Around the OHL

Toronto, Ont. – The first round of the 2023 OHL Playoffs concluded on Monday, with the Saginaw Spirit and Barrie Colts both securing spots in the second round that begins on Thursday, April 13th.

The OHL playoff field has been narrowed down to eight teams, with the Ottawa 67’s, Peterborough Petes, North Bay Battalion and Barrie Colts competing to advance to the Eastern Conference Championship Series for the Bobby Orr Trophy, while the London Knights, Kitchener Rangers, Sarnia Sting and Saginaw Spirit battle to play in the Western Conference Championship Series for the Wayne Gretzky Trophy. 

Don’t miss a moment of the 2023 OHL Playoffs on OHL Live, with playoff passes on sale now at ohllive.com.
 

Second Round Playoff Schedules – Eastern Conference:

(1) Ottawa 67’s vs. (4) Peterborough Petes
Game 1 – Fri. April 14 at Ottawa, 7:00pm
Game 2 – Sun. April 16 at Ottawa, 2:00pm
Game 3 – Tues. April 18 at Peterborough, 7:05pm
Game 4 – Thurs. April 20 at Peterborough, 7:05pm
Game 5 – Sat. April 22 at Ottawa, 4:00pm*
Game 6 – Mon. April 24 at Peterborough, 7:05pm*
Game 7 – Tues. April 25 at Ottawa, 7:00pm*

(2) North Bay Battalion vs. (3) Barrie Colts
Game 1 – Fri. April 14 at North Bay, 7:00pm
Game 2 – Sun. April 16 at North Bay – 2:00pm
Game 3 – Tues. April 18 at Barrie – 7:30pm
Game 4 – Thurs. April 20 at Barrie – 7:30pm
Game 5 – Sat. April 22 at North Bay – 7:00pm*
Game 6 – Mon. April 24 at Barrie – 7:30pm*
Game 7 – Tues. April 25 at North Bay – 7:00pm*

*if necessary

Second Round Playoff Schedules – Western Conference:

(2) London Knights vs. (8) Kitchener Rangers
Game 1 – Thurs. April 13 at London, 7:00pm
Game 2 – Fri. April 14 at London, 7:00pm
Game 3 – Sun. April 16 at Kitchener, 2:00pm
Game 4 – Tues. April 18 at Kitchener, 7:00pm
Game 5 – Thurs. April 20 at London, 7:00pm*
Game 6 – Sun. April 23 at Kitchener, 2:00pm*
Game 7 – Tues. April 25 at London, 7:00pm*

(3) Sarnia Sting vs. (4) Saginaw Spirit
Game 1 – Fri. April 14 at Sarnia, 7:05pm
Game 2 – Sun. April 16 at Sarnia, 2:05pm
Game 3 – Tues. April 18 at Saginaw, 7:05pm
Game 4 – Thurs. April 20 at Saginaw, 7:05pm
Game 5- Sat. April 22 at Sarnia, 7:05pm*
Game 6 – Sun. April 23 at Saginaw, 5:30pm*
Game 7- Tues. April 25 at Sarnia, 7:05pm*

*if necessary

See the complete 2023 OHL Playoff Tracker at ontariohockeyleague.com.

About the Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League which is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and four American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL is made up of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U SPORTS than any other league.

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the results of the Eastern and Western Conference Coaches Polls for the 2022-23 OHL Regular Season.

The OHL Coaches Poll provides member club coaches with the opportunity to recognize the top three players in 20 different skill categories within their own conference.

In the Eastern Conference, the Central Division champion North Bay Battalion were one of two teams with seven players included in the poll, led by captain and Florida Panthers prospect Liam Arnsby, one of two OHL players to finish first in three different categories including Best Body Checker, Best Defensive Forward and Best Penalty Killer. The Troops also boasted a dual first-place finisher in goaltender Domenic DiVincentiis, who topped both Best Puckhandling Goaltender and Best Shootout Goaltender. The Barrie Colts also featured seven different names on the poll, led by Smartest Player and Best Offensive Defenceman Brandt Clarke. Veteran defender Connor Punnett was also a favourite, appearing in four different categories as he was considered the Eastern Conference’s Best Shot Blocker while also being given consideration in Most Improved Player, Hardest Shot and Best Body Checker. Ottawa 67’s teammates Logan Morrison and Jack Matier both fared well, with the former being voted the Eastern Conference’s Best Playmaker and Best Stickhandler while he finished second in Smartest Player considerations. Matier appeared in four different categories, being voted Best Defensive Defenceman while also being recognized in Best Shot Blocker, Best Penalty Killer and Hardest Shot. Oshawa Generals overage veteran Ryan Gagnier also received plenty of attention, being voted the Conference’s Hardest Worker while also appearing in Best Defensive Forward and Best Penalty Killer voting.

