OHL Player of the Week

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Mitchell Marner of the London Knights is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending December 6 after leading the league with 11 points in three games scoring seven goals and four assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-6.

Marner recorded three multi-point performances last week extending his league-high point-streak to 19 games and earned first star honours in all three Knights’ victories.  He scored back-to-back hat-tricks with game-winning goals in both contests Friday night in a 6-1 win over Western Conference rivals the Windsor Spitfires, and Saturday in a 7-2 win over the Ottawa 67’s.  In Saturday’s contest Marner matched a season-high with five points tallying two assists to go along with his three goals, the highlight of which was a first period shorthanded breakaway marker that sent 9,678 stuffed animals to the ice as part of the club’s 15th annual Teddy Bear Toss festivities.  His week wrapped up Sunday afternoon with a goal and two assists as part of a 5-2 win over the Guelph Storm.  The Knights have now won seven-straight games but remain third in the Midwest Division standings with a 21-4-1-1 record for 44 points.

An 18-year-old from Thornhill, ON, Marner is playing in his third career season with the Knights after being a first round pick of the club in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection.  The fourth overall pick of the Maple Leafs in the 2015 NHL Draft has 58 points in 25 games and is now tied for the lead in OHL scoring with teammate Christian Dvorak who earned last week’s honour.  Marner is one of 13 OHL players who will compete for a spot on Canada’s National Junior Team with Selection Camp opening this week in Toronto.

Watch video highlights of Marner and the Knights against the Spitfires, 67’s, and Storm.

Also considered for the award this week were a pair of 2015 NHL Draft first round picks including Zachary Senyshyn of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and Pavel Zacha of the Sarnia Sting who both recorded nine points and led their clubs to three-straight wins.  Senyshyn, a Boston Bruins prospect, scored seven goals and two assists while Zacha, a New Jersey Devils prospect, scored four goals and five assists.  In goal, Devin Williams of the Erie Otters made 44 saves while posting a 2-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory with a goals-against-average of 0.96 and save percentage of .957.

2015-16 Pioneer Energy OHL Players of the Week:

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 Top OHL Performers of the Month for regular season games played in November 2015, including forward Dylan Strome and defenceman Travis Dermott of the Erie Otters, Mississauga Steelheads rookie Alexander Nylander and Barrie Colts goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood.

OHL Player of the Month – Dylan Strome (Erie Otters):

Arizona Coyotes prospect Dylan Strome is the OHL Player of the Month for November after he tallied 10 goals, 21 assists and 31 points in 12 games. Strome had points in 11 of his 12 contests, with nine multi-point performances including a pair of five point games in wins on November 6th against the Peterborough Petes and November 28th against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Strome was named one of the three stars of the game six times, earning first star recognition twice while being named the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending November 8th and the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending November 15th. In addition, Strome was an impressive 67% in the faceoff circle throughout the month of November helping the top ranked Otters win 11 of their 12 games.

Strome, an 18 year-old from Mississauga, ON, was selected by the Coyotes with the third overall pick of the 2015 NHL Draft. The 6’3″, 194Ib. centreman is currently second in OHL scoring after finishing tied for the CHL scoring lead with 45 goals, 84 assists and 129 points in 68 games last year. Strome currently has 16 goals, 35 assists and 51 points in 23 games this season, just two points behind Otters teammate Alex DeBrincat. Strome was one of eight OHL forwards recently invited to Hockey Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp that gets underway on December 10th in Toronto.

OHL Defenceman of the Month – Travis Dermott (Erie Otters): 
Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Travis Dermott is another Erie Otters

standout who receives recognition this month, being named the OHL’s Defenceman of the Month for November. Helping his club to a league-best 11 wins last month, Dermott led OHL blueliners with one goal, 14 assists and 15 points in 12 games including three multi-point efforts. The 5’11”, 207Ib. rearguard recorded three assistsin a 7-2 win over Peterborough on November 6th, four helpers in a 6-4 win over Oshawa on November 13th and a goal and two assists in a 6-5 loss to Flint on November 22nd. Dermott currently leads all OHL defencemen in scoring this season with two goals, 23 assists and 25 points in 27 contests.

