OHL Player of the Week

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Los Angeles Kings prospect Mike Amadio of the North Bay Battalion is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending February 21 after scoring seven goals and two assists for nine points in four games with a plus-minus rating of plus-10.

After setting a new Battalion record with five goals in a single game on February 13, Amadio continued his goal-scoring prowess finding the back of the net in all four games last week as the Troops’ offense exploded for 26 goals in four straight wins over Eastern Conference opponents.  Amadio began the week with a pair of first star performances netting game-winning goals in both contests including Family Day in Ottawa with two tallies in a 3-2 victory over the 67’s, and on Thursday at home to Sudbury with two goals and an assist in a 9-1 win over the Wolves.  On Friday night he scored his 40th goal of the season as part of a 5-1 road win against the Mississauga Steelheads, then finished the week with another two-goal performance on Sunday netting the game-winner while adding a helper as first star of a 9-3 win over the Peterborough Petes.  The win was number 30 on the season for the Battalion who currently hold third place in the Eastern Conference standings with 68 points.

A 19-year-old from Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Amadio is playing in his fourth career OHL season with the Battalion who chose him in the second round of the 2011 OHL Priority Selection.  He currently ranks sixth in league scoring with 42 goals and 42 assists for a career-high 84 points in 56 games while riding an 11-game point-streak.  The third round pick of the Kings in the 2014 NHL Draft is just the fifth player in Battalion history to record 40 goals in a season following Cody Hodgson (40 in 2007-08 and 43 in 2008-09), Evgeny Grachev (40 in 2008-09), Wojtek Wolski (47 in 2005-06), and Raffi Torres (43 in 1999-2000).

Watch video highlights of Amadio and the Battalion against the 67’s, Wolves, Steelheads, and Petes.

Honourable mention for the award this week goes to Arizona Coyotes prospect Ryan MacInnis of the Kitchener Rangers who matched Amadio’s offensive totals with seven goals and two assists for nine points in four games, while fellow Battalion forward Mathew Santos helped carry the offensive load scoring five goals and four assists for nine points in four games.  In goal, 2016 NHL Draft prospect Tyler Parsons of the London Knights posted a 3-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory stopping 78 shots with a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .963.

2015-16 Pioneer Energy OHL Players of the Week:

Feb. 15 – Feb. 21: Mike Amadio (North Bay Battalion)
Feb. 8 – Feb. 14: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Feb. 1 – Feb. 7: Spencer Watson (Kingston Frontenacs)
Jan. 25 – Jan. 31: Jonah Gadjovich (Owen Sound Attack)
Jan. 18 – Jan. 24: Matthew Mancina (Peterborough Petes)
Jan. 11 – Jan. 17: Michael Giugovaz (Guelph Storm)
Jan. 4 – Jan. 10: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Dec. 28 – Jan. 3: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Dec. 14 – Dec. 20: Jake Smith (North Bay Battalion)
Dec. 7 – Dec. 13: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 30 – Dec. 6: Mitchell Marner (London Knights)
Nov. 23 – Nov. 29: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Pavel Zacha (Sarnia Sting)
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Devin Williams (Erie Otters)
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Dylan Strome (Erie Otters)
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Tyler Parsons (London Knights)
Oct. 19 – Oct. 25: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Oct. 12 – Oct. 18: Zach Bratina (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 5 – Oct. 11: Hunter Garlent (Peterborough Petes)
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 27: Zack Bowman (Flint Firebirds)

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Los Angeles Kings prospect Spencer Watson of the Kingston Frontenacs is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending February 7 after scoring three goals and five assists for eight points in two games with a plus-minus rating of plus-6.

Watson had back-to-back multi-point performances last week helping the Frontenacs win both games to maintain first place in the OHL’s Eastern Conference standings with 68 points.  On Friday night he recorded a career-high five points as first star of a 5-4 victory over the Oshawa Generals scoring twice while adding three assists including a setup on Michael Dal Colle’s third period game-winner.  Watson then contributed to all three of Kingston’s regulation goals in Hamilton on Saturday scoring once with two assists before the Frontenacs edged the Bulldogs 4-3 in overtime.

