Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the Week 11 and final edition of the weekly U16 AAA rankings for the 2022 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament presented by Under Armour and hosted by the Greater Toronto Hockey League.
The 2022 OHL Cup powered by Under Armour and hosted by the GTHL is scheduled for March 30 to April 4, 2022 and features 20 teams consisting of talent eligible for the 2022 OHL Priority Selection. All games will be played at the Scotiabank Pond in Toronto until the Championship Final moves to the Mattamy Athletic Centre on Monday, April 4. Wild card play-in games to determine the final entries into the showcase will be held tonight at Scotiabank Pond.
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.
U16 AAA Rankings for the 2022 OHL Cup Powered by Under Armour – Final Edition
Rank:
Team:
LAST WEEK
WEEKS RANKED
1
Toronto Jr. Canadiens (GTHL)*
2
11
2
Toronto Marlboros (GTHL)*
3
11
3
Mississauga Senators (GTHL)
1
11
4
Markham Majors (GTHL)*
6
11
5
Brantford 99ers (ALLIANCE)*
7
8
6
Quinte Red Devils (OMHA)*
5
11
7
Niagara North Stars (OMHA)*
10
11
8
North York Rangers (GTHL)
4
11
9
London Jr. Knights (ALLIANCE)*
9
11
10
York-Simcoe Express (OMHA)*
–
1
Honourable Mention:
Vaughan Kings (GTHL)
–
1
Ajax-Pickering Raiders (OMHA)
–
3
Markham Waxers (OMHA)
8
5
* clinched spot at the 2022 OHL Cup powered by Under Armour
The eleventh and final edition of the OHL Cup Top 10 Rankings sees the GTHL champion Toronto Jr. Canadiens entering the showcase as the top-ranked team in the province after they defeated the Markham Majors 6-2 in Monday’s championship final. The Toronto Marlboros have cracked the top-two for the first time all season, entering as the second-ranked team while the GTHL finalist Markham Majors are up to number four on the list. The Brantford 99ers are the top-ranked team out of the ALLIANCE coming in at number five while the OMHA finalist Niagara North Stars rise three spots to seventh this week. The OMHA champion York-Simcoe Express come off a thrilling overtime victory, cracking the OHL Cup Top 10 for the first time all season.
About the Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League which is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and four American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL is made up of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U SPORTS than any other league.
Toronto, Ont. – The Canadian Hockey League announced today the Week 21 edition of the Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings for the 2021-22 season.
The Hamilton Bulldogs are the third-ranked team in the CHL this week, coming off a 3-0 weekend on the road with wins over Kingston and Ottawa. OHL Goaltender of the Week Marco Costantini continues his stellar play, winning 16 of his last 17 starts while top scorer Logan Morrison set a new Bulldogs single season record with his 55th assist on Sunday, extending his current point streak to 15 games. The 40-12-2-2 Bulldogs own a league-best winning percentage of .750, surrendering a league-low 157 goals on the campaign. The Dogs are back in action on Thursday for a highly anticipated matchup against the eighth-ranked North Bay Battalion.
The Troops are winners of seven straight and 16 of their last 18 games. North Bay has surpassed Mississauga after defeating the Steelheads 2-1 on Thursday to claim top spot in the Central Division. The Battalion bested the Barrie Colts 3-2 on Sunday as rookie Michael Podolioukh scored the third period game winner. North Bay’s power play has surged to the top of the league, operating at 27.1 percent, with overage forward Mitchell Russell leading the club with 11 goals on the man advantage. Rookie defender Ty Nelson, who leads Battalion blueliners with 48 points this season, will compete in Wednesday’s Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Kitchener.
The Windsor Spitfires receive an honourable mention following three straight wins that each featured at least six goals. Dallas Stars prospect Wyatt Johnston became the OHL’s first 100-point scorer of 2021-22, becoming the first Spitfire to hit the century mark since Ryan Ellis in 2010-11. Matthew Maggio was named the OHL Player of the Week, recording 10 points (3-7–10) in four games last week. Windsor defeated Flint on back-to-back nights to climb within one point of the Western Conference-leading Firebirds entering another week of action.
For further analysis on the Week 21 edition of the Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings, visit CHL.ca.
About the Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League which is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and four American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL is made up of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U SPORTS than any other league.
We had some fun outdoors in Hamilton and now it’s time for the stretch run towards the 2022 OHL Playoffs, with four teams in Hamilton, North Bay, Mississauga and Kingston having already booked their ticket. Here’s what’s happening in the OHL This Week.
Rosters and captains announced for 2022 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game: Shane Wright, Ty Nelson and Jake Karabela have been named captains of their respective teams for the 2022 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game set to take place on Wednesday, March 23 in Kitchener. Check out the full rosters here
Sights and Sounds of the Hamilton Outdoor Showcase: Take in the sights and hear the sounds from the Hamilton Outdoor Showcase between the Bulldogs and Oshawa Generals at Tim Hortons Field. Watch
Rico Phillips gets warm welcome in Steeltown: OHL Director of Cultural Diversity and Inclusion Rico Phillips got a warm welcome from the Hamilton Bulldogs ahead of the Outdoor Showcase at Tim Hortons Field. Watch
Bulldogs and Firebirds included in Week 20 edition of Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings: The Hamilton Bulldogs and Flint Firebirds are included in the Week 20 edition of the Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings while the North Bay Battalion receive an honourable mention. Read more
Colts’ Ukrainian defender Cholach drops ceremonial face-off at Heritage Classic: Ukrainian Barrie Colts defender Artur Cholach received a strong show of support at the NHL Heritage Classic in Hamilton. The Vegas Golden Knights prospect met Wayne Gretzky and conducted the ceremonial face-off between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres. Watch
Edmonds and Mintyukov named to CHL Team of the Week: Kingston Frontenacs forward Lucas Edmonds and Saginaw Spirit defender Pavel Mintyukov are included on the 17th edition of the CHL Team of the Week. Read more
Frontenacs’ Lucas Edmonds named OHL Player of the Week: Kingston Frontenacs forward Lucas Edmonds is the OHL Player of the Week, putting together nine points in his last three games, scoring three goals and six assists. . Read more
Attack’s Nick Chenard named OHL Goaltender of the Week: Nick Chenard of the Owen Sound Attack is the OHL Goaltender of the Week after going 2-0-1-0 with a 1.99 goals-against average and .944 save percentage. Read more
