Toronto, Ont. – The Canadian Hockey League announced today the Week 5 edition of the Kia CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2021-22 season.
The London Knights are up another two spots this week, climbing to second in the Canadian Hockey League as the only remaining undefeated squad. The 8-0 Knights rattled off two more wins last week, defeating the Owen Sound Attack for a fourth time this season on Wednesday as OHL Goaltender of the Month Brett Brochu earned first star honours in a 4-1 decision. The Knights were at home on Friday, defeating their 402 rival the Sarnia Sting by a score of 5-2 thanks to a hat-trick from captain Luke Evangelista. The Knights own the League’s top power play, one currently operating at 33 percent while sitting second in OHL penalty killing metrics with a 91.4 percent efficiency rate shorthanded. The Knights return to the ice on Friday at home to Owen Sound before crossing the border to visit the Flint Firebirds on Saturday night.
The Kingston Frontenacs are in the Top 10 for the sixth straight edition, rising one spot to number nine in the CHL. The Fronts fell 3-2 in overtime to the Ottawa 67’s at home on Friday before exacting vengeance on the Barber Poles Saturday afternoon in the nation’s capital. Los Angeles Kings prospect Martin Chromiak enjoyed a career performance with his first OHL hat-trick that was capped off by a lacrosse-style third period game winner in a 4-3 decision. Saturday’s win was goaltender Aidan Spooner‘s first in the OHL. Top 2022 NHL Draft prospect Shane Wright and the Frontenacs are at home for three straight this week, hitting the ice on Wednesday against the Mississauga Steelheads, hosting the North Bay Battalion on Friday and taking on the Peterborough Petes on Sunday afternoon.
The ascending Saginaw Spirit and Soo Greyhounds are both honourable mention teams this week, with the Spirit having earned a point in five consecutive games, entering a fresh week off a 4-1 triumph over the Flint Firebirds last Wednesday. The 7-4-0-0 Greyhounds currently hold down top spot in the West Division. The Spirit make their first trip to Ontario on Wednesday to take on the Greyhounds in a game fans won’t want to miss.
For further analysis on the Week 5 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.
Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the Top OHL Performers of the Month for regular season games played in October 2021, including Guelph Storm forward Sasha Pastujov, Sudbury Wolves defenceman Jack Thompson, Oshawa Generals rookie Calum Ritchie and London Knights goaltender Brett Brochu.
OHL Player of the Month – Sasha Pastujov (Guelph Storm): Anaheim Ducks prospect Sasha Pastujov of the Guelph Storm is the OHL Player of the Month for October, sitting tied for the League-lead in both goals (10) and points (17) through 10 games this season. Pastujov is tied for the OHL’s second-most shots on goal with 44 and also scored a pair of game winners as the Storm played to a mark of 5-4-1-0. Pastujov wasted little time scoring his first career hat-trick, lighting the lamp three times on Oct. 9th as Guelph fell to visiting Kitchener 5-4. He proceeded to record points in eight consecutive games from Oct. 9th to 29th, headlined by three points (2-1–3) on Oct. 28th as the Storm fell to the Windsor Spitfires 6-3 before posting a season-high four points (3-1–4) on Oct. 29th in a 9-4 win over Owen Sound. Pastujov earned star of the game recognition four times, including a pair of first star and second star designations. He’s the first Storm player to earn OHL Player of the Month honours since Robby Fabbri last did so in February 2014.
An 18-year-old product of Bradenton, Fla., Pastujov has embarked on his first OHL season after being selected in the third round (66th overall) by the Anaheim Ducks out of the U.S. National Development Program last summer. A former World Under-17 Hockey Challenge silver medalist and IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship standout representing the United States, Pastujov was originally Guelph’s 14th round (276th overall) pick in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection.
OHL Defenceman of the Month – Jack Thompson (Sudbury Wolves): Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Jack Thompson of the Sudbury Wolves is the OHL Defenceman of the Month for October, leading all blueliners with 16 points including four goals and 12 assists over 11 games. The League’s inaugural Player of the Week to start the season, Thompson leads the OHL with 50 shots on goal, is one of three defenders to score twice on the power play and is the lone rearguard to score a shorthanded goal this season. The Wolves captain registered three points (1-2–3) in his opening game of the season as Sudbury defeated visiting Peterborough 6-3. He followed that up with a career-high four points (1-3–4) as the Wolves skated to a 6-3 win in Sault Ste. Marie on Oct. 9th. He scored the deciding goal in Sunday’s 3-1 victory over North Bay. Thompson has recorded points in nine of his 11 games this season and earned star of the game recognition four times throughout October, twice being named first star along with one second and one third star designation. Thompson is the first Wolves defender to earn the honour since Frank Corrado in October 2013.
A 19-year-old native of Courtice, Ont., Thompson is in his third season with the Wolves having put up 64 points (23-41–64) over 126 career regular season contests with the franchise. He was a third round (93rd overall) pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2020 NHL Draft before spending part of the 2020-21 season with Surahammars IF of Sweden’s HockeyEttan circuit. Thompson made his pro debut with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch last season, recording an assist in his lone contest. He signed an entry-level NHL contract with the Lightning on May 19, 2021. The right-shot rearguard was originally Sudbury’s second round (30th overall) pick in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection from the Clarington Toros U16 program.
OHL Rookie of the Month – Calum Ritchie (Oshawa Generals): Calum Ritchie of the Oshawa Generals is the OHL Rookie of the Month for October, leading the field with 12 points including seven goals and five assists in 10 games. Ritchie also led rookies with 44 shots on goal and is tied for the most game winning goals with two. He opened his OHL career with goals in five consecutive games from Oct. 8th to 17th, recording a season-high four points (2-2–4) in a 6-3 win over the Peterborough Petes on Oct. 17th. The four-point performance made Ritchie the youngest General to accomplish the feat since Michael Dal Colle back on Nov. 4, 2012. His five-game goal-scoring streak brought him in line with John Tavares, who had a similar run during his exceptional status rookie season in the month of January 2006. Ritchie rounded-out the month by scoring the third period game winner on Oct. 28th in North Bay as the Generals skated to a 3-2 win. He becomes the first General to earn OHL Rookie of the Month honours since Allan McShane last did so in January 2017.
