Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the third edition of the BMO CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2015-16 season. The weekly rankings of the CHL’s Top-10 teams are selected by a panel of National Hockey League scouts.
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the second edition of the BMO CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2015-16 season. The weekly rankings of the CHL’s Top-10 teams are selected by a panel of National Hockey League scouts.
Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today hosted a media conference call to officially launch the start of the 2015-16 OHL regular season which begins Thursday night.
“It’s an exciting time,” said OHL Commissioner David Branch. “There’s that special energy with the start of a new season. As a league we’re so very fortunate to have the best young junior aged players in the world playing in our league with lots of new talent coming in. The facilities that we enjoy, the incredible coaching and the outstanding support programs that we have in place for our players starting with our scholarship program allow us to attract some of the best young players in the world.”
Commissioner Branch highlighted that 155 OHL returning-eligible players attended NHL Training Camps this season with 117 advancing to main camps following the 2015 NHL Draft where Connor McDavid of the Erie Otters became the ninth straight CHL player to be chosen first overall. In addition, the league’s scholarship program featured 285 graduate players in 2014-15 with a league-wide contribution of over $2.24 million last season. These figures bring league totals to 1758 players who have accessed their scholarship since 2008-09 with a total league-wide investment of $12.44 million in that time.
The 2015-16 season marks the introduction of the Hamilton Bulldogs and the Flint Firebirds to the Ontario Hockey League with home openers in both new markets scheduled for Saturday September 26.
“There’s a rich tradition and history of junior hockey in this community dating back to the Tiger Cubs, Fincups and Red Wings,” said Bulldogs General Manager and Head Coach George Burnett. “We’ve had a terrific response from the minor hockey organizations here in Hamilton and our team is trending in a very positive way. Things are taking shape nicely now and I know how appreciative the guys are for the facility here that is available to them on a day-to-day basis. It’s a pro facility and we’re thankful that we can come to work here at the First Ontario Centre.”
The Bulldogs open the season on the road against the London Knights on Friday, then welcome the defending OHL and MasterCard Memorial Cup champion Oshawa Generals to town on Saturday. The Firebirds also open on the road with the first game of a home-and-home series against Michigan rivals the Saginaw Spirit on Thursday, then fans get their first look at the revamped Dort Federal Event Center when the team hosts the Spirit on Saturday.
“We couldn’t be more excited to be one day away from the start of the season,” said Firebirds Head Coach John Gruden. “There’s been an overhaul of the rink in addition to the undertaking of establishing new billet families. We’ve done a lot of work to ensure that our players will be comfortable with their new surroundings and taken some time to get our guys familiarized with Grand Blanc High School, where many of them will be studying this season. The whole transition has gone well and when people see the building and the work that’s been put into the product on and off the ice I think they’ll be quite impressed.”
The debut of the Bulldogs and Firebirds are just a few of the highlights across the OHL during Opening Week which includes 21 games from Thursday through Sunday. Additional festivities include the Peterborough Petes launch of a season-long celebration of their 60th OHL season with a pre-game ceremony on Thursday, the Guelph Storm’s special 25th anniversary celebration on Friday night with alumni from every season in attendance, and the raising of the Generals’ Robertson Cup and Memorial Cup banners in Oshawaon Sunday night. Opening nights across Ontario markets will also feature special presentations to the Pioneer Bonus Bucks Season Ticket Holder winners of Free Gas for a Year and a VIP Team Experience.
Fans and media are encouraged to use the hashtag #OHLOpeningWeek from now through Sunday in celebration of the launch of the 2015-16 season.
#OHLOpeningWeek Schedule and Promotions:
Thursday September 24:
Erie Otters at Windsor Spitfires (7:05pm) AM800 broadcasting live at WFCU Centre providing on-site giveaways.
Ottawa 67’s at Peterborough Petes (7:05pm)
Petes open 60th anniversary season by recognizing members of their inaugural 1956 team.
Flint Firebirds at Saginaw Spirit (7:05pm)
Spirit hosting the I-75 Divide Fan Fest at the First Merit Bank Event Park in Saginaw.
Friday September 25:
Barrie Colts at Kingston Frontenacs (7:00pm) Frontenacs host home opener.
Peterborough Petes at North Bay Battalion (7:00pm)
Battalion host home opener.