Shifting to the Western Conference, the Sarnia Sting led the OHL with nine different players appearing on the poll. League assists leader Ty Voit was a first-place finisher in two categories including Best Playmaker and Best Stickhandler. Big Chicago Blackhawks prospect Ethan Del Mastro was voted the Western Conference’s Best Defensive Defenceman and Best Penalty Killer. The Sting also featured the Best Offensive Defenceman in Christian Kyrou. The West Division champion Windsor Spitfires trailed with eight players included, led by two-time first-place finisher Jacob Maillet who wound up as the Western Conference’s Best Defensive Forward and Most Underrated Player. Faring the best individually in the Western Conference, top 2023 NHL Draft prospect Colby Barlow of the Owen Sound Attack was voted the Western Conference’s Best Shot, Hardest Shot and Most Dangerous in the Goal Area. Other individual standouts included Detroit Red Wings prospect Amadeus Lombardi of the Flint Firebirds who finished as Smartest Player and second-best in both Best Playmaker and Best Stickhandler. Soo Greyhounds blueliner Kirill Kudryavtsev finished in the top-three of three separate categories including Best Shot Blocker, Best Defensive Defenceman and Most Underrated Player. In goal, London’s Brett Brochu was voted the Western Conference’s Best Shootout Goaltender and second-best Puckhandling Goaltender.

The Coaches Poll is tabulated when each team submits one nominee per category, and coaches then vote for the top three players for each category within their conference.  Players receive five points for a first place vote, three points for a second place vote, and one point for a third place vote.  Clubs are not permitted to vote for players from their own team allowing for a maximum of 45 possible points for each winner.

All 20 categories are listed below with Eastern Conference and Western Conference winners including their final point totals in brackets.

Most Underrated Player:

Eastern Conference:
1. Beau Jelsma, Barrie Colts (21)
2. Paul Christopoulos, North Bay Battalion (18)
3. Patrick Thomas, Hamilton Bulldogs (16)

Western Conference:
1. Jacob Maillet, Windsor Spitfires (21)
2. Braeden Bowman, Guelph Storm (19)
T-3. Kirill Kudryavtsev, Soo Greyhounds (12)
T-3. Marcus Limpar-Lantz, Sarnia Sting (12)

Most Improved Player:

Eastern Conference:
1. Sahil Panwar, Hamilton Bulldogs (23)
2. Connor Punnett, Barrie Colts (21)
3. Dylan Roobroeck, Oshawa Generals (20)

Western Conference:
1. Alex Christopoulos, Windsor Spitfires (35)
2. Tristan Bertucci, Flint Firebirds (23)
3. Max Namestnikov, Guelph Storm (13)

Smartest Player:

Eastern Conference:
1. Brandt Clarke, Barrie Colts (41) – finished t-1st in 2021-22
2. Logan Morrison, Ottawa 67’s (22) – finished 2nd in 2021-22
3. Tucker Robertson, Peterborough Petes (20) – finished 3rd in 2021-22

Western Conference:
1. Amadeus Lombardi, Flint Firebirds (39)
2. Shane Wright, Windsor Spitfires (12) – finished t-1st in Eastern Conference in 2021-22, 2nd in 2019-20
T-3. Sasha Pastujov, Sarnia Sting (9)
T-3. Cooper Walker, Guelph Storm (9)

Hardest Worker:

Eastern Conference:
1. Ryan Gagnier, Oshawa Generals (31)
2. Paul Ludwinski, Kingston Frontenacs (14)
3. Charlie Callaghan, Mississauga Steelheads (13)