A 19-year-old from London, ON, Watson is playing in his fourth OHL season with the Frontenacs after being chosen by the club in the second round of the 2012 OHL Priority Selection.  The Jr. Knights Minor Midget graduate leads the OHL in shots on goal with 156 and is currently tied for 12th in league scoring with 61 points in 48 games including 28 goals and 33 assists.  Watson was a seventh round pick of the Kings in the 2014 NHL Draft.

Watch video highlights of Watson and the Frontenacs against the Generals and Bulldogs.

Also considered for the award this week was Watson’s teammate, Dal Colle, a New York Islanders prospect who scored four goals and three assists for seven points in two games for the Frontenacs.  Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Mitch Marner of the London Knights also had a strong week leading the league with nine points in three games scoring once with eight assists.  In goal, New York Rangers prospect Brandon Halverson of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds posted a 2-0-0-0 record stopping 69 shots with a goals-against-average of 2.50 and save percentage of .932.

2015-16 Pioneer Energy OHL Players of the Week:

Feb. 1 – Feb. 7: Spencer Watson (Kingston Frontenacs)
Jan. 25 – Jan. 31: Jonah Gadjovich (Owen Sound Attack)
Jan. 18 – Jan. 24: Matthew Mancina (Peterborough Petes)
Jan. 11 – Jan. 17: Michael Giugovaz (Guelph Storm)
Jan. 4 – Jan. 10: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Dec. 28 – Jan. 3: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Dec. 14 – Dec. 20: Jake Smith (North Bay Battalion)
Dec. 7 – Dec. 13: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 30 – Dec. 6: Mitchell Marner (London Knights)
Nov. 23 – Nov. 29: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Pavel Zacha (Sarnia Sting)
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Devin Williams (Erie Otters)
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Dylan Strome (Erie Otters)
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Tyler Parsons (London Knights)
Oct. 19 – Oct. 25: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Oct. 12 – Oct. 18: Zach Bratina (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 5 – Oct. 11: Hunter Garlent (Peterborough Petes)
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 27: Zack Bowman (Flint Firebirds)

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that forward Jonah Gadjovich of the Owen Sound Attack is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending January 31 after scoring three goals and three assists for six points in two games with a plus-minus rating of plus-9.

Gadjovich’s breakout weekend featured the best two games of his OHL career with back-to-back three-point performances helping the Attack win both games of their East Division road trip.  He opened the scoring just 57 seconds into Friday night’s contest with his first of two goals against the Kingston Frontenacs.  In the second period he connected with Bryson Cianfrone to setup Jacob Busch’s game-winner en route to a 5-2 victory earning first star honours.  On Saturday afternoon Gadjovich broke a scoreless tie in the second period with his 10th goal of the season and later added a pair of third period assists picking up third star honours in a 5-2 win over the Ottawa 67’s.

A 17-year-old from Whitby, ON, Gadjovich is playing in his second career season with the Attack after being chosen in the second round of the 2014 OHL Priority Selection.  The former Whitby Wildcat is eligible for the 2017 NHL Draft and has 16 points in 46 games so far this season for the Attack who stand sixth place in the OHL’s Western Conference standings.

Watch video highlights of Gadjovich and the Attack against the Frontenacs and 67’s.

Also considered for the award this week was Philadelphia Flyers prospect Travis Konecny who scored three goals and three assists for six points in three straight wins for the Sarnia Sting, and Arizona Coyotes prospect Dylan Strome who scored three goals and two assists for five points in two games for the Erie Otters who became the first Western Conference club to clinch a berth in the 2016 OHL Playoffs.  In goal, St. Louis Blues prospect Luke Opilka of the Kitchener Rangers stopped 47 shots in two games posting a 2-0-0-0 record with one shutout victory carrying a goals-against-average of 0.50 and save percentage of .979.

