Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that 2017 NHL Draft prospect Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending December 11 after posting a 3-0-0-0 record with three shutouts for a goals-against-average of 0.00 and save percentage of 1.000.
DiPietro was perfect in goal last week blanking the opposition in all three Spitfires’ road games improving the club’s record to 21-5-4-0 for first place in the OHL’s West Division standings. He earned first star honours twice including Thursday with 21 saves in a 3-0 win over the Barrie Colts, and Sunday with 21 saves in a 3-0 triumph against the North Bay Battalion. His week also included a 22-save performance Saturday in a 6-0 win against the Sudbury Wolves building a shutout streak that now stands at 204:16.
Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
A 17-year-old from Amherstburg, ON, DiPietro is playing in his second career OHL season and leads the league with four shutouts while carrying the league’s lowest goals-against-average with a mark of 2.11 and highest save percentage at .922. The second round pick of the Spitfires in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection has made 22 appearances this season for the Mastercard Memorial Cup hosts and carries a 15-3-4-0 record.
Also considered for the award this week was Antoine Samuel of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar who made 76 saves while posting a 2-1-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 0.71 and save percentage of .974, and Dylan Ferguson of the Kamloops Blazers who made 69 saves posting a 1-0-0-1 record with a goals-against-average of 1.92 and save percentage of .945.
Nicolas Hague is in his second Ontario Hockey League season after producing 14 goals and 24 points in 66 games for the Mississauga Steelheads. Through 29 games this season, Hague has surpassed his assist total from last season (15) and matched his point totals while producing .83 points per game, well ahead of his .36 points per game from a season ago.
Last season he was named the OHL Scholastic Player of the Year taking home the Bobby Smith Trophy as well as being named to the OHL Second All-Rookie Team.
Hague played his minor midget hockey for the Kitchener Jr Rangers. In 31 games, he netted 3 goals and 13 assists for the Jr Rangers. He added 4 goals and 13 assists in 18 playoff games.
Nicolas Hague of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Hague went on to play for the Kitchener Dutchmen of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (Junior B) for the 2014-2015 season. For the Dutchmen, Hague would score 3 goals and 11 assists in 43 games and having a very good playoff with 3 goals and 9 assists in 10 games. He was awarded the GOJHL Midwestern Conference Rookie of the Year.
The game has changed and continues to change. Fans look towards defencemen that can move the puck and be an offensive force. Other still prefer the huge defenceman that can be a physical force defensively. When you combine the two, you have Nicolas Hague.
Hague is a two-way defender who can excel, and sometimes dominate at both ends of the ice. He is an improved and very good skater. While he lacks a good first step, he’s able to close gaps quickly. Combined with his reach, he is near impossible to beat one-on-one. He can physically dominate, sometimes with ease, separating opponents from the puck. His physical strength will only improve as he gains more bulk and muscle.
Offensively, Hague is excellent in the transition game. He can make a good first pass or can skate with the puck, although some work is needed with his stickhandling. He possesses a howitzer of a shot. Not only is it a heavy shot, but it’s deadly accurate. He can quarterback the powerplay having scored 4 goals and 4 assists on the pp to date. He has excellent vision and a knack for reading the play. He has no hesitation in jumping up into the rush at the right time, or moving in from his point position for a scoring chance.
Hague is very smart both on and off the ice, as shown by his Bobby Smith Award. He has also shown very good leadership qualities, which goes a long way when NHL teams are looking at prospects.
I’d like to think, although we’ll never know for sure, that part of the reason the Steelheads were willing to move Sean Day to the Windsor Spitfires in what was suppose to be a very strong season for them, was the development of Nicolas Hague.
The month of November saw some pretty good performances from Ontario Hockey League players eligible for the 2017 National Hockey League draft but one player’s performance was above and beyond the rest. That performance belongs to Nick Suzuki of the Owen Sound Attack.
Nick Suzuki of the Owen Sound Attack. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Suzuki netted ten goals and added as many assists in twelve November games for the Attack, easily the best offensive performance by draft eligible players. Suzuki was held off the score sheet just twice. His ten goals came on 49 shots – good for a 20.4 shooting percentage. Suzuki also went 81 for 162 on the faceoff dot or 50%.