Western Conference:
1. Matthew Maggio, Windsor Spitfires (30) – finished t-3rd in 2021-22
2. Zacharie Giroux, Flint Firebirds (18)
3. Mark Duarte, Soo Greyhounds (15)

Best Playmaker:

Eastern Conference:
1. Logan Morrison, Ottawa 67’s (27) – finished 1st in 2021-22
2. Evan Vierling, Barrie Colts (19)
3. Matvey Petrov, North Bay Battalion (18)

Western Conference:
1. Ty Voit, Sarnia Sting (35)
2. Amadeus Lombardi, Flint Firebirds (29)
3. Matthew Poitras, Guelph Storm (21)

Most Dangerous In Goal Area:

Eastern Conference:
1. Avery Hayes, Peterborough Petes (25)
2. Ethan Cardwell, Barrie Colts (20)
3. David Goyette, Sudbury Wolves (19)

Western Conference:
1. Colby Barlow, Owen Sound Attack (26)
2. Matthew Maggio, Windsor Spitfires (24)
3. Nolan Burke, Sarnia Sting (19)

Best Skater:

Eastern Conference:
1. J.R. Avon, Peterborough Petes (22) – finished 1st in 2021-22
2. Pavel Mintyukov, Ottawa 67’s (19)
3. Nick Lardis, Hamilton Bulldogs (13)

Western Conference:
1. Spencer Sova, Erie Otters (29)
2. Oliver Peer, Windsor Spitfires (21)
3. Hunter Haight, Saginaw Spirit (19)

Best Shot:

Eastern Conference:
1. Kyle McDonald, North Bay Battalion (30)
2. James Hardie, Mississauga Steelheads (20) – finished 2nd in 2021-22
3. Brennan Othmann, Peterborough Petes (18) – finished 1st in Western Conference in 2021-22

Western Conference:
1. Colby Barlow, Owen Sound Attack (38) – finished 3rd in 2021-22
2. Gavin Hayes, Flint Firebirds (21)
3. Francesco Arcuri, Kitchener Rangers (15)

Hardest Shot:

Eastern Conference:
1. Ty Nelson, North Bay Battalion (39)
2. Connor Punnett, Barrie Colts (20)
3. Jack Matier, Ottawa 67’s (11)

Western Conference:
T-1. Colby Barlow, Owen Sound Attack (27) – finished 3rd in 2021-22
T-1. Logan Mailloux, London Knights (27)
2. Michael Renwick, Windsor Spitfires (19)
3. Carson Rehkopf, Kitchener Rangers (11)

Best Stickhandler:

Eastern Conference:
1. Logan Morrison, Ottawa 67’s (30)
2. David Goyette, Sudbury Wolves (19)
3. Evan Vierling, Barrie Colts (16)

Western Conference:
1. Ty Voit, Sarnia Sting (30) – finished 2nd in 2021-22
2. Amadeus Lombardi, Flint Firebirds (20)
3. Filip Mesar, Kitchener Rangers (14)

Best on Face-Offs:

Eastern Conference:
1. Cameron Tolnai, Ottawa 67’s (25)
2. Lawson Sherk, Hamilton Bulldogs (15)
3. Jacob Frasca, Barrie Colts (14)

Western Conference:
1. Matyas Sapovaliv, Saginaw Spirit (22)
2. Ethan Hay, Flint Firebirds (21)
3. Sean McGurn, London Knights (17)

Best Body Checker:

Eastern Conference:
1. Liam Arnsby, North Bay Battalion (23) – finished 3rd in 2021-22
T-2. Charlie Callaghan, Mississauga Steelheads (20)
T-2. Connor Punnett, Barrie Colts (20)
3. Artem Grushnikov, Hamilton Bulldogs (13)

Western Conference:
1. Nolan Dillingham, Sarnia Sting (37)
2. Artyom Kulakov, Erie Otters (15)
T-3. Roberto Mancini, Saginaw Spirit (10)
T-3. Daniil Sobolev, Windsor Spitfires (10)

Best Shot Blocker:

Eastern Conference:
1. Connor Punnett, Barrie Colts (26)
2. Jack Matier, Ottawa 67’s (23) – finished 3rd in 2021-22
3. Tommy Budnick, Kingston Frontenacs (12)