2015-16 Pioneer Energy OHL Players of the Week:

Jan. 25 – Jan. 31: Jonah Gadjovich (Owen Sound Attack)
Jan. 18 – Jan. 24: Matthew Mancina (Peterborough Petes)
Jan. 11 – Jan. 17: Michael Giugovaz (Guelph Storm)
Jan. 4 – Jan. 10: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Dec. 28 – Jan. 3: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Dec. 14 – Dec. 20: Jake Smith (North Bay Battalion)
Dec. 7 – Dec. 13: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 30 – Dec. 6: Mitchell Marner (London Knights)
Nov. 23 – Nov. 29: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Pavel Zacha (Sarnia Sting)
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Devin Williams (Erie Otters)
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Dylan Strome (Erie Otters)
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Tyler Parsons (London Knights)
Oct. 19 – Oct. 25: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Oct. 12 – Oct. 18: Zach Bratina (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 5 – Oct. 11: Hunter Garlent (Peterborough Petes)
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 27: Zack Bowman (Flint Firebirds)

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the ninth edition of the weekly minor midget rankings for the 2016 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament hosted by the Greater Toronto Hockey League.

The weekly rankings are determined by a panel of OHL Central Scouting Staff and represent the top teams that are competing to play in the annual year-end championship tournament which takes place March 15-21, 2016.  All games will be played at the Scotiabank Pond in Toronto until the Championship Final moves to the Mattamy Athletic Centre on Monday March 21.

Minor Midget Rankings for the 2016 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament – Week 9

RANK	TEAM	LEAGUE	LAST WEEK	WEEKS RANKED
1	Toronto Jr. Canadiens	GTHL	1	9
2	Mississauga Rebels	GTHL	2	9
3	York Simcoe Express	OMHA	3	9
4	Toronto Marlies	GTHL	5	9
5	Barrie Jr. Colts	OMHA	6	8
6	Toronto Red Wings	GTHL	4	9
7	Waterloo Wolves	ALLIANCE	7	7
8	Don Mills Flyers	GTHL	8	7
9	Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs	OMHA	9	9
10	North Central Predators	OMHA	10	2
	Honourable Mention
	London Jr. Knights	ALLIANCE	–	1
	Clarington Toros	OMHA	–	5
	Kingston Frontenacs	OMHA	–	3

The OHL Cup continues to showcase 20 participating teams from across Ontario and the United States with 16 of the 20 spots in 2016 guaranteed through league competition.  The 16 guaranteed spots continue to include all four GTHL Semi-Finalists, and the top four teams that place at the OMHA Championship.  Three teams from the ALLIANCE will still be guaranteed a spot in the tournament including the Champion and Finalist, along with the winner of a best-of-three Semi-Final Wild Card Series to be played between the losers of the two league Semi-Finals.  Also as in past years, two tournament entries are reserved for United States competition, while both an HNO and NOHA representative will also compete.  New in 2016, the final guaranteed spot is awarded to the highest finishing minor midget team in the HEO Midget League which in 2015-16 belongs to CIHA White.

This season the final four entries at the 2016 OHL Cup will be Wild Cards determined among eight teams that will play a one game ‘win and in’ scenario.  The eight competing teams aiming for the final four tournament spots will continue to include the fifth place team at the OMHA Championship, and the loser of the ALLIANCE Semi-Final Wild Card Series.  New in 2016, two spots in Wild Card games will be reserved for GTHL teams.  The two competing GTHL teams will be determined through a pair of Wild Card Play-In Series matchups involving the four GTHL teams who qualified for the playoffs but lost in the first round.  Also new in 2016, one spot in a Wild Card will be reserved for the winner of an OMHA SCTA Consolation Game that features both teams who lost in the SCTA Tournament Semi-Final.  The OMHA teams eligible for this matchup will be determined annually based on the league not hosting the OMHA Championship.  Finally, the three remaining teams who will compete in the Wild Card matchups will be named by the Tournament Selection Committee based on regular season, playoff, and tournament play. All four Wild Card games will take place onTuesday March 15 with specific matchups and times of play to be determined by random draw among the eight competing teams onMonday March 14.

