Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Landon Bow of the Seattle Thunderbirds is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the playoff week ending April 24 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 1.50 and save percentage of .944.

Bow made 51 saves backstopping the Thunderbirds to a pair of road victories against the Kelowna Rockets for a 2-0 series lead in the WHL’s Western Conference Championship.  On Friday night he earned first star honours in Game 1 with 23 saves as part of the 2-1 victory, then stopped 28 shots on Saturday night in Game 2 preserving the 3-2 win.  The series now shifts to Seattle for Game’s 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday night respectively.

A 20-year-old from St. Albert, AB, Bow is playing in his fourth WHL season and first with the Thunderbirds after being acquired from the Swift Current Broncos earlier this season.  So far in the 2016 WHL Playoffs Bow has produced a 10-1-0-0 record with two shutout victories along with a goals-against-average of 1.43 and save percentage of .938.

Also considered for the award this week was Carolina Hurricanes prospect Alex Nedeljkovic of the Niagara IceDogs who went 2-0-0-0 in the OHL’s Eastern Conference Championship Series against the Barrie Colts with a 1.50 goals-against-average and a .947 save percentage.  In the QMJHL, two-time playoff award recipient Chase Marchand of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies went 1-1-0-0 with a goals-against-average of 2.51 and save percentage of .912 in their Semi-Final series against the Moncton Wildcats.

2015-16 Vaughn CHL Post-Season Goaltenders of the Week:

Apr. 18 – Apr. 24: Landon Bow (Seattle Thunderbirds)
Apr. 11 – Apr. 17: Chase Marchand (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)
Apr. 4 – Apr. 10: Alex Nedeljkovic (Niagara IceDogs)
Mar. 28 – Apr. 3: Samuel Montembeault (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)
Mar. 21 – Mar. 27: Chase Marchand (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)

2015-16 Vaughn CHL Regular Season Goaltenders of the Week:

Mar. 14 – Mar. 20: Reilly Pickard (Acadie-Bathurst Titan)
Mar. 7 – Mar. 13: Landon Bow (Seattle Thunderbirds)
Feb. 29 – Mar. 6: Connor Ingram (Kamloops Blazers)
Feb. 22 – Feb. 28: Devin Williams (Erie Otters)
Feb. 15 – Feb. 21: Zach Sawchenko (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Feb. 8 – Feb. 14: Leo Lazarev (Ottawa 67’s)
Feb. 1 – Feb. 7: Taz Burman (Swift Current Broncos)
Jan. 25 – Jan. 31: Luke Opilka (Kitchener Rangers)
Jan. 18 – Jan. 24: Jordan Papirny (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Jan. 11 – Jan. 17: Zach Sawchenko (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Jan. 4 – Jan. 10: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)
Dec. 28 – Jan. 3: Étienne Montpetit (Val-d’Or Foreurs)
Dec. 14 – Dec. 20: Callum Booth (Quebec Remparts)
Dec. 7 – Dec. 13: Jack Flinn (Mississauga Steelheads)
Nov. 30 – Dec. 6: Ty Edmonds (Prince George Cougars)
Nov. 23 – Nov. 29: Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips)
Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Keven Bouchard (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Devin Williams (Erie Otters)
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Etienne Montpetit (Val-d’Or Foreurs)
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)

The Red Tilson Trophy is handed out to the Ontario Hockey League’s most outstanding player. Since it is the only award voted on by OHL Sportswriters and Broadcasters (yours truly has submitted his vote), I am going to focus strictly on that award.

The process as it stands now has each of the twenty OHL Teams submit their nominee for the most outstanding player and the sportswriters and broadcasters vote on their first, second and third place choices from that list of twenty. Write in ballots are not allowed.

Is that a fair process? I’m not sure that it is. Two specific examples I cite that will suggest a change is needed:

First, the Erie Otters nominated goaltender Devin Williams as their most outstanding player. I’m not suggesting that Williams is not worthy of recognition, he is, but I would argue that so are Dylan Strome and Alex DeBrincat. Will allowing the three Otters to be eligible “split” the vote? Maybe, but it also has the effect of having writers and broadcasters that don’t see Williams as their most outstanding players vote for an alternative, at least in some circumstances.