A 16-year-old native of Oakville, Ont., Ritchie is a graduate of the Oakville Rangers U16 program, a team he captained before being chosen second overall in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection this past June.
OHL Goaltender of the Month – Brett Brochu (London Knights): Brett Brochu of the London Knights is the OHL Goaltender of the Month after leading OHL netminders with a 2.07 goals-against average, .935 save percentage and an undefeated 8-0-0-0 record in the month of October. He also stopped 11 of 12 shootout attempts. Brochu put forth three different first star performances against the Owen Sound Attack including an Oct. 8th opening night 3-2 shootout victory that included 28 saves and four shootout denials. He was sharp against the Attack once again on Oct. 22nd, making 36 saves in a 2-1 win on home ice. Brochu turned back Owen Sound a fourth time in the month on Oct. 27th, making 32 saves in a 4-1 road win. The OHL Goaltender of the Month honour is Brochu’s third in a row dating back to January and February of 2020 prior to the season being halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
A 19-year-old from Tilbury, Ont., Brochu has won 17 consecutive regular season games dating back to Feb. 14, 2020, part of a stretch in which he’s won 30 of 31 decisions since Dec. 29, 2019. The 6-foot, 176Ib. Brochu was a member of the OHL’s first all-rookie team during the 2019-20 season, leading the League with a 2.40 goals-against average to win the F.W. Dinty Moore Trophy. His 32 wins that season set a new OHL record for a 16 or 17-year-old first year goaltender. The former sixth round (114th overall) pick in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection made his professional debut with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2020-21, appearing in one game on May 16, 2021.
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 Top Performers of the Week for the week of regular season games ending Sunday, October 31, 2021
Petes’ Tucker Robertson Named OHL Player of the Week
Tucker Robertson of the Peterborough Petes is the OHL Player of the Week with five points including three goals and two assists in a pair of victories.
Robertson got the Petes going on Thursday, scoring before recording two primary assists in a 4-3 home win over the Hamilton Bulldogs. He earned first star honours, going 21-for-29 in the faceoff circle as the Petes got back in the win column. Robertson was excellent again on Saturday in Niagara, scoring second period goals three-and-a-half minutes apart as the Petes nipped the IceDogs 5-4. Robertson was once again the game’s first star, going 16-for-30 at the dot while recording four shots on goal.
An 18-year-old product of Toronto, Ont., Robertson is second among OHL skaters producing 1.78 points-per-game this season. His 16 points (6-10–16) over nine contests pace the Peterborough offence while his 238 faceoffs are the third-most in the League as he currently boasts a 58.8 percent success rate. Robertson recorded 18 points (8-10–18) over 55 games in 2019-20 after being a fourth round (72nd overall) pick from the Toronto Marlboros U16 program in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection. He attended rookie camp with the Carolina Hurricanes this past September.
Also considered for the award this week was Anaheim Ducks prospect Sasha Pastujov of the Guelph Storm who recorded a league-leading seven points (5-2–7) over three games as the Storm went 2-1. Los Angeles Kings prospect Brandt Clarke of the Barrie Colts was also impressive, posting six points (3-3–6) over three games as the Colts won a pair.
Generals’ Patrick Leaver Named OHL Goaltender of the Week
Patrick Leaver of the Oshawa Generals is the OHL Goaltender of the Week with two wins, a 1.00 goals-against average, .976 save percentage and his first career OHL shutout.
Leaver helped the Generals take road wins in North Bay and Sudbury, stopping 82 of the 84 shots he faced. The first-year goaltender carried a shutout into the third period of Thursday’s matchup against the Battalion, turning aside 44 shots in a 3-2 win. Leaver was flawless in Sudbury on Friday, posting a 38-save shutout as the Generals prevailed by a score of 4-0.
An 18-year-old from Perth, Ont., Leaver owns a 5-2-0-1 record with a 2.49 goals-against average, .925 save percentage and one shutout through his first nine games of the season. The 6-foot-1, 180Ib. goaltender was Oshawa’s eighth round (158th overall) pick in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection from the Smiths Falls Bears U18 program. Leaver won a silver medal while representing Team Ontario at the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alta.
Also in the running for this week’s award was undefeated London Knights goaltender Brett Brochu who earned a pair of wins over Owen Sound and Sarnia, posting a 1.50 goals-against average and .950 save percentage to climb to 8-0-0-0.
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 that Sam Alfano of the Peterborough Petes, Owen Beck of the Mississauga Steelheads, Cal Uens of the Owen Sound Attack and Bronson Ride of the Windsor Spitfires have been named the OHL Academic Players of the Month for October.
East Division:Sam Alfano of the Peterborough Petes is being recognized as October’s East Division Academic Player of the Month.
Alfano currently holds a 96% average in five Grade 12 U/M level courses at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School and posted the highest grade in the class with a perfect 100% on his Grade 12 University Data Management midterm. He is described by his teacher as a hard worker, well-mannered and very interactive with the students while balancing a busy hockey schedule.
The 17-year-old forward was drafted by the Petes 23rd overall in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection out of the Southern Tier Admirals U16 program and has scored one goal over his first eight OHL games. The Cayuga, Ont. native was named OMHA-SCTA Player of the Year in 2019-20 season with 63 points over 32 games with the Admirals.
