2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series Coaching Staffs

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League in association with the Western Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League, and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, today announced the coaching staffs for the 2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series.

The six-game series features regional league teams of Canadian National Junior Team candidates competing against the Russian National Junior Team and is an integral part of the identification process for Team Canada prior to the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship which returns to Canadian soil this December in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia.

Canada Russia

Canada’s National Junior Team staff will be at the forefront of the CIBC Canada Russia Series with head coach Tim Hunter leading Team WHL when the puck drops in Kamloops on November 5 and in Vancouver on November 6.  Team Canada assistant coaches Brent Kisio, Jim Hulton, and Marc-André Dumont will also figure prominently in the November series with Kisio serving in an assistant role for Team WHL, with Hulton to lead Team QMJHL as head coach and Dumont appointed Team QMJHL assistant.

Hunter won back-to-back medals as an assistant coach with Team Canada including gold in 2018 and silver in 2017.  The fifth year head coach of the Moose Jaw Warriors also won a bronze medal as head coach of Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team at the 2015 IIHF U18 World Championship.  He returns to the Team WHL bench for the third straight season where he has compiled a 2-1-1 record.

Kisio’s Hockey Canada resume includes a gold medal as head coach of Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup.  The fourth year head coach of the Lethbridge Hurricanes was also a head coach of Team Canada White at the 2016 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and earned silver with Team Pacific at the 2014 U17 event.

Hulton returns to the Under-20 sector of the Program of Excellence for the first time in over a decade having previously won World Junior silver in 2004 and gold in 2005 in assistant coaching roles.  Now in his fourth season behind the Charlottetown Islanders bench, Hulton makes a second straight appearance at this event after assisting Dom Ducharme to a pair of Team QMJHL victories last season in Charlottetown and Moncton.

Dumont has served as head coach and general manager of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles since 2012-13.  With Hockey Canada, he previously served as head coach of Team Quebec at the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Leading Team OHL in Game 3 of the series on November 8 in Sarnia will be fourth year Sting head coach Derian Hatcher alongside his assistants David Legwand and Brad Staubitz.  For Game 4 in Oshawa on November 12 it will be Generals first year head coach Greg Walters with assistants Nathan McIver and Greg Nemisz.

Third year Kelowna Rockets head coach Jason Smith also joins the Team WHL coaching staff as an assistant for both games in British Columbia.  In the QMJHL, third year Sherbrooke Phoenix head coach Stéphane Julien will serve as an assistant when his club hosts Game 5 of the series on November 13, with first year Drummondville Voltigeurs head coach Steve Hartley serving as an assistant when his club hosts Game 6 to close out the series on November 15.

Since the event first began in 2003, CHL teams have played to an overall record of 61-22-1-6.  The competitiveness of the rivalry has grown in recent years with five of the last eight series decided in the final game including last season where for the first time in event history a QMJHL shootout victory determined the overall series outcome in favour of the CHL after both countries played to a 9-9 tie in points through six games.

2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series Staff and Schedule:

Team WHL:

Game 1 – Monday November 5 at Kamloops, BC
Head Coach: Tim Hunter (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Assistant Coach: Brent Kisio (Lethbridge Hurricanes)
Assistant Coach: Jason Smith (Kelowna Rockets)
Athletic Trainer: Mike Burnstein (Vancouver Giants)
Equipment Manager: Colin ‘Toledo’ Robinson (Kamloops Blazers)

Game 2 – Tuesday November 6 at Vancouver, BC
Head Coach: Tim Hunter (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Assistant Coach: Brent Kisio (Lethbridge Hurricanes)
Assistant Coach: Jason Smith (Kelowna Rockets)
Athletic Trainer: Mike Burnstein (Vancouver Giants)
Athletic Therapist: Khore Elliott (Victoria Royals)
Equipment Manager: Shingo Sasaki (Vancouver Giants)

Team OHL:

Game 3 – Thursday November 8 at Sarnia, ON
Head Coach: Derian Hatcher (Sarnia Sting)
Assistant Coach: David Legwand (Sarnia Sting)
Assistant Coach: Brad Staubitz (Sarnia Sting)
Athletic Therapist: Amy Mausser (Sarnia Sting)
Equipment Manager: Spencer Stehouwer (Sarnia Sting)

Game 4 – Monday November 12 at Oshawa, ON
Head Coach: Greg Walters (Oshawa Generals)

Assistant Coach: Nathan McIver (Oshawa Generals)

Assistant Coach: Greg Nemisz (Oshawa Generals)

Head Athletic & Equipment Manager: Bryan Boyes (Oshawa Generals)

Athletic Therapist: Matt Leech (Oshawa Generals)

Team QMJHL:
Game 5 – Tuesday November 13 at Sherbrooke, QC
Head Coach: Jim Hulton (Charlottetown Islanders)
Assistant Coach: Marc-André Dumont (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles)
Assistant Coach: Stéphane Julien (Sherbrooke Phoenix)
Athletic Therapist: Nicholas Borrelli (Sherbrooke Phoenix)
Equipment Manager: Jean Huynh (Sherbrooke Phoenix)