Second, Mitch Marner is the London Knights’ nominee and I can’t find anyone who doesn’t think that his teammate Christian Dvorak should receive consideration. Knights Assistant General Manager Rob Simpson told the London Free Press “We actually flipped a coin to decide because the league came back and told us we couldn’t put two on the ballot and we couldn’t come to a decision because they should both be on there.”

Is there something wrong with having two Otters or two Knights finishing first and second?

With all due respect to the players in the OHL, but are the players I’ve mentioned not more deserving than nominees from the Sudbury Wolves, Guelph Storm, Hamilton Bulldogs or Flint Firebirds whose teams didn’t qualify for the playoffs?

I have confidence in the knowledge of the OHL writers and broadcasters to make the right choice in an open ballet. I think we’d see a different result if an open ballet were allowed over the “controlled” vote we have today. I can only speak for myself, but I know my votes would have been different if everyone were to be eligible.

It’s time for a change.

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Los Angeles Kings prospect Mike Amadio of the North Bay Battalion is the 2015-16 recipient of the William Hanley Trophy awarded to the OHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year.

Amadio finished ninth in league scoring with 98 points including 50 goals and 48 assists in 68 games played with a plus-minus rating of plus-30.  He recorded 40 penalty minutes in 2015-16 including just 12 in his final 32 games since January 7.  The 19-year-old from Sault Ste. Marie, ON, is the third member of the Battalion to win the award following Cody Hodgson in 2009, and Wojtek Wolski in 2006.

“I’m very happy to be named the Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year,” said Amadio. “It’s an honour and a great feeling.”

Amadio played four seasons with the Troops after being chosen by the club in the second round of the 2012 OHL Priority Selection.  His 50 goals this season are a new franchise record surpassing Wolski’s mark of 47 set during his award winning campaign in 2005-06, while his eight shorthanded goals tied for the league-lead and are also a new team record surpassing Barclay Goodrow’s seven scored in 2013-14.  The captain had 24 multi-point performances this season including a career-high six-point effort on November 15 against the Barrie Colts, followed by a Battalion record five goals on February 13 against the Kingston Frontenacs.  His 226 career points rank fourth all-time for the Battalion behind Wolski (328), Hodgson (243), and Goodrow (229).

“I’m happy for Mike, he’s a player that plays by the rules and also plays hard,” said Battalion Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Stan Butler. “He shows that you can be a good offensive player and compete and still play in a way that you can win an award like that.”

Selected by the Kings in the third round of the 2014 NHL Draft, Amadio signed his entry-level contract with the club in March.  The forward dominated voting in the Eastern Conference Coaches Poll by appearing in the Top-3 in seven different categories finishing first in four including Smartest Player, Hardest Worker, Best Shot, and Best Defensive Forward.  He was also recognized with second place votes in categories that include Most Dangerous in the Goal Area, Best on Face-Offs, and Best Penalty Killer.

The William Hanley Trophy is awarded each year based on a selection by the 20 General Managers of the Ontario Hockey League.  All 20 teams submit a nominee but are not permitted to vote for their own candidate with players receiving five points for a first place vote, three points for a second place vote, and one point for a third place vote.  The trophy is presented by the OHL to commemorate William Hanley, former Secretary-Manager of the Ontario Hockey Association for over 25 years.

Amadio led the voting process by receiving 65 voting points.  Arizona Coyotes prospect Christian Dvorak of the London Knights is the runner-up for the second straight season receiving 45 voting points, while fellow Kings prospect Spencer Watson of the Kingston Frontenacs finished in third place receiving 41 voting points.

Former winners of the William Hanley Trophy first presented in 1961 include Wayne Gretzky (Sault Ste. Marie 1977-78), Kirk Muller (Guelph 1982-83), Brian Campbell (Ottawa 1998-99), Jeff Carter (Sault Ste. Marie 2004-05), Brandon Saad (Saginaw 2011-12), Connor McDavid (2013-14), and Dylan Strome (2014-15).  The award was twice won by members of the North Bay Centennials including John Spoltore (1991-92) and Vitali Yachmenev (1994-95).

