Around the OHL

Toronto, ON – The 2015-16 Ontario Hockey League season is at the midway mark with 334 games of the 680-regular season schedule complete heading into the Holiday Break.

 

The action resumes on Monday December 28, but first a look at some of the latest news and notes from around the league:

2016 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP:

35 OHL players were named to selection camp rosters for the 10 team tournament, with final roster decisions still pending for many European entries. 15 OHL players are confirmed to suit up for Canada (9) and the United States (6) when the tournament gets underway on Boxing Day in Helsinki, Finland.

COMMUNITY CORNER:

OHL fans give generously this Christmas: 64,791 teddy bears were collected and over $20,000 was raised for 69 different local charities in games prior to the Holiday Break benefitting families and children in need throughout OHL communities this Christmas.FULL STORY

IceDogs unveil new arena for Niagara Region Children’s Safety Village: The Niagara IceDogs are proud to be the newest partner of the Niagara Region Children’s Safety Village. IceDogs owners Bill and Denise Burke visited the safety village where they were proud to show off their new arena which was just completed as the latest addition to the safety village. For more information please visitniagaraicedogs.net.

Generals embark on 2nd Annual Coach4Food Program: After raising over 5,800Ibs of food for Feed the Need Durham last year, the Oshawa Generals are teaming up with Panera Bread to try and surpass that total this season. For more information please visitoshawagenerals.com.

NEW 3-ON-3 OVERTIME DELIVERING RESULTS IN FIRST HALF:

With more time and space in the new 3-on-3 overtime format, games stretching beyond regulation time are ending sooner in 2015-16. While the concept has its proponents and critics alike, it has certainly brought about the desired results in the first half of the season. FULL STORY

OHL GEARING UP FOR SECOND HALF: A LOOK AT THE FIRST HALF LEADERBOARDS:

An exciting first half of the 2015-16 OHL season is in the books, one that featured several outstanding performances throughout the league. Get the full rundown on how the first half of the season unfolded, including leaders and top performances. FULL STORY

BATTALION’S JAKE SMITH NAMED PIONEER ENERGY OHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Goaltender Jake Smith of the North Bay Battalion is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending December 20 after posting a 3-0-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 1.28 and save percentage of .944.  Smith becomes the fourth goaltender to earn the award this season stopping 68 shots in three games while backstopping the Battalion to three wins against Central Division opponents.  His play between the pipes has helped the Troops enter the Holiday Break as one of the league’s hottest teams with five-straight wins and a hold on third place in the Division with 37 points.

SPITFIRES’ BRENDAN LEMIEUX NAMED CHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Winnipeg Jets prospect Brendan Lemieux of the Windsor Spitfires is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending December 20 after scoring five goals and one assist for six points in two games with a plus-minus rating of plus-3.  Lemieux led the Spitfires to a pair of victories including their OHL West Division best 20th win of the season in a home-and-home series against the Saginaw Spirit.  He scored the game-winning goal and earned first star honours in both contests including Thursday night with two markers in a 7-6 overtime triumph, and Saturday night where he netted his second hat-trick in four games while adding one assist in the 6-3 win.

TIP TOP TAILORS OHL PLAYS OF THE WEEK – WEEK 13:

Owen Sound Attack goaltender Michael McNiven headlines the 13th edition of the Tip Top Tailors OHL Plays of the Week! Vote for him in this week’s CHL Fan Choice contest at fanchoice.ca!

GETTING ON THE BOARD: FIRST OHL GOALS IN 2015-16:

Check out the players who have scored their first OHL goal in the past week! 116 different players have accomplished the milestone this season! Click on a player’s name below to watch his first OHL goal!

Konstantin Chernyuk, Nicolas Hague, Nicolas Mattinen, Ryan Valentini

WATCH OHL ACTION FOR FREE ON OHL LIVE:

It’s the holiday season and the Ontario Hockey League has a Christmas gift in store! On Monday December 28 and Tuesday December 29, tune in and catch OHL action on OHL Live absolutely free! Enter the promo code “OHLHOLIDAYS” at ohllive.com!