Niagara IceDogs at Sudbury Wolves (7:00pm)
Live band pre-game outside Sudbury Community Arena.
Erie Otters at Sarnia Sting (7:05pm)
Sting hosting Fan Fest outside Box Office with food, drinks, and games for all in attendance.
Windsor Spitfires at Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (7:07pm)
Opening night party at Essar Centre with music, food, prizes, and giveaways.
Hamilton Bulldogs at London Knights (7:30pm)
Knights host home opener in Bulldogs first OHL game.
Oshawa Generals at Guelph Storm (7:30pm)
25th Anniversary celebration with former players representing each of Storm’s 25 years with new jersey and Wall of Fame unveiling.
Ottawa 67’s at Mississauga Steelheads (7:30pm)
Steelheads debut new jersey, host BBQ and Equipment Sale.
Owen Sound Attack at Kitchener Rangers (7:30pm)
Rangers host home opener.
Saturday September 26:
Oshawa Generals at Hamilton Bulldogs (7:00pm) Pregame street party with the street closed in front of FirstOntario Centre with food trucks, live music, and activities for the family. Opening Ceremonies with local dignitaries and hockey celebrities.
Kingston Frontenacs at London Knights (7:00pm)
Niagara IceDogs at Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (7:07pm)
Guelph Storm at Owen Sound Attack (7:30pm) Bayshore Broadcasting Tailgate party with shirt giveaways, face painting and other activities for kids, and a BBQ with proceeds going to United Way.
Saginaw Spirit at Flint Firebirds (7:30pm)
Pregame tailgate party with food and live music open to the public. Opening Ceremonies will include local dignitaries along with Commissioner Branch, Peter Karmanos and Mike Vellucci.
Sunday September 27:
Mississauga Steelheads at Sudbury Wolves (2:00pm)
Kingston Frontenacs at Sarnia Sting (2:05pm)
Post-Game skate with the Sting.
Barrie Colts at Ottawa 67’s (3:00pm)
67’s host home opener.
North Bay Battalion at Oshawa Generals (6:05pm)
Pregame tailgate party followed by Robertson Cup and Memorial Cup banner raising.
Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League, in association with its digital media partner NeuLion, announced today that Early Bird pricing for OHL Live is now available until October 1, 2015.
Powered by NeuLion, OHL Live provides coverage of all 20 teams in the OHL and will deliver all 680 games throughout the regular season which opens Thursday, September 24, as well as coverage throughout the 2016 OHL Playoffs.
The OHL and NeuLion will continue to offer a wide range of package options to suit the needs of all OHL fans. Early Bird pricing provides the best value for subscribers and is available now until October 1. In addition to single games, packages range from the 5-Game Pack to the All Access Pass to provide the ultimate in choice for any OHL fan!
2015 -16 OHL Live –Early Bird Pricing (Available until October 1st):
Team Away Pass $69.99 ($20 savings)
Team Home and Away Pass $179.99 ($15 savings)
OHL Live All Access $279.99 ($20 savings)
*All prices in Canadian dollars
This year, OHL fans will continue to enjoy the enhanced OHL Live platform launched in the 2014-15 season. The enhanced OHL Live platform gives viewers the opportunity to watch up to four games at once with picture-in-picture and quad-view options along with the ability to choose between the home or away audio feed. OHL Live is also available for the iPhone, iPad, Android Smartphone, and Android Tablet through the OHL Live app.
Fans can still take advantage of the live support chat option, accessible directly from the OHL Live site, which instantly connects viewers to a customer support team member to resolve any issues.
Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League is proud to announce that 155 OHL players have been invited to attend National Hockey League Training Camps this season.
147 of the players competed in the OHL last season while eight players are committed to their OHL clubs for this season. All 155 players are eligible to return to the OHL for the 2015-16 season including 105 players born in either 1996 or 1997, while 50 of the players are 1995-born and would return as overage players.
Of the 155 players, 104 were selected through the NHL Draft, 47 are free agent invites, and four are undrafted free agent signed prospects. In total, 58 of the players attending NHL Camps have signed entry-level contracts including 29 who would return as overage players.