Amadio will be formally presented with the William Hanley Trophy at the 2015-16 OHL Awards Ceremony set for Tuesday June 7 at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.  He will also be the OHL’s nominee for Sportsman of the Year at the Annual CHL Awards held as part of the MasterCard Memorial Cup festivities on Saturday May 28 in Red Deer, AB.

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that San Jose Sharks prospect Kevin Labanc of the Barrie Colts is the 2015-16 recipient of the Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy awarded annually to the OHL’s Overage Player of the Year.

Labanc led the OHL in scoring and set a new team record with 127 points in 65 games including 39 goals and 88 assists and was a league-high plus-60.  He is the second straight member of the Colts to win the award and third all-time following Joseph Blandisi (2015) and Bryan Cameron (2010).

“I’m honoured to have won this award,” said Labanc. “It’s been a privilege to play for the Colts throughout my time in the league and this is an unbelievable way to cap off my junior career with this organization. We still have plenty of hockey to play here, but it’s exciting to be recognized with this.”

A 20-year-old from Staten Island, New York, Labanc was originally chosen by the Colts in the sixth round of the 2011 OHL Priority Selection before joining the club in 2013.  In three seasons the veteran played in 198 career games accumulating 269 points which ranks fourth among Barrie’s all-time greats.  During the 2015-16 campaign he recorded 42 multi-point games and surpassed his own Colts record for assists in a season.  His name is also etched in team record books tying a single game mark with seven points including three goals and four assists on January 2 against North Bay, while his eight shorthanded goals this season were tied for a league-high and helped the Colts set a new OHL record with 28.  Labanc is also one of just four players in franchise history to record back-to-back 100 point seasons helping the Colts capture their second straight Central Division title.

“Our organization as a whole is extremely proud of Kevin,” said Colts Head Coach Dale Hawerchuk. “He has put in a lot of hard work as a Barrie Colt and we have seen improvement every single year. Being recognized at a league level speaks volumes about his on ice dedication as well as the work he has put in off the ice over his time here. It’s been exciting to watch him play and grow as a young man and a hockey player. We wish him all the best in his professional career with the Sharks.”

A sixth round pick of the Sharks in the 2014 NHL Draft, Labanc was signed to an entry-level contract in March.  Additional accolades for Labanc this season include Player of the Month honours in January, and a league-high four different Player of the Week awards.  In the Eastern Conference Coaches Poll he was voted Best Playmaker, Best Penalty Killer, second Smartest Player, second Most Dangerous in the Goal Area, and third Best Stickhandler.

The Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the Top Overage Player of the Year as selected by OHL General Managers.  Teams were asked to submit a nominee for the award and were not permitted to vote for players from their own hockey club. Players received five points for a first place vote, three points for a second place vote and one point for a third place vote.

Labanc received 89 of a possible 95 points in the voting process ahead of goaltender Devin Williams of the Erie Otters who received 35 voting points, and London Knights forward Aaron Berisha who finished in third place with 24 voting points.

First presented in 1984, former winners of the trophy include Bill Bowler (Windsor, 1994-95), Dan Tessier (Ottawa 99-00), Chad LaRose (Plymouth 2002-03), Andre Benoit (Kitchener 2004-05), Ryan Callahan (Guelph, 2005-06), Jason Akeson (Kitchener 2010-11), Andrew Agozzino (Niagara 2011-12), and Dane Fox (Erie 2013-14).

The Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy was donated by the trainers of the Ontario Hockey League, in memory of the late Leo Lalonde, former Chief Scout of OHL Central Scouting.  Leo Lalonde was also formerly the Chief Scout for the Belleville Bulls as well as a scout for the Peterborough Petes.

Labanc will be formally presented with the Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy at the 2015-16 OHL Awards Ceremony scheduled for June 7at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Ottawa Senators prospect Thomas Chabot of the Saint John Sea Dogs is the CHL Player of the Week for the playoff week ending April 17 after recording 10 assists in four games with a plus-minus rating of plus-2.