Last season the Toronto Marlboros captured their fifth OHL Cup title in 11 years with a 3-2 overtime win over the Don Mills Flyers. Marlies forward and OHL Cup MVP Ryan McLeod followed up older brother Michael McLeod’s MVP effort in 2014 with three goals and four assists in the tournament.

McLeod was one of 12 first round draft selections from 2015 OHL Cup teams, including six of the top ten picks. Those names include David Levin (Don Mills Flyers – 1st overall to the Sudbury Wolves), Ryan McLeod (Toronto Marlboros – 3rd overall to the Flint Firebirds), Brady Gilmour (Quinte Red Devils – 6th overall to the Saginaw Spirit), Ben Jones (Toronto Marlboros – 7th overall to the Niagara IceDogs), Matthew Strome (Toronto Marlboros – 8th overall to the Hamilton Bulldogs) and Markus Phillips (Toronto Titans – 9th overall to the Owen Sound Attack).

Five first round selections in the 2015 NHL Draft are also OHL Cup graduates including Connor McDavid (Toronto Marlboros/Edmonton Oilers), Dylan Strome (Toronto Marlboros/Arizona Coyotes), Mitch Marner (Don Mills Flyers/Toronto Maple Leafs), Lawson Crouse (Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs/Florida Panthers) and Travis Konecny (Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs/Philadelphia Flyers).

Notable OHL Cup graduates currently playing in the NHL include Taylor Hall (Greater Kingston Frontenacs/Edmonton Oilers), John Tavares (Toronto Marlboros/New York Islanders), Steven Stamkos (Markham Waxers/Tampa Bay Lightning), Tyler Seguin (Toronto Nationals/Dallas Stars), 2013 Norris Trophy winner P.K. Subban (Markham Islanders/Montreal Canadiens) and 2010 OHL Cup MVP Sean Monahan (Mississauga Rebels/Calgary Flames).

For more information, please visit ohlcup.ca.

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that goaltender Matthew Mancina of the Peterborough Petes is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending January 24 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 1.50 and save percentage of .963.

Mancina stopped 78 of 81 shots faced last week helping the Petes win back-to-back games to maintain their hold on second place in the OHL’s East Division standings with 50 points.  He earned first star honours for both performances including Thursday night with a season-high 48 saves in a 3-1 victory against the Saginaw Spirit, then on Friday with 30 stops in a 4-2 road win in London giving the Knights just their second regulation loss of the season.  Mancina is the sixth goaltender and second straight to earn the weekly award this season.

A 19-year-old from Tecumseh, ON, Mancina is playing in his third OHL season and second with the Petes after graduating from the Sun County Panthers and being a third round pick of the Guelph Storm in the 2012 OHL Priority Selection.  He currently carries a 14-10-1-3 record with one shutout, and holds the league’s sixth best goals-against-average with a mark of 2.67 and the fifth best save percentage at .920.

Watch video highlights of Mancina and the Petes against the Spirit and Knights.

Also considered for the award this week was San Jose Sharks prospect Dylan Sadowy of the Barrie Colts who scored six goals with one assist for seven points in three games, while Arizona Coyotes prospects Christian Dvorak and Ryan MacInnis both earn honourable mention for the award a second straight week.  Dvorak scored four goals and four assists for eight points in four games for the London Knights, with MacInnis scoring three goals and five assists for eight points in four games with the Kitchener Rangers.