Alex DeBrincat of the Erie Otters. Photo by Aaron Bel/OHL Images
All 20 OHL clubs have sent at least three players to NHL Training Camps with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds leading the way by sending 14 players to various camps, followed by the Niagara IceDogs and Oshawa Generals with 11 players each, while the Erie Otters, London Knights, North Bay Battalion, and Owen Sound Attack have sent 10 players each.
The OHL continues to be the leading supplier of talent to the NHL.
OHL Players at 2015-16 NHL Training Camps Player/NHL Club/Draft Year or Free Agent
Players in italics indicate overage players (1995 birthdates)
*indicates players committed for the 2015-16 season
Barrie Colts (9):
Rasmus Andersson, Calgary Flames, 2nd round ‘15
Mackenzie Blackwood, New Jersey Devils, 2nd round ‘15 Ben Harpur, Ottawa Senators, 4th round ’13 – Signed Kevin Labanc, San Jose Sharks, 6th round ‘14
Brendan Lemieux, Winnipeg Jets, 2nd round ’14 (BUF) – Signed
Andrew Mangiapane, Calgary Flames, 6th round ‘15
Julius Nattinen, Anaheim Ducks, 2nd round ’15 – Signed*
Roy Radke, Chicago Blackhawks, 6th round ‘15 Justin Scott, Chicago Blackhawks, Free Agent Invite
Erie Otters (10): Nick Baptiste, Buffalo Sabres, 3rd round ’13 – Signed
Nick Betz, Detroit Red Wings, Free Agent Invite
Travis Dermott, Toronto Maple Leafs, 2nd round ’15 – Signed Remi Elie, Dallas Stars, 2nd round ’13 – Signed
Jake Marchment, Los Angeles Kings, 6th round ‘14
Mason Marchment, Calgary Flames, Free Agent Invite
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers, 1st round ’15 – Signed
Kyle Pettit, Vancouver Canucks, 6th round ‘14
Darren Raddysh, St. Louis Blues, Free Agent Invite
Dylan Strome, Arizona Coyotes, 1st round ’15 – Signed
Flint Firebirds (6):
Connor Chatham, New Jersey Devils, 3rd round ‘14
Sonny Milano, Columbus Blue Jackets, 1st round ’14 – Signed
Alex Nedeljkovic, Carolina Hurricanes, 2nd round ’14 – Signed
Alex Peters, Dallas Stars, 3rd round ‘14
Vili Saarijärvi, Detroit Red Wings, 3rd round ’15 – Signed*
Josh Wesley, Carolina Hurricanes, 4th round ‘14
Guelph Storm (5): Tyler Bertuzzi, Detroit Red Wings, 2nd round ’13 – Signed
Jason Dickinson, Dallas Stars, 1st round ’13 – Signed
Robby Fabbri, St. Louis Blues, 1st round ’14 – Signed
C.J Garcia, Anaheim Ducks, Free Agent Invite Justin Nichols, Toronto Maple Leafs, Free Agent Invite
Hamilton Bulldogs (5):
Trent Fox, St. Louis Blues, Free Agent Invite Stephen Harper, San Jose Sharks, Free Agent Invite
Justin Lemcke, Detroit Red Wings, Free Agent Invite
Niki Petti, Carolina Hurricanes, Free Agent Invite Jordan Subban, Vancouver Canucks, 4th round ’13 – Signed
Kingston Frontenacs (6):
Sam Bennett, Calgary Flames, 1st round ’14 – Signed
Lawson Crouse, Florida Panthers, 1st round ’15 – Signed Conor McGlynn, Detroit Red Wings, Free Agent Invite
Roland McKeown, Carolina Hurricanes, 2nd round ’14 (LAK) – Signed Lucas Peressini, Toronto Maple Leafs, Free Agent Invite
Spencer Watson, Los Angeles Kings, 7th round ’14
Kitchener Rangers (5):
Mason Kohn, Florida Panthers, Free Agent Invite
Ryan MacInnis, Arizona Coyotes, 2nd round ’14 – Signed
Nick Magyar, Colorado Avalanche, 4th round ‘14