Chabot produced three multi-point performances helping the Sea Dogs win two games last week in a tight QMJHL Quarter-Final series against the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.  He opened the week by tying a club record for assists by a defenceman with four as part of a 5-2 Game 3 victory on Monday earning second star honours.  On Tuesday night he was held without a point in a 4-1 loss in Game 4, then picked up two assists on Friday despite a 4-3 loss in Game 5.  Facing elimination, the Sea Dogs delivered a 5-4 victory on the road in Game 6 on Sunday with Chabot once again collecting four assists and second star honours.  Game 7 of the series takes place on Tuesday night in Saint John.

A 19-year-old from Ste-Marie-de-Beauce, Quebec, Chabot is playing in his third career QMJHL season.  Originally a second round pick of the Sea Dogs in the 2013 QMJHL Entry Draft, Chabot was taken in the first round by the Senators in the 2015 NHL Draft.  He is currently fourth in QMJHL playoff scoring with 16 points in 11 games after finishing tied for 10th in scoring among defencemen with 45 points in 47 games.

Also considered for the award this week was San Jose Sharks prospect Kevin Labanc of the Barrie Colts who scored twice with five assists for seven points in three games against the North Bay Battalion, and Jayden Halbgewachs of the Moose Jaw Warriors who scored five goals and three assists for eight points in three games against the Brandon Wheat Kings.

2015-16 CHL Post-Season Players of the Week:

Apr. 11 – Apr. 17: Thomas Chabot (Saint John Sea Dogs)
Apr. 4 – Apr. 10: Mitch Marner (London Knights)
Mar. 28 – Apr. 3: Matthew Tkachuk (London Knights)
Mar. 21 – Mar. 27: Timo Meier (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)

2015-16 CHL Regular Season Players of the Week:

Mar. 14 – Mar. 20: Tyler Soy (Victoria Royals)
Mar. 7 – Mar. 13: Andrew Mangiapane (Barrie Colts)
Feb. 29 – Mar. 6: Jayce Hawryluk (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Feb. 22 – Feb. 28: Tyler Wong (Lethbridge Hurricanes)
Feb. 15 – Feb. 21: Adam Brooks (Regina Pats)
Feb. 8 – Feb. 14: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Feb. 1 – Feb. 7: Ivan Provorov (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Jan. 25 – Jan. 31: Frédéric Allard (Chicoutimi Sagueneens)
Jan. 18 – Jan. 24: Giorgio Estephan (Lethbridge Hurricanes)
Jan. 11 – Jan. 17: Reid Gardiner (Prince Albert Raiders)
Jan. 4 – Jan. 10: Maxime Comtois (Victoriaville Tigres)
Dec. 28 – Jan. 3: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Dec. 14 – Dec. 20: Brendan Lemieux (Windsor Spitfires)
Dec. 7 – Dec. 13: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 30 – Dec. 6: Mitchell Marner (London Knights)
Nov. 23 – Nov. 29: Conor Garland (Moncton Wildcats)
Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Pierre-Luc Dubois (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles)
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Dylan Strome (Erie Otters)
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Nikolas Brouillard (Quebec Remparts)
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Mathew Barzal (Seattle Thunderbirds)
Oct. 19 – Oct. 25: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Oct. 12 – Oct. 18: Zach Bratina (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 5 – Oct. 11: Dennis Yan (Shawinigan Cataractes)
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Conor Garland (Moncton Wildcats)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 27: Alex Forsberg (Victoria Royals)

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Chase Marchand of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the playoff week ending April 17 after posting a 3-0-0-0 record including two shutout victories with a goals-against-average of 0.37 and save percentage of .981.

Marchand made 53 saves in three games last week helping the first place Huskies earn a berth in the QMJHL Semi-Finals following a 4-1 series win over the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.  He set a new QMJHL record with a shutout-streak that lasted 223 minutes and 23 seconds beginning in Game 2 of the series and into the Game 5 finale.  On Tuesday night he made 17 saves and earned second star honours in a 1-0 overtime victory in Game 3, then stopped all 20 shots he faced on Wednesday as second star of a 3-0 Game 4 triumph.  In Game on Friday, he stopped 16 of 17 shots faced in two periods of work as the Huskies prevailed by a 5-1 score.