With his 16 goals, 18 assists and 34 points through 27 games, Suzuki is set to surpass his 20-18-38 totals from last season.
With his November performance, Suzuki is tied for the Attack scoring lead. His five powerplay goals are second on the team, as is his five powerplay assists. Four of the Attack’s shorthanded markers come from Suzuki’s stick.
To see where Suzuki ranks among the OHL’s draft eligible players, click here.
The one name that appears a few times in various categories and probably very few expected to see is that of Soo Greyhounds defenceman Conor Timmins.
The 6’1”, 182 pound second year defenceman has already surpassed his totals of last season (4G, 9A, 13PTS, 20PIM) and is having a fine season at both ends of the ice. Born on September 18,1998, Timmins missed being eligible for the 2016 National Hockey League Draft by three days.
Conor Timmins of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Timmins is tied for second among the Ontario Hockey League’s draft eligible players in assists with Nick Suzuki of the Owen Sound Attack. Both have 18 assists, two shy of leader Owen Tippet on the Mississauga Steelheads.
Timmins leads all draft eligible defencemen in the scoring race with three goals to go along with his eighteen assists. Those twenty-one points are four better than Mississauga Steelheads’ defender Nicolas Hague. He also ranks fifth among all OHL defencemen in the scoring race.
You will also find Timmins near the top of plus/minus and penalty minutes. Timmins ranks seventh in plus/minus with the only draft eligible defenceman ahead of him being Elijah Roberts of the Kitchener Rangers. Timmins ranks fifth in penalty minutes among draft eligible players, tops among defencemen.
Here are the leaders among players eligible for the NHL draft for the first time:
I’m not usually a fan of goaltenders being drafted in the first round but every once in a while a prospect comes along that you have to give it serious consideration. Malcolm Subban was the last Ontario Hockey League goaltender selected in the first round of the National Hockey League Draft (24th overall in 2012 by the Boston Bruins), and setting aside hindsight, an argument can be made whether it was the correct choice or not.
Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires will rightfully garner attention as a first rounder in 2017.
Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
DiPietro played his midget hockey for the Sun County Panthers where he posted a 2.12 goals against average and a .916 save percentage. He also led Team Ontario Under-16’s to a gold medal at the Canada Winter Games with a 0.75 goals against average and a .970 save percentage. That set the stage for Spitfires’ General Manager Warren Rychel to select him in the second round of the OHL Draft.
DiPietro made an immediate impact in the OHL in his rookie season 16-8-1-1 record with a 2.45 goals against average and .912 save percentage. He won the Dinty Moore Trophy for having the best rookie goals against average and was named to the OHL First All-Rookie Team at the end of the season.
DiPietro also played for Team Canada at the World Hockey Challenge Under-17’s where he posted the tournaments best goals against average at 1.75 and in those five games had a save percentage of .929. He was also a standout for Team Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial. In 3 appearances he posted a 2.00 goals against average as well as a .920 save percentage.
This season, DiPietro is taking the next step ranking near the top of the league in both goals against average and save percentage.
DiPietro lacks the size that NHL teams seem to covet when it comes to goaltenders nowadays. But what he lacks in size, he makes up with talent.
DiPietro is very agile and athletic. His side to side movement is very quick as is his ability to get into position. He plays a composed game and tracks the puck extremely well. His reflexes are excellent and trusts his abilities. He’s very good in close and remains calm in those situations. His positioning is excellent especially with shots coming through traffic. He is so positionally sound that the puck just hits him through that traffic, or if deflected, can get a pad or glove on it.
If there was one area that DiPietro needed to work on it is his rebound control. From last season to now, he has improved in that area of his game, but it continues to be a work in progress.
As hosts of the 2017 Memorial Cup, the Windsor Spitfires will be playing into May and there will be a lot of eyes on DiPietro. If you are a gambler, don’t bet against him.