Central Division: Mississauga’s Owen Beck is October’s Central Division Academic Player of the Month. In his studies at Philip Pocock CSS, he’s achieved a 95% in Advanced Functions and a 90% in University Chemistry.
“Owen exemplifies responsibility. He is always on time, his work is extremely organized, thoughtfully executed and he is a joy to teach,” said Genevieve Wong, Philip Pocock CSS Guidance Counsellor. “We are very proud of his accomplishments and congratulate him on being a role model student-athlete.”
The second round 2020 OHL Priority Selection choice currently holds two goals and two assists for four points in his first six games with the Steelheads. The 17-year-old forward from Port Hope, Ont. is a product of the Quinte Red Devils U16 program.
Midwest Division:Cal Uens of the Owen Sound Attack has been named the Midwest Division Academic Player of the Month for October.
At Owen Sound District Secondary School, Uens earned a 98% in Grade 12 University English, an 87% in his Ontario Literacy Course, an 80% in Grade 11 University Math, a 99% through two periods of Co-op, an 87% in Grade 12 University/College Business and a 99% in his Grade 12 University Leadership course.
“Cal has a tremendous work ethic and unparalleled initiative. His teachers all point to the fact that he can focus on a given task until completion,” wrote Attack academic advisor, Sarah Rowe. “He is never distracted. He is always the first to finish his assignments and is more than happy to help others. As a result, he is an amazing asset in the classroom.”
The rookie defender from Napanee, Ont. was drafted in the third round of the 2021 OHL Priority Selection and has one assist over his first eight OHL appearances. Prior to joining the Attack, Uens suited up for the Quinte Red Devils U16 program.
West Division: Windsor Spitfires defenceman Bronson Ride is the West Division Academic Player of the Month for October. Ride has had an excellent start to his studies at St. Anne High School and is currently taking Grade 11 University Math, Grade 11 University English, High Performance Co-op and Phys-ed Leadership. Several of his teachers have commented on his excellent writing and perspective.
Drafted 20th overall by the Spitfires in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection out of the Oakville Rangers U16 program, the 16-year-old defenceman has two assists through seven OHL contests this season.
2021-22 OHL Academic Players of the Month:
East Division: October – Sam Alfano (Peterborough Petes)
Central Division: October – Owen Beck (Mississauga Steelheads)
Midwest Division: October – Cal Uens (Owen Sound Attack)
West Division: October – Bronson Ride (Windsor Spitfires)
A total of 343 graduates utilized their OHL Scholarship at post-secondary institutions across North America during the 2020-21 academic year, with a total contribution by teams of over $3.1 million. Over the past 10 seasons, OHL Scholarship payments have totalled more than $25 million.
Click here for more information about ‘OHL Players First’ programs.
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. – Prepare to be spooked in buildings across the League this weekend as Halloween is fast approaching! Here’s a look at what’s happening across the Ontario Hockey League this week.
67’s and Frontenacs streaming for TSN subscribers on Friday: TSN subscribers can catch the Ottawa 67’s and Kingston Frontenacs streaming at TSN.ca as well as on the TSN App on Friday night. The game can also be viewed on OHL Live on CHL TV. Catch top 2022 NHL Draft prospect Shane Wright as he hits the ice against the 67’s, who received an honourable mention in this past week’s CHL Top 10 Rankings presented by Kia.
Knights, Rangers and Frontenacs included in Week 4 edition of Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings: The undefeated London Knights, Kitchener Rangers and Kingston Frontenacs are included in the Week 4 edition of the Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings. Read more
Sights & Sounds: Colts and 67’s bring #GameON buzz to CBC: The Ottawa 67’s and host Barrie Colts brought the #GameON buzz to CBC for the first time this season. Feel the energy with a sights and sounds feature! Watch
Greyhounds’ Kerins named OHL Player of the Week: Calgary Flames prospect Rory Kerins of the Soo Greyhounds is the OHL Player of the Week with a league-leading 10 points including five goals and five assists over three games. Read more
Storm’s Oster named OHL Goaltender of the Week: Guelph Storm rookie Jacob Oster is the OHL Goaltender of the Week with a pair of wins, a 1.50 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage. Read more
Kerins, Gushchin and Betts named to CHL Team of the Week: OHL Player of the Week Rory Kerins joins Niagara IceDogs teammates Danil Gushchin and Dakota Betts on the CHL Team of the Week. 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
Spirit duo leads OHL Plays of the Week: Comin’ at you with OHL Plays of the Week! Highlighting the stellar skills of Erie’s Brendan Sellan, Owen Sound’s Gavin Bryant, Niagara‘s Cameron Butler, and Saginaw Spirit teammates Calem Mangone and Nick Wong. Watch
Attack’s Guzda headlines OHL Saves of the Week: The latest edition of the OHL Saves of the Week is bookended by big-time stops from Owen Sound Attack netminder Mack Guzda. You’ll also get a glimpse of North Bay’s Dom DiVincentiis, Guelph’s Owen Bennett, Sudbury’s Mitchell Weeks, Windsor’s Xavier Medina, Mississauga’s Roman Basran, Kitchener’s Pavel Cajan and Ottawa’s Will Cranley. Watch
OHL Milestone Moments: Check out 22 first career OHL goals from the past week of action in the latest edition of OHL Milestone Moments! Watch
Ruslan Gazizov commits to Knights: The London Knights have received a commitment from twelfth overall 2021 CHL Import Draft selection Ruslan Gazizov. Read more
Gavin Ewles commits to 67’s: The Ottawa 67’s have received a commitment from fifth round 2021 OHL Priority Selection choice Gavin Ewles. Read more
Parfenyuk and Stewart commit to Generals: The Oshawa Generals have received commitments from 2003-born defencemen Nikita Parfenyuk and Thomas Stewart. Read more
COMMUNITY CORNER:
OHL rinks get spooky for Halloween: Teams across the OHL are busily preparing for Halloween home dates this coming weekend. Fans are encouraged to wear their costumes to games across the League, and keep an eye out for contests and giveaways when you’re at the rink this weekend
Attack’s Perrott announces support for Canadian Blood Services: Hard-hitting Owen Sound Attack defenceman Andrew Perrott has announced that he’ll donate $5 for every point he records during the 2021-22 season to Canadian Blood Services. The total raised by Perrott will be matched by Owen Sound businesses. The 19-year-old defender currently leads the Attack in scoring with 12 points (1-11–12) over eight games.