A 20-year-old from Upper Tantlion, NS, Marchand is playing in his third career QMJHL season and first with the Huskies.  During the 2015-16 regular season he carried a record of 29-6-0-1 including two shutout victories while maintaining the league’s lowest goals-against-average with a mark of 2.42 and the second best save percentage at .911 helping the Huskies finish first overall.  Marchand has earned the weekly award twice so far these playoffs with a goals-against-average of 0.41 and save percentage of .981 while his five shutouts have tied a league record.

Also considered for the award this week was Landon Bow of the Seattle Thunderbirds who posted a 3-0-0-0 record including one shutout with a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .948 against the Everett Silvertips, and New Jersey Devils prospect Mackenzie Blackwood of the Barrie Colts who also went 3-0-0-0 with a shutout victory posting a goals-against-average of 1.31 and a save percentage of .956 against the North Bay Battalion.

2015-16 Vaughn CHL Post-Season Goaltenders of the Week:

Apr. 11 – Apr. 17: Chase Marchand (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)
Apr. 4 – Apr. 10: Alex Nedeljkovic (Niagara IceDogs)
Mar. 28 – Apr. 3: Samuel Montembeault (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)
Mar. 21 – Mar. 27: Chase Marchand (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)

2015-16 Vaughn CHL Regular Season Goaltenders of the Week:

Mar. 14 – Mar. 20: Reilly Pickard (Acadie-Bathurst Titan)
Mar. 7 – Mar. 13: Landon Bow (Seattle Thunderbirds)
Feb. 29 – Mar. 6: Connor Ingram (Kamloops Blazers)
Feb. 22 – Feb. 28: Devin Williams (Erie Otters)
Feb. 15 – Feb. 21: Zach Sawchenko (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Feb. 8 – Feb. 14: Leo Lazarev (Ottawa 67’s)
Feb. 1 – Feb. 7: Taz Burman (Swift Current Broncos)
Jan. 25 – Jan. 31: Luke Opilka (Kitchener Rangers)
Jan. 18 – Jan. 24: Jordan Papirny (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Jan. 11 – Jan. 17: Zach Sawchenko (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Jan. 4 – Jan. 10: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)
Dec. 28 – Jan. 3: Étienne Montpetit (Val-d’Or Foreurs)
Dec. 14 – Dec. 20: Callum Booth (Quebec Remparts)
Dec. 7 – Dec. 13: Jack Flinn (Mississauga Steelheads)
Nov. 30 – Dec. 6: Ty Edmonds (Prince George Cougars)
Nov. 23 – Nov. 29: Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips)
Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Keven Bouchard (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Devin Williams (Erie Otters)
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Etienne Montpetit (Val-d’Or Foreurs)
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)

By Brandon Sudeyko

The NOJHL is a burgeoning league, which is funny considering that the Jr A league has been around since 1978, well a few years before but as a Jr A league, it was 1978 where the NOJHL story begins.

Rayside-Balfour gained the Canadians this season after the Nickel City Barons folded and were relocated around the town of Azilda, which is just outside of the city of Sudbury.

In the past, Rayside-Balfour has hosted many successful Jr A teams in the NOJHL. Most notably the Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats, who won 7 consecutive league championships and 3 Dudley Hewitt Cups from 1995-2002, the franchise also lost in 5 straight finals from 1987-1992. Impressive 15 year run making it to the finals 12 times. Not many Jr franchises can have that kind of longevity. Also, the Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats history is not associated with the Canadians franchise. The direct lineage with the Canadians goes to the Sudbury Nickel Barons, the Cups, Jr. Wolves and the Northern Wolves dating back to the year 2000.

But to the issue at hand now, the Rayside-Balfour franchise has a new owner. Adrian Gedye. I can’t recall if I have met the man face to face before, but I have conversed through various correspondence and he appears to be a good man. I haven’t had any poor interactions with him and you could expect that given the nature of his day job. A player agent/adviser with Uptown Sports. The man represents quality prospects from the age of Bantam up to the NHL. You may recognize a lot of the names on his list, heck if you check out his feed on Twitter you will find out some of the names that he represents.

 At first thought this is going to be a disaster. How can you have a player agent for a large agency own and run a team that won’t be bombarded with fringe players because they don’t know where else to play. What kind of favours will he make just to put certain players on the team? Will this team be able to sustain any type of success with a potential revolving door of one and done players.