OHL Draft: Second round, 40th overall, 2015 OHL Priority Selection
Entwistle played his midget hockey for the Toronto Marlboros. There, in 66 games, he scored 22 goals and added 27 assists and an Alternate Captain of the Marlboros. He was drafted by the Bulldogs in the second round, 40th overall at the 2015 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.
Last season was Entwistle’s rookie campaign with the Bulldogs. He appeared in all but eight games scoring six goals and fourteen points. He represented Canada at the World Hockey Challenge Under-17’s with a goal in six games. In August, he represented Canada once again at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial and contributed an assist in 4 games.
MacKenzie Entwistle of the Hamilton Bulldogs. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Entwistle came into this season as a projected first round talent and to date has given no indication that he is anything but. Through the Bulldogs’ first 19 games, Entwistle sits third in scoring for Hamilton with 9 goals and 7 assists.
During his rookie season, Entwistle showed improvement as the season began and that trajectory has carried over into this season. He was already strong defensively with the Marlboros but continues to take it to another level. He is a premier penalty killer for Hamilton and has a shorthanded goal to show for it. He uses his size effectively to play physical and separate players from the puck. Combined with his skating and strong hockey sense, he is a force in his own zone.
Offensively, Entwistle uses his skating and size to attack the net with or without the puck and can cause havoc and scoring opportunities for his teammate. While he gets quality power play time, he has yet to score on the PP but he has three helpers. He’s underrated offensively in some circles. He possesses soft hands with very good vision and is a very good playmaker. He’s strong on the puck and difficult to separate from it.
Reed Duthie is the TV play by play voice of the Hamilton Bulldogs. Reed was kind enough to share his thoughts with OHL Writers:
Perhaps the most improved of a young Bulldogs’ team from the beginning of 2015/16 to now. Entwistle continues to learn to effectively use his size and growing strength to his advantage and continues to improve his hockey IQ and play in all 3 zones. Exciting with the puck on his stick, Entwistle can hold off defenders while making plays or driving to the net. A key member of the Bulldogs PK unit as well, Entwistle’s positioning & quick stick benefit his teammates in tough defensive situations. With the depth, when healthy, Entwistle will get the chance to add to already offensive numbers this season. Entwistle projects moving forward as a top 6 forward with room to grow into an elite level OHLer.
Well it is November 1st and every month of the Ontario Hockey League season is the time I select my player of the month eligible for the National Hockey League Draft. For October there was no easy choice as there were several worthy candidates. In the end, I settles on Gabriel Vilardi of the Windsor Spitfires.
Gabriel Vilardi of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
The OHL season began with Vilardi injured but he made his anticipated return showing no rust and on fire. In just 9 games through October, Vilardi scored 6 goals and 8 assists and finishing with a plus 5. His six goals came on twenty five shots, good for a 24 per cent shooting percentage.
In his nine games, Vilardi was named the game’s first star three times. He’s climbed up the Spitfires’ scoring chart and sits tied for second with his fourteen points which is tied for fifth among draft eligible players.
Also garnering attention is Mississauga Steelheads’ star Owen Tippet who leads the Steelheads (and tied for tops among draft eligible players) in scoring. In eleven October games Tippett registered twelve goals and four assists.
Two defencemen drew plenty of attention as well. Tippett’s teammate Nicolas Hague had 7 goals and 4 assists in 10 games while Noel Hoefenmayer of the Ottawa 67’s had 4 goals and 8 assists in 12 games.
In goal, Michael DiPietro posted a 5-2-0-0 record with a 2.25 goals against average and .924 save percentage with one shutout.
The Kitchener Rangers selected Greg Meireles in the first round, twelfth overall in the 2015 Ontario Hockey League’s Priority Selection.
Despite being a first round pick, Meireles would play the 2015/2016 season with the Ottawa Jr Senators of the CCHL. He appeared in 48 games for the Jr Sens scoring 7 goals and adding 28 assists. He would suit up for 16 playoff games while scoring twice to go along with 6 assists.