Western Conference:
1. Cameron Morton, Erie Otters (22)
2. Kirill Kudryavtsev, Soo Greyhounds (18)
3. Chandler Romeo, Guelph Storm (12)

Best Defensive Forward:

Eastern Conference:
1. Liam Arnsby, North Bay Battalion (28) – finished 2nd in 2021-22
2. Ryan Gagnier, Oshawa Generals (21)
3. Cameron Tolnai, Ottawa 67’s (11)

Western Conference:
1. Jacob Maillet, Windsor Spitfires (22)
2. Ethan Hay, Flint Firebirds (20)
T-3. Nolan Burke, Sarnia Sting (14)
T-3. Cooper Walker, Guelph Storm (14) – finished 2nd in 2021-22

Best Penalty Killer:

Eastern Conference:
1. Liam Arnsby, North Bay Battalion (37) – finished 2nd in 2021-22
2. Ryan Gagnier, Oshawa Generals (22)
3. Jack Matier, Ottawa 67’s (15)

Western Conference:
1. Ethan Del Mastro, Sarnia Sting (28) – finished 1st in Eastern Conference in 2021-22
2. Reid Valade, Kitchener Rangers (16) – finished t-3rd in 2021-22
3. Matyas Sapovaliv, Saginaw Spirit (12)

Best Offensive Defenceman:

Eastern Conference:
1. Brandt Clarke, Barrie Colts (43) – finished 1st in 2021-22
2. Pavel Mintyukov, Ottawa 67’s (19)
3. Ty Nelson, North Bay Battalion (16) – finished 3rd in 2021-22

Western Conference:
1. Christian Kyrou, Sarnia Sting (27) – finished 2nd in 2021-22
T-2. Michael Buchinger, Guelph Storm (16)
T-2. Logan Mailloux, London Knights (16)
3. Dmitry Kuzmin, Flint Firebirds (13)

Best Defensive Defenceman:

Eastern Conference:
1. Jack Matier, Ottawa 67’s (32)
2. Braden Haché, Barrie Colts (20)
3. Paul Christopoulos, North Bay Battalion (12)

Western Conference:
1. Ethan Del Mastro, Sarnia Sting (38) – finished 1st in Eastern Conference in 2021-22
2. Kirill Kudryavtsev, Soo Greyhounds (12)
3. Nicholas DeAngelis, Windsor Spitfires (11)

Best Puck-Handling Goaltender:

Eastern Conference:
1. Domenic DiVincentiis, North Bay Battalion (32)
2. Michael Simpson, Peterborough Petes (18)
3. Ivan Zhigalov, Kingston Frontenacs (11)

Western Conference:
1. Tristan Lennox, Saginaw Spirit (29)
2. Brett Brochu, London Knights (28) – finished 1st in 2021-22
3. Ben Gaudreau, Sarnia Sting (10)

Best Shootout Shooter:

Eastern Conference:
1. Tucker Robertson, Peterborough Petes (32)
2. Kyle Jackson, North Bay Battalion (15)
3. James Hardie, Mississauga Steelheads (14)

Western Conference:
1. George Diaco, London Knights (20)
2. Filip Mesar, Kitchener Rangers (17)
3. Luca Del Bel Belluz, Sarnia Sting (16)

Best Shootout Goaltender:

Eastern Conference:
1. Domenic DiVincentiis, North Bay Battalion (33)
2. Collin MacKenzie, Ottawa 67’s (21)
3. Michael Simpson, Peterborough Petes (19)

Western Conference:
1. Brett Brochu, London Knights (34) – finished 1st in 2021-22
2. Marco Costantini, Kitchener Rangers (14)
T-3. Ben Gaudreau, Sarnia Sting (13) – finished t-2nd in 2021-22
T-3. Tristan Lennox, Saginaw Spirit (13)

About the Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League which is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and four American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL is made up of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U SPORTS than any other league.

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced a new partnership in collaboration with presenting sponsor WINMAR®, teaming-up with Heroic Minds to offer additional mental health support to players and member team officials.

Players and staff from across the Ontario Hockey League will have access to the Heroic Minds platform developed by Kitchener Rangers alumnus Ben Fanelli (2009-14), who overcame a traumatic brain injury before going on to become OHL and CHL Humanitarian of the Year in 2013. Fanelli played in over 200 OHL games for the Rangers, graduating to complete a BA in Communications and Masters of Counselling & Psychotherapy while also serving as an Assistant Coach of the Waterloo Warriors U SPORTS men’s hockey program.