Game 6 – Thursday November 15 at Drummondville, QC
Head Coach: Jim Hulton (Charlottetown Islanders)
Assistant Coach: Marc-André Dumont (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles)
Assistant Coach: Steve Hartley (Drummondville Voltigeurs)
Athletic Therapist: Andrew Oddy (Drummondville Voltigeurs)
Equipment Manager: Robert Pouliot (Drummondville Voltigeurs)

The 2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series is supported by title sponsor CIBC, the Official Bank of the CHL, along with associate sponsors Kia Canada, Sherwin-Williams, Cooper Tires, and Kubota Canada.  All games will be broadcast nationally on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.

For event information including how to purchase tickets please visit http://chlcanadarussia.ca.

Spirit’s Damien Giroux named OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Minnesota Wild prospect Damien Giroux of the Saginaw Spirit is the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week for the regular season week ending October 14 after recording seven points including four goals and three assists in two games with a plus-minus rating of plus-7.

Giroux produced a pair of multi-point performances that helped the West Division leading Spirit extend their winning-streak to five games bringing their first place record to 6-2-1-0.  Giroux had a hand in seven of the team’s eight goals last week highlighted by a career-high five points on Saturday earning first star honours in a 6-2 home ice win over the North Bay Battalion.  His first career hat-trick in that contest was scored entirely in the third period and included the game-winning goal erasing an early 2-0 deficit.  On Sunday Giroux scored another third period game-winner after assisting on Nick Porco’s eighth goal of the season and was named second star of a 2-1 victory over the visiting Kitchener Rangers.

An 18-year-old from Hanmer, Ont., Giroux is playing in his third season with the Spirit after being chosen by the club in the third round of the 2016 OHL Priority Selection.  The recently appointed Spirit captain has six goals and five assists for 11 points through nine games after scoring 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 68 games last season.  Giroux was picked by the Wild in the fifth round of the 2018 NHL Draft in June.

Watch video highlights of Giroux and the Spirit against the Battalion and Rangers.

Also considered for the award this week was Dallas Stars prospect Jason Robertson of the Kingston Frontenacs with five goals and three assists for eight points in three games, and Los Angeles Kings prospect Akil Thomas of the Niagara IceDogs who scored twice with six assists for eight points in three games.  In goal, 2019 NHL Draft prospect Hunter Jones of the Peterborough Petes posted a 4-0-0-0 record making 122 saves for a goals-against-average of 1.19 and save percentage of .968.

2018-19 OHL ‘On the Run’ Players of the Week – Regular Season:

Oct. 8 – Oct. 14: Damien Giroux (Saginaw Spirit)
Oct. 1 – Oct. 7: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Sudbury Wolves)
Sept. 24 – Sept. 30: Lucas Chiodo (Barrie Colts)
Sept. 19 – Sept. 23: Akil Thomas (Niagara IceDogs)

Goaltenders: Is This the Year For the OHL?

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

At the 2018 National Hockey League Draft, the Los Angeles Kings selected Jacob Ingham of the Mississauga Steelheads in the sixth round, 175th overall, while the Las Vegas Goldens Knights chose London Knights puck stopper Jordan Kooy in the seventh round, 208th overall.

At the 2017 Draft, the Vancouver Canucks selected Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires in the third round, 64th overall. Also selected in the third round was Sault Ste Marie netminder Matthew Villalta, 72nd overall by the Los Angeles Kings. Kaden Fulcher of the Hamilton Bulldogs and Kyle Keyser of the Oshawa Generals were signed as free agents by the Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins respectively before the start of the 2017-2018 season.

Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

In 2016, Tyler Parsons of the London Knights was selected in the second round, 54th overall, by the Calgary Flames. The New Jersey Devils would nab Evan Cormier from the Saginaw Spirit in the fourth round, 105th overall.  Dylan Wells of the Peterborough Petes was selected in the fifth round. 123rd overall, by the Flames neighbours the Edmonton Oilers. while the Carolina Hurricanes would take Jeremy Helvig of the Kingston Frontenacs in the fifth round, 134th overall.

In 2015, MacKenzie Blackwood would be the only Ontario Hockey League goaltender selected at the draft. The New Jersey Devils would select Blackwood in the second round, 42 overall.

Ask around in hockey circles and many would tell you that goaltending is an area of weakness in the OHL when it comes to the NHL Draft. 2017 looks good at the moment, but Fulcher and Keyser were never drafted which means all 31 NHL Clubs passed on them seven times.

So why would 2019, which takes place in Vancouver, British Columbia, on June 21-22 be any different? Well the simple answer is: I don’t know. I don’t have some magic crystal ball that helps predict the future. Just the sheer number of goaltenders entering their draft year adds some intrigue. Add to them a couple of undrafted goaltenders that will be re-entering the draft adds another dimension.