SPORTSNET CHL PODCAST ‘JUNIOR’ OFFERS MASSIVE WORLD JUNIOR HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW:

Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek and Sam Cosentino offer a massive preview of the upcoming 2016 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Helsinki, Finland in the latest instalment of the ‘Junior’ podcast. Get up to speed on junior hockey talent from across the globe atsportsnet.ca!

ROGERS HOMETOWN HOCKEY TOUR STOPS IN OSHAWA THIS WEEKEND:

The Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour stops in Oshawa this weekend for a special Christmas edition! Revisit Oshawa’s hockey roots, featuring such names as John Tavares and Eric Lindros. For more information on the upcoming weekend, please visithometownhockey.com.

OHL PRIORITY SELECTION PROSPECTS CLASH AT TORONTO MARLBOROS HOLIDAY CLASSIC TOURNAMENT:

Top draft eligible Minor Midget prospects from 50 teams across Ontario, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio are set to clash at the Toronto Marlboros Holiday Classic coming up from December 26-30 at Canlan Ice Sports Arena in Etobicoke, ON. For more information on the tournament including schedules and standings, please visit torontomarlboros.com.

ALUMNI NOTES:

Matt Murray records first NHL win: Soo Greyhounds graduate Matt Murray made 22 saves to record his first NHL win on Mondayagainst the Columbus Blue Jackets. Murray, who was playing in his second NHL game, is helping fill the void left by the injured Marc-Andre Fleury. The Thunder Bay, ON, native was the AHL’s Goaltender of the Year in 2015, going 25-10-3-1 with a 1.58 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage. The 6-foot-4 Murray set a new AHL benchmark last season with 304:11 of consecutive shutout minutes spanning six games. Murray has continued his stellar play this season, with a 12-4-0-0 record, a 1.84 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage in 17 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. A third round pick by Pittsburgh in 2012, Murray played four seasons with the Greyhounds from 2010-14, going 79-60-4-10 with a 3.42 goals-against average and an .898 save percentage.

Michael McCarron makes NHL debut: Oshawa Generals graduate Michael McCarron made his NHL debut on Saturday as the Montreal Canadiens fell to Dallas 6-2. McCarron has 13 goals, 11 assists and 24 points in 28 games this season with Montreal’s AHL affiliate, the St. John’s IceCaps. A native of Grosse Pointe, MI, McCarron played two OHL seasons between London and Oshawa, collecting 42 goals, 60 assists and 102 points in 122 career regular season games. He was a core contributor in Oshawa’s MasterCard Memorial Cup run last spring, scoring nine goals, nine assists and 18 points in 21 playoff contests before being named to the MasterCard Memorial Cup All-Star Team. He was Montreal’s first round (25th overall) pick in the 2013 NHL Draft.

8 OHL grads to represent Canada at Spengler Cup: OHL graduates Mark Cundari (Windsor Spitfires), Trevor Carrick (Sudbury Wolves), Derek Roy (Kitchener Rangers), Daniel Paille (Guelph Storm), Manny Malhotra (Guelph Storm), Cory Emmerton (Brampton Battalion), Tom Pyatt (Saginaw Spirit) and Matt D’Agostini (Guelph Storm) will represent Canada at the 2015 Spengler Cup fromDecember 26-31 in Davos, Switzerland. Canada will be in the hunt for a 13th Spengler Cup title and first since 2012.

Attack grad Mike Angelidis happy to be living his dream: 10 years removed from a four year OHL career with the Owen Sound Attack, Mike Angelidis is still living out his dream of being a pro hockey player. The Woodbridge, ON, native is back in the NHL with the Tampa Bay Lightning after spending much of his pro career in the American Hockey League. The Tampa Bay Times has an update on the former 53-goal OHL scorer whose NHL experience has been a “dream come true.”

