assists in 61 games en route to being named the Greater Toronto Hockey League’s player of the year.

Last season, his rookie season in the OHL, Mascherin played in 62 games for the Rangers, mostly third line duties and registered 12 goals and 17 assists and was named to the OHL second All Rookie Team.

Adam Mascherin of the Kitchener Rangers. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.This season Mascherin has taken on a bigger role for a surprisingly good Rangers team – currently leading the OHL standings and is the top ranked team in the Canadian Hockey League.

To date, Mascherin has 7 goals and 11 assists in 13 games and sits second in team scoring despite missing 3 games due to the dreaded “upper body injury”. He has registered at least one point in each of his 13 games except October 25 versus Saginaw, the game in which he went down with his injury.

Mascherin has an NHL level shot and is very dangerous shooter in scoring areas. He’s built like a bowling ball and has excellent puck possessions skills. He’s slightly above average in his skating. Mascherin needs to work on his defensive game – and it’s a work in progress. He has shown unbelievable strength in battles along the wall and wins most of those battles.

Last season, Mascherin may have had some issues with consistency but this season it has not poked its ugly head.

Internationally, Mascherin has represented Canada at both the U-17 (Team Gold) and U 18 (Team Red). At the Under-17’s he played in 3 games scoring twice and adding an assist while at the Under-18’s he had 3 assists in 3 games.

He also played for his Kings at the OHL Cup scoring 4 goals and 3 assists in 5 games and in the Greater Toronto Hockey League Team Red at the Under-16 OHL Gold Cup scoring 3 goals and 3 assists in 5 games.

Mascherin made NHL Central Scouting’s list of players to watch as a C Prospect which indicates a fourth, fifth or sixth round pick.

There is no questioning Mascherin’s offensive upside, and if he keeps improving his all around game, he could become a riser in the rankings.

Catch Mascherin’s draft day interview here.

Here is an isolation video while with the Vaughan Kings courtesy of TheScout.ca :

Otters’ Taylor Raddysh added to Team OHL Roster

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Super SeriesToronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League, in association with the Canadian Hockey League, announced today that Taylor Raddysh of the Erie Otters has been added to the Team OHL roster for the 2015 CHL Canada Russia Series.

Raddysh, a 17-year-old from Caledon, ON, is playing in his second OHL season with the Otters after being chosen by the club 19th overall in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection.  In 14 games so far this season, Raddysh has scored five goals and 14 assists for 19 points with a plus-minus rating of plus-11.  The 2016 NHL Draft prospect also represented Canada at the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

The Otters’ forward will compete against Team Russia on Thursday November 12 in Owen Sound, replacing Zach Bratina of the North Bay Battalion who is unable to participate due to injury.

 The schedule for the 2015 Canada Russia Series is as follows:

Game 1 – Monday, November 9 at Kelowna, BC
Game 2 – Tuesday, November 10 at Kamloops, BC
Game 3 – Thursday, November 12 at Owen Sound, ON

Game 4 – Monday, November 16 at Windsor, ON

Game 5 – Tuesday, November 17 at Rouyn-Noranda, QC

Game 6 – Thursday, November 19 at Halifax, NS

 The 2015 Canada Russia series is supported by CHL associate sponsors, BMO Bank of Montreal, Cooper Tire, autoTRADER.ca and Sherwin-Williams.  All games will be broadcast nationally on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.

For more information including how to purchase tickets please visit http://canadarussia.chl.ca.

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OHL Announces Top Performers of the Month for October

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the Top OHL Performers of the Month for regular season games played in October 2015, including Erie Otters forward Alex DeBrincat, Flint Firebirds defenceman Vili Saarijarvi, Mississauga Steelheads rookie Alexander Nylander and Kingston Frontenacs goaltender Lucas Peressini.

Alex DeBrincat of the Erie Otters. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Alex DeBrincat of the Erie Otters. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

OHL Player of the Month – Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters):
2016 NHL Draft prospect Alex DeBrincat is the OHL Player of the Month for March after he tallied 16 goals, seven assists and 23 points in 12 games. DeBrincat recorded points in 10 of his 12 outings, with seven multi-point performances and set a new Erie Otters regular season franchise record on October 1st, scoring five goals in a 6-1 win over the Niagara IceDogs. A week later, DeBrincat buried four more goals against the IceDogs in a 7-2 win on October 9th. He earned first star honours on four separate occasions last month and was named the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending October 5th after he led the league with five goals in two games.

DeBrincat, a 17-year-old from Detroit, Michigan, earned OHL and CHL Rookie of the Year honours in 2014-15 after scoring 51 goals and 53 assists for 104 points in 68 games. He has recorded 17 goals, eight assists and 25 points through his first 13 games this season and was one of seven OHL players listed as first round candidates by NHL Central Scouting in their September ‘Players to Watch’ list. DeBrincat was a three-time OHL Rookie of the Month recipient in 2014-15, receiving the honours in October, November and March.