Firebirds’ Head Coach Ted Dent adds Interim General Manager tag: Head coach Ted Dent has been named interim general manager of the Flint Firebirds. The Firebirds currently own a 34-16-1-3 record and sit first place in the Western Conference. Read more
Firebirds name Jeff Blum as Assistant Coach: The Flint Firebirds announced the hiring of Jeff Blum as the club’s new assistant coach. Blum spent two seasons behind the bench in the OHL for the Saginaw Spirit from 2012-14 before joining Brian Rolston on staff as an assistant coach with the Detroit Jr. Red Wings. Read more
OHL Weekend Notebook: The OHL Weekend Notebook recaps the weekend that was with news, information and interesting facts from both on and off the ice. Read more
Jr. Canadiens on top in Week 9 edition of OHL Cup Top 10 Rankings: The Week 9 edition of the OHL Cup presented by Under Armour Top 10 Rankings features the Toronto Jr. Canadiens in the top spot once again. Read more
Five to watch for the 2022 OHL Priority Selection: Raine Hernandez and OHL Central Scouting join forces to examine five players to keep an eye on in advance of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection. Read more
Sauder scores first goal in OHL Milestone Moments: Erie Otters defenceman Nathan Sauder scored his first career OHL goal in last week’s action. Watch
Petes’ Sproule headlines OHL Plays of the Week: Dishing up a serving of the top plays in the OHL this week with appearances from Hamilton teammates Avery Hayes and Mason McTavish, Kitchener’s Joseph Serpa, Barrie’s Ethan Cardwell, and Peterborough’s Emmett Sproule. Watch
More big stops in OHL Saves of the Week: Scoping out another set of Saves of the Week featuring Mississauga’s Joe Ranger and Roman Basran, Owen Sound’s Nick Chenard, Niagara’s Josh Rosenzweig, Guelph’s Jacob Oster, Hamilton’s Marco Costantini, Kingston’s Leevi Merilainen, Erie’s Nolan Lalonde, Flint’s Luke Cavallin, and Sarnia’s Ben Gaudreau. Watch
COMMUNITY CORNER
Sting launch Sting Assists to streamline and grow community contributions: The Sarnia Sting Hockey Club is proud to announce the launch of the Sarnia Sting Community Fund. Sting Assists is an independent non-profit organization, at arms length from the hockey club. Read more
Spits support Mighty Megan Fights Leukemia: The Windsor Spitfires are supporting a young fan. The club donated 55 Spitfires t-shirts that will be transformed into zipper shirts for kids undergoing cancer treatment. For more details visit windsorspitfires.com
Rangers host mobile vaccination clinics at upcoming games: The Kitchener Rangers have announced that they will be hosting free COVID-19 vaccination clinics this upcoming Sunday (March 20) and next Sunday (March 27). First, second and third doses are available to ticket-holding fans – choice of Moderna or Pfizer for adults age 30+, and Pfizer for fans age 5-29. For more details visit kitchenerrangers.com
Colts host IceDogs for St. Patrick’s Game on Thursday: The Barrie Colts will be suited up in green as they host Niagara for their annual St. Patrick’s Day game on Thursday, March 17th.
Frontenacs go retro for Friday’s matchup: The Kingston Frontenacs are going retro on Friday, March 18th as they host the Hamilton Bulldogs. The Frontenacs will be wearing a special throwback Count Frontenac jersey with a retro remix. The original Count Frontenac jersey was worn by the team from 2000 to 2007. The Fronts are wearing the jerseys in collaboration with the Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy to help promote Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. Get a sneak peek at kingstonfrontenacs.com
Firebirds host Super Hero night on Saturday: The Flint Firebirds play host to the Windsor Spitfires on Saturday and its Super Hero Night at the Dort Financial Center. Benefitting Whaley Children’s Center, the Firebirds are asking for fans to bring a minimum of three hygiene products in order to receive a free ticket to the game. The first 300 fans in the door will receive a Superhero Cape as the players will be wearing specialty Spiderman jerseys during the game. A live jersey auction will take place after the game. More information at flintfirebirds.com
Steelheads to host their fourth Pucks N’ Paws game on Sunday: The Mississauga Steelheads are hosting their fourth annual Pucks N’ Paws game as they take on the Peterborough Petes on Sunday, March 20th. The Steelheads encourage all fans to bring their furry friends to the game. For full details visit mississaugasteelheads.com
IceDogs host Down Syndrome Awareness Day on Sunday: Rock your crazy socks with the Niagara IceDogs for Down Syndrome Awareness Day on Sunday when the Dogs host the Sudbury Wolves at 2:00pm.
Petes announce updates on 13th annual Pink in the Rink Game: The Peterborough Petes recently revealed this year’s Pink in the Rink jerseys that will be worn on Saturday, April 9, 2022, against the Niagara IceDogs at 7:05 pm. General Manager Michael Oke also presented this year’s co-chairs, Doug Gibson and Meaghan Roy, with their jerseys. More info at gopetesgo.com
ALUMNI NOTES
Robertson brothers go head-to-head: The Robertson brothers faced off as the Toronto Maple Leafs hosted the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night. Toronto’s Nick Robertson put together a 55-goal season with the Peterborough Petes in 2019-20, being named the league’s most sportsmanlike player. Jason Robertson is in the midst of a 30-goal season as an NHL sophomore in Dallas, and is a former Eddie Powers Trophy recipient with the Niagara IceDogs in 2018-19.
Foligno, Staal play 1,000th NHL contest: Sudbury Wolves graduates Marc Staal and Nick Foligno both made their 1,000th NHL appearance this past week. From Sudbury to now the Boston Bruins, Foligno debuted for the Ottawa Senators in 2007 at only 19 years old and then went on to play for the Columbus Blue Jackets before ending up in Boston. Foligno won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy (leadership, humanitarian contributions) and Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2016-17. Sudbury Wolves graduate Marc Staal also reached the milestone marker, playing 1,000 games for the New York Rangers and now the Detroit Red Wings. Staal joins his brothers, Eric and Jordan as they become the first trio of brothers in league history to each reach that milestone.
Holland announces retirement: Former Guelph Storm forward and 266-game NHL veteran Peter Holland announced his retirement over Twitter earlier this week. The 31-year-old from Brampton, Ont. had spent the season with Djurgardens of the Swedish Elite League following two years in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League. Holland played four seasons with the Storm from 2007-11, scoring at least 28 goals in three of those campaigns. He was the 15th overall pick of the Anaheim Ducks in the 2009 NHL Draft and spent his NHL tenure between Anaheim, Toronto, Arizona and the New York Rangers.
McCourt named ECHL Player of the Week: Flint Firebirds graduate Riley McCourt is the ECHL Player of the Week. McCourt currently plays for the Newfoundland Growlers. Under contract to Toronto of the American Hockey League, McCourt has 23 points (23-9-14) in 40 games with the Growlers this season. The 21-year-old had a strong showing with the Firebirds in his final OHL season, recording 62 points (18-44–62) across 63 games in 2019-20.