Kevin Bailie leads CIS goaltenders: London Knights graduate Kevin Bailie leads all CIS goaltenders with a 1.74 goals-against average and a .949 save percentage in 11 contests. The Belleville, ON, native who played five OHL seasons from 2008-13 with Oshawa and London is 8-3 with the Queen’s Gaels this season. Bailie was a standout for the CIS All-Stars during Hockey Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp, making 40 saves to lead the CIS All-Stars to a 5-2 over Canadian National Junior Team hopefuls on December 12. Bailie appeared in 136 career OHL regular season games, recording a 3.44 goals-against average, an .896 save percentage and a 60-41-5-6 record with four shutouts.

POST HOLIDAY BREAK SCHEDULE: 

Monday December 28
Sarnia at Windsor – 7:05pm
Saginaw at Sault Ste. Marie – 7:07pm
Niagara at Barrie – 7:30pm

Tuesday December 29
Hamilton at Flint – 7:00pm
Erie at Guelph – 7:00pm
Ottawa at Kingston – 7:00pm
London at Kitchener – 7:00pm
Peterborough at Mississauga – 7:00pm
North Bay at Owen Sound – 7:00pm
Niagara at Sudbury – 7:00pm

Wednesday December 30
Kingston at Oshawa – 7:05pm
Hamilton at Saginaw – 7:05pm

Catch all of the action on OHL Live! Visit ohllive.com.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the entire OHL family to yours!

Belarus finalizes roster for 2016 World Junior Championship

Goaltenders:
Ivan Kulbakov, Dynamo U20 / HK Gomel
Alexander Osipkov, Yunost Minsk
Vladislav Verbitski, Dynamo U20 / Shakhtyor Soligorsk

Defencemen:
Danil Bokun, Dynamo U20 / Shakhtyor Soligorsk
Stepan Falkovski, Ottawa 67s (OHL)
Vladislav Goncharov, Dynamo U20 / Shakhtyor Soligorsk
Sergei Romanovich, Dynamo U20 / Neman Grodno
Ilya Sushko, Dynamo U20 / Shakhtyor Soligorsk
Alexander Tabolin, Dynamo U20 / Yunost Minsk
Pavel Vorobei, Dynamo U20 / Yunost Minsk

Forwards:
Andrei Belevich, Dynamo U20
Ilya Bobko, Dynamo U20
Dmitri Buinitski, Dynamo Minsk
Alexei Busko, Shakhtyor Soligorsk
Artemi Chernikov, Dynamo U20 / Shakhtyor Soligorsk
Dmitri Filippovich, Dynamo U20 / Yunost Minsk
Danila Karaban, Dynamo U20
Vadim Malinovski, Okanagan
Alexander Patsenkin, Yunost Minsk
Alexei Patsenkin, Yunost Minsk
Yegor Sharangovich, Dynamo Raubichi
Ruslan Vasilchuk, Dynamo U20
Grigori Veremyov, Dynamo U20

Sweden finalized it’s roster for the 2016 World Junior Championship.

Goaltenders:
Erik Kallgren, Linkopings HC
Felix Sandstrom, Brynas Gavle
Linus Soderstrom, Djurgarden Stockholm

Defencemen:
Gabriel Carlsson, Linkopings HC
Andreas Englund, Djurgården Stockholm
William Lagesson, UMass Amherst (NCAA)
Jacob Larsson, Frolunda Goteborg
Adam Ollas Mattsson, Djurgarden Stockholm
Marcus Pettersson, Skelleftea AIK

Forwards:
Rasmus Asplund, Farjestad Karlstad
Christoffer Ehn, Frolunda Gothenburg
Joel Eriksson Ek, Farjestad Karlstad
Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson, Boston University (NCAA)
Carl Grundstrom, MODO Ornskoldsvik
Axel Holmstrom, Skelleftea AIK
Anton Karlsson, Frolunda Gothenburg
Adrian Kempe, Ontario Reign (AHL)
Oskar Lindblom, Brynas Gavle
Jens Looke, Brynas Gavle
Alexander Nylander, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)
William Nylander, Toronto Marlies (AHL)
Dmytro Timashov, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Winnipeg Jets prospect Brendan Lemieux of the Windsor Spitfires is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending December 20 after scoring five goals and one assist for six points in two games with a plus-minus rating of plus-3.