A native of Newmarket, ON, Dermott was Toronto’s second round (34th overall) selection in the 2015 NHL Draft. The mobile defender is in his third OHL season and comes off a sophomore campaign in 2014-15 that included eight goals, 37 assists and 45 points in 61 games. Dermott was one of four OHL defencemen recently invited to Hockey Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp that gets underway on December 10th in Toronto.

OHL Rookie of the Month – Alexander Nylander (Mississauga Steelheads):

For the second straight month, Mississauga Steelheads winger Alexander Nylander is the OHL Rookie of the Month. The Swedish forward matched his October output of 18 points with seven goals and 11 assists in November to go with a plus/minus rating of plus-7. Nylander had points in 10 of his 13 outings, recording two four point efforts with two goals and two assists on November 15th against Sudbury and three goals and a helper on November 20th against North Bay. Nylander currently leads all OHL rookies in scoring by a margin of 19 points with 17 goals, 22 assists and 39 points in 28 games this season.

A native of Södertälje, Sweden, Nylander was Mississauga’s first round, 12th overall pick in the 2015 CHL Import Draft. He helped Sweden claim silver at the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament this past summer, scoring two goals, four assists and six points in five contests. He is eligible for the 2016 NHL Draft and was one of 11 OHL players listed as first round candidates by NHL Central Scouting in their November ‘Players to Watch’ list.

Vaughn OHL Goaltender of the Month – Mackenzie Blackwood (Barrie Colts): 
New Jersey Devils prospect Mackenzie Blackwood of the Barrie Colts is the

OHL Goaltender of the Month for November. Blackwood played to an 8-2-0-0 record supported by a 2.00 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage with one shutout. The 6’4″, 215Ib. netminder made 27 saves, recording his second shutout of the season to open the month on November 1st before proceeding to make at least 33 saves in three straight victories from Nov. 6 – 14. Blackwood made a season-high 39 saves in a 5-3 win over Saginaw on November 22nd. The Thunder Bay, ON, native limited opponents to one goal or less in six of his 10 November appearances helping the Colts take over first place in the Central Division standings.

New Jersey’s second round (42nd overall) selection in the 2015 NHL Draft, Blackwood has appeared in 23 of Barrie’s 25 games this season, playing to a 16-7-0-0 record while leading the league with a .930 save percentage. He is currently second in both goals-against average (2.39) and minutes played (1,513). Blackwood was one of two goaltenders recently invited to Hockey Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp that gets underway on December 10th in Toronto.

2015-16 OHL Top Performers of the Month:

Player of the Month:
November – Dylan Strome (Erie Otters)
October – Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)

Defenceman of the Month:
November – Travis Dermott (Erie Otters)
October – Vili Saarijarvi (Flint Firebirds)

Rookie of the Month:
November – Alexander Nylander (Mississauga Steelheads)
October – Alexander Nylander (Mississauga Steelheads)

Vaughn Goaltender of the Month:
November – Mackenzie Blackwood (Barrie Colts)
October – Lucas Peressini (Kingston Frontenacs)

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 November 29 after scoring six goals and three assists for nine points in three games with a plus-minus rating of plus-3.

Dvorak had a pair of four-point performances helping the Knights win all three of their games extending the club’s winning-streak to four games and improving their third-place record to 18-4-1-1.  Dvorak opened the week by netting his second hat-trick of the season including the game-winner scoring three-straight goals to open the Friday night contest against the Owen Sound Attack and adding one assist as first star of the 6-1 victory.  On Saturday night in the second half of a home-and-home battle against Midwest Division rival Owen Sound, Dvorak scored once in the Knights’ 4-1 road win.  His week wrapped up Sunday with his sixth four-point game of the season scoring two goals including the game-winner plus two assists earning first star honours in a 5-3 road win over the Windsor Spitfires.

A 19-year-old from Frankfort, Illinois, Dvorak is playing in his third OHL season with the Knights and is currently second in league scoring with 22 goals and 27 assists for 49 points in 22 games with points in 12-straight games.  A graduate of the Chicago Mission Minor Midget program, Dvorak was a second round pick of the Coyotes in the 2014 NHL Draft.

Watch video highlights of Dvorak and the Knights against the Attack on Friday, Saturday, and against the Spitfires on Sunday.

Also considered for the award this week was Los Angeles Kings prospect Mike Amadio of the North Bay Battalion who scored three goals and five assists for eight points in three games, and Buffalo Sabres prospect Eric Cornel of the Peterborough Petes who scored five goals and one assist for six points in three games.  In goal, the Petes’ Matthew Mancina stopped 68 shots in two games winning both starts with a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .971.