Ingham named ECHL Goaltender of the Week: Jacob Ingham of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits is the ECHL Goaltender of the Week for March 7-13. Under contract with the Los Angeles Kings, Ingham is 8-5-2 in 15 appearances with the Swamp Rabbits this season with two shutouts, a 2.82 goals-against average and a save percentage of .906. Prior to playing in the ECHL, Ingham appeared in 177 career OHL games for the Kitchener Rangers and Mississauga Steelheads. The Barrie, Ont. native was Los Angeles’ sixth round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.
Hawel headlines OHL Alumni receiving AUS Awards and All-Star Team recognition: Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year Liam Hawel headlines a list of six OHL alumni who are award and all-star team recipients in Atlantic University Sport. Matthew Struthers, Austen Keating, Santino Centorame, Justin MacPherson and Troy Lajeunesse are also winners. Read more
KEY MATCHUPS
Mississauga Steelheads at North Bay Battalion Thursday March 17th – 7:00pm
The top-two Central Division teams meet in North Bay on Thursday night as the Steelheads and Battalion are tied for first at 72 points. Bouncing back from a three-game losing slide, the Steelheads moved back to the win column on Tuesday defeating the Colts. The Battalion have won their last five matchups as Kyle McDonald continues to ride a 13-game point streak.
Hamilton Bulldogs at Kingston Frontenacs Friday March 18th – 7:00pm
Winners of four straight, the Frontenacs host the first place Bulldogs on Friday night. Reigning OHL Player of the Week Lucas Edmonds and the Fronts clinched a playoff spot last week. Bulldogs top scorer Logan Morrison has points in 12 straight games. Hamilton has won 19 of their last 21, owning a 37-12-2-2 record for the league’s first place spot.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Thursday March 17th: Mississauga at North Bay – 7:00pm Niagara at Barrie – 7:30pm
Friday March 18th: Hamilton at Kingston – 7:00pm Sudbury at Mississauga – 7:00pm Sault Ste. Marie at Flint – 7:00pm Sarnia at Guelph – 7:30pm Erie at Kitchener – 7:30pm Saginaw at London – 7:30pm Peterborough at Oshawa – 7:35pm
Saturday March 19th: Hamilton at Ottawa – 2:00pm Sudbury at Niagara – 7:00pm Windsor at Flint – 7:00pm Sault Ste. Marie at Saginaw – 7:05pm Oshawa at Barrie – 7:30pm (Streaming Free on CBC Gem) Erie at Owen Sound – 7:30pm
Sunday March 20th: Hamilton at Ottawa – 2:00pm Peterborough at Mississauga – 2:00pm Barrie at North Bay – 2:00pm Sudbury at Niagara – 2:00pm Guelph at Kitchener – 2:00pm Erie at Owen Sound – 2:00pm London at Sarnia – 2:05pm Flint at Windsor – 4:05pm Kingston at Oshawa – 6:05pm
Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the Week 9 edition of the weekly U16 AAA rankings for the 2022 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament presented by Under Armour and hosted by the Greater Toronto Hockey League.
The 2022 OHL Cup powered by Under Armour and hosted by the GTHL is scheduled for March 30 to April 4, 2022 and features 20 teams consisting of talent eligible for the 2022 OHL Priority Selection. All games will be played at the Scotiabank Pond in Toronto until the Championship Final moves to the Mattamy Athletic Centre on Monday, April 4. Wild card play-in games to determine the final entries into the showcase will be held at Scotiabank Pond on Tuesday, March 29.
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.
U16 AAA Rankings for the 2022 OHL Cup Powered by Under Armour – Week 9
Rank:
Team:
LAST WEEK
WEEKS RANKED
1
Toronto Jr. Canadiens (GTHL)
1
9
2
Mississauga Senators (GTHL)
2
9
3
Toronto Marlboros (GTHL)
3
9
4
Quinte Red Devils (OMHA)
4
9
5
North York Rangers (GTHL)
7
9
6
Markham Majors (GTHL)
5
9
7
Brantford 99ers (ALLIANCE)
6
6
8
Markham Waxers (OMHA)
9
4
9
Niagara North Stars (OMHA)
8
9
10
London Jr. Knights (ALLIANCE)
10
9
Honourable Mention:
Halton Hurricanes (OMHA)
–
–
Vaughan Kings (GTHL)
–
1
Ajax-Pickering Raiders (OMHA)
–
3
The ninth week of OHL Cup Rankings feature some jostling in the middle of the Top-10, with the North York Rangers and Markham Waxers both trending upward. North York defeated Thunder Bay by a score of 3-1 on Saturday, improving to 13-8-4 on the season while Markham emerged with a perfect 8-0 record in their playdowns, securing a spot alongside Quinte and Ajax-Pickering at the OMHA Championship Weekend from March 25-27. Of note, Markham defeated Quinte twice in the playdowns after the Red Devils went 23-0-3 during the regular season, entering the playoffs on a 10-game winning streak. The Toronto Jr. Canadiens continue to lead the way in Week 9, riding a run of 12 consecutive victories for a 22-3-1 regular season record.
About the Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League which is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and four American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL is made up of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U SPORTS than any other league.
Get bundled up for the Outdoor Showcase in Hamilton, and there’s lots to cover with a 10-game Friday night on the horizon. Here’s your latest edition of the OHL This Week.
Tickets on sale for Hamilton Outdoor Showcase: The Hamilton Bulldogs play host to the Oshawa Generals on Monday, March 14th at Tim Hortons Field! Tickets are now on sale for this special event and can be purchased at ticketmaster.ca.