Rangers raise over $33,000 for KidsAbility: The Kitchener Rangers recently donated over $33,000 to KidsAbility through their Rangers Reach 50/50 initiative. It also meant great news for winning ticket holders Glenn Sider and Terry Kempel of Kitchener! Read more
Petes host Scooby Doo Night on Thursday: In the Petes’ only home game this week, the team will be welcoming a special guest to help win a hockey game and to solve a mystery. Upon entry at the PMC on Thursday, October 28 against the Hamilton Bulldogs, fans will be welcomed by the Petes mascot Roger, and Scooby-Doo! More info at gopetesgo.com
Big weekend planned in Hamilton: The Hamilton Bulldogs will debut their black Stealth jerseys on Friday night at home to the Niagara IceDogs. Saturday’s home date with the Mississauga Steelheads at 4:00pm is ‘Zombie Night’ at FirstOntario Centre. Prepare to be spooked! Full details at hamiltonbulldogs.com
ALUMNI NOTES:
Daws wins NHL debut: Reigning OHL Goaltender of the Year Nico Daws was the big winner of his NHL debut last Saturday, making 24 saves in a 2-1 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres. The 20-year-old claimed the Jim Rutherford Trophy with the Guelph Storm in 2019-20 before being selected by the Devils in the third round of the 2020 NHL Draft. Daws spent last season with Ingolstadt ERC of the German Elite League and claimed a win in his AHL debut with the Utica Comets to start this season before being called up. He hoisted the J. Ross Robertson Cup as an OHL champion with the Storm in 2019.
Ekblad plays 500th NHL contest: Barrie Colts graduate Aaron Ekblad skated in his 500th career NHL contest on Wednesday as his Florida Panthers defeated the Boston Bruins 4-1. The 25-year-old Ekblad has seven points (3-4–7) through his first seven games of the season on a Panthers club that has played well out of the gate. The first overall pick of the 2014 NHL Draft, Ekblad entered the OHL as an exceptional status rookie in 2011 and played three seasons in Barrie, winning an Eastern Conference championship with the Colts in 2013.
Mangiapane lighting the lamp for Flames: Barrie Colts grad Andrew Mangiapane has seven goals through his first six games of the season. The 25-year-old from Bolton, Ont. was a two-time 100-point scorer during his three-year tenure in Barrie after making the Colts as a free agent walk-on. The 5-foot-10 winger was drafted by the Flames in the sixth round of the 2015 NHL Draft.
Phillips called up by Blackhawks: Sudbury Wolves alumnus Isaak Phillips earned his first NHL call-up on Thursday. The 20-year-old from Barrie, Ont. played two seasons in Sudbury from 2018-20, registering 26 points (9-17–26) during the 2019-20 campaign. Phillips had a strong showing with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs last season, posting nine points (2-7–9) over 27 outings. The 6-foot-3 defender was Chicago’s fifth round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.
Dineen, Hayton and Prosvetov recalled by Coyotes: A trio of OHL grads has been recalled by the Arizona Coyotes, with former North Bay Battalion and Sarnia Sting blueliner Cam Dineen looking to make his NHL debut. Joining Dineen on the road from Tucson to Phoenix are Soo Greyhounds grad Barrett Hayton and Saginaw Spirit goaltending graduate Ivan Prosvetov. Hayton was the fifth overall pick of the 2018 NHL Draft and played three seasons in Sault Ste. Marie from 2016-19. Prosvetov spent one season in Saginaw, helping the Spirit make their first-ever appearance in the Western Conference Championship Series in 2019.
Quinn off to hot start in Rochester: Ottawa 67’s graduate and Buffalo Sabres first round draft pick Jack Quinn is off to a hot start with the AHL’s Rochester Americans, recording seven points (4-3–7) through four games this season. The 20-year-old made his pro debut last season, recording nine points (2-7–9) through 15 appearances with the Amerks. Quinn scored 52 goals with the 67’s during the 2019-20 season before being selected eighth overall in the 2020 NHL Draft.
KEY MATCHUPS:
Ottawa 67’s at Kingston Frontenacs Friday October 29th, 7:00pm
The front end of an East Division home-and-home clash between the Ottawa 67’s and host Kingston Frontenacs will be streaming live for TSN subscribers over at TSN.ca as well as over on CHL TV as the two clubs meet for the third time in the young season. Kingston partied hard against the 67’s with an 8-1 win on opening night before the Barber Poles settled the score, defeating the Fronts 3-2 at home on Oct. 10th. Ottawa made it as an honourable mention in this past week’s Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings after defeating the Barrie Colts and Oshawa Generals to close out last weekend. Kingston is the 10th-ranked team in the country, having won three in a row with victories over Sudbury and Peterborough.