2015-16 Pioneer Energy OHL Players of the Week:

Jan. 18 – Jan. 24: Matthew Mancina (Peterborough Petes)
Jan. 11 – Jan. 17: Michael Giugovaz (Guelph Storm)
Jan. 4 – Jan. 10: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Dec. 28 – Jan. 3: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Dec. 14 – Dec. 20: Jake Smith (North Bay Battalion)
Dec. 7 – Dec. 13: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 30 – Dec. 6: Mitchell Marner (London Knights)
Nov. 23 – Nov. 29: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Pavel Zacha (Sarnia Sting)
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Devin Williams (Erie Otters)
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Dylan Strome (Erie Otters)
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Tyler Parsons (London Knights)
Oct. 19 – Oct. 25: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Oct. 12 – Oct. 18: Zach Bratina (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 5 – Oct. 11: Hunter Garlent (Peterborough Petes)
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 27: Zack Bowman (Flint Firebirds)

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that goaltender Michael Giugovaz of the Guelph Storm is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending January 17 after posting a 2-0-0-1 record with a shutout victory along with a goals-against-average of 1.89 and save percentage of .945.

Giugovaz becomes the fifth goaltender to earn the weekly honour after making an impressive 104 saves in three games helping the Storm collect five of a possible six points last week.  He began the week posting his first shutout of the season on Wednesday with a 32-save performance earning first star honours in the 3-0 victory over the London Knights.  Two days later Giugovaz earned first star honours again backstopping the Storm to a 4-3 shootout victory over the Owen Sound Attack.  In that Friday night contest, Giugovaz made 37 saves in 65 minutes of playing time then stopped all nine Attack shooters to pick up his fifth straight January win.  His week wrapped up Sunday with a 35-save effort despite a 4-3 shootout loss to the Peterborough Petes helping his club earn their 11th point in seven games matching their total output through the first 35 games of the 2015-16 season.

A 20-year-old from Brampton, ON, Giugovaz is playing in his fourth career OHL season and first with the Storm after being acquired in November from the Windsor Spitfires.  In 13 appearances with the Storm, the overage netminder carries a 6-3-1-1 record with a goals-against-average of 2.59 and save percentage of .925.

Watch video highlights of Giugovaz and the Storm against the Knights, Attack, and Petes.

Also considered for the award this week were a pair of Arizona Coyotes prospects including Ryan MacInnis of the Kitchener Rangers and Christian Dvorak of the London Knights.  MacInnis scored once with four assists for five points in two games, while Dvorak scored four goals with two assists for six points in three games.  In addition, Philadelphia Flyers prospect Travis Konecny of the Sarnia Sting continued to buzz with his new team scoring twice with four assists for six points in three games.

2015-16 Pioneer Energy OHL Players of the Week:

Jan. 11 – Jan. 17: Michael Giugovaz (Guelph Storm)
Jan. 4 – Jan. 10: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Dec. 28 – Jan. 3: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Dec. 14 – Dec. 20: Jake Smith (North Bay Battalion)
Dec. 7 – Dec. 13: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 30 – Dec. 6: Mitchell Marner (London Knights)
Nov. 23 – Nov. 29: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Pavel Zacha (Sarnia Sting)
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Devin Williams (Erie Otters)
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Dylan Strome (Erie Otters)
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Tyler Parsons (London Knights)
Oct. 19 – Oct. 25: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Oct. 12 – Oct. 18: Zach Bratina (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 5 – Oct. 11: Hunter Garlent (Peterborough Petes)
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 27: Zack Bowman (Flint Firebirds)

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that San Jose Sharks prospect Kevin Labanc of the Barrie Colts is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the second straight week ending January 10 after leading the league with nine points in three games scoring five goals with four assists and a plus-minus rating of plus-3.

Labanc becomes the first back-to-back award recipient and first three-time winner this season after taking over the lead in the OHL’s scoring race and helping the Colts stay atop the Central Division standings with a pair of victories.   His week was highlighted by a six-point performance on Thursday earning first star honours with his second hat-trick in three games while adding three assists in a 7-4 win over the second place Mississauga Steelheads.  On Friday night he scored a goal despite the Colts’ 5-2 loss to the Guelph Storm, then finished his week Saturday with a goal and an assist in a 3-1 triumph over the Windsor Spitfires extending his goal-scoring streak to a league-best seven games.