Bulldogs and Knights included in Week 19 edition of Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings: The Hamilton Bulldogs and London Knights are included in the Week 19 edition of the Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings while the Flint Firebirds received an honourable mention. Read more
OHL Celebrates International Women’s Day: Join host Joelle Wood as she chats with Aly Munro, Lauren Kelly and Julia Tocheri about their roles in sports media as part of International Women’s Day celebrations. Watch
Hill and Costantini named to CHL Team of the Week: Sarnia Sting forward Theo Hill and Hamilton Bulldogs goaltender Marco Costantini are included on the 16th edition of the CHL Team of the Week. Read more
Sting’s Theo Hill named OHL Player of the Week: Sarnia Sting forward Theo Hill is the OHL Player of the Week, putting together nine assists in three games as the Sting won a pair of games. Read more
Bulldogs’ Marco Costantini named OHL Goaltender of the Week: Marco Costantini of the Hamilton Bulldogs is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, backstopping his first place team to a pair of wins. Read more
Counting down the OHL Plays of the Week: Reviewing the OHL Plays of the Week, with appearances from Peterborough’s J.R. Avon and Chase Stillman, Ottawa’s Jack Matier, Kitchener’s Justin Nolet and London’s Antonio Stranges. Watch
Sensational stops in OHL Saves of the Week: Getting our fill of sensational saves from Sarnia’s Anson Thornton and Ben Gaudreau, Niagara’s Josh Rosenzweig, London’s Brett Brochu, Kitchener’s Pavel Cajan, Kingston’s Leevi Merilainen, Hamilton’s Marco Costantini, Soo’s Tucker Tynan, and Erie’s Nolan Lalonde. Watch
Four first goals in OHL Milestone Moments: Revisit first goals from Barrie’s Zach Wigle, Peterborough’s Artem Guryev, Saginaw’s Brayden Hislop, and Ottawa’s Chris Barlas. Watch
OHL Weekend Notebook: The OHL Weekend Notebook recaps the weekend that was with news, information and interesting facts from both on and off the ice. Read more
Jr. Canadiens on top in Week 8 edition of OHL Cup Top 10 Rankings: There’s lots of movement on the Week 8 edition of the OHL Cup presented by Under Armour Top 10 Rankings, with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens back in the driver’s seat after a perfect week of hockey. Read more
Inaugural U14 OHL Cup presented by Dairy Farmers of Ontario set for April 14-16: The OHL is excited to partner with the Ontario Minor Hockey Association and presenting sponsor Dairy Farmers of Ontario for the inaugural U14 OHL Cup on April 14-16 in Oakville. Read more
Dustin McCrank shares Olympic experience: Long-time OHL official Dustin McCrank shares his experience working the lines at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, China. Watch
Rangers’ Mutter signs with Predators Veteran Kitchener Rangers forward Navrin Mutter has signed a three-year entry level NHL contract with the Nashville Predators. Read more
Greyhounds’ Calisti signs AHL contract with Panthers: Soo Greyhounds defenceman Robert Calisti has signed a two-year AHL contract with the Florida Panthers organization. Read more
Owen MacDonald commits to Sting: The Sarnia Sting have signed local product and third round 2021 OHL U18 Priority Selection choice Owen MacDonald. Read more
COMMUNITY CORNER
67’s turn back the clock Friday night: The Ottawa 67’s celebrate their past on Friday, bringing out the Killer Puck for a clash with the Peterborough Petes. Legacy Night at TD Place Arena will feature some familiar faces from the past like past captain Dan Tessier as the 67’s hit the ice in retro jerseys for an East Division matchup.
Wolves in green for Heart and Stroke Night on Friday: The Sudbury Wolves will be decked out in green for Heart and Stroke Night on Friday, playing host to a traditionally green opponent in the North Bay Battalion. The Wolves, who wore green in the franchise’s infancy, revisit their roots for a good cause as proceeds from game worn uniforms will go to benefit the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Since 2016, the Sudbury community has raised over $5,000 in support of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Watch more at sudburywolves.com
Firebirds host Teacher Appreciation Night on Saturday: The Flint Firebirds play host to the Guelph Storm on Saturday and its Teacher Appreciation Night at the Dort Financial Center. All school staff can show their ID for free admittance to the game. For more information visit flintfirebirds.com
Spirit host Hockey for the Homeless Night on Saturday: The Saginaw Spirit feature back-to-back home matchups against the Owen Sound Attack this weekend, with Saturday’s matchup penciled in as Hockey for the Homeless Night at the Dow Event Center. The Spirit will be wearing special limited edition red uniforms to be auctioned off post-game, with proceeds benefitting Rescue Ministries of Mid-Michigan.
Otters roll out the green for St. Patrick’s Day game: The Erie Otters will be in green Saturday night at home to the Windsor Spitfires. Stay tuned for a post-game jersey auction to get your hands on one of these limited edition green Otters uniforms.
Generals host Petes for St. Patrick’s Game on Sunday: The Oshawa Generals encourage all of their fans to wear green to the rink Sunday evening when they play host to their age-old rivals the Peterborough Petes. The Gens will be suited up in green to close out the weekend for this great matchup.
Frontenacs’ Haché draws 30 donors through blood drive: Kingston Frontenacs defenceman Braden Haché hosted a community blood drive through Hockey Gives Blood, drawing 30 donors in support on Tuesday. The Florida Panthers prospect was the recipient of the Dayna Brons Honourary Award last season, a distinction presented in the honour of the former athletic therapist for the Humboldt Broncos Hockey Club who tragically passed away on April 11, 2018. Haché is recognized as a leader in his efforts to raise awareness toward the important cause of blood and stem cell donation.
Otters host Women’s Empowerment Week webinar: The Erie Otters held a Women’s Empowerment Week webinar on Tuesday, one that included special guests from the Arizona Coyotes and Macon Mayhem along with members of the Otters’ front office staff. Check out the full webinar at ottershockey.com.
Rangers host Women in Hockey Conference: As part of International Women’s Day Celebrations, the Kitchener Rangers hosted a Women in Hockey Conference including special guests such as Kim Davis of the National Hockey League, Christine Simpson of Sportsnet, PHF Commissioner Tyler Tumminia and several others. Check out the full conference on YouTube
PWHPA comes to Peterborough March 26 with all-woman broadcast crew: The Peterborough Petes will host a PWHPA regional game on March 26th at the Memorial Centre, one that will feature an all-woman broadcast crew of Katrina Squazzin, Meaghan Roy and Julia Tocheri. Team Sonnet and Team Harvey’s will square off inside the square corners! For more information visit gopetesgo.com
ALUMNI NOTES
Giordano, Simmonds play 1,000th NHL contest: A pair of well-known OHL graduates recently played in their 1,000th career NHL contest. Both former members of the Owen Sound Attack, Seattle Kraken blueliner Mark Giordano and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Wayne Simmonds reached the millennium on Saturday. Giordano, 38, is with the expansion Kraken following parts of 15 NHL seasons with the Calgary Flames. He played in Owen Sound from 2002-04 and was never drafted into the OHL or the NHL. Simmonds, 33, has spent his NHL career largely between Los Angeles and Philadelphia. He played in Owen Sound and Sault Ste. Marie from 2006-08. Read more on their careers at attackhockey.com
Robertson named NHL’s First Star of the Week: Former Eddie Powers Trophy recipient Jason Robertson is the NHL’s First Star of the Week, putting up seven goals in three games for the Dallas Stars. Robertson netted consecutive hat tricks and game-winning goals. He joins Bill Goldsworthy (March 1971) as the second player in Stars/North Stars history to register a hat trick in consecutive games. Robertson has 54 points (29-25–54) in 47 games this season. The 22-year-old from Arcadia, Calif. played four OHL seasons between Kingston and Niagara from 2015-19, graduating with 317 career points.