During the 2016-2017 OHL season, an undrafted (in the OHL) Villalta drew my attention very early on. And as the season progressed, his draft stock began to rise. All the way to number 72 in the draft. So, is there another Matthew Villalta knocking at the door in 2018-2019?

When NHL Central Scouting released it’s players to watch list earlier this month, five OHL goaltenders were found on the list. They include Mack Guzda of the Owen Sound Attack as a B prospect, Luke Cavallin of the Flint Firebirds, Hunter Jones of the Peterborough Petes, Nicholas Daws of the Guelph Storm, and Kari Piiroinen of the Windsor Spitfires, all as C prospects. (a B prospect is considered a second or third rounder while a C prospect is considered a fourth, fifth or sixth round prospect).

It was no surprise to see Guzda at the top of Central’s list as he already had the benefit of an OHL season under his belt. During the 2017-2018 season, Guzda appeared in 30 games for the Attack posting a 3.20 goals-against average and .879 save percentage. But it has been a less-then-expected start for Guzda and his Attack Team. In seven games he boasts a 2-5-0-0 record with a save percentage at just .859 and a goals-against average of 4.11. But I have no doubt that he will improve on those stats as the season progresses.

Much like Villalta during the 2016-2017 season, if you haven’t started paying attention to the Petes’ Hunter Jones, then you should probably start now before you lag behind. He leads all OHL goaltenders in appearances (10), minutes played (539), shots faced (323), saves (303) and wins (8). Among puck stoppers who have played in four or more contests, he trails only Kooy in goals-against average (2.22 versus 2.01) and leads all netminders in save percentage (.938).

In eight of the complete games Jones has started this season, he has faced under 35 shots just twice. He had one poor start, allowing 6 goals against the Hamilton Bulldogs in two periods on September 29, 2018. His other starts would be a record setting pace.

Speaking of the Bulldogs, not making Central Scouting’s opening list is Hamilton netminder Zachary Roy. One has to wonder if things keep going the way they are in the Steel City, if there will be a goaltending controversy in the crease. Nick Donofrio, who went undrafted in 2018 and re-enters the draft, was the backup last season to Fulcher and the incumbent starter for this season.

It’s been a slow start for Donofrio, posting a 3-3-1-0 record with a 3.74 goals-against average and .881 save percentage. Roy was given his first OHL start on October 10 and put in a brilliant 42 save performance in a 5-2 victory over the Windsor Spitfires. A week later, Roy was given the start against the Mississauga Steelheads stopping 29 of 30 shots and getting the 5-1 victory. He was rewarded for his performance and started in back-to-back games and getting a 6-5 overtime victory on the road against the Oshawa Generals. Roy now has a 2.61 goals-against average and .929 save percentage.

Perhaps the goaltender that is going to be the toughest to get a read on is Flint Firebirds’ Luke Cavallin. The Firebirds are off to a dismal start at 0-9-0-0 having allowed the most goals (53) and scoring the fewest (17) so wins are going to be tough to come by in Flint.

Emanuel Vella is the number one goaltender in Flint. Cavallin has only appeared in two complete games this season, five in total. He’s come on in relief of Vella twice, not allowing a goal on both occasions. But he was also given the hook on one occasion in a game everyone would like to forget, a 12-1 drubbing by the Erie Otters.

The only way to get a good read on Cavallin is to hope he plays and plays a lot and to constantly have eyes on his performance and not paying attention to the outcome. Because the outcome may not be pretty.

Kari Piiroinen of the Windsor Spitfires is in kind of a similar situation. Not that the Spits are the Firebirds, but that you need to have eyes on Piiroinen constantly as you never know when he will make his next appearance. At least that is what one would think when you are backing up the best netminder in the OHL in Micheal DiPietro.

However, the Finnish born Piiroinen has started three of the Spits nine games and came on in relief of DiPietro in another. He boasts a 2-2-0-0 record with a goals-against average of 2.70 and a save percentage of .913, all of which are better then DiPietro’s stats. It’s possible the Spitfires might consider trading DiPietro in order to recoup some assets and that could benefit Piiroinen and his draft stock.

In Sault Ste Marie, Villalta is the incumbent for the Greyhounds. They began the season with OHL veteran Tyler Johnson as his backup, but he has since made the jump to the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League. In comes Ethan Taylor, who was not on Central Scouting’s list.

Taylor has gotten 2 starts in the last ten days and has come on in relief of Villalta where he stopped all 15 shots he faced in a 6-2 loss the Ottawa 67’s handed the Greyhounds. Taylor has exceptional numbers: a 1-0-1-0 record to go along with his 1.65 goals-against average and .973 save percentage. There was a lot of intrigue surrounding Taylor, and with Johnson moving on, a window of opportunity has opened up for him. Now he has to make the best of his chances when his number is called upon.

The Guelph Storm’s Nicholas Daws did make Central Scouting’s list. He appeared in 14 games for the Storm a season ago posting a goals-against average of 4.06 and a save percentage of .880 and a 1-7-1-1 record. He has started three games for the Storm this season and his stats have regressed from a year ago with his 4.25 goals-against average and .843 saver percentage and a 2-1-0-0 record.