Lemieux led the Spitfires to a pair of victories including their OHL West Division best 20th win of the season in a home-and-home series against the Saginaw Spirit.  He scored the game-winning goal and earned first star honours in both contests including Thursday night with two markers in a 7-6 overtime triumph, and Saturday night where he netted his second hat-trick in four games while adding one assist in the 6-3 win.

A 19-year-old from Paradise Valley, Arizona, Lemieux is playing in his fourth OHL season and first with the Spitfires after being acquired from the Barrie Colts earlier this month.  The Jets prospect was originally selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the second round of the 2014 NHL Draft and has 26 points in 16 games this season including nine goals and three assists for 12 points in five games played in Windsor.

Also considered for the award this week was Arizona Coyotes prospect and two-time award winner Conor Garland of the Moncton Wildcats who scored once with six assists for seven points in two games, and Kailer Yamamoto of the Spokane Chiefs who scored four goals and three assists for seven points in three games.

2015-16 CHL Regular Season Players of the Week:

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 Carolina Hurricanes prospect Callum Booth of the Quebec Remparts is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending December 20 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory with a goals-against-average of 0.50 and save percentage of .983.

Booth stopped 58 of 59 shots faced last week helping the Remparts extend their winning-streak to five games climbing to a first place tie in the QMJHL’s East Division with 45 points.  On Thursday night Booth stopped 22 shots and earned second star honours in a 4-1 victory over the Victoriaville Tigres, then stopped all 36 shots he faced on Friday earning his second shutout of the season as first star of a 3-0 road win against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.

An 18-year-old from Montreal, QC, Booth is playing in his third QMJHL season with the Remparts.  Selected by the Hurricanes in the fourth round of the 2015 NHL Draft, Booth carries a 13-4-3-0 record with a goals-against-average of 2.92 and save percentage of .905 so far in 2015-16.

Also considered for the award this week was Nick Schneider of the Medicine Hat Tigers who posted a 2-1-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 1.18 and save percentage of .958, and Jake Smith of the North Bay Battalion who went 3-0-0-0 with a goals-against-average of 1.28 and save percentage of .944.

2015-16 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week:

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)

22 past and present CHL players named to final team representing the red-and-white in Helsinki

 HELSINKI, Finland – The roster is set; 23 players have earned their place on Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship in Helsinki, Finland, Dec. 26-Jan. 5.

Hockey Canada confirmed the final roster shortly after returning to Helsinki from Imatra, Finland, on Sunday evening. The team spent six days in Imatra and played pre-competition games against Belarus on Saturday, and the Czech Republic on Sunday, before narrowing down to the final roster.

 “Our goal is always to assemble the best possible team to represent Canada. We had a really good evaluation period in Toronto and Imatra, and were able to see how the players responded to different situations – from practices to games,” said Scott Salmond, vice-president of hockey operations and national teams for Hockey Canada. “These are never easy decisions, but we feel confident in the team we have and their ability to make the nation proud and give us all something to get behind this holiday season.”

 Four players from the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship-winning team are included on the roster: Lawson Crouse (Mt. Brydges, Ont./Kingston, OHL), Joe Hicketts (Kamloops, B.C./Victoria, WHL), Brayden Point (Calgary/Moose Jaw, WHL), and Jake Virtanen(Abbotsford, B.C./Calgary, WHL/Vancouver, NHL).