Ekblad records first 50-point season: Barrie Colts graduate Aaron Ekblad has hit the 50-point milestone for the first time in his NHL career. The 26-year-old joins Cale Makar, Roman Josi, Victor Hedman and Adam Fox in that category, becoming the fourth Panthers blueliner to reach the mark after Keith Yandle, Robert Svehla and Brian Campbell. Now in his eighth season with the Panthers after being selected first overall in 2014, Ekblad played three seasons in Barrie from 2011-14.
Rymsha named ECHL Player of the Week: Sarnia Sting graduate Drake Rymsha is the ECHL Player of the Week after posting four goals, three assists and seven points in three games for the Fort Wayne Komets. Rymsha has 11 points (5-6–11) in eight games with Fort Wayne this season while adding seven assists across 32 games with the AHL’s Hershey Bears. The 23-year-old from Huntington Woods, Mich. played four OHL seasons between London, Ottawa and Sarnia from 2014-18. He made his NHL debut with the Los Angeles Kings during the 2020-21 season, appearing in one game.
KEY MATCHUPS
Owen Sound Attack at Windsor Spitfires Thursday March 10th – 7:30pm
Two competitive Western Conference teams both trending in the right direction meet in Windsor on Thursday night as the Owen Sound Attack ride a six-game winning streak into action. The Bears, who recently lost eight in a row from Feb. 6-23, have turned things around behind offensive contributions from NHL Draft prospects Servac Petrovsky and Cedrick Guindon. Rookie winger Colby Barlow has also been a steady scorer, sitting one goal back of Bobby Ryan’s club record of 22 goals by a 16-year-old rookie. The Spitfires have won three of their last four, flirting with second place in the West Division in a neck-and-neck race with Sault Ste. Marie. Wyatt Johnston enters action as the OHL’s scoring leader with 90 points (30-60–90) on the campaign.
Flint Firebirds at London Knights Friday March 11th – 7:30pm
The Western Conference-leading Flint Firebirds go into London for a test against the Knights who have struggled of late, dropping their last three contests. Flint recently won a franchise record 21st road game and has benefitted from the strong play of Winnipeg Jets prospect Dmitry Kuzmin on the back end of late. London recently lost the services of injured goaltender Brett Brochu, and has missed big bodies in Logan Mailloux, Kirill Steklov and Bryce Montgomery on the blue line. The Knights try and right the ship against a Flint squad they are 1-1 against this season.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Thursday March 10th: Kingston at Peterborough – 7:05pm Hamilton at Barrie – 7:30pm Owen Sound at Windsor – 7:30pm
Friday March 11th: Windsor at Erie – 7:00pm Oshawa at Kingston – 7:00pm Hamilton at Mississauga – 7:00pm Barrie at Niagara – 7:00pm Peterborough at Ottawa – 7:00pm Owen Sound at Saginaw – 7:05pm Guelph at Sarnia – 7:05pm North Bay at Sudbury – 7:05pm Kitchener at Sault Ste. Marie – 7:07pm Flint at London – 7:30pm
Saturday March 12th: Windsor at Erie – 7:00pm Guelph at Flint – 7:00pm Owen Sound at Saginaw – 7:05pm Kitchener at Sault Ste. Marie – 7:07pm Mississauga at Barrie – 7:30pm
Sunday March 13th: Niagara at Kingston – 2:00pm London at Sarnia – 2:05pm (Live on TSN Digital) North Bay at Sudbury – 2:05pm Peterborough at Oshawa – 6:05pm
Monday March 14th: Niagara at Ottawa – 2:00pm Oshawa at Hamilton – 7:00pm (Outdoor Showcase at Tim Hortons Field) Saginaw at London – 7:00pm Erie at Guelph – 7:00pm
Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in partnership with the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA), is proud to announce the inaugural under-14 (U14) OHL Cup presented by Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO).
This event will comprise of 12 U14 tier one, also referred to as AAA teams, from across the province and will include the top teams (as indicated below) from Ontario Member Partners:
OMHA – Champion, Finalist, 3rd Place Team (3)
GTHL – Champion, Finalist, 3rd Place Team (3)
Alliance – Champion, Finalist (2)
HEO – Champion, Finalist (2)
NOHA – Champion, Finalist (2)
The U14 OHL Cup will take place at Joshua’s Creek Arena in Oakville on April 14-16, 2022. The event will provide the players and parents with an introduction to the OHL, along with showing them an exciting experience to end their season.
“The OHL is proud to continue its support of minor hockey at the grassroots level as we partner with the Ontario Minor Hockey Association to present this very exciting opportunity for U14 AAA players,” said OHL Commissioner David Branch. “We look forward to an outstanding weekend of hockey played by 12 of the best teams in the province.”
“We are excited to host the first-ever U14 OHL Cup,” said OMHA Executive Director Ian Taylor. “This will be a premier event for this age group, and we are thankful for the support from the Ontario Hockey League and Dairy Farmers of Ontario.”
More information will be released closer to the event, including schedule and live streaming details.
“Dairy Farmers of Ontario is proud to continue our support for youth sports through this exciting and competitive tournament,” said Cheryl Smith, Chief Executive Officer of DFO. “Our partnership with OHL provides a positive and lasting effect on youth sports while highlighting the benefits of milk in a healthy and active lifestyle. On behalf of Ontario’s 3,400 dairy producers, their families and teams, we wish the athletes well and applaud their hard work and dedication – values our producers know a lot about.”
About the Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League which is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and four American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL is made up of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U SPORTS than any other league.
Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the Top OHL Performers of the Month for regular season games played in February 2022, including Hamilton Bulldogs forward Logan Morrison, Guelph Storm defenceman Michael Buchinger and Flint Firebirds goaltender Luke Cavallin.
OHL Player of the Month – Logan Morrison (Hamilton Bulldogs): With an impressive 29 points in the month of February, Hamilton Bulldogs forward Logan Morrison is the OHL Player of the Month. Morrison recorded seven goals, 22 assists and a plus/minus rating of plus-21 over 10 games as the Bulldogs played to an 11-1-0-0 record in February, ascending to first place in the OHL standings. The third-year centreman earned star of the game recognition in five of his 10 outings, racking up nine different multi-point outputs. Morrison put up four points four different times including Feb. 11th against Barrie (1-3–4), Feb. 19th against Kingston (1-3–4), Feb. 25th against North Bay (2-2–4) and Feb. 27th in Niagara (1-3–4). He won 100 of his 188 faceoffs (53.2%) over the course of the month and found the back of the net in six of his 10 contests. Morrison becomes the first Bulldog to win OHL Player of the Month honours since Jan Jenik last did so in November 2019.