Daws is backing up veteran Anthony Popovich and will likely see more starts then the other backups who are draft eligible. The Storm currently lead the Midwest Division, second overall in the league, with a 6-2-1-0 record but with the league’s eighth worst goals allowed (33).  There is a real opportunity here for Daws and the Storm if he can put it all together and improve on his early season start.

Ryan Dugas of the 3-7-0-0 Kingston Frontenacs is another netminder not on Central Scouting’s list. The Fronts occupy the basement of the East Division and are third from the bottom in the entire league. Although he is backing up veteran Brendan Bonello, Dugas has been a bright spot of sorts for Kingston.

Dugas has appeared in 4 games, one of those being in relief of Bonello, and has a 2-1-0-0 record. His first OHL game was a 27 save shutout performance on September 29 against the Erie Otters. He holds a 2.52 goals-against average and .916 save percentage. He is Kingston’s goalie of the future and if he can steal some starts – and wins – he will draw some attention.

Finally, we have to give a mention to Barrie Colts netminder Jet Greaves. Currently behind veteran Kai Edmonds and 2017 Vegas Golden Knights draft pick Maksim Zhukov who the Colts selected in the 2018 Import Draft, I really like Greaves coming into the season if not for name alone.

The fact is that Edmonds and Zhukov were not getting it done for the Colts, who sit second to last in the Central Division and Greaves got a chance and has outperformed his partners. Although he has a 1-1-0-0 record, his loss came against the Mississauga Steelheads in which he stopped 28 of 30 shots and his teammates could only score once.

Greaves holds a 1.52 goals-against average with a .949 save percentage. It could be in the Colts best interest to give him more starts right now and see if he can run with it.

With all that said and out of the way, 2019 is not the best draft class to come out of the OHL. In fact, it could be one of the worst ever for the OHL. And that could bode well for a goaltending class that is better then usual – at least in sheer numbers.

Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the week four edition of the Kia CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2018-19 season.  The weekly rankings of the CHL’s Top-10 teams are selected by a panel of National Hockey League scouts.

Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings – Week 4:

Rank: Team: Last Week Rank: Number of Weeks Ranked:
1 Baie-Comeau Drakkar (7-0-0-1) 6 2
2 Prince Albert Raiders (8-1-0-0) 4 2
3 Halifax Mooseheads (5-2-0-0) 1 4
4 Victoria Royals (6-0-0-0) – 1
5 London Knights (3-2-0-0) 2 4
6 Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (7-1-0-0) – 1
7 Vancouver Giants (6-1-0-0) – 2
8 Sudbury Wolves (6-2-0-0) – 1
9 Guelph Storm (4-1-1-0) – 1
10 Rimouski Oceanic (6-2-0-0) – 3
Honourable Mention:
Kitchener Rangers (4-0-2-0) 10 1
Brandon Wheat Kings (4-0-1-0) – 0
Saskatoon Blades (6-2-0-0) – 1

Kia CHL Top 10

CHL Announces Weekly Award Winners

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Blades’ Dawson Davidson named CHL Player of the Week

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Saskatoon Blades defenceman Dawson Davidson is the CHL Player of the Week for the regular season week ending October 7 with eight points in four games including one goal and seven assists along with a plus-minus rating of plus-6.

Davidson leads the CHL in scoring among defencemen following a week where a trio of multi-point performances helped spark three straight wins for the Blades lifting them into second place in the WHL’s Eastern Conference standings with a 6-2-0-0 record.  The three Blades wins came at the end of a four-game Alberta road trip that began last Tuesday night with a 5-4 loss to the Red Deer Rebels with Davidson tallying two assists.  The next night in Edmonton, Davidson matched a season-high with a goal and two assists earning third star honours in a 5-3 victory that handed the Oil Kings their first loss of the season.  His weekend included one assist as part of a 3-0 win over the Calgary Hitmen on Friday, then two assists as second star of a 3-2 shootout win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Saturday.  Davidson’s point total last week included four even strength marks and four on special teams including three with the man advantage.  He is the second member of the Blades to earn CHL Player of the Week honours in three weeks this season following forward Kirby Dach.

A 20-year-old from Moosomin, Sask., Davidson is playing in his fifth WHL season since joining the league as a third round pick of the Kamloops Blazers in the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft.  The majority of his career was spent in Kamloops playing 124 games for the Blazers before a trade led him to the Regina Pats where he finished the 2016-17 campaign and started 2017-18.  Since being acquired by the Blades last season his tenure has included 34 games where he amassed 28 points including two goals and 10 assists for 12 points in eight games this season.

Also considered for the award this week was fellow overage defenceman Gabriel Bilodeau of the Gatineau Olympiques who scored once with four assists for five points in a trio of victories.  In the OHL, Philadelphia Flyers prospect Isaac Ratcliffe of the Guelph Storm scored three goals and two assists for five points in a pair of wins.