 They are joined by:

• Goaltenders: Mackenzie Blackwood (Thunder Bay, Ont./Barrie, OHL), Mason McDonald (Halifax/Charlottetown, QMJHL),Samuel Montembeault (Bécancour, Que./Blainville-Boisbriand, QMJHL);
• Defencemen: Thomas Chabot (Sainte-Marie-de-Beauce, Que./Saint John, QMJHL), Travis Dermott (Newmarket, Ont./Erie, OHL), Haydn Fleury (Carlyle, Sask./Red Deer, WHL), Brandon Hickey (Leduc, Alta./Boston University, HE), Roland McKeown(Listowel, Ont./Kingston, OHL), Travis Sanheim (Elkhorn, Man./Calgary, WHL);
• Forwards: Mathew Barzal (Coquitlam, B.C./Seattle, WHL), Anthony Beauvillier (Sorel, Que./Shawinigan, QMJHL), Rourke Chartier (Saskatoon, Sask./Kelowna, WHL), Julien Gauthier (Pointe-aux-Trembles, Que./Val-d’Or, QMJHL), Travis Konecny(Clachan, Ont./Ottawa, OHL), Mitchell Marner (Thornhill, Ont./London, OHL), Brendan Perlini (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont./Niagara, OHL), John Quenneville (Edmonton/Brandon, WHL), Mitchell Stephens (Peterborough, Ont./Saginaw, OHL), Dylan Strome(Mississauga, Ont./Erie, OHL).

Canada won gold at the IIHF World Junior Championship on home ice in January. The team has not won in Europe since 2008 – the fourth of five consecutive gold medals for Canada’s National Junior Team from 2005-09.

Canada opens the tournament against the United States on Saturday, Dec. 26 at 2 p.m. ET. Hockey Canada’s official broadcasters, TSN and RDS, are scheduled to broadcast all tournament games, including the last of three pre-tournament games on Dec. 23; check local listings for details.

For more information on Canada’s National Junior Team, please visit hockeycanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebookand Twitter.

Toronto, ON – Ontario Hockey League action heads into the thirteenth week of the regular season schedule with 21 games beginning tonight through Sunday before pausing for the Holiday Break and returning to play on Monday December 28.

 Here’s a look at what’s going on around the league:

 AT THE RINKS:

Teddy Bear Toss in Barrie on Thursday: Teddies take flight in Barrie on Thursday as the Colts take on the Soo Greyhounds! All bears thrown on the ice will be donated to the Darling Foundation, Barrie Fire Services, and Barrie Police.

Petes Holiday Classic goes Thursday: The Peterborough Petes host the Owen Sound Attack on Thursday for their annual Holiday Classic game. This year fans have the opportunity to receive great prizes and giveaways as they enjoy the back end of a home-and-home set against Owen Sound. The Petes will be playing in support of those suffering from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, with runner Catie Sims and Zak Mitchell, a Peterborough student who suffers from the disease, both performing the ceremonial faceoff. Fans can purchase chuck-a-puck tickets to support Catie and Zack and win over $250 worth of gifts and gift cards. For more information on the Petes Holiday Classic, please visit gopetesgo.com.

Ugly Christmas Sweater Night in Mississauga on Friday: If there was ever a time to put on an ugly Christmas sweater, this is it! The Mississauga Steelheads invite fans to wear their ugliest Christmas sweater on Friday night when they take on the Sarnia Sting.

Generals hold Food Drive on Friday: The Oshawa Generals, in partnership with Panera Bread, are requesting that all fans bring a non-perishable food item to Friday’s tilt against the Flint Firebirds.

Star Wars Night with the Spirit on Saturday: Darth Vader and his storm troopers will be in attendance in Saginaw on Saturday as the Spirit battle the Windsor Spitfires.

Toonies and Toys Night in Owen Sound on Saturday: The Attack host their Toonies and Toys Night at home to the London Knights on Saturday, joining forces with the Owen Sound Fire Department for their 2015 Holiday Toy Drive.