Kitchener Rangers at Windsor Spitfires Saturday October 30th, 7:05pm
Based off last weekend’s 3-2 shootout finish in favour of the Rangers in Kitchener, this Saturday’s Rangers/Spitfires sequel in Windsor is shaping up to be a good one. The Rangers have suffered consecutive road losses entering a Friday night matchup with the Soo Greyhounds. Kitchener makes the trip to Windsor on Saturday to face a Spitfires squad that will first welcome the Guelph Storm on Thursday. Two up and coming coaches in Kitchener’s Mike McKenzie and Windsor’s Marc Savard will have their teams ready for action.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Thursday October 28th: Oshawa at North Bay – 7:00pm Hamilton at Peterborough – 7:05pm Sudbury at Barrie – 7:30pm Guelph at Windsor – 7:30pm
Friday October 29th: Flint at Erie – 7:00pm Niagara at Hamilton – 7:00pm Ottawa at Kingston – 7:00pm – Streaming at TSN.ca Barrie at Mississauga – 7:00pm Oshawa at Sudbury – 7:05pm Owen Sound at Guelph – 7:30pm Sault Ste. Marie at Kitchener – 7:30pm Sarnia at London – 7:30pm
Saturday October 30th: Kingston at Ottawa – 2:00pm Mississauga at Hamilton – 4:00pm Flint at Erie – 7:00pm Sault Ste. Marie at Guelph – 7:00pm Peterborough at Niagara – 7:00pm Kitchener at Windsor – 7:05pm North Bay at Barrie – 7:30pm Sarnia at Owen Sound – 7:30pm
Sunday October 31st: North Bay at Sudbury – 2:05pm
Toronto, Ont. – The Canadian Hockey League announced today the Week 4 edition of the Kia CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2021-22 season.
Following the Quebec Remparts, Winnipeg ICE and Acadie-Bathurst Titan, the undefeated 6-0 London Knights rise one spot to number four in this week’s rankings. The Knights won their lone game of the weekend, defeating the visiting Owen Sound Attack 2-1 on Friday as Brett Brochu turned aside 36 of 37 shots and Nashville Predators prospect Luke Evangelista scored the shorthanded game winner early in the third period. The Knights also had Dallas Stars prospect Antonio Stranges in their lineup for the first time this season after the shifty winger returned from injury. London hits the road to face Owen Sound on Wednesday before a home date with the Sarnia Sting on Friday night.
A weekend split saw the Kitchener Rangers enter the Top-10 for the first time this season, defeating the Windsor Spitfires in a thrilling shootout finish on Friday as Pavel Cajan stood tall in the crease and rookie Carson Rehkopf netted the winner in a 3-2 decision. The Blueshirts fell 4-2 to the rival Guelph Storm on Sunday to see their undefeated start come to a halt as they own a mark of 5-1-0-0 entering a week with a Wednesday/Friday home-and-home against the Soo Greyhounds before visiting the Windsor Spitfires on Saturday.
The Kingston Frontenacs keep hanging around inside the Top-10, falling one spot to tenth despite a 6-1 triumph over the Peterborough Petes at home on Friday. Lucas Edmonds scored two more goals in the win and now leads the team with 12 points (5-7–12) over six games. Dallas Stars prospect Francesco Arcuri recorded a career-high four points and has eight (3-5–8) over his first four games while overage centre Jordan Frasca has nine (3-6–9) to his credit through six games.
Netting four out of a possible six points in a three-in-three road trip last weekend has the Ottawa 67’s as an honourable mention this week. The Barber Poles fell 5-2 to the Mississauga Steelheads on Friday before taking a 3-0 shutout win over the Barrie Colts in Saturday’s CHL on CBC broadcast. St. Louis Blues prospect Will Cranley stopped all 28 shots he faced for his fifth career shutout. Ottawa wrapped up the weekend in thrilling fashion, scoring three third period goals in under a minute en route to stunning the Oshawa Generals 5-4 in a shootout on a winner from Brenden Sirizzotti.
For further analysis on the Week 4 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.
Toronto, Ont. – The 2021-22 OHL season is up and running! Here’s a look at what’s happening across the Ontario Hockey League this week.
OHL comes to CBC on Saturday with Colts and 67’s: The Ontario Hockey League makes its first appearance on national television this season as the Barrie Colts play host to the Ottawa 67’s Saturday at 3:00pm on CBC. Los Angeles Kings prospect Brandt Clarke and the Colts face the OHL’s back-to-back Hamilton Spectator Trophy recipient 67’s who are under new head coach Dave Cameron. Learn more about Clarke, one the League’s top defencemen as he prepares to face his hometown team. Watch
66 OHL players included on NHL Central Scouting ‘Players to Watch’ List for October: A total of 66 OHL players have been included on NHL Central Scouting’s October ‘Players to Watch’ List for the 2022 NHL Draft scheduled to take place July 7-8 in Montreal, Quebec. Forwards Shane Wright of the Kingston Frontenacs and Matthew Poitras of the Guelph Storm each received ‘A’ ratings indicating a potential first round selection. All 20 OHL member teams were represented on the list led by the London Knights with eight players included. Full list
Knights, Bulldogs and Frontenacs flying high in Week 3 edition of Kia CHL Top 10: The London Knights continue to climb the Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings, leading OHL clubs in the fifth slot this week. The undefeated Hamilton Bulldogs make their debut on the list at seventh, while the Kingston Frontenacs hold steady as the ninth-ranked team in the country. Read more
Generals’ Ritchie named OHL Player of the Week: Rookie forward Calum Ritchie of the Oshawa Generals is the OHL Player of the Week with a league-leading seven points including four goals and three assists over three games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-4. Ritchie’s six goals tie him with teammate Ryan Stepien for the League lead. Read more
Knights’ Brochu named OHL Goaltender of the Week: London Knights netminder Brett Brochu is the OHL Goaltender of the Week with three wins, a 2.55 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage. Brochu helped the Knights improve to a League-best 5-0 record with back-to-back wins over the Windsor Spitfires before edging the Sarnia Sting in a shootout on Saturday. Read more
Attack’s Perrott named to CHL Team of the Week: Owen Sound Attack rearguard Andrew Perrott is the OHL’s lone representative on this week’s CHL Team of the Week. Perrott finished the week with five points (1-4–5) over two contests. Facing the Soo on Saturday, Perrott finished with a career single-game high of three points en route to first-star recognition. He currently leads the Attack in scoring with six points in four games.