Heroic Minds arms athletes with tools and resources, enhancing the current approach to behavior change and highlighting the direct link between overall life skills and sport performance. The platform includes access to resources on psychoeducation, philosophy, psychology, leadership skills, communication skills, relationship skills and much more.

“One of the most important features in the platform is the ability to share practices with other users which inspires a culture of support and collective well-being,” said Fanelli, Chief Vision Officer at Heroic Minds. “We have seen the success of this over the past year in both the sport and corporate space.”

Starting in 2016 with the Heroic Minds Podcast, Fanelli interviewed over 100 people that had been through a tremendous amount of adversity in their lives including disease, amputation, immense pressure and loss, suicide and more. “I noticed that the way these individuals overcame their challenges was different than our current approach to mental health,” he observed. “The existing methodology constitutes taking action once someone is already anxious or depressed. Thus, we focus on the symptoms of anxiety and depression and direct people to take time off, meditate for five minutes or attend a workshop. We are not looking upstream to uncover the cause or what tools, ideas, and concepts could prevent things. Ultimately, we are leading people away from the experiences, self-reflections and ideas that can truly improve how they feel, think, and perform.”

The Heroic Minds platform will provide OHL players and staff with a tremendous mental health resource that can be accessed at any time, and will complement the mental health and suicide prevention training the League has been conducting in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association through the Talk Today program since 2014.

“We have a long-standing partnership with the OHL and this initiative is a great way to expand upon that partnership and to encompass more than just sport,” said WINMAR® President Glenn Woolfrey. “WINMAR®s’ strength is our people and to have this partnership with Heroic Minds and the OHL provides us the opportunity to continue our commitment to focus on individuals, with open meaningful dialogue within the communities that we serve around a topic that has been quietly hidden for too long.”

“Ben’s story and what he’s doing is super important for our players and we’re happy that, with the help of WINMAR®, we can provide them with these additional resources and supports,” added Brodie Barrick, the OHL’s Director of Recruitment and Player Services. “As someone who played in the OHL, I know that the tools being provided by Heroic Minds will go a long way towards the holistic development of student-athletes across the League.”

For more information on Heroic Minds, visit heroicminds.live/benfanelli or follow along on Instagram.

About Heroic Minds
Heroic Minds was born in 2018 when Kitchener Ranger (OHL) Alumni Ben Fanelli started the Heroic Minds Podcast and began his Master of Counselling and Psychology. Heroic Minds takes a proactive approach to mental well-being by offering psychoeducation, life skills and tools in a pragmatic, applicable and enjoyable way.

About the Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League which is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and four American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL is made up of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U SPORTS than any other league.

About WINMAR®
WINMAR® is a trusted network of 90 plus locations providing quality restoration services 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year from coast to coast.  WINMAR® is one of Canada’s fastest growing Property Restoration companies continually reviewing and enhancing its environmental sustainability, serving all aspects of the residential, commercial, industrial, and insurance network.

Toronto, Ont. – The results from the 2023 OHL Priority Selection Draft Lottery are in, and the Erie Otters will be selecting first on April 21-22 when OHL member teams build toward the future in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection Presented by Real Canadian Superstore.

Each of the four non-playoff teams participating in the Priority Selection Lottery, the 20th place Niagara IceDogs (40 percent chance), 19th place Erie Otters (30 percent chance), 18th place Soo Greyhounds (20 percent chance) and 17th place Kingston Frontenacs (10 percent chance), had adjusted proportionate odds of drawing the first overall selection. The final results were determined by a computerized random number generator, with the process overseen and certified by Mr. Robert Bayne, partner with the law firm Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP.

The coveted top spot came down to a reveal between the Otters and the Niagara IceDogs, who will be selecting second overall.

The Otters will be adding their first Jack Ferguson Award recipient since they made eventual OHL and CHL Player of the Year Connor McDavid their first overall selection back in 2012. Another current-day NHL star in Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan O’Reilly was also selected first overall by Erie in 2007.