 Or you can be completely positive about this transaction.

Again, I do not recall meeting the man face to face and I have no horse in the race as evidenced by any of the writings that are published.

But this could be one of the best things to happen to this league since current NOJHL Commissioner Robert Mazzuca decided to come back as commissioner of the league.

You have an owner who has some big pockets, resources at his disposal and a lot of ties to Northern Ontario. There is a lot of untapped hockey potential up north and given the state of the Sault Ste Marie minor hockey system as well as the Sudbury minor system there is a lot of players who may not have the chances that most Southern Ontario programs can offer. This can lead to a lot of hidden gems getting a huge chance and actually shine, not flounder. These types of transactions can really lift up a league and given the roll that the league is on, this just adds to it.

In the past 4 seasons, the league has expanded from 7 teams to 12. The commitment list to the NCAA has grown; development has improved sending more players to the OHL and overall elevating the standard of the league to a respectable choice for players of Southern and Northern Ontario and across the nation.

 If Gedye says he will infuse youthful prospects into his team, buying up/trading for extra 16 year old cards to put a maximum of 4 on the ice; use the connections to bring talent to Ontario to make an exciting and competitive team; use outside resources to help gain exposure for his team, the opposition and the league as a whole…. Then I say welcome aboard… not that I am on the official welcoming committee or anything.

Gedye made his first move as an owner bringing in a new coaching staff. Looks like those years working with Stu Hyman and the Hamilton Red Wings have already paid off. Daryl Moxam is the new head coach and Dave Clancy the new GM. Don’t know those names? That’s ok, the NOJHL does as both were recently assistants with the Laurentian University Voyageurs hockey program and prior to that, the duo helped coach the Sudbury Jr Wolves to a Dudley Hewitt Cup appearance, so there is a history of success with these men.

To recap, the new owner quote unquote ‘runs the north’ when it comes to hockey prospects, has resources for on ice and off ice transactions and improvements, declares he wants to suit up four 16 year olds this year and has but successful coaches behind the bench of a team that once had a 15 year run of success spanning over 2 decades the last time the town hosted a team… yeah I would say this can work…

 And if you are still asking yourself one vital question about this Hockey Owner and Player Agent… I asked him that question and I quote, ‘yes (still represent players) but nobody currently in the league.’

Picking nine out 12 winners correctly through two rounds isn’t too bad, but perfection wasn’t always my strong suit. Picking the correct number of games this year has been, well, near impossible, especially with some sweeps no one saw coming.

Many people are going to look at the Erie versus London Western Conference Final as the true championship series and the winner should walk through the finals and on to the Memorial Cup. But let’s not discount Barrie or Niagara in the East. Time and again it’s been shown that great goaltending can win it all and Niagara’s Alex Nedeljkovic was nothing short of spectacular versus Kingston. On the flip-side, Barrie’s quick strike offense has matched what Erie and London have done during these playoffs.

Both series look to be exciting for fans but if you can only catch one, I recommend the Erie versus London Conference Final. It’s shaping up to be a back and forth battle with momentum shifts from shift to shift. I would argue that series could end up being more entertaining than most NHL playoff matchups.

Round One Results

Western Conference

(1) Erie vs (8) Saginaw: Erie wins four games to zero (my prediction: Erie in four)

(2) Sarnia vs (7) Sault Ste Marie: Sault Ste Marie wins four games to three (my prediction: Sarnia in six)

(3) London vs (6) Owen Sound: London wins four games to two (my prediction: London in five)

(4) Kitchener vs (5) Windsor: Kitchener wins four games to one (my prediction: Windsor in seven)

Eastern Conference

(1) Kingston vs (8) Oshawa: Kingston wins four games to one (my prediction: Kingston in four)

(2) Barrie vs (7) Mississauga: Barrie wins four games to three (my prediction: Barrie in six)

(3) North Bay vs (6) Peterborough: North Bay wins four games to three (my prediction: North Bay in six)

(4) Niagara vs (5) Ottawa: Niagara wins four games to one (my prediction: Niagara in six)

Round Two Results

Western Conference

(1) Erie vs (7) Sault Ste Marie: Erie wins four games to one (my prediction: Erie in six)