COMMUNITY CORNER:

Attack Hunger Night a great success: The Owen Sound Attack, with many thanks to their dedicated fan base, were able to raise 1302Ibs. of food and over $700 in cash donations toward the Attack Hunger campaign on Wednesday night at home to the Barrie Colts.

Bulldogs visit McMaster Children’s Hospital: The Hamilton Bulldogs paid a visit to McMaster Children’s Hospital on Sunday, raising the spirits of the kids there as they engaged in games and discussion. Check out video footage of the Bulldogs’ special visit!

IceDogs and Niagara Regional Police visit Niagara Health Systems St. Catharines: The Niagara IceDogs teamed up with the Niagara Regional Police on Monday morning to visit the Niagara Health Systems St. Catharines site with a teddy bear delivery for the pediatric ward. IceDogs players Anthony DiFruscia, Jordan Maletta, Aaron Haydon and Blake Siebenaler were joined by Bones, Chief Jeff McGuire and other members of the Niagara Regional Police as they delivered teddy bears collected during the November 27th Teddy Bear Toss game to children throughout the ward. For more information on the special visit, please visit niagaraicedogs.net.

Spirit collect donations for Rescue Ministries of Mid-Michigan: Saginaw Spirit players were out collecting donations for Rescue Ministries of Mid-Michigan at Tim Horton’s locations throughout the city on Tuesday. Rescue Ministries of Mid-Michigan and the Saginaw Spirit have teamed up to spread hope by raising funds for local homeless shelters with events such as Tuesday morning’s collection and the Annual Hockey for the Homeless Event hosted by the Saginaw Spirit on Saturday, March 12.

Sting auctioning off ugly Christmas jerseys: The specially themed ugly Christmas sweater jerseys worn by the Sting on Friday December 11th are now up for auction. Proceeds will be donated to the Inn of the Good Shepherd. Jerseys are up for auction untilWednesday December 23. Bid here!

KNIGHTS’ CHRISTIAN DVORAK NAMED CHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Arizona Coyotes prospect Christian Dvorak of the London Knights is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending December 13 after scoring three goals and four assists for seven points in two games with a plus-minus rating of plus-5.  Dvorak took over the lead in the OHL’s scoring race with a pair of multi-point performances that also extended the Knights’ winning-streak to nine games.  He was named first star in both contests last week including Thursday night with a goal and two assists in a 6-3 road win over the Barrie Colts, and Friday night in Sudbury with two goals and two assists in an 8-1 win over the Wolves extending his personal point-streak to 17 games.

STEELHEADS’ JACK FLINN NAMED VAUGHN CHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK:

Jack Flinn of the Mississauga Steelheads is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending December 13 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory with a goals-against-average of 1.47 and save percentage of .958.  Flinn made 68 saves in a pair of road victories for the Steelheads who extend their winning-streak to three games and climb to first place in the OHL’s Central Division with 38 points.

TIP TOP TAILORS OHL PLAYS OF THE WEEK – WEEK 12:

The Barrie Colts headline the 12th edition of the Tip Top Tailors OHL Plays of the Week, with San Jose Sharks prospect Kevin Labanc putting the finishing touches on a smooth passing play. 

GETTING ON THE BOARD: FIRST OHL GOALS IN 2015-16:

Check out the players who have scored their first OHL goal in the past week! 112 different players have accomplished the milestone this season! Click on a player’s name below to watch his first OHL goal!

Macauley Carson, Liam Hawel, Brock Philips, Markus Phillips, Stephan Seeger, Chase Stewart, Jack Studnicka

ROGERS HOMETOWN HOCKEY TOUR STOPS IN SARNIA THIS WEEKEND:

The Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour stops in Sarnia this weekend as the crew explores Sarnia’s contributions to the world of hockey, from Hockey Hall of Famer Dino Ciccarelli to Sarnia Sting alumni Steven Stamkos and Alex Galchenyuk to up-and-comer Jakob Chychrun. The show will also feature a one-on-one interview with Canadian icon and Sarnia native, astronaut Chris Hadfield. For more information please visit hometownhockey.com.