A 19-year-old native of Guelph, Ont., Morrison sits sixth in OHL scoring, leading the Bulldogs with 75 points (23-52–75) over 41 games this season. Named OHL Player of the Week twice in February, Morrison has recorded 154 points (60-94–154) over 147 career regular season games since being Hamilton’s first round (18th overall) pick in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection. He attended training camp with the Los Angeles Kings last fall.
OHL Defenceman & Rookie of the Month – Michael Buchinger (Guelph Storm): Draft eligible blueliner Michael Buchinger of the Guelph Storm is a dual award winner, claiming both OHL Defenceman and Rookie of the Month honours for February. The first-year rearguard led all OHL blueliners and rookies with 17 points including two goals and 15 assists over 12 games, helping the Storm play to a record of 6-4-2-0. Buchinger had points in 10 of his 12 contests, recording back-to-back three point performances on Feb. 21 against Owen Sound (2-1–3) and Feb. 25 against Windsor (0-3–3). He finished the month with a season-high four assists as Guelph defeated Kitchener 7-3 on Feb. 27th. Buchinger is the first Storm player to earn OHL Defenceman of the Month recognition since Sean Durzi in January 2019. He is the first Guelph player to be named Rookie of the Month since goaltender Thomas McCollum in January 2007.
A 17-year-old native of Markham, Ont., Buchinger sits second among OHL rookie defencemen with 37 points (4-33–37) along with a plus/minus rating of plus-15 in 46 games this season. The 6-foot, 185Ib. left-shot rearguard was selected by the Storm in the second round (24th overall) of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection. Buchinger was the 36th-ranked North American skater on NHL Central Scouting’s Midterm Draft Rankings. He was recently selected to compete in the upcoming 2022 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game on March 23 in Kitchener.
OHL Goaltender of the Month – Luke Cavallin (Flint Firebirds): Flint Firebirds netminder Luke Cavallin is the OHL Goaltender of the Month for February, going undefeated in regulation with an 8-0-1-1 record, 2.65 goals-against average and .927 save percentage in 11 games. Cavallin backstopped the Firebirds to the top of the Western Conference standings, making 358 saves over the course of the month. He opened February with a 35-save performance in Saginaw as the Firebirds prevailed 7-1 on Feb. 2nd. He was brilliant on Feb. 12th in Erie, turning aside 38 shots in a 5-1 Flint victory. Cavallin backstopped the Firebirds to a point in Sault Ste. Marie on Feb. 16th, stopping 43 of 44 in a 2-1 shootout loss. He turned aside a career-high 51 shots on Feb. 19th at home to Windsor, helping the Firebirds beat the Spitfires 3-2 in a shootout. Cavallin stopped all 34 shots he faced on Feb. 25th in Sarnia as the Firebirds won by a score of 6-0. He’s the first Firebirds netminder to ever win OHL Goaltender of the Month honours, and the first in franchise history to do so since Alex Nedeljkovic of the Plymouth Whalers in February 2013.
A 20-year-old from Greely, Ont., Cavallin has played to a 25-9-1-3 record with a 3.19 goals-against average, .909 save percentage and two shutouts in 40 games this season. His 2,331 minutes played and 1,236 saves are both second in the OHL and he hasn’t lost in regulation since Jan. 16th, a run of 16 appearances. Flint’s career leader in games played (127), wins (51) and shutouts (2), Cavallin is in his fourth season with the franchise after being selected in the second round (28th overall) of the 2017 OHL Priority Selection.
2021-22 OHL Performers of the Month:
Player of the Month: February – Logan Morrison (Hamilton Bulldogs) January – Wyatt Johnston (Windsor Spitfires) December – Wyatt Johnston (Windsor Spitfires) November – Kyle Jackson (North Bay Battalion) October – Sasha Pastujov (Guelph Storm)
Defenceman of the Month: February – Michael Buchinger (Guelph Storm) January – Brandt Clarke (Barrie Colts) December – Ethan Del Mastro (Mississauga Steelheads) November – Nathan Staios (Hamilton Bulldogs) October – Jack Thompson (Sudbury Wolves)
Rookie of the Month: February – Michael Buchinger (Guelph Storm) January – David Goyette (Sudbury Wolves) December – Coulson Pitre (Flint Firebirds) November – Owen Beck (Mississauga Steelheads) October – Calum Ritchie (Oshawa Generals)
Goaltender of the Month: February – Luke Cavallin (Flint Firebirds) January – Mack Guzda (Barrie Colts) December – Mack Guzda (Barrie Colts) November – Joe Vrbetic (North Bay Battalion) October – Brett Brochu (London Knights)
About the Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League which is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and four American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL is made up of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U SPORTS than any other league.
Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League and the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Club today announced that the Bulldogs will play host to the Oshawa Generals in an Outdoor Showcase at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton on Monday, March 14 at 7:00pm, a game that was originally scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 12.
Hitting the ice the day following an NHL Heritage Classic Game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres at Tim Hortons Field, the Bulldogs and Generals will meet in the fourth-ever outdoor matchup in OHL history, and the first to be played in Ontario between two OHL clubs.
“It’s always an exciting opportunity to be able to take the Ontario Hockey League outdoors,” said OHL Commissioner David Branch. “The League is grateful to both the National Hockey League, as well as the Bulldogs franchise led by Owner Michael Andlauer for the extensive amount of time and effort that goes into an event of this magnitude.”
Currently leading the East Division with a 29-11-2-2 record, the Bulldogs continue a tremendous tradition of hockey in Hamilton that recently included a J. Ross Robertson Cup championship in 2018. The Steel City produced the 1976 Memorial Cup champion Hamilton Fincups, a franchise that followed earlier major junior teams in the city including the Hamilton Tiger Cubs and Red Wings, who won a Memorial Cup championship in 1962.
A franchise with deep roots, the Oshawa Generals have won an OHL record 13 J. Ross Robertson Cup titles along with five Memorial Cup championships over the course of their history. The Generals currently hold down the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference with a 24-17-1-4 record.
Opened in 2014, Tim Hortons Field is home to the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats and seats a capacity of 23,218 spectators.
“I’m thrilled for our players, staff and fans to get to experience this once in a lifetime type of event,” said Bulldogs Owner Michael Andlauer. “This Outdoor Showcase presents a wonderful opportunity to once again bring our community together through our Hamilton Bulldogs.”