A 20-year-old from Staten Island, New York, Labanc is playing in his third OHL season with the Colts.  He now leads the OHL with 72 points in 37 games netting 26 goals and 46 assists after finishing sixth in league scoring last season with 107 points (31 goals and 76 assists) in 68 games.  The former New Jersey Rocket was selected by the Sharks in the sixth round of the 2014 NHL Draft.

Watch video highlights of Labanc and the Colts against the Steelheads, Storm, and Spitfires.

Also considered for the award this week was Arizona Coyotes prospect Dylan Strome of the Erie Otters who scored three goals and five assists for eight points in three games, and New York Islanders prospect Michael Dal Colle of the Kingston Frontenacs who scored three goals and four assists for seven points in three games.  In goal, Windsor Spitfires rookie Michael DiPietro posted a 2-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory making 62 saves in two games with a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .969.

2015-16 Pioneer Energy OHL Players of the Week:

Jan. 4 – Jan. 10: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Dec. 28 – Jan. 3: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Dec. 14 – Dec. 20: Jake Smith (North Bay Battalion)
Dec. 7 – Dec. 13: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 30 – Dec. 6: Mitchell Marner (London Knights)
Nov. 23 – Nov. 29: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Pavel Zacha (Sarnia Sting)
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Devin Williams (Erie Otters)
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Dylan Strome (Erie Otters)
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Tyler Parsons (London Knights)
Oct. 19 – Oct. 25: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Oct. 12 – Oct. 18: Zach Bratina (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 5 – Oct. 11: Hunter Garlent (Peterborough Petes)
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 27: Zack Bowman (Flint Firebirds)

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that San Jose Sharks prospect Kevin Labanc of the Barrie Colts is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending January 3 opening the league’s second half with 13 points in four games scoring seven goals and six assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-11.

Labanc earns the award for the second time this season helping the Colts win three of four games to maintain first place in the Central Division standings with 45 points.  He opened 2016 by matching a franchise record with seven points on Saturday night in a huge 12-2 win over the North Bay Battalion where he scored his first hat-trick of the season and added four assists.  The performance earned Labanc first star honours equalling the seven-point output by Andreas Athanasiou back on February 13, 2014.  Labanc began the week with a first star effort on Monday night scoring two goals and one assist as part of a 5-4 shootout win over the Niagara IceDogs, then scored a goal and an assist on New Year’s Eve in a 6-3 win over the Sudbury Wolves.  He finished the week by scoring a shorthanded marker, his league-best fifth of the season, in a 5-3 road loss to the Battalion on Sunday afternoon.

A 20-year-old from Staten Island, New York, Labanc is playing in his third OHL season with the Colts.  He is currently second in league scoring with 21 goals and 41 assists for 62 points in 34 games after finishing sixth in league scoring last season with 107 points (31 goals and 76 assists) in 68 games.  The former New Jersey Rocket was selected by the Sharks in the sixth round of the 2014 NHL Draft.

Watch video highlights of Labanc and the Colts against the IceDogs, Wolves, and Battalion.

Also considered for the award this week was fellow Colt and Calgary Flames prospect Andrew Mangiapane who recorded two goals and seven assists for nine points in four games, and Adam Mascherin of the Kitchener Rangers with two goals and six assists for eight points in four games.  In goal, Mario Culina of the Windsor Spitfires made his first two career starts and posted a 2-0-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 1.50 and save percentage of .933.

2015-16 Pioneer Energy OHL Players of the Week:

Dec. 28 – Jan. 3: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Dec. 14 – Dec. 20: Jake Smith (North Bay Battalion)
Dec. 7 – Dec. 13: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 30 – Dec. 6: Mitchell Marner (London Knights)
Nov. 23 – Nov. 29: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Pavel Zacha (Sarnia Sting)
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Devin Williams (Erie Otters)
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Dylan Strome (Erie Otters)
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Tyler Parsons (London Knights)
Oct. 19 – Oct. 25: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Oct. 12 – Oct. 18: Zach Bratina (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 5 – Oct. 11: Hunter Garlent (Peterborough Petes)
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 27: Zack Bowman (Flint Firebirds)

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that 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.  On Thursday night Smith made 26 saves and earned second star honours in a 2-1 overtime victory against the Mississauga Steelheads, then turned aside 19 shots on Friday in another 2-1 overtime victory this time edging the Niagara IceDogs.  His week wrapped upSaturday with a 23-save performance as second star of a 5-2 road win over the Barrie Colts.