After committing to the Rangers following the draft, Rangers’ GM Murray Heibert had this to say:
“Although he won’t join our team immediately, we see this as a move that is going to strengthen our hockey club in the future. Greg will be available to play games as an affiliate player and we look forward to having him join the team on a full time basis next season. This is a special player that excels at both ends of the ice. He possesses good hockey sense and the ability to make quick decisions at high speeds.”
Rangers’ fans had a glimpse into Meireles’ future when he appeared in 7 games for Kitchener. They were not disappointed with what they saw as he put up two goals and three assists in those seven games.
Internationally, Meireles suited up for Canada White at the 2016 World Hockey Challenge Under-17. In six games he scored once and assisted on another as Canada White won gold at the event. He also played for Team Canada at the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup but was held off the score sheet in four games.
Meireles has been red hot to date this season having 14 points (4 goals and 12 assists) through his first dozen games while leading all rookies in assists, points and penalty minutes. He’s been everything the Rangers’ wanted him to be and more and I named him the OHL draft eligible player of the month for September.
Greg Meireles of the Kitchener Rangers. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Meireles plays the game with intensity and with an extremely high level of energy and combines those tangibles with an excellent work ethic. He applies those traits in all three zones with the same intensity in his own zone as he does in the offensive zone.
Despite being 5’10 and 173 pounds, Meireles battles fiercely along the walls for pucks, often against bigger players, and comes away with the pucks in those battles more often than not. He’s brought an element of physicality to his game that can only improve with added bulk to his frame. His speed, anticipation and work ethic make him relentless on the forecheck.
Meireles is a very good skater with excellent speed and a first step that rockets him to top speed. Combined with his abilities to anticipate, he can get into lanes quickly often taking away attempted passes. He has very good vision and playmaking skills and while he projects as a playmaker first, he possesses an above average shot that can beat goaltenders. He has an extremely high hockey IQ and thinks the game one or two steps ahead.
Mike Farwell, the play by play radio voice of the Kitchener Rangers on 570 News and host of the Post Game show on Rogers Television shared his thoughts with OHLW:
Greg is a highly skilled hockey player. Fast, with good hands and vision. What has impressed me the most is how strong he is. He doesn’t shy away from anything and will go anywhere to get a puck. I haven’t often seen that kind of tenacity from a first year guy.
OHLW also had the opportunity to speak with Gwen Meireles, Greg’s mother, on a variety of topics regarding his path.
OHLW: So I have to ask right from the start, since Ottawa is your hometown, is it safe to assume that the Senators are the family’s favorite team, and Greg’s?
Gwen: Yes, the family has been Sens fans from the beginning. Greg’s first hockey game was playing for the Little Sens AAA spring team. He played defence and wore #6. He was a Wade Redden fan at the time.
OHLW: When did Greg first get involved in hockey and how long has he been dreaming of being an NHL player?
Gwen: I believe we first had him on the ice around 4 years old. He loved it. My husband felt he should learn how to skate before putting a stick in his hands so we put him in public skating during the summer and we built a backyard rink in the winter where he’d spend a lot of his time. I think it was around a year later where we put a stick in his hands. I don’t think early on he dreamed of being an NHL’er. He just loved playing the game.
OHLW: Who was Greg’s favorite player growing up and did he ’emulate’ him?
Gwen: His first favorite player was Wade Redden. He later liked Alex Ovechkin. He liked his skill and his physical play. Greg doesn’t have the same physical body as Alex Ovechkin but he still emulates his physical play.
OHLW: Was Greg (and the rest of the family) involved in other sports growing up and did he have any thoughts of pursuing them or was it always hockey?
Gwen: Greg played a lot of soccer and tennis as well growing up. The whole family played tennis. Actually I met my husband on the tennis court. Greg was an accomplished tennis player and won the U10 city championship when he was 9 years old. At this point we felt that he should concentrate on one sport more but still play multiple sports. We left it up to him and he chose hockey.
OHLW: Greg had an excellent season with the Ottawa Jr 67’s that led to being the 12th overall pick in the 2015 OHL Draft by the Kitchener Rangers. The Rangers are an excellent organization as are the 67’s. Ottawa was picking four spots later. Was there any hoping that he’d be there for the 67’s so Greg could play for his hometown team?