Vili Saarijarvi of Flint Firebirds. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Vili Saarijarvi of Flint Firebirds. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

OHL Defenceman of the Month – Vili Saarijarvi (Flint Firebirds):
Flint Firebirds 18 year-old blueliner Vili Saarijarvi is the OHL Defenceman of the Month. The Detroit Red Wings prospect put together an outstanding first full month in the OHL, scoring two goals along with 9 assists for 11 points in 11 contests to go with a plus/minus rating of plus-9. The Finnish rearguard registered points in seven of his 11 October appearances, scoring his first OHL goal as part of a two-goal effort against the Ottawa 67’s on October 16th. Saarijarvi had three multi-point performances, including three assists against the Peterborough Petes on October 11th. Saarijarvi is currently tied for the lead in scoring among OHL defencemen with two goals, 14 assists and 16 points in 14 games.

A native of Rovaniemi, Finland, Saarijarvi was Flint’s first round, ninth overall selection in the 2015 CHL Import Draft. A third round pick by the Detroit Red Wings at the 2015 NHL Draft, Saarijarvi was named best defenceman of the 2015 World Under-18 Hockey Championship in Switzerland after he paced Finland to a fourth place finish with three goals, six assists and nine points in seven games.

Alexander Nylander of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Alexander Nylander of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

OHL Rookie of the Month – Alexander Nylander (Mississauga Steelheads):
Mississauga Steelheads winger Alexander Nylander is the OHL Rookie of the Month for October after recording nine goals, nine assists and 18 points in 13 games. Nylander’s big month included points in 11 of his 13 contests, recording six multi-point outings in the process. The 17 year-old son of former NHL forward Michael Nylander received star of the game recognition on four occasions and enjoyed a 10-game point streak from October 4-29 when he compiled eight goals and seven assists. Quickly developing a reputation for scoring highlight reel goals, Nylander was part of the Tip Top Tailors OHL Plays of the Week on two different occasions in October.

A native of Södertälje, Sweden, Nylander was Mississauga’s first round, 12th overall pick in the 2015 CHL Import Draft. He helped Sweden claim silver at the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament this past summer, scoring two goals, four assists and six points in five contests. He is eligible for the 2016 NHL Draft and was one of seven OHL players listed as first round candidates by NHL Central Scouting in their September ‘Players to Watch’ list. Nylander currently leads the Steelheads, as well as all OHL rookies in scoring with 10 goals, 11 assists and 21 points in 16 games.

Lucas Peressini of Kingston Frontenacs. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Lucas Peressini of Kingston Frontenacs. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Vaughn OHL Goaltender of the Month – Lucas Peressini (Kingston Frontenacs):
Lucas Peressini of the Kingston Frontenacs is the Vaughn OHL Goaltender of the Month for October. The Nobleton, ON, native played to a 7-1-0-0 record supported by a 1.85 goals against-average and a .944 save percentage with one shutout. Peressini made 35 savesto blank the Oshawa Generals in a 1-0 victory on October 18th, recording his sixth career OHL shutout after setting a Frontenacs franchise record with five last season. Peressini made a season-high 37 saves in a 3-2 overtime win over the Erie Otters on October 23rd, handing them their first loss of the season while earning second star honours. The 20 year-old rattled off six straight wins from October 7-25 helping establish the Frontenacs as one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams.

Peressini comes off a remarkable 2014-15 campaign, setting new Frontenacs single-season franchise records for goals against-average (2.32) and save percentage (.922) to be named OHL Goaltender of the Year. The 6’2″, 188Ib netminder attended training camp with the Toronto Maple Leafs this past September and has gone 7-3-1-1 with a 2.37 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage through 12 games this season.

Knights’ Tyler Parsons named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that 2016 NHL Draft prospect Tyler Parsons of the London Knights is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending November 1 after posting a record of 3-0-0-0 with two shutout victories along with a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .964.

Parsons turned aside 81 of the 84 shots he faced last week to backstop the Knights to three straight victories earning second star honours in all three games.  On Friday night he made 27 saves as part of a 6-3 win over the Windsor Spitfires, then picked up his first of back-to-back shutouts with a 22-save performance on Saturday in a 7-0 win over the Saginaw Spirit.  The win featured a pair of milestones including Parsons’ first career shutout, and the 600th career win for head coach Dale Hunter.  On Sunday Parsons wrapped up his week making 32 saves in a 6-0 win over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

An 18-year-old from Chesterfield, Michigan, Parsons is playing in his second career OHL season with the Knights.  He is eligible for the 2016 NHL Draft and was given a ‘B’ rating by NHL Central Scouting in their September ‘Players to Watch’ list.  Parsons currently has a 10-1-1-1 record with a goals-against-average of 2.53 and save percentage of .919 so far this season.

Also considered for the award this week was last week’s winner Arizona Coyotes prospect Adin Hill of the Portland Winterhawks who posted a 2-1-0-0 record stopping 115 shots in three games with a goals-against-average of 1.67 and save percentage of .958, while Carolina Hurricanes prospect Callum Booth of the Quebec Remparts stopped 92 shots with a 2-0-1-0 record including a shutout victory along with a goals-against-average of 1.98 and save percentage of .939.

Vaughn

 2015-16 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week:
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