The OHL Priority Selection will once again be held over the course of two days, with Rounds 1-3 taking place beginning at 7:00pm on Friday, April 21. The proceedings continue on Saturday, April 22 starting at 9:00am with Rounds 4-15. The Priority Selection will be produced by YourTV, and streamed for free in its entirety on CHL TV.

2023 OHL Priority Selection First Round Order of Selection:

1. Erie Otters
2. Niagara IceDogs
3. Soo Greyhounds
4. Kingston Frontenacs
5. Niagara IceDogs*
6. Oshawa Generals
7. Mississauga Steelheads
8. Brantford Bulldogs
9. Sudbury Wolves
10. Kitchener Rangers*
11. Kitchener Rangers
12. Owen Sound Attack
13. Peterborough Petes
14. Guelph Storm
15. Flint Firebirds
16. Saginaw Spirit
17. Sarnia Sting
18. London Knights
19. Barrie Colts
20. Windsor Spitfires
21. North Bay Battalion
22. Ottawa 67’s

*- indicates compensatory pick

The 2023 OHL Priority Selection presented by Real Canadian Superstore will see the top players born in 2007 within OHL jurisdiction eligible to be selected on April 21-22.

In addition to live streaming on CHL TV, the Priority Selection will also be covered extensively on the OHL’s Twitter, Instagram, Facebook accounts, as well as on the web at ontariohockeyleague.com.

About the Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League which is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and four American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL is made up of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U SPORTS than any other league.

Toronto, Ont. – For the first time in 26 years, the Memorial Cup presented by Kia will be hosted south of the border when next year the championship of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) will be held in Saginaw, Michigan. Although American cities have hosted the Memorial Cup on four separate occasions in the event’s 104-year history, never before has an Ontario Hockey League (OHL) American city held this prestigious tournament. 

Tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m. EST / 10:00 a.m. PST, a press conference will be held at the Dow Event Center in Saginaw and be streamed live on CHL TV.

“We are thrilled to bring the Memorial Cup to the state of Michigan for the first time in the event’s history,” said CHL President Dan MacKenzie. “The Spirit and City of Saginaw submitted a remarkable bid and we have no doubt that they will do an outstanding job of hosting our CHL championship next year.”

Having arrived in Saginaw in 2002, the Spirit would be set to participate in their first-ever Memorial Cup next season. Over the last two decades, the three-time OHL West Division champions have seen over 55 of their players drafted by NHL teams, including Cole Perfetti, Filip Hronek, Owen Tippett, Brandon Saad and Vincent Trocheck, whose number 89 is the lone uniform retired by the Spirit franchise.

“On behalf of Dick Garber and the Saginaw Spirit franchise, we are grateful to the Memorial Cup Selection Committee. It is an honor for the community of Saginaw and the 400,000 people that call the Great Lakes Bay Region home to be the host of the 2024 Memorial Cup,” added Craig Goslin, President and Managing Partner of the Saginaw Spirit. “Saginaw is both honored and prepared. We respect and understand the significance that the Memorial Cup has in Canadian culture and we plan to illustrate this respect and honor throughout the event. It is our intent, that when it is completed, the CHL, all visiting players, staff, sponsors, fans and stakeholders, will leave by saying: ‘that was an exceptionally managed Memorial Cup and we had a fabulous experience.’”

Led by General Manager Dave Drinkill and Head Coach Chris Lazary, the Saginaw Spirit finished the 2022-23 season with a 36-27-3-2 record and will face off against the in-state rival Flint Firebirds in the first round of the OHL Playoffs beginning tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. EST / 4:05 p.m. PST on CHL TV. On the ice, the Spirit are highlighted by Exceptional Status forward Michael Misa, whose 56 points (22G, 34A) this past season were the most by an OHL rookie. The first pick of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection also averaged 1.24 points-per-game this season — the highest of any OHL Exceptional Status player and ahead of John Tavares’ 1.18 points-per-game average with the Oshawa Generals in 2005-06.

In addition to the 16-year-old Misa, the Spirit are filled with quality talent which includes team scoring leader Hunter Haight (a 2022 NHL second-round selection by the Minnesota Wild), Zayne Parekh (his 21 goals this season were the most by a 16-year-old defenseman in OHL history) and Matyas Sapovaliv, a Vegas Golden Knights second-round pick who scored a team-high 27 goals this season.