Luke Opilka, St. Louis Blues, 5th round ’15 – Signed*
Dmitrii Sergeev, St. Louis Blues, Free Agent – Signed
London Knights (10): Julius Bergman, San Jose Sharks, 2nd round ’14 – Signed
Brandon Crawley, Columbus Blue Jackets, Free Agent Invite Max Domi, Arizona Coyotes, 1st round ’13 – Signed
Christian Dvorak, Arizona Coyotes, 2nd round ’14 – Signed
Aiden Jamieson, Toronto Maple Leafs, Free Agent Invite
Mitchell Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs, 1st round ’15 – Signed
Chris Martenet, Dallas Stars, 4th round ‘15
JJ Piccinich, Toronto Maple Leafs, 4th round ‘14*
Kole Sherwood, Columbus Blue Jackets, Free Agent – Signed*
Chandler Yakimowicz, St. Louis Blues, 6th round ‘14
Mississauga Steelheads (3): Jimmy Lodge, Winnipeg Jets, 3rd round ’13 – Signed
Spencer Martin, Colorado Avalanche, 3rd round ’13 – Signed
Jared Walsh, Los Angeles Kings, Free Agent Invite
Niagara IceDogs (11):
Anthony DiFruscia, New York Rangers, Free Agent Invite
Vince Dunn, St. Louis Blues, 2nd round ‘15
Aaron Haydon, Dallas Stars, 6th round ‘14
Josh Ho-Sang, New York Islanders, 1st round ’14 – Signed
Graham Knott, Chicago Blackhawks, 2nd round ‘15 Jordan Maletta, Boston Bruins, Free Agent Invite
Ryan Mantha, New York Rangers, 4th round ‘14
Brent Moran, Dallas Stars, 4th round ‘14
Brendan Perlini, Arizona Coyotes, 1st round ’14 – Signed
Blake Siebenaler, Columbus Blue Jackets, 3rd round ’14 – Signed Carter Verhaeghe, Toronto Maple Leafs, 3rd round ’13 – Signed
North Bay Battalion (10):
Mike Amadio, Los Angeles Kings, 3rd round ‘14
Zach Bratina, New York Rangers, Free Agent Invite
Riley Bruce, Calgary Flames, 7th round ‘15 Ryan Kujawinski, New Jersey Devils, 3rd round ’13 – Signed Miles Liberati, Pittsburgh Penguins, Free Agent Invite
Brett McKenzie, Chicago Blackhawks, Free Agent Invite Nick Moutrey, Columbus Blue Jackets, 4th round ’13 – Signed
Nick Paul, Ottawa Senators, 4th round ’13 (DAL) – Signed Jake Smith, New York Rangers, Free Agent Invite
Kyle Wood, Colorado Avalanche, 3rd round ‘14
Oshawa Generals (11): Ken Appleby, New Jersey Devils, Free Agent Invite Cole Cassels, Vancouver Canucks, 3rd round ’13 – Signed
Anthony Cirelli, Tampa Bay Lightning, 3rd round ‘15
Michael Dal Colle, New York Islanders, 1st round ’14 – Signed
Stephen Desrocher, Toronto Maple Leafs, 6th round ‘15 Tobias Lindberg, Ottawa Senators, 4th round ’13 – Signed
Lukas Lofquist, Florida Panthers, Free Agent Invite* Michael McCarron, Montreal Canadiens, 1st round ’13 – Signed Matt Mistele, Los Angeles Kings, 6th round ‘14 Hunter Smith, Calgary Flames, 2nd round ’14 – Signed
Mitchell Vande Sompel, New York Islanders, 3rd round ‘15
Ottawa 67’s (8):
Jeremiah Addison, Montreal Canadiens, 7th round ‘15
Connor Graham, New York Islanders, Free Agent Invite
Liam Herbst, San Jose Sharks, Free Agent Invite
Travis Konecny, Philadelphia Flyers, 1st round ’15 – Signed Alex Lintuniemi, Los Angeles Kings, 2nd round ’14 – Signed
Jacob Middleton, Los Angeles Kings, 7th round ‘14
Dante Salituro, Columbus Blue Jackets, Free Agent Invite Sam Studnicka, Montreal Canadiens, Free Agent Invite
Owen Sound Attack (10): Chris Bigras, Colorado Avalanche, 2nd round ’13 – Signed