2018-19 CHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:

Oct. 1 – Oct. 7: Dawson Davidson (Saskatoon Blades)
Sept. 24 – Sept. 30: Luka Burzan (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Sept. 19 – Sept. 23: Kirby Dach (Saskatoon Blades)

Giants’ Trent Miner named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Vancouver Giants rookie Trent Miner is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the regular season week ending October 7 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory with a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .964.

Miner turned aside 54 shots across his first two starts of the 2018-19 WHL season helping the Giants extend their winning-streak to four games putting them in a first place tie atop the Western Conference standings with a 6-1-0-0 record.  On Wednesday night he earned his first career shutout with a 21-save performance and third star honours blanking the Kelowna Rockets by a 5-0 score on the road.  He followed that effort with 33 saves on Saturday night in Prince George including 14 stops in the third period alone to preserve a 3-2 victory over the Cougars.

A 17-year-old from Brandon, Man., Miner was chosen 20th overall by the Giants in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft.  His two games this season follow his WHL debut of a year ago where he appeared in nine regular season games and carried a 3-4-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 4.20 and save percentage of .885.  He also appeared in three playoff contests and earned a victory in Game 1 of the first round series against the Victoria Royals.  Miner is eligible for the 2019 NHL Draft.

Also considered for the award this week was Buffalo Sabres prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen who made 99 saves for a goals-against-average of 1.66 and save percentage of .952 winning all three games of a Sudbury Wolves road trip.  In the QMJHL, Alexis Shank of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens went 1-0-0-1 with a shutout victory stopping 40 shots in total for a goals-against-average of 0.96 and save percentage of .952.

2018-19 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:

Oct. 1 – Oct. 7: Trent Miner (Vancouver Giants)
Sept. 24 – Sept. 30: Luke Richardson (Kitchener Rangers)
Sept. 19 – Sept. 23: Hunter Jones (Peterborough Petes)

Bloodlines Trickle Through the Ontario Hockey League

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

 

Family Tree

It’s happening more and more when the National Hockey League Draft takes place in late June. Grandsons, sons, brothers and cousins of former NHL’ers and other professional leagues from around the world look to carve their own niche and it all begins with hearing their names called on the draft floor, which takes place in Vancouver, British Columbia on June 21-22, 2019.

There is no shortage of Ontario Hockey League players that will be in that position. A total of 17 players eligible for the draft for the first time have had a relative play in the NHL, drafted by an NHL squad, or played some form of professional hockey.

Today, we take a look at those players beginning with the Barrie Colts. The Colts have 3 players with bloodlines. Defenceman Victor Hadfield is the grandson on former NHL’er Vic Hadfield who appeared in 1002 NHL games with the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Center Ryan Suzuki is the younger brother of Nick Suzuki, a first round pick of the Vegas Golden Knights, selected thirteenth overall in 2017 and later traded to the Montreal Canadiens. Finally, goaltender Luke Cavallin is the son of Mark who played professional hockey in Germany and represented Canada internationally in 25 contests. He also has a younger brother Adam playing Bantam Hockey.

The Guelph Storm also have a trio with hockey in their blood and hockey fans will certainly recognize two of the names. Centreman Mason Primeau is the son of Wayne Primeau and nephew of Keith Primeau. Wayne played in 774 NHL games with the Buffalo Sabres, Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs. Keith appeared in 909 games with the Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers.

Left Winger Tag Bertuzzi is the son of former NHL’er Todd Bertuzzi. His NHL career consisted of 1159 games with the New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames and Detroit Red Wings. He is also the cousin of Tyler Bertuzzi who has thus far played in 58 NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings.

German born Hamilton Bulldogs’ forward Tim Fleischer has a brother Marc, who is just three years older and trying to make Germany’s top league.

Kitchener Rangers’ blueliner Jack York is the son of former NHL’er Jason York, who played a total of 757 games for Detroit, Anaheim Ducks, Ottawa Senators, Nashville Predators and Boston. The elder York also spent the lockout year in the Swiss League. Jack also has a younger brother Matthew playing in the CCHL.

For the London Knights, defenceman Andrew Perrott is the son of Nathan Perrott, a forward with 89 NHL games experience, who also played 266 American Hockey League games and 168 International Hockey League games.

Also from the Knights, is centreman Matvey Guskov. His father Alexander never played in the NHL but competed in 294 Kontinental Hockey League games and 468 games in the top Russian League (prior to the formation of the KHL). He also appeared in 54 international contests for the Russians.

Oshawa Generals right wing Danil Antropov is the son of former NHL’er Nik Antropov, a veteran of 788 NHL games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Atlanta Thrashers and Winnipeg Jets.  Nik also played in 168 KHL games over his career.

Mack Guzda is a goaltender with the Owen Sound Attack and the son of a former goaltender Brad Guzda. The elder puck stopper never did play in the NHL but spent his career bouncing around the AHL, ECHL and IHL. He is also the cousin of Jeff Woywitka who played in 278 NHL games as well as 355 AHL games and a couple of seasons in Germany.