The upcoming game between Hamilton and Oshawa follows three past outdoor matchups in OHL history. The Ottawa 67’s celebrated their 50th anniversary season, playing the QMJHL’s Gatineau Olympiques outdoors on December 17, 2017 at Landsdowne Park. The OHL’s first-ever set of outdoor matchups came back on December 29, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan as the Windsor Spitfires faced the Saginaw Spirit and the London Knights took on the Plymouth Whalers at Comerica Park. The London and Plymouth matchup set a CHL attendance record of 26,384.
For ticket information, visit hamiltonbulldogs.com or call the Bulldogs box office at 905-529-8500.
About the Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League which is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and four American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL is made up of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U SPORTS than any other league.
Toronto, Ont. – It’s a special Family Day long weekend edition of the OHL This Week! Ontario-based facilities are back up to 50 percent fan capacity for this weekend’s action as playoff races are starting to heat up across the League. Here’s what’s happening across the OHL this week.
18 OHL players selected to for 2022 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game: A total of 18 OHL players have been selected to play in the 2022 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game on March 23 in Kitchener. Read more
CHL announces new dates for 2022 Memorial Cup presented by Kia: The Canadian Hockey League has announced new dates for the 2022 Memorial Cup presented by Kia to be held in Saint John, N.B., beginning Monday, June 20. Read more
Bulldogs and Frontenacs included in Week 16 edition of Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings: The Hamilton Bulldogs and Kingston Frontenacs are included in the Week 16 edition of the Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings. The Flint Firebirds and Mississauga Steelheads received honourable mentions. Read more
Morrison, Kyrou and Cajan named to CHL Team of the Week: Hamilton Bulldogs forward Logan Morrison, Erie Otters defenceman Christian Kyrou and Kitchener Rangers netminder Pavel Cajan have all been named to the CHL Team of the Week. Read more
Bulldogs’ Logan Morrison named OHL Player of the Week: Hamilton Bulldogs forward Logan Morrison is the OHL Player of the Week with two goals, seven assists and nine points in three games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-8. Read more
Rangers’ Pavel Cajan named OHL Goaltender of the Week: Pavel Cajan of the Kitchener Rangers is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, stopping 109 shots across a pair of victories to post a 3.46 goals-against average and .940 save percentage. Read more
Celebrating Black Heritage Month with IceDogs’ Rodwin Dionicio: 2022 NHL Draft prospect Rodwin Dionicio of the Niagara IceDogs is an international success story. Born to Dominican parents in Newark, New Jersey before growing up in Switzerland, the 17-year-old defenceman shares his journey with Rico Phillips. Watch
Knights’ Evangelista leads OHL Plays of the Week: Witness some wonderful displays of offence in the latest edition of OHL Plays of the Week, with appearances from Mississauga’s Owen Beck, North Bay’s Dalyn Wakely, Guelph’s Danny Zhilkin, Niagara’s Danil Gushchin, and London’s Luke Evangelista. Watch
OHL Saves of the Week: Scoping out sensational saves from North Bay’s Dom DiVincentiis, Hamilton’s Marco Costantini, Erie’s Nolan Lalonde, Niagara’s Josh Rosenzweig, Peterborough’s Tye Austin, Sarnia’s Ben Gaudreau, Flint’s Nathaniel Day, Kitchener’s Pavel Cajan, Kingston’s Leevi Merilainen, and Oshawa’s Zachary Paputsakis. Watch
OHL Weekend Notebook: The OHL Weekend Notebook recaps the weekend that was with news, information and interesting facts from both on and off the ice. Read more
First goals from Ross and Heyes in OHL Milestone Moments: Watch first career OHL goals from Erie’s Lucas Ross and Kingston’s Gage Heyes in the latest edition of OHL Milestone Moments. Watch
Five to watch for the 2022 OHL Priority Selection: Raine Hernandez teams up with OHL Central Scouting to take a closer look at five top prospects eligible for the 2022 OHL Priority Selection. Read more
OHL Cup Powered by Under Armour U16 AAA Top 10 Rankings – Week 5: The fifth edition of the weekly OHL Cup Top 10 Rankings sees the North York Rangers on the rise to fifth while the Waterloo Wolves make their first appearance of the season. Read more
Hounds unveil new alternate uniform: As part of their 50th anniversary season, the Soo Greyhounds have unveiled an alternate uniform with a new design that is fresh and exciting while unmistakably recognizable as consistent with the history and tradition of the Soo Greyhounds. Watch
Sights & Sounds – Rangers and rival Knights clash on TSN: See the sights and hear the sounds from The Aud on Friday as the Rangers and Knights went head-to-head on TSN. Watch
Basran making the most of overage opportunity with Steelheads: Acquired through waivers after 120 games in the Western Hockey League, Roman Basran is making the most of his overage opportunity with the Mississauga Steelheads. Read more
Kaeden Johnston commits to Knights: The London Knights have received a commitment from fifth round 2021 OHL Priority Selection choice Kaeden Johnston. Read more
COMMUNITY CORNER:
Rangers announce 2nd annual Women in Hockey Conference: The Kitchener Rangers will be celebrating International Women’s Day with their 2nd Annual Women in Hockey Conference on March 7. Included as guest speakers are Kim Davis of the NHL, commissioner Tyler Tumminia of the PHF and OHL official Kirsten Welsh. Read more
Otters host Star Wars Night on Saturday: The Erie Otters hope to have the force behind them on Saturday when they take on the London Knights on Star Wars Night. The Otters will be wearing special Star Wars themed warmup jerseys to be auctioned off, with proceeds going to The United Way.
Firebirds host Youth Sports Night on Saturday: Youth and high school athletes can wear their team jerseys to the Dort Financial Center on Saturday to receive a free ticket with the purchase of one adult ticket. The Firebirds take on the Windsor Spitfires and are looking for young fans to show their team spirit. Full details at flintfirebirds.com.
ALUMNI NOTES:
Toffoli heats up in Flames debut: Former Ottawa 67’s forward Tyler Toffoli had a Calgary Flames debut to remember on Tuesday, finding the back of the net in a 6-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Acquired from the Montreal Canadiens earlier this week, Toffoli has 27 points (10-17–27) in 39 games between the two clubs in this, his 10th NHL season. The former back-to-back 100 point scorer in Ottawa played for the 67’s from 2008-12, and was selected in the second round of the 2010 NHL Draft by the Los Angeles Kings. Toffoli won a Stanley Cup with the Kings in 2014.