(3) London vs (4) Kitchener: London wins 4 games to zero (my prediction: London in 6)

Eastern Conference

(1) Kingston vs (5) Niagara: Niagara wins four games to zero (my prediction: Niagara in seven)

(2) Barrie vs (3) North Bay: Barrie wins four games to zero (my prediction: North Bay in six)

Conference Finals

Western Conference –Wayne Gretzky Trophy

(1) Erie vs (3) London

Head to head overall:  Erie 3-3-0-0, London 3-3-0-0

Head to head home:  Erie 2-1-0-0, London 2-1-0-0

Head to head visitor: Erie 1-2-0-0, London 1-2-0-0

Powerplay regular season:  Erie 25.3%, London 29.2%

Powerplay playoffs: Erie 27.3%, London 22.2%

Penalty kill regular season: Erie 82.6%, London 82.3%

Penalty kill playoffs:  Erie 90.0%, London 72.7%

Goals for:  Erie 269, London 319

Goals against: Erie 183, London 182

Leading scorer: Erie; Dylan Strome(9GP 10G 8A 18PTS) London; Mitch Marner(10GP 9G 15A 24PTS)

Goaltending Erie: Devin Williams (8GP 2.16GAA .881 SV%)

Goaltending London:  Tyler Parsons (10GP 2.47GAA .919 SV%)

Draft eligible players to watch

Player	Team	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM
Alex DeBrincat	Erie	9	5	11	16	10	7
Kyle Maksimovich	Erie	9	4	2	6	-1	2
Taylor Raddysh	Erie	9	4	4	8	8	2
Jordan Sambrook	Erie	9	0	4	4	0	8
Matthew Tkachuk	London	10	10	12	22	15	22
Cliff Pu	London	10	7	1	8	6	6
Olli Juolevi	London	10	1	4	5	5	2
Victor Mete	London	10	2	3	5	7	0

 

London goaltender Tyler Parsons is also draft eligible.

Key to the series: These two teams were as evenly matched during the regular season as any two teams in recent memory. London held the advantage in special teams, but in the playoffs it’s been the opposite. Two of the OHL’s best lines go head to head. Whoever wins the special teams, and which line tops the other will be the difference.

Prediction: London in seven games

Eastern Conference-Bobby Orr Trophy

(2) Barrie vs (5) Niagara

Head to head overall:  Barrie 4-2-0-0, Niagara 2-3-0-1

Head to head home: Barrie 2-1-0-0, Niagara 1-2-0-0

Head to head visitor: Barrie 2-1-0-0, Niagara 1-1-0-1

Powerplay regular season: Barrie 21.7%, Niagara 19.1%

Powerplay playoffs: Barrie 23.7%. Niagara 31.3%

Penalty kill regular season: Barrie 83.4%, Niagara 84.2%

Penalty kill playoffs: Barrie 82.0%, Niagara 78.0%

Goals for: Barrie 295, Niagara 213

Goals against: Barrie 207, Niagara 198

Leading scorer: Barrie; Kevin Labanc (11GP 6G 16A 22PTS) Niagara; Josh Ho-Sang (9GP 3G 12A 15PTS)

Goaltending Barrie: Mackenzie Blackwood (9GP 2.26GAA .924 SV%)

Goaltending Niagara: Alex Nedeljkovic (9GP 2.47GAA .915 SV%)

Draft eligible players to watch

Player	Team	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM
Ben Hawerchuk	Barrie	11	0	2	2	-2	13
Justin Murray	Barrie	11	1	2	3	1	2
Giordano Finoro	Barrie	11	1	1	2	-1	0
William Lochead	Niagara	9	1	1	2	4	18
Kyle Langdon	Niagara	9	2	0	2	4	0
Chris Paquette	Niagara	7	1	0	1	3	2

 

Key to the series: If Nedeljkovic can duplicate the MVP performance he had versus Kingston, then Niagara should take this series. If Barrie can continue with their quick strike offense, then they should win the series.

Prediction: Niagara in seven games

By Brandon Sudeyko

The proposed ‘Caledonia Rule’ is raring to go just as the Sutherland Cup is about to get underway.