2015-16 Pioneer Energy OHL Players of the Week:

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 New Jersey Devils prospect Pavel Zacha of the Sarnia Sting is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending November 22 after scoring three goals and three assists for six points in two games with a plus-minus rating of plus-2.

Zacha helped the Sting win both games last week extending the club’s winning-streak to three and improving their record to 13-7-2-0 where they stand second place in the West Division standings with 28 points.  His week was highlighted by a career-high five-point performance on Saturday night scoring his first career hat-trick and adding two assists as first star of a 6-2 win over the Niagara IceDogs.  On Friday night Zacha picked up an assist on the Sting’s lone goal scored by Jeff King in the club’s 1-0 triumph over the Owen Sound Attack.

An 18-year-old from Brno, Czech Republic, Zacha is playing in his second OHL season with the Sting after being chosen first overall by the club in the 2014 CHL Import Draft.  The sixth overall pick of the Devils in the 2015 NHL Draft has already signed his entry-level contract with the club and currently leads the Sting in scoring with 12 goals and eight assists for 20 points in 17 games.

Watch video highlights of Zacha and the Sting against the Attack and IceDogs.

Also considered for the award this week was San Jose Sharks prospect Kevin Labanc of the Barrie Colts who scored four goals and five assists for nine points in three games, and 2016 NHL Draft prospect Matthew Tkachuk of the London Knights who scored three goals and five assists for eight points in three games.  In goal, Sting netminder Justin Fazio continued his strong play between the pipes making 57 saves in a pair of victories including one shutout posting a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .966.  The shutout was his second straight following a 24-save effort against the Guelph Storm on November 14.

2015-16 Pioneer Energy OHL Players of the Week:

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 Devin Williams of the Erie Otters is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending November 15 after posting a 4-0-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 1.74 and save percentage of .938.

Williams made 91 saves in four games backstopping the Otters to four-straight wins climbing into a first place tie in the Midwest Division standings with 35 points and a record of 17-2-1-0.  Williams is the third goaltender to earn the weekly honour so far this season and the third Otter to be recognized following last week’s winner Dylan Strome and Alex DeBrincat.  On Tuesday night he made 24 saves as part of a 5-2 win over the Mississauga Steelheads, then entered Friday’s game against the Oshawa Generals midway through the second period in relief stopping nine shots to help fuel the Otters’ 6-4 comeback win in a rematch of last year’s OHL Championship Series.  Williams got the start Saturday night against the London Knights and earned first star honours with 23 saves in the 3-1 victory, and wrapped up his week by matching a season-high with 35 saves in a first place battle against the Kitchener Rangers standing tall in the 5-2 triumph.

The 20-year-old from Saginaw, Michigan, is playing in his fifth OHL season with the Otters and currently carries a 14-0-1-0 record leading all OHL goaltenders in wins so far this season.  His goals-against-average of 2.31 is also the league’s best while his save percentage is tied for third best at .921.  Earlier this season Williams established a new Otters franchise mark for career wins and now has 79 since the 2011-12 season.

Watch video highlights of Williams and the Otters against the Steelheads, Knights, and Rangers.

Also considered for the award this week was fellow Otter and Arizona Coyotes prospect Dylan Strome who led the league in scoring for the second straight week with 10 points in four games including three goals and seven assists, and Los Angeles Kings prospect Mike Amadio of the North Bay Battalion recorded eight points in two games scoring three goals and five assists including a career-high six-point performance Sunday afternoon in a 7-3 win over the Barrie Colts.

2015-16 Pioneer Energy OHL Players of the Week:

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 Dylan Strome of the Erie Otters is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending November 8 after leading the league with eight points in two games scoring twice with six assists and a plus-minus rating of plus-1.

Strome had a pair of multi-point performances for the Otters who kept pace in the tough Midwest Division splitting their weekend games and holding a second place record of 13-2-1-0.  On Friday night Strome matched a season-high with five points scoring a pair of goals and chipping in three assists as second star of a 7-2 win over the Peterborough Petes.  His second goal of the game held as the game-winner with two of his assists helping teammate Alex DeBrincat net his third hat-trick of the season.  On Saturday night Strome collected three assists and was named third star despite a 6-4 loss to the West Division leading Windsor Spitfires.