Firebirds’ Giroux headlines OHL Plays of the Week: Fancy stick work, highlight reel goals, a beautiful penalty shot finish…it’s all featured in OHL Plays of the Week! Take in the talent of North Bay’s Brandon Coe, Saginaw’s T-Bone Codd, Hamilton’s Jonathan Melee, Barrie’s Oskar Olausson and Flint’s Zacharie Giroux. Watch
Terrific turnaways in OHL Saves of the Week: The latest edition of Saves of the Week features terrific turnaways from Mississauga’s Roman Basran, London’s Brett Brochu, Sudbury’s Mitchell Weeks, Erie’s Nolan Lalonde, North Bay’s Joe Vrbetic, Barrie’s Matteo Lalama, Owen Sound’s Mack Guzda, Saginaw’s Tristan Lennox and Peterborough’s Michael Simpson. Watch
OHL Milestone Moments: Check out a total of 31 first OHL goals along with a trio of inaugural shutouts in the latest edition of OHL Milestone Moments. 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
Spearing named Petes captain: The Peterborough Petes have identified their leadership group for the 2021-22 season, naming veteran defenceman Shawn Spearing team captain. Read more
OHL mourns the loss of Leo Boivin: The Ontario Hockey League is saddened by the loss of former Ottawa 67’s head coach, long-time NHL defenceman and Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Leo Boivin who passed away at the age of 90 on Saturday. Read more
OHL Live streaming packages now on sale: For just $109.99, OHL fans can enjoy full access to all scheduled games throughout the 2021-22 regular season. Fans can also purchase a monthly pass providing access to all OHL games over the span of one month for the price of $24.99. If a 24-hour pass is more your flavour, OHL Live has you covered for the price of $6.99. Full details at watch.chl.ca.
OHL Employment Opportunity – Manager, Communications: The Ontario Hockey League is pleased to announce the opportunity for a Manager of Communications. The successful candidate will be a key member of the communications department which will contribute to the League and Member Teams’ communication strategy. More details
COMMUNITY CORNER:
First Responders Night in Peterborough on Thursday: The Peterborough Petes will be recognizing local First Responders on Thursday when they play host to the Oshawa Generals. Representatives from OPP, Peterborough Police, Fire, and Paramedics will be taking the ceremonial puck drop prior to the game. At the first intermission, fans will have the opportunity to catch a live stretcher race. The first 500 fans into the PMC will take home a souvenir First Responders helmet. Read more
Spits celebrate 75 years on Thursday: The Windsor Spitfires are saluting 75 years of history Thursday night as they play host to the Owen Sound Attack. The Spits will be wearing special commemorative jerseys and a historical museum will be on location at the WFCU Centre. The first 2,000 fans into the building will take home a special souvenir collectible.
Steelheads play home opener on Friday: The Mississauga Steelheads play their first home regular season game in 595 days on Friday night when they take on the Ottawa 67’s. The Trout visit Niagara on Saturday before returning home to close out a three-in-three against the Hamilton Bulldogs on Sunday at 2:00pm.
Otters prepare for home opener on Saturday: The long-awaited Erie Otters home opener takes place on Saturday when the Saginaw Spirit visit Erie Insurance Arena. The Otters play their first home game in 594 days and the first 1,500 fans into the building will receive a free rally towel. They follow-up Saturday’s contest with another against Saginaw on Sunday as they host their first Family Funday home date of the season.
Storm support the Guelph Food Bank on Sunday: The Guelph Storm will hold their annual Food Drive on Sunday afternoon when they take on the rival Kitchener Rangers at 2:00pm. Fans are asked to bring non-perishable food items to the Sleeman Centre. For every food item donated, fans will receive a raffle ticket that will be entered into a draw with the chance to win an autographed Storm jersey. The Storm were able to donate over 1,800 meals to the Guelph Food Bank through the generous donations of their fans the last time they held the event. Read more
Colts show appreciation for First Responders throughout October: The Barrie Colts are showing their appreciation for First Responders and Health Care workers, providing them a special buy one, get one free offer for home games on October 23, October 28 and October 30. Read more
ALUMNI NOTES:
Katchouk makes NHL debut: Soo Greyhounds graduate Boris Katchouk made his NHL debut with the Tampa Bay Lightning last weekend. The 23-year-old from Waterloo, Ont. played four seasons in Sault Ste. Marie from 2014-18 and becomes the seventh member of the Greyhounds’ 2018 Western Conference championship squad to play a game in the NHL. Katchouk put up 34 points (11-23–34) over 29 AHL contests with the Syracuse Crunch last season.
Daws recalled by Devils: Former Jim Rutherford Trophy recipient Nico Daws has been called-up by the New Jersey Devils. The Guelph Storm graduate was the OHL’s Goaltender of the Year in 2019-20, going 23-8-6 with a 2.48 goals-against average and .923 save percentage in 38 games. A former OHL champion, Daws was New Jersey’s third round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft and spent the 2020-21 season playing with ERC Ingolstadt of the German Elite League. He recently won his AHL debut with the Utica Comets.
Kyrou off to hot start in St. Louis: Sarnia Sting graduate and former OHL Player of the Year Jordan Kyrou is off to a hot start with the St. Louis Blues. The 23-year-old has seven points (2-5–7) through his first three games of the season including a four-point effort in a 7-4 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Oct. 18. St. Louis’ second round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, Kyrou played four seasons in Sarnia, graduating as the club’s all-time leader in assists with 191 over 250 regular season games.