Gwen: Deep down my husband and I wanted him to play in Ottawa but Greg just wanted to play on a team that really wanted him. We were all excited and pleased that an organization such as the Kitchener Rangers selected him.
OHLW: After the OHL draft Greg went on to play a season with Ottawa Jr Senators of the CCHL. What was the thought process for taking that route instead of going directly to the OHL?
Gwen: We just thought that Greg was not quite ready to leave home at such a young age. Another year home gaining size and maturity would help him transition into next year. The Ottawa Jr Sens really wanted him and we felt Greg would develop more here than in Kitchener where all their forwards were returning. Kitchener was going to call him up for some games so we thought that would be the best for Greg. It took some arm twisting but Greg agreed.
OHLW: Was any consideration given to going a different route entirely over the OHL?
Gwen: There were several offers from prestigious NCAA schools but Greg wanted to play in the OHL especially after Kitchener drafted him.
OHLW: We often hear from players in their draft years saying they “try not to think about the draft” or “it’s there in the back of their minds”. How do you help him keep focused on the task at hand or do you leave that to his coaches in Kitchener?
Gwen: We have been driving down to Kitchener every weekend thus far. We talked to him about it last weekend but he says he really doesn’t think about it. He just tries to prepare for each game and play the best he can. We will leave this to his coaches.
OHLW: The NHL is changing, and we’re seeing smaller players that can skate and have skill be more successful. That gives Greg an advantage but he plays much bigger than his 5’10” frame. As a mother, it’s only natural to worry. Do you try to get him to ‘tone it down’?
Gwen: I do worry but he likes to play a physical game. It is tough to watch because many players are taller and heavier but it’s how he likes to play. He works really hard in the gym and I know he is in good physical shape so that helps a bit.
OHLW: At the start of every NHL season, as we are watching Hockey Night in Canada, a player scores his first NHL goal and immediately the cameras turn to his parents sitting in the stands. As you watch that happen, do you ever think about you and your family there as Greg nets his first NHL goal?
Gwen: Yes. We had 11 family members down to watch Greg’s first game this year. The team won, Greg had 1 goal and 2 assists and was named first star. We were so excited and proud. I just can’t explain how proud I was. I know the NHL is a long ways off and may never happen but we would be so proud of him after all these years of him working so hard.
I want to thank Gwen for taking the time out to talk to me and I am sure the readers will greatly appreciate the time as well.
Kitchener Rangers’ forward Greg Meireles is our Ontario Hockey League’s draft eligible player of the month for September.
The OHL rookie, a native of Ottawa, Ontario is in his first full season after appearing in 7 games last season for the Rangers.
Greg Meireles of the Kitchener Rangers. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images
Meireles played in two games during September scoring once and adding four assist while finishing with a plus three. His lone goal was a power play, game winning goal versus the Flint Firebirds. He also contributed two assists in the contest and was named the games first star. He also contributed two assists in the Rangers victory over the North Bay Battalion.
Also considered were a pair of Hamilton Bulldogs. Goaltender Kaden Fulcher posted a 3-1-0-0 record and a 1.93 goals against average and .946 save percentage. Teammate Matthew Strome has a four game point streak going with two goals and three assists.
Opening week of the Ontario Hockey League season has begun and here you’ll find all the players eligible for the first time for the 2017 National Hockey League Draft.
While there are some top notch players that will have their name’s called in June, It’s not a particularly strong or deep draft class from the O.
Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
On the high end, there is Gabriel Vilardi of the Windsor Spitfires, Owen Tippet and Nicolas Hague of the Mississauga Steelheads and Matthew Strome of the Hamilton Bulldogs to name a few. Standout goaltender Michael DiPietro of the Spitfires has the makeup to push for first round consideration as a goalie.
As for my season prediction, I like Hamilton versus Mississauga in the Eastern Final and London versus Windsor in the Western Final with London defeating Mississauga for the OHL Championship.
OHL Writers 