ALUMNI NOTES:

Brandon Mashinter scores first NHL goal: OHL graduate Brandon Mashinter scored his first career NHL goal with the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday as they defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-0. Mashinter scored with 10 seconds remaining in the third period for his first goal in 36 career NHL games. A graduate of the Belleville Bulls, Mashinter played in the OHL from 2004-09 between Sarnia, Kitchener and Belleville, appearing in 242 games while scoring 57 goals along with 43 assists for 100 points. He played in 41 career playoff contests, scoring 10 goals, seven assists and 17 points. He won an OHL title with the Kitchener Rangers in 2008.

Joseph Blandisi makes NHL debut: Barrie Colts graduate Joseph Blandisi made his NHL debut with the New Jersey Devils on Friday. The 2015 OHL Overage Player of the Year signed with the Devils as a free agent last season and has already made his ascent to the NHL ranks after recording seven goals, nine assists and 16 points in 18 games with New Jersey’s AHL affiliate in Albany. A former Colts captain, Blandisi played four OHL seasons from 2011-15 between Owen Sound, Ottawa and Barrie.

Brock McGinn named AHL Player of the Week: Guelph Storm grad Brock McGinn has been named the AHL Player of the Week. McGinn notched three goals and two assists for five points in two games last week, helping the Checkers to a pair of road wins over Western Conference foes. A second round choice by Carolina in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, McGinn has tallied 10 goals and three assists for 13 points in 13 AHL games with Charlotte this season. He made his NHL debut with the Hurricanes on Oct. 16 and has notched two goals and an assist in 14 NHL contests as well. McGinn won an OHL title with the Storm in 2013 and appeared in 227 career games over four seasons, recording 93 goals, 79 assists and 172 regular season points.

Veterans Blunden, O’Reilly back in NHL: OHL graduates and minor league veterans Mike Blunden and Cal O’Reilly are back in the NHL. Blunden scored his first goal since January 7, 2012 in Tampa Bay’s 5-4 overtime win over Toronto on Tuesday. O’Reilly, who is the older brother of Sabres star and Erie Otters grad Ryan O’Reilly, appeared in his first NHL game since February 15, 2012 in Buffalo’s 2-0 loss to New Jersey on Tuesday. A graduate of the Erie Otters, Blunden played four seasons in Erie from 2002-06, recording 100 goals, 81 assists and 181 points in 236 career regular season games. The elder O’Reilly is a graduate of the Windsor Spitfires and played three OHL seasons in Windsor from 2003-06, recording 45 goals, 149 assists and 194 points in 197 career regular season games. Both players are 29 years-old.

Matt Murray recalled by Penguins: With veteran goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury sidelined with a concussion, Soo Greyhounds graduate Matt Murray has been summoned by the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Thunder Bay, ON, native was the AHL’s Goaltender of the Year in 2015, going 25-10-3-1 with a 1.58 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage. The 6-foot-4 Murray set a new AHL benchmark last season with 304:11 of consecutive shutout minutes spanning six games. Murray has continued his stellar play this season, with a 12-4-0-0 record, a 1.84 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage in 17 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. A third round pick by Pittsburgh in 2012, Murray played four seasons with the Greyhounds from 2010-14, going 79-60-4-10 with a 3.42 goals-against average and an .898 save percentage.

Mathieu Schneider to be inducted into U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame: Cornwall Royals graduate Mathieu Schneider will join Chris Drury, Angela Ruggiero and Ron DeGregorio in being inducted to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame on Thursday. Schneider played three seasons in Cornwall from 1986-89 where he was a point-per-game player scoring 44 goals and 126 assists for 170 points in exactly 170 career regular season games. The New York native and veteran of 21 professional seasons was selected by Montreal in the third round of the 1987 NHL Entry Draft and would capture a Stanley Cup title with the Canadiens in 1993.  He also helped the U.S earn their inaugural World Cup of Hockey title in 1996 and is among the top five American defencemen all-time in the NHL in nearly every statistical category. Recent OHL alumni to also receive the honour include Peter Karmanos Jr. in 2013, along with Kevin and Derian Hatcher in 2010.