Yes, the Sutherland Cup has begun with the 3 conference winners and the wildcard selection. It is the Jr B… equivalent to the Memorial Cup in Major Junior… well no, the Sutherland Cup is like the Dudley Hewitt Cup in the OJHL or the Bogart Cup for the CCHL… except there is no National tournament to crown the ultimate winner. They are just one of the 5 best Jr B teams in the country.

Within the Sutherland Cup, there is the Caledonia Corvairs, Stratford Cullitons, London Nationals and the Waterloo Siskins. Caledonia v Waterloo and Stratford v London before the winner of each series face off for the title.

As you can imagine the ‘Caledonia Rule’ is named after yep… the Caledonia ProFit Corvairs. And what does this rule pertain to? A cap on 20 year olds. Why is this rule named after the Back 2 Back Sutherland Cup champs? This years version of the Corvairs has Sixteen 20 year olds. Yes, 16. A big number. But a rarity. Sure this year, a few other teams are carrying double digit 20 year olds on their roster: Guelph, Leamington and St. Catharines are the other team with 10 or more.

But starting in 2016/17 the limit is 9, with OHL OA cast offs who never played in the GOJHL counting as 2 cards. Therefore you can only have 5 max. 4 former OHLers and a Jr A or Jr B OA for 5 total. You can play with the math however you would like, but is this rule a little too late?

Sure you can look at Caledonia going for a three-peat and saying something has to change. You can say that the GOJHL is very boring because of the Corvairs. I don’t know if that statement holds any weight, but I do find the GOJHL boring, but I will get into the reasons why later, and it may be a different reason than you think.

 Back to the 20 year old dilemma. Is this rule too late? Is this rule not needed?

In 2014/15, the Sutherland Champions only had 7 Overage players on their roster. The 2014 Champs…  only had eight 20 year olds on their roster.

 It appears that this is a reactionary rule just based on stopping the Corvairs from going for Four Championships… But if you look around the league… others have been using 20 years olds to stay competitive. As much as Caledonia has? No, most teams carry around 5 over age players. Enough to stay competitive and enough to help develop younger players into either quality Jr B players or more, help develop them to Jr A or Major Junior.

 From a completely outside appearance this is a great rule. The GOJHL needs an identity because it is the place where overage players go for one last year of ‘glory’ before they have to face the ‘real world’ so to speak.

Next year Buffalo returns to the league and we are back with 27 teams. 3 Conferences of 9, hopefully they come up with 4 conferences to even the odds and make the final 4 for the Sutherland Cup all the Conference Winners.

 But the GOJHL has to embrace what it is, a developmental league for the OJHL and other Jr A leagues in Ontario. Whether out east in the CCHL or up north in the NOJHL. Heck you are a developmental league for future OHLers who need that one year of Jr hockey close to home before lacing up for their draft year on one of the biggest stages in Jr hockey, the OHL.

 If you scale back 20 year olds per team, you share the wealth across the league, in theory at least. Just because Caledonia can no longer sign So many, you can now have neighbouring teams, Ancaster, Welland, Pelham, Niagara Falls, Brampton etc pick up the excess of 20 year olds and elevate their team and the league as a whole. If you are not developing younger players in your feeder system of a league, then you are doing a big disservice to those in the league. Yes, the GOJHL may be the highest level most of the players get to, but for those who need a year or two before jumping to the next, make the league as competitive as possible and develop more players and earn more scholarships.

 For a league without a face, this is a great way to make a statement. Show that moving forward, this league is focusing on developing players, not just for your league, but to move on to higher levels.

Even if most of the Franchises they should have a Jr A designation already. I am not here to debate that… yet.

The next step for the GOJHL is to get the 16 year old player limit raised. If the OJHL won’t do it, then the GOJHL should. Think about the stepping stones that it can lead to for a lot of players who were drafted to the OHL from Minor Midget and more playing in a Jr sytem compared to some great Midget programs and some… not so great programs around the province.

 The rule is a great one, maybe it is titled wrong, but if they can open up the amount of 16 year olds they are allowed to register on a team, then the GOJHL takes a step further to competing with the CCHL2 which I actually find exciting… and that I will get into later.