A 20-year-old from Oakville, ON, Smith is playing in his fourth OHL season with the Battalion after being a ninth round pick by the club in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection.  So far this season the overage netminder carries a 13-8-1-0 record with a goals-against-average of 2.76 and save percentage of .897.

Watch video highlights of Smith and the Battalion against the Steelheads, IceDogs, and Colts.

Also considered for the award this week was Winnipeg Jets prospect Brendan Lemieux of the Windsor Spitfires with five goals and one assist for six points in two games, and Artem Artemov of the Saginaw Spirit with three goals and five assists for eight points in three games.

2015-16 Pioneer Energy OHL Players of the Week:

Dec. 14 – Dec. 20: Jake Smith (North Bay Battalion)
Dec. 7 – Dec. 13: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 30 – Dec. 6: Mitchell Marner (London Knights)
Nov. 23 – Nov. 29: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Pavel Zacha (Sarnia Sting)
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Devin Williams (Erie Otters)
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Dylan Strome (Erie Otters)
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Tyler Parsons (London Knights)
Oct. 19 – Oct. 25: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Oct. 12 – Oct. 18: Zach Bratina (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 5 – Oct. 11: Hunter Garlent (Peterborough Petes)
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 27: Zack Bowman (Flint Firebirds)

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Arizona Coyotes prospect Christian Dvorak of the London Knights is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending December 13 after leading the league with seven points in two games scoring three goals and four assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-5.

Dvorak earns the award for the second time in three weeks after a pair of multi-point performances lifted him into first place in the OHL’s scoring race, and extended the Knights’ winning-streak to nine games.  On Thursday night he scored a goal and two assists earning first star honours in a 6-3 road win over the Barrie Colts, then scored two goals and two assists for four points on Friday as first star of an 8-1 win over the Sudbury Wolves.  Dvorak now has points in 17-straight games and holds the second longest active point-streak in the OHL behind teammate Mitchell Marner’s 19-game streak.

A 19-year-old from Frankfort, Illinois, Dvorak is playing in his third OHL season with the Knights and leads the league with 65 points in 27 games including 28 goals and 37 assists.  A graduate of the Chicago Mission Minor Midget program, Dvorak was a second round pick of the Coyotes in the 2014 NHL Draft.  He is one of eight OHL players including teammates Matthew Tkachuk and Tyler Parsons invited to attend the U.S. National Junior Team Selection Camp.

Watch video highlights of Dvorak and the Knights against the Colts and Wolves.

Also considered for the award this week was Winnipeg Jets prospect Brendan Lemieux of the Windsor Spitfires who scored four goals and two assists for six points in three games, and Kingston Frontenacs rookie Jason Robertson who scored four goals and one assist for five points in three games.  In goal, Jack Flinn of the Mississauga Steelheads posted a 2-0-0-0 record including one shutout victory with a goals-against-average of 1.47 and a save percentage of .958.

2015-16 Pioneer Energy OHL Players of the Week:

Dec. 7 – Dec. 13: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 30 – Dec. 6: Mitchell Marner (London Knights)
Nov. 23 – Nov. 29: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Pavel Zacha (Sarnia Sting)
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Devin Williams (Erie Otters)
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Dylan Strome (Erie Otters)
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Tyler Parsons (London Knights)
Oct. 19 – Oct. 25: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Oct. 12 – Oct. 18: Zach Bratina (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 5 – Oct. 11: Hunter Garlent (Peterborough Petes)
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 27: Zack Bowman (Flint Firebirds)