Peca and Walker named honourary captains for AHL All-Star Classic: OHL graduates Michael Peca and Scott Walker have been named honourary captains for the 2016 AHL All-Star Classic held January 31 and February 1 in Syracuse, NY. Each year, the All-Star Classic honorary captains join the participating teams in the locker room and on the benches during the event, and are recognized for their careers at the annual AHL Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony. Peca, who played four seasons between Sudbury and Ottawa from 1990-94, went on to play over 800 career NHL contests. Walker played two seasons in Owen Sound from 1991-93 and also played over 800 career NHL games before serving as head coach of the Guelph Storm from 2010-15. For more information please visit theahl.com.

KEY WEEKEND MATCHUPS:

Mississauga Steelheads (18-13-0-2) vs. North Bay Battalion (14-12-1-2)
Thursday December 17 at North Bay

The North Bay Battalion will be out to settle the score with the Mississauga Steelheads on Thursday after suffering a 7-0 defeat against them back on November 20th. The two clubs square off in a Central Division showdown as the Steelheads look to continue their three game winning streak.  The division leading Steelheads are finding success of late, with strong contributions from reigning Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week Jack Flinn who leads the league with 1888 minutes played this season. Though they’ll be without Swedish winger Alexander Nylander, the Steelheads have had consistent production from draft eligible forwards Michael McLeod and Nathan Bastian this season.  The Battalion are led by captain Mike Amadio who enters play on an eight game point streak. The Troops knocked off the London Knights on Sunday and sit fourth in the Central Division with a record of 14-12-1-2.

Windsor Spitfires (18-9-5-0) at Saginaw Spirit (13-16-1-1)
Thursday December 17 at Windsor, Saturday December 19 at Saginaw

After a slow start and streaky stretches throughout the first half, the Saginaw Spirit are finding their groove. With wins in both of their last two games, the Spirit try and keep things rolling this weekend with a home-and-home set against Windsor on Thursday andSaturday. The Spitfires have taken two of three from the Spirit this season, but Saginaw got the better of Windsor in their last meeting on November 28th.  Saginaw goaltender Evan Cormier has wins in five of his last six starts, boasting a 1.97 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage so far this month. The Spirit have benefitted from the addition of Mike Davies who has four goals, four assists and eight points in his first 13 games with the club.  The Spitfires have an exciting recent addition of their own as Winnipeg Jets prospect Brendan Lemieux has four goals, two assists and six points in his first three games with Windsor.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE: 

Thursday, December 17
Sudbury at Niagara – 7:00pm
Mississauga at North Bay – 7:00pm
Owen Sound at Peterborough – 7:05pm
Saginaw at Windsor – 7:05pm
Sault Ste. Marie at Barrie – 7:30pm

Friday, December 18
Sudbury at Erie – 7:00pm
Hamilton at Kingston – 7:00pm
Niagara at North Bay – 7:00pm
Peterborough at Ottawa – 7:00pm
Sault Ste. Marie at Kitchener – 7:30pm
Guelph at London – 7:30pm
Sarnia at Mississauga – 7:30pm
Flint at Oshawa – 7:35pm

Saturday, December 19
Kingston at Ottawa – 1:00pm
Mississauga at Guelph – 2:00pm
Sarnia at Erie – 7:00pm
Flint at Hamilton – 7:00pm
Windsor at Saginaw – 7:05pm
North Bay at Barrie – 7:30pm
London at Owen Sound – 7:30pm

Sunday, December 20
Sudbury at Oshawa – 6:05pm

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