Smith brothers suit up on same line for Red Wings: Brothers Gemel and Givani Smith had the opportunity to play together on the same line for the Detroit Red Wings this past week. Both OHL graduates, the Smith brothers played together against the Minnesota Wild on Monday. Givani is in his third season with the Red Wings while Gemel was acquired through waivers on Jan. 19th. Now 27 years-old, Gemel Smith won an OHL championship as a rookie with the Owen Sound Attack in 2011 before later playing for the London Knights in the 2014 Memorial Cup. Givani Smith is 23-years-old and played four OHL seasons between Barrie, Guelph and Kitchener from 2014-18 before being selected by Detroit in the second round of the 2016 NHL Draft.
Red Wings’ ‘Guelph Line’ offering balance for Blashill: Guelph Storm grads Tyler Bertuzzi, Robby Fabbri and Pius Suter came together on what’s become known as the ‘Guelph Line’ on Jan. 15th and they’ve produced ever since. The trio won an OHL championship with the Storm in 2014, coming within a win of a Memorial Cup crown. The Detroit News’ Steve Kornackl has more. Read more
Meireles running with opportunity in first AHL season: Kitchener Rangers graduate Greg Meireles entered his first AHL season as a relatively unkown commodity. After a 24-point season with the ECHL’s Greenville Swamp Rabbits, Meireles earned himself an AHL deal with the Manitoba Moose and the Ottawa, Ont. is making the most of it. A former 97-point scorer with Kitchener in 2018-19, Meireles has channeled some of that offence, recording 21 points (3-18–21) in 40 games this season. Visit theahl.com for the full story
KEY MATCHUPS:
Flint Firebirds vs. Windsor Spitfires February 18 & 19
A big home-and-home between Flint and Windsor is approaching on the schedule as the Firebirds, who have points in six straight games, face a Spitfires squad that has wins in seven of its last 10. Windsor has defeated Flint in all four encounters between the two teams this season. A pair of 2021 first round NHL Draft picks square off in this one as Flint’s Brennan Othmann (NY Rangers) lines up against Windsor’s Wyatt Johnston (Dallas).
Sarnia Sting at Saginaw Spirit Saturday, February 19
A game with potential implications for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference goes down in Saginaw on Saturday as the Spirit need two big points against the Sting, who sit five points ahead with four games in hand. The Spirit have lost their last three, looking to turn things around and stay in the hunt. Saginaw features a pair of highly touted NHL Draft prospects in Russian blueliner Pavel Mintyukov and Czech forward Matyas Sapovaliv. The Sting have leaned on goaltender Ben Gaudreau of late. The San Jose Sharks prospect has claimed victories with at least 45 saves on two different occasions in the past week.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Thursday February 17: Peterborough at Sudbury – 7:05pm
Friday February 18: Hamilton at Erie – 7:00pm Ottawa at Kingston – 7:00pm Sault Ste. Marie at London – 7:00pm Barrie at Mississauga – 7:00pm Peterborough at North Bay – 7:00pm Kitchener at Sarnia – 7:05pm Saginaw at Guelph – 7:30pm Flint at Windsor – 7:30pm Niagara at Oshawa – 7:35pm
Saturday February 19: Kingston at Hamilton – 4:00pm Windsor at Flint – 7:00pm London at Erie – 7:00pm Sarnia at Saginaw – 7:05pm Oshawa at Barrie – 7:30pm Sault Ste. Marie at Owen Sound – 7:30pm
Sunday February 20: Sudbury at Niagara – 2:00pm North Bay at Ottawa – 2:00pm Kitchener at Owen Sound – 2:00pm
Monday February 21: Owen Sound at Guelph – 2:00pm Erie at Hamilton – 2:00pm Ottawa at Kingston – 2:00pm Kitchener at London – 2:00pm Sudbury at Mississauga – 2:00pm Niagara at Oshawa – 2:05pm Barrie at Peterborough – 2:05pm Flint at Sarnia – 2:05pm Saginaw at Windsor – 2:05pm
Toronto, Ont. – The Canadian Hockey League announced today new dates for the 2022 Memorial Cup presented by Kia to be held in Saint John, N.B., beginning Monday, June 20 as the host Sea Dogs face off against the Ontario Hockey League playoff champion:
Mon., June 20 – Game 1: Saint John vs. OHL at 6 p.m. ET (TSN/RDS) Tues., June 21 – Game 2: QMJHL vs. WHL at 6 p.m. ET (TSN/RDS) Wed., June 22 – Game 3: Saint John vs. WHL at 6 p.m. ET (TSN/RDS) Thurs., June 23 – Game 4: QMJHL vs. OHL at 6 p.m. ET (TSN/RDS) Fri., June 24 – Game 5: WHL vs. OHL at 6 p.m. ET (TSN/RDS) Sat., June 25 – Game 6: Saint John vs. QMJHL at 4 p.m. ET (TSN/RDS) Sun., June 26 – Tie-Breaker, if necessary, at 4 p.m. ET (TSN/RDS) Mon., June 27 – Semi-Final at 6 p.m. ET (TSN/RDS) Wed., June 29 – Championship Final at 6 p.m. ET (TSN/RDS)
“Due to ongoing challenges related to the pandemic, we have moved forward the schedule for the 2022 Memorial Cup presented by Kia with the assurance that it will allow all three of our member leagues to complete their regular season and playoff schedules and provide our fans with the highest level of competition,” said CHL President Dan MacKenzie. “We are excited to bring the best the CHL has to offer to Saint John and to crown a national champion for the first time in three years.”
With a majority of tickets to the 2022 Memorial Cup presented by Kia already sold, fans who haven’t purchased are encouraged to act quickly online, by telephone at 506-657-1234, and at the Harbour Station box office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Friday. Full tournament ticket packages counting all eight games plus an if necessary tie-breaker game are available in two tiers priced at $390 and $460 plus applicable taxes and fees.
Previously purchased ticket packages for the originally scheduled dates will automatically update. Fans with questions regarding their existing ticket packages can email (info@saintjohnseadogs.com) or call the Harbour Station box office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Friday at 506-657-1234.
For more information on the 2022 Memorial Cup presented by Kia, visit chlmemorialcup.ca/faq
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About the Canadian Hockey League The Canadian Hockey League is the world’s largest development hockey league with 52 Canadian and eight American teams participating in the Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and Western Hockey League. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U SPORTS than any other league.
About Kia Canada Kia Canada Inc., founded in 1999, is a subsidiary of Kia Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. The company employs 170 people at its headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario, as well as in locations across Canada and at its regional office in Montréal, Québec. Kia offers products and services that are innovative, dynamic, thoughtful and award-winning, through a network of 197 dealers across the country. The company’s brand slogan – ‘Movement that inspires’ reflects Kia’s commitment to inspiring consumers through its products and services. To learn more, visit kia.ca or Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.
OHL Writers 