The Memorial Cup is one of the most coveted trophies in hockey. First awarded in 1919, in remembrance of the many soldiers who paid the supreme sacrifice for Canada in the First World War, the Memorial Cup was rededicated to the memory of all fallen Canadian Military Personnel in 2010.

Next year, in Saginaw, the Memorial Cup will be awarded for the 104th time in its history. The Spirit will be one of four teams to participate in the 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Kia alongside the playoff champion from each of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), and Western Hockey League (WHL). All games from the 2024 Memorial Cup will be nationally televised in Canada by TSN and RDS, as well as on NHL Network in the United States.

The 2023 Memorial Cup presented by Kia is scheduled to take place in less than two months, running from May 25 – June 4 in Kamloops, British Columbia. Viewers can watch all the action from this year’s CHL championship on NHL Network in the United States, along with TSN and RDS in Canada.

QUICK FACTS

• An American City hasn’t hosted the Memorial Cup since Spokane held the honour in 1998 (which is where the Portland Winterhawks won their second & most recent Memorial Cup)
• American cities have hosted the Memorial Cup four times in the event’s 104-year history and all of them have been in the United States Pacific Northwest (Portland – 1983 & 1986; Seattle – 1992; Spokane – 1998)
• The first time an American city held the Memorial Cup was in 1983, when Portland both hosted the event & became the first non-Canadian based team to win the Memorial Cup
• American CHL teams have won the Memorial Cup on four occasions, with the Chiefs being the last to accomplish the feat in 2008 (Portland Winterhawks – 1983 & 1998; Spokane Chiefs – 1991 & 2008)

About the Canadian Hockey League
The Canadian Hockey League is the world’s largest development hockey league with 52 Canadian and eight American teams participating in the Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and Western Hockey League. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U SPORTS than any other league.

Toronto, Ont. – Five teams have secured their spots at the 2023 OHL Cup following Wild Card Play-In victories at Scotiabank Pond on Tuesday.

For the eighth time in event history a series of Wild Card Play-In games opened the action, determining the final qualifiers as the Toronto Nationals, Barrie Jr. Colts, Vaughan Kings advanced.

2023 OHL Cup Wild Card Play-In Results:

WC 1 – Toronto Nationals 8 vs. Ajax-Pickering Raiders 0
Nationals MVP – Ajay Rai (3G, 1A)
Ajax-Pickering MVP – Gianluca Meli
Recap – Stats

WC 2 – Barrie Jr. Colts 6 vs. Lambton Jr. Sting 2
Barrie MVP – Liam Conway (24 SV)
Lambton MVP – Callum Besley (32 SV)
Recap – Stats

WC 3 – Vaughan Kings 4 vs. Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs 0
Vaughan MVP – Carter Kostuch (1G, 1A)
Hamilton MVP – Logan Snyder (27 SV)
Recap – Stats

WC 4 – Don Mills Flyers 4 vs. Burlington Eagles 1
Don Mills MVP – Shamar Moses (2G)
Burlington MVP – Ivan Kastelan (25 SV)
Recap – Stats

WC 5 – Whitby Wildcats 3 vs. Central Ontario Wolves 1
Whitby MVP –  Ethan Proctor (1G)
Wolves MVP –  Francis Parish (1G)
Recap – Stats

The 2023 OHL Cup gets underway on Wednesday at 8:00am as the wild card entry Toronto Nationals begin the day against the GTHL champion Toronto Marlboros. All 20 teams are in action on Wednesday with 16 Round Robin games on the schedule. Round Robin play continues on Thursday and Friday before Quarter-Final and Semi-Final action on Saturday, concluding with Monday’s Championship Final at the Mattamy Athletic Centre. Tickets to the Championship Final can be purchased for $12.00 on TicketMaster.

All games are available live and on demand through GameOnStream.

The showcase provides fans and scouts one last opportunity to see many of the top U16 AAA players from across Ontario and parts of the United States compete for the OHL Cup performing against the best competition prior to the 2023 OHL Priority Selection presented by Real Canadian Superstore on April 21st and 22nd.

For news and updates on the 2023 OHL Cup, visit ohlcup.ca.