Liam Dunda, St. Louis Blues, 6th round ‘15 Jack Flinn, Los Angeles Kings, Free Agent Invite
Jaden Lindo, Pittsburgh Penguins, 6th round ‘14
Michael McNiven, Montreal Canadiens, Free Agent Invite
Jarett Meyer, Detroit Red Wings, Free Agent Invite Zach Nastasiuk, Detroit Red Wings, 2nd round ’13 – Signed
Kyle Platzer, Edmonton Oilers, 4th round ’13 – Signed
Thomas Schemitsch, Florida Panthers, 3rd round ‘15
Damir Sharipzyanov, Los Angeles Kings, Free Agent – Signed
Peterborough Petes (7):
Eric Cornel, Buffalo Sabres, 2nd round ‘14
Kyle Jenkins, Carolina Hurricanes, 7th round ‘14
Cameron Lizotte, Toronto Maple Leafs, Free Agent Invite
Steven Lorentz, Carolina Hurricanes, 7th round ‘15
Matt Mancina, Detroit Red Wings, Free Agent Invite
Dominik Masin, Tampa Bay Lightning, 2nd round ‘14
Matt Spencer, Tampa Bay Lightning, 2nd round ‘15
Saginaw Spirit (5):
Artem Artemov, New York Rangers, Free Agent Invite
Marcus Crawford, Ottawa Senators, Free Agent Invite
Dylan Sadowy, San Jose Sharks, 3rd round ‘14
Mitchell Stephens, Tampa Bay Lightning, 2nd round ‘15
Chase Stewart, Arizona Coyotes, Free Agent Invite
Sarnia Sting (8):
Noah Bushnell, St. Louis Blues, Free Agent Invite
Hayden Hodgson, New York Rangers, Free Agent Invite
Josh Jacobs, New Jersey Devils, 2nd round ‘14*
Nikita Korostelev, Toronto Maple Leafs, 7th round ‘15
Brandon Lindberg, New York Rangers, Free Agent Invite
Connor Schlichting, Chicago Blackhawks, Free Agent Invite
Kevin Spinozzi, Arizona Coyotes, Free Agent Invite
Pavel Zacha, New Jersey Devils, 1st round ’15 – Signed
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (14): Justin Bailey, Buffalo Sabres, 2nd round ’13 – Signed
Gustav Bouramman, Minnesota Wild, 7th round ‘15 Michael Bunting, Arizona Coyotes, 4th round ’14 – Signed Anthony DeAngelo, Tampa Bay Lightning, 1st round ’14 – Signed
Tyler Ganly, Carolina Hurricanes, 6th round ’13 – Signed
Brandon Halverson, New York Rangers, 2nd round ’14 – Signed Tyler Hore, Chicago Blackhawks, Free Agent Invite
Jared McCann, Vancouver Canucks, 1st round ’14 – Signed Darnell Nurse, Edmonton Oilers, 1st round ’13 – Signed
Nick Ritchie, Anaheim Ducks, 1st round ’14 – Signed
Zachary Senyshyn, Boston Bruins, 1st round ‘15
Blake Speers, New Jersey Devils, 3rd round ‘15 Sergey Tolchinsky, Carolina Hurricanes, Free Agent – Signed
Colton White, New Jersey Devils, 4th round ‘15
Sudbury Wolves (3):
Kyle Capobianco, Arizona Coyotes, 3rd round ‘15
Pavel Jenys, Minnesota Wild, 7th round ’14 – Signed
Matt Schmalz, Los Angeles Kings, 5th round ‘15
Windsor Spitfires (9):
Jalen Chatfield, Detroit Red Wings, Free Agent Invite
Cristiano DiGiacinto, Tampa Bay Lightning, 6th round ‘14
Christian Fischer, Arizona Coyotes, 2nd round ’15 – Signed* Bradley Latour, Toronto Maple Leafs, Free Agent Invite
Hayden McCool, Chicago Blackhawks, Free Agent Invite Trevor Murphy, Nashville Predators, Free Agent Invite
Liam Murray, St. Louis Blues, Free Agent Invite
Patrick Sanvido, Dallas Stars, 7th round ‘14 Markus Soberg, Columbus Blue Jackets, 6th round ‘13
The OHL Exhibition Schedule resumes on Wednesday September 16, with the Regular Season opening on Thursday September 24.
OHL Writers 