An 18-year-old from Mississauga, ON, Strome is playing in his third season with the Otters after being chosen by the club with the second overall pick in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection.  Strome has averaged two-points a game this season after being selected by the Coyotes third overall in the 2015 NHL Draft and is tied for ninth in league scoring with six goals and 18 assists for 24 points in 12 games.  The league’s top scorer from last season set an Otters record with 129 points in 68 games and will represent Team OHL in the 2015 CHL Canada Russia Series this Thursday November 12 in Owen Sound.

Watch video highlights of Strome and the Otters against the Petes and Spitfires.

Also considered for the award this week was New York Islanders prospect Michael Dal Colle of the Oshawa Generals who scored four goals and three assists for seven points in three games, and fellow Coyotes prospect Christian Dvorak of the London Knights who tied a franchise record with five goals on Friday night against the Guelph Storm also adding an assist in the club’s 9-2 triumph.  In goal, New Jersey Devils prospect Mackenzie Blackwood of the Barrie Colts won both of his games stopping 70 shots and posting a goals-against-average of 1.50 and save percentage of .959.

2015-16 Pioneer Energy OHL Players of the Week:

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 Canadian Hockey League today announced that New York Islanders prospect Mathew Barzal of the Seattle Thunderbirds is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending November 1 after recording 10 points in three games including a goal and nine assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-6.

Barzal helped the Thunderbirds earn a pair of victories last week to stay atop the WHL’s U.S. Division standings where they currently have a 9-3-1-0 record.  Last Tuesday night Barzal tallied a career-high five assists and earned first star honours in a 7-2 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings.  Over the weekend he produced a pair of multi-point performances scoring a goal and two assists on Saturday as second star of a 5-2 victory over the Kootenay Ice, then two assists on Sunday despite a 4-3 loss to the Calgary Hitmen.

An 18-year-old from Coquitlam, BC, Barzal is playing in his third career WHL season with the Thunderbirds.  The 16th overall pick of the Islanders in the 2015 NHL Draft has 20 points in just 10 games played so far this season and will compete for Team WHL in the 2015 CHL Canada Russia Series November 9-10 in Kelowna and Kamloops, BC.

Also considered for the award this week was QMJHL Top Scorer Francis Perron, an Ottawa Senators prospect of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, who scored three goals and six assists for nine points in three games.  In the OHL, Calgary Flames prospect Andrew Mangiapane of the Barrie Colts scored three goals and four assists for seven points in three games.

2015-16 CHL Regular Season Players of the Week:

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)

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 October 25 after leading the league with nine points in three games scoring twice with seven assists along with a plus-minus rating of plus-3.

Labanc had three multi-point games last week helping the Colts earn three straight victories to move into first place in the Central Division standings with 16 points.  His best performance was on Saturday night where he matched a career-high with five points scoring once with four assists as first star of a 7-2 win over the Sudbury Wolves.  Labanc also picked up two assists on Thursday night in an 8-5 win over the Flint Firebirds, and scored the game-winning goal with an assist on Sunday in the Colts’ 5-3 win over the Oshawa Generals.

A 19-year-old from Staten Island, New York, Labanc is playing in his third OHL season with the Colts.  Selected by the Sharks in the sixth round of the 2014 NHL Draft, he is currently tied for 14th in OHL scoring with 15 points including five goals and 10 assists in 12 games.  Last season Labanc was one of three Colts to eclipse the century mark in points with 107 in 68 games played setting a new franchise single season record with 76 assists.

Watch video highlights of Labanc and the Colts against the Firebirds, Wolves, and Generals.

Also considered for the award this week was Arizona Coyotes prospect Ryan MacInnis who helped the Kitchener Rangers remain undefeated in regulation time scoring four goals and three assists for seven points in three wins, while 2016 NHL Draft prospect Michael McLeod of the Mississauga Steelheads scored three goals and four assists for seven points and was named first star in all three of his games.  In goal, reigning OHL Goaltender of the Year Lucas Peressini helped the Kingston Frontenacs maintain their first place hold in the Eastern Conference standings with a 2-0-0-0 record posting a goals-against-average of 1.98 and save percentage of .935.

2015-16 Pioneer Energy OHL Players of the Week:

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)