McTavish sidelined in Anaheim: Third overall 2021 NHL Draft pick Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks is heading to injured reserve. The star Peterborough Petes centreman left Monday’s game against the Calgary Flames and will be sidelined for at least a week. The 6-foot, 213Ib. centre made his NHL debut on Oct. 13, scoring against the Winnipeg Jets in his first game. McTavish finished second among OHL rookies with 29 goals during the 2019-20 season and played a key role in Canada’s gold medal at the 2021 IIHF Under-18 Worlds this past May in Frisco, Texas. The 18-year-old from Carp, Ont. was the fifth overall pick of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection.
161 OHL grads begin the 2021-22 season on AHL rosters: A total of 161 OHL grads, including four born in 2002, were included on AHL rosters to begin the 2021-22 season. The Kitchener Rangers topped the list with 15 graduates included followed by the Ottawa 67’s with 13 and the London Knights, Saginaw Spirit and Soo Greyhounds with 11 each. Full list
KEY MATCHUPS:
Hamilton Bulldogs at North Bay Battalion Thursday, October 21, 7:00pm The Hamilton Bulldogs put their perfect 4-0 record to the test behind enemy lines on Thursday. The Dogs enter action having not surrendered a goal in over 138 minutes of play and hit the ice as the seventh-ranked team in the CHL this week. The Battalion come off a 6-4 home loss to the Barrie Colts on Sunday, closing out a four-game homestand that saw them pick up wins over Sudbury and Mississauga. San Jose Sharks prospect Brandon Coe leads the Troops on the scoresheet with nine points (5-4–9) in five games.
Ottawa 67’s at Barrie Colts Saturday, October 23, 3:00pm – CHL on CBC The OHL comes to CBC for the first time on Saturday afternoon as the Barrie Colts and visiting Ottawa 67’s play before a national audience. The Colts feature the electric presence of puck-moving power play quarterback Brandt Clarke who was chosen by the Los Angeles Kings with the eighth overall pick of the 2021 NHL Draft. Colorado Avalanche first round pick Oskar Olausson has been a welcome addition in Barrie, leading the club with six points (4-2–6) through his first five OHL matchups. The Ottawa 67’s enter the weekend with the League’s top power play, going 7-for-19 (36.8%). Dave Cameron makes his return to the OHL following 10 years between the NHL and European pro ranks. Calgary Flames prospect Jack Beck has been red hot for the Barber Poles, with eight points (5-3–8) through his first five games.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Thursday October 21st Barrie at Niagara – 7:00pm Hamilton at North Bay – 7:00pm Oshawa at Peterborough – 7:05pm Owen Sound at Windsor – 7:30pm
Friday October 22nd Peterborough at Kingston – 7:00pm Ottawa at Mississauga – 7:00pm Guelph at Sarnia – 7:05pm Hamilton at Sudbury – 7:05pm North Bay at Sault Ste. Marie – 7:07pm Windsor at Kitchener – 7:30pm Owen Sound at London – 7:30pm Niagara at Oshawa – 7:35pm
Saturday October 23rd Ottawa at Barrie – 3:00pm (CHL on CBC) Saginaw at Erie – 7:00pm Mississauga at Niagara – 7:00pm North Bay at Sault Ste. Marie – 7:07pm Windsor at Owen Sound – 7:30pm
Sunday, October 24th Saginaw at Erie – 2:00pm Kitchener at Guelph – 2:00pm Hamilton at Mississauga – 2:00pm Ottawa at Oshawa – 6:05pm
Toronto, Ont. – The Canadian Hockey League announced today the Week 3 edition of the Kia CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2021-22 season.
The London Knights continue to climb following another perfect week of hockey as they went 3-0 with a pair of victories over the Windsor Spitfires along with one over the Sarnia Sting. Led by OHL Goaltender of the Week Brett Brochu, the Knights also got a big performance from rookie winger Colton Smith who scored his first two career OHL goals on Friday before following-up Saturday in Sarnia with his first hat trick. Nashville Predators prospect and captain Luke Evangelista leads the club with eight points (4-4–8) through five contests while Smith and 19-year-old forward Sean McGurn each have seven to their credit.
The Hamilton Bulldogs make their first appearance of the season on the weekly rankings, coming in at seventh with a perfect 4-0 record. The ‘Dogs scored consecutive 4-0 shutout victories over the Niagara IceDogs in a home-and-home set last weekend. Marco Costantini turned aside all 36 shots he faced on Friday for his first career shutout before rookie Tristan Malboeuf logged a perfect League debut on the road, making 27 saves for the shutout win. The Bulldogs, under new head coach Jay McKee, have been led offensively by 19-year-old forward Logan Morrison who has paced them with eight points (2-6–8) over four games.
The Kingston Frontenacs held steady at ninth on the list, defeating the Sudbury Wolves 5-4 at home on Friday before a 3-1 road win over the Peterborough Petes on Saturday. The 3-2-0-0 Frontenacs have benefitted from the addition of overage forward Lucas Edmonds this year as the first-year talent who previously played in Sweden has nine points (3-6–9) through his first five contests. Top 2022 NHL Draft prospect Shane Wright has six points (2-4–6) through his first five games of the season. The Fronts try and continue their forward momentum on Friday when they play host to the Peterborough Petes.
The undefeated Kitchener Rangers are in the honourable mention category this week after defeating the Guelph Storm 4-2 on Tuesday to improve to 4-0. The Blueshirts have spread the scoring around early in the season, with Mike Petizian, Francesco Pinelli, Reid Valade and defenceman Roman Schmidt all with three goals to their credit. The Rangers will try and crack the top-10 with a strong showing against the Windsor Spitfires on Friday before they pay a visit to the nearby Storm on Sunday afternoon.
For further analysis on the Week 3 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.
Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League is proud to announce that 66 OHL players have been included on NHL Central Scouting’s October ‘Players to Watch’ List for the 2022 NHL Draft scheduled to take place July 7-8 in Montreal, Quebec.
Forwards Shane Wright of the Kingston Frontenacs and Matthew Poitras of the Guelph Storm each received ‘A’ ratings indicating a potential first round selection.
The OHL’s Rookie of the Year in 2019-20, Wright has recorded six points (2-4–6) through his first five games of the 2021-22 season. The 17-year-old Frontenacs captain played a key role in Canada’s gold medal at the 2021 IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship in Frisco, Texas this past May.
Poitras was the 12th overall pick of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection from the Whitby Wildcats U16 program. The 17-year-old centreman has four points (3-1–4) through his first four OHL contests.
An additional 21 players were assigned ‘B’ ratings indicating a potential second or third round selection while 43, including five goaltenders, received ‘C’ designations indicating a potential fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh round candidate.
All 20 OHL member teams were represented on the list led by the London Knights with eight players included. The Guelph Storm and Sudbury Wolves trailed with six players respectively while the Niagara IceDogs and North Bay Battalion each had five.
The list includes 45 OHL forwards, 16 defencemen and five goaltenders.
2021 NHL Central Scouting October Players to Watch List – OHL
Players have been identified using the following criteria:
• A Rating – Indicates a first round candidate • B Rating – Indicates a second or third round candidate • C Rating – Indicates a fourth/fifth/sixth round candidate
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 Top Performers of the Week for the week of regular season games ending Sunday, October 17, 2021.
Generals’ Calum Ritchie Named OHL Player of the Week
Rookie forward Calum Ritchie of the Oshawa Generals is the OHL Player of the Week with a league-leading seven points including four goals and three assists over three games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-4.
The second overall pick of the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, Ritchie helped the Generals take wins in two of three games last week. The 6-foot-2, 178Ib. centre started with a goal and an assist in a 7-3 road loss to the Ottawa 67’s on Thanksgiving Monday. The Generals were back in the nation’s capital on Friday and this time came away with a 4-1 win as Ritchie scored midway through the third period. He saved his best performance for last, recording two goals and two assists in a 6-3 win over the visiting Peterborough Petes on Sunday night. Ritchie becomes the youngest Generals player to record four points in a single game since Michael Dal Colle did so back on Nov. 4, 2012. His five-game goal-scoring streak brings him in line with John Tavares, who accomplished the feat in the month of January 2006 during his exceptional status rookie season.
A 16-year-old native of Oakville, Ont., Ritchie’s six goals tie him with teammate Ryan Stepien for the League lead. He sits two points back of Sudbury’s Jack Thompson for the OHL lead in points, registering nine (6-3–9) through five games. His 28 shots on goal are the most in the OHL, and his 116 faceoffs are tied for second in the League. Ritchie is a graduate of the Oakville Rangers U16 program, a team he captained before being chosen second overall this past June.
Ritchie becomes the first Generals player to claim Player of the Week honours since Philip Tomasino last did so from January 6-12, 2020.
Other Player of the Week candidates included Calgary Flames prospect Jack Beck who posted four goals and two assists over three games as his Ottawa 67’s went 2-1. Soo Greyhounds winger Cole MacKay also recorded six points (2-4–6) as the Soo Greyhounds took four of a possible six points on the road. London Knights rookie winger Colton Smith was also given consideration after scoring five goals, including his first career OHL hat-trick as the Knights went 3-0 last week.
2021-22 OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season: Oct. 11- Oct. 17 – Calum Ritchie (Oshawa Generals) Oct. 4 – Oct. 10: Jack Thompson (Sudbury Wolves)
Knights’ Brett Brochu Named OHL Goaltender of the Week
London Knights netminder Brett Brochu is the OHL Goaltender of the Week with three wins, a 2.55 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage.
Brochu helped the Knights improve to a League-best 5-0 record with back-to-back wins over the Windsor Spitfires before edging the Sarnia Sting in a shootout on Saturday. He turned aside 35 of the 38 shots he faced in a 4-3 Thanksgiving Monday shootout road win over the Spitfires, stopping seven of eight Windsor shootout attempts. Brochu was up to the task on Friday when the Knights played host to the Spitfires, making 32 saves in a 5-1 win while drawing an assist on Max McCue’s first goal of the season. He wrapped up the weekend making 29 saves in a 5-4 overtime road win over the Sarnia Sting, none bigger than a game-saving overtime denial that led to a Sean McGurn game winner in transition.
A 19-year-old from Tilbury, Ont., Brochu leads OHL netminders with five wins on the season while posting a 2.49 goals-against average and .922 save percentage. He’s won 14 consecutive regular season games dating back to Feb. 14, 2020, part of a stretch in which he’s won 27 of 28 decisions since Dec. 29, 2019. The 6-foot, 176Ib. Brochu was a member of the OHL’s first all-rookie team during the 2019-20 season, leading the League with a 2.40 goals-against average to win the F.W. Dinty Moore Trophy. His 32 wins that season set a new Knights franchise record for rookie goaltenders. The former sixth round (114th overall) pick in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection made his professional debut with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2020-21, appearing in one game on May 16, 2021.
Also meriting consideration for the award this week was Ottawa Senators prospect Leevi Merilainen of the Kingston Frontenacs who played to a 2-0 mark while recording a 2.50 goals-against average and .912 save percentage. New York Islanders prospect Tristan Lennox of the Saginaw Spirit was also in the running, going 1-1 with a 2.01 goals-against average and .913 save percentage.
2021-22 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season: Mar. 11 – Mar. 17: Brett Brochu (London Knights) Mar. 4 – Mar. 10: Tucker Tynan (Niagara IceDogs)
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.
OHL Writers 