Peterborough Petes centreman Nick Robertson is the younger brother of Kingston Frontenacs scoring star and the 37th overall pick at the 2017 NHL draft Jason Robertson. They also have an older brother Michael currently playing at the University of Southern California.

That brings us to Nathan Staios, a defenceman with the Windsor Spitfires and the son of the current General Manager of the Hamilton Bulldogs, Steve Staios. Steve had a long career, appearing in 1001 NHL games with the Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, Atlanta Thrashers, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames and New York Islanders. He also appeared in 64 AHL games and 104 IHL games.

Wolves’ Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen named OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Buffalo Sabres prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen of the Sudbury Wolves is the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week for the regular season week ending October 7 posting a 3-0-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 1.66 and save percentage of .952.

Luukkonen turned aside 99 shots in a trio of road games last week for the Wolves who are now winners of five straight with him in the crease and sit atop the league’s overall standings with 12 points.  On Thursday night Luukkonen had a first star performance between-the-pipes with a season-high 46 saves in a 3-2 win over the Niagara IceDogs.  He made 23 saves as part of a 4-1 victory over the Erie Otters on Friday night, then wrapped up the road trip with 30 stops in a 3-2 overtime triumph against the Kitchener Rangers on Sunday afternoon.

A 19-year-old from Espoo, Finland, Luukkonen was chosen third overall by the Wolves in the CHL Import Draft and marks the first European goaltender to be selected since 2013.  His perfect start has situated him among the league’s goaltending leaders with a goals-against-average of 1.78 and save percentage of .944 while his five wins are a top mark.  The Sabres picked Luukkonen in the second round of the 2017 NHL Draft and signed him to an entry-level contract in June.

Watch video highlights of Luukkonen and the Wolves against the IceDogs, Otters, and Rangers.

Also considered for the award this week were Guelph Storm forwards Isaac Ratcliffe (Philadelphia Flyers) and Nate Schnarr (Arizona Coyotes) who both scored three goals with two assists for five points in a pair of weekend wins.  Joseph Garreffa of the Kitchener Rangers and Austen Keating of the Ottawa 67’s each had six points in three games with Garreffa tallying two goals and four assists to Keating’s one goal and five assists.

2018-19 OHL ‘On the Run’ Players of the Week – Regular Season:

Oct. 1 – Oct. 7: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Sudbury Wolves)
Sept. 24 – Sept. 30: Lucas Chiodo (Barrie Colts)
Sept. 19 – Sept. 23: Akil Thomas (Niagara IceDogs)

44 OHL’ers Named On NHL Central Scouting’s Players to Watch List

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

If you are a fan of the Ontario Hockey League and the National Hockey League Draft is your thing, you might want to wait until day two of the two day event to be held June 21 and 22 from Vancouver, British Columbia.

The 2019 draft is considered to be a strong and deep draft with strength at every position. While it is still very early, the fact that this could be a down year for the OHL as it pertains to the draft is proving to be just that.

Just two OHL’ers, Ryan Suzuki of the Barrie Colts and Arthur Kaliyev of the Hamilton Bulldogs are listed on NHL Central Scouting’s players to watch list as “A prospects.” An A prospect is considered to have first round potential.

Mack Guzda of the Owen Sound Attack. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Mack Guzda of the Owen Sound Attack. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

It gets slightly better for “B prospects”, typically considered to have second and third round potential. That list includes goaltender Mack Guzda of the Owen Sound Attack, widely considered the top goaltender available from the OHL.

The OHL could be hard pressed to reach the 35 players selected from their league in 2018 and might be closer to the all time low of 31 selected at the 2015 NHL Draft. It’s a far cry from the 56 drafted in 1999. In the past 28 years, on average, 43 players have been drafted from the OHL.

Here are the OHL players listed on Central Scouting list:

A KALIYEV ARTHUR HAMILTON OHL RW
A SUZUKI RYAN BARRIE OHL C
B CARROLL JOSEPH SAULT STE. MARIE OHL C
B CLARKE GRAEME OTTAWA OHL RW
B CONSTANTINOU WILLIAM NIAGARA OHL D
B GUSKOV MATVEI LONDON OHL C
B GUZDA MACK OWEN SOUND OHL G
B HARLEY THOMAS MISSISSAUGA OHL D
B KOLYACHONOK VLADISLAV LONDON OHL D
B OKHOTYUK NIKITA OTTAWA OHL D
B REES JAMIESON SARNIA OHL C
B ROBERTSON NICHOLAS PETERBOROUGH OHL LW
B TOMASINO PHILIP NIAGARA OHL C
C ALLENSEN NATHAN BARRIE OHL D
C ANTROPOV DANIL OSHAWA OHL LW
C BERTUZZI TAG GUELPH OHL C
C BIGNELL LUKE BARRIE OHL C
C BREWER MITCHELL OSHAWA OHL D
C CAVALLIN LUKE FLINT OHL G
C CERMAK ERIK PETERBOROUGH OHL LW
C DAWS NICOLAS GUELPH OHL G
C DUNKLEY NATHAN LONDON OHL C
C EGGENBERGER NANDO OSHAWA OHL LW
C EVERETT CALEB SAGINAW OHL D
C GOGOLEV PAVEL PETERBOROUGH OHL RW
C HILL MATHEW BARRIE OHL D
C JONES HUNTER PETERBOROUGH OHL G
C KEPPEN ETHAN FLINT OHL LW
C LADD GRAYSON WINDSOR OHL D
C LEGUERRIER JACOB SAULT STE. MARIE OHL D
C MCMICHAEL CONNOR LONDON OHL C
C MURRAY BLAKE SUDBURY OHL C
C PERROTT ANDREW LONDON OHL D
C PIIROINEN KARI WINDSOR OHL G
C PORCO NICHOLAS SAGINAW OHL LW
C PRIMEAU MASON GUELPH OHL C
C ROBERTSON CARTER OWEN SOUND OHL D
C ROSS LIAM SUDBURY OHL D
C SCHWINDT COLE MISSISSAUGA OHL C
C STARIKOV LEV WINDSOR OHL D
C STEVENSON KEEGAN GUELPH OHL LW
C STRUTHERS MATTHEW NORTH BAY OHL C
C VUKOJEVIC MICHAEL KITCHENER OHL D
C WASHKURAK KEEAN MISSISSAUGA OHL C

OHL’s Draft Eligible Statistical Leaders – September 2018

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

We are two weeks into the Ontario Hockey League season and so begins our watch of the league’s players eligible for the 2019 National Hockey League Draft that comes your way on June 21 and 22, 2019 from Vancouver British Columbia.

Stats

Our draft watch begins with the league’s statistical leaders as of September 30, 2018 and has always been the case at OHL Writers, we list players eligible for the NHL Draft for the first time – those passed over in previous years are not included.

Despite being a handful of games into the season, Ryan Suzuki of the Barrie Colts and Arthur Kaliyev of the Hamilton Bulldogs are beginning to show why they are considered the top two prospects from the OHL in most circles.

Nothing is decided in September of course. But it all starts here and we’ll strive to keep tabs on the prospects for your pleasure throughout the season.

Here are the OHL leaders in a variety of statistical categories:

Points Leaders
Player Team GP G A Pts
Ryan Suzuki Barrie Colts 4 4 7 11
Arthur Kaliyev Hamilton Bulldogs 4 6 4 10
Keean Washkurak Mississauga Steelheads 4 2 5 7
Connor McMichael London Knights 3 4 1 5
Tyler Angle Windsor Spitfires 4 2 3 5
Danil Antropov Oshawa Generals 4 2 3 5
Nicholas Porco Saginaw Spirit 4 3 1 4
Matvey Guskov London Knights 3 1 3 4
Thomas Harley Mississauga Steelheads 4 0 4 4
Philip Tomasino Niagara Ice Dogs 4 0 4 4
Goal Scoring Leaders
Player Team GP G GPG
Arthur Kaliyev Hamilton Bulldogs 4 6 1.50
Ryan Suzuki Barrie Colts 4 4 1.00
Connor McMichael London Knights 3 4 1.33
Nicholas Porco Saginaw Spirit 4 3 0.75
Keean Washkurak Mississauga Steelheads 4 2 0.50
Tyler Angle Windsor Spitfires 4 2 0.50
Danil Antropov Oshawa Generals 4 2 0.50
Emmett Sproule Erie Otters 3 2 0.67
Cole MacKay Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds 4 2 0.50
Graeme Clarke Ottawa 67’s 5 2 0.40
Assist Leaders
Player Team GP A APG
Ryan Suzuki Barrie Colts 4 7 1.75
Keean Washkurak Mississauga Steelheads 4 5 1.25
Thomas Harley Mississauga Steelheads 4 4 1.00
Arthur Kaliyev Hamilton Bulldogs 4 4 1.00
Philip Tomasino Niagara Ice Dogs 4 4 1.00
Matvey Guskov London Knights 3 3 1.00
Tyler Angle Windsor Spitfires 4 3 0.75
Danil Antropov Oshawa Generals 4 3 0.75
Simon Rose North Bay Battalion 5 3 0.60
Jordan Frasca Windsor Spitfires 2 2 1.00
Defencemen Point Leaders
Player Team GP G A Pts
Thomas Harley Mississauga Steelheads 4 0 4 4
Billy Constantinou Niagara Ice Dogs 4 1 2 3
Nathan Staios Windsor Spitfires 4 1 2 3
Lucas Peric Ottawa 67’s 5 1 2 3
Simon Rose North Bay Battalion 5 0 3 3
Mason Millman Saginaw Spirit 4 1 1 2
Liam Ross Sudbury Wolves 5 1 1 2
Jack York Kitchener Rangers 3 0 2 2
Plus/Minus Leaders
Player Team GP +/-
Ryan Suzuki Barrie Colts 4 +8
Philip Tomasino Niagara Ice Dogs 4 +6
Jack York Kitchener Rangers 3 +5
Nathan Staios Windsor Spitfires 4 +5
Matvey Guskov London Knights 3 +4
Jamieson Rees Sarnia Sting 3 +4
Michael Vukojevic Kitchener Rangers 3 +4
Tyler Angle Windsor Spitfires 4 +4
Connor McMichael London Knights 3 +3
Arthur Kaliyev Hamilton Bulldogs 4 +3
Penalty Minutes Leaders
Player Team GP PIM M/G
Evan Brand Kingston Frontenacs 5 9 1.80
Mathew Hill Barrie Colts 4 6 1.50
Nathan Staios Windsor Spitfires 4 6 1.50
Kurtis Evans North Bay Battalion 3 5 1.67
Tag Bertuzzi Guelph Storm 4 4 1.00
Robert Calisti Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds 4 4 1.00
Cole MacKay Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds 4 4 1.00
Faceoff Leaders  
Player Team GP FOA FOW %
Erik Cermak Peterborough Petes 4 20 14 70.0
Peter Fleming Barrie Colts 3 19 12 63.2
Tim Fleischer Hamilton Bulldogs 4 13 8 61.5
Connor McMichael London Knights 3 22 13 59.1
Blake Murray Sudbury Wolves 5 82 47 57.3
Griffin Wilson Owen Sound Attack 4 20 10 50.0
Longest Goal Scoring Streak
Player Team From To Gms Goals
Arthur Kaliyev Hamilton Bulldogs 9/21 – 4 6
Connor McMichael London Knights 9/21 – 3 4
Nicholas Porco Saginaw Spirit 9/21 – 3 3
Ryan Suzuki Barrie Colts 9/23 – 2 3
Tyler Angle Windsor Spitfires 9/21 9/27 2 2
Longest Assist Streak
Player Team From To Gms Assts
Arthur Kaliyev Hamilton Bulldogs 9/21 9/29 3 4
Ryan Suzuki Barrie Colts 9/20 9/27 3 7
Keean Washkurak Mississauga Steelheads 9/23 9/30 3 5
Danil Antropov Oshawa Generals 9/27 9/30 3 3
Thomas Harley Mississauga Steelheads 9/21 9/23 2 4
Longest Point Streak
Player Team From To Gms Pts
Ryan Suzuki Barrie Colts 9/19 – 4 11
Arthur Kaliyev Hamilton Bulldogs 9/21 – 4 10
Nicholas Porco Saginaw Spirit 9/22 – 4 5
Keean Washkurak Mississauga Steelheads 9/23 – 3 7
Connor McMichael London Knights 9/21 – 3 5
Shots On Goal Leaders
Player Team GP SOG
Arthur Kaliyev Hamilton Bulldogs 4 18
Connor McMichael London Knights 3 14
Billy Constantinou Niagara Ice Dogs 4 12
Jamieson Rees Sarnia Sting 3 11
Tyler Angle Windsor Spitfires 4 11
Goaltenders Leaders – Goals Against Average
Player Team GP Min GA Avg
Ryan Dugas Kingston Frontenacs 1 60 0 0.00
Ethan Langevin Sarnia Sting 2 81 1 0.74
Kari Piiroinen Windsor Spitfires 3 142 6 2.54
Hunter Jones Peterborough Petes 4 220 11 3.00
Mack Guzda Owen Sound Attack 5 293 20 4.10
Goaltending Leaders – Save Percentage
Player Team GP SH  SVS SV%
Ryan Dugas Kingston Frontenacs 1 27 27 1.000
Ethan Langevin Sarnia Sting 2 35 34 0.971
Kari Piiroinen Windsor Spitfires 3 78 72 0.923
Hunter Jones Peterborough Petes 4 126 115 0.913
Mack Guzda Owen Sound Attack 5 147 127 0.864
Goaltending Leaders – Wins
Player Team GP W L SOL
Hunter Jones Peterborough Petes 5 3 1 1
Kari Piiroinen Windsor Spitfires 3 2 1 0
Mack Guzda Owen Sound Attack 5 2 3 1
Ryan Dugas Kingston Frontenacs 1 1 0 1
Nico Daws Guelph Storm 1 1 0 0
Goaltending Leaders – Shutouts
Player Team GP SO
Ryan Dugas Kingston Frontenacs 1 1
Hunter Jones Peterborough Petes 3 1
Mack Guzda Owen Sound Attack 5 1

Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings

Posted on by Dominic Tiano
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the week two edition of the Kia CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2018-19 season.  The weekly rankings of the CHL’s Top-10 teams are selected by a panel of National Hockey League scouts.

Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings – Week 3:

 

Rank: Team: Last Week Rank: Number of Weeks Ranked:
1 Halifax Mooseheads (4-0-0-0) 1 3
2 London Knights (2-1-0-0) 2 3
3 Lethbridge Hurricanes (2-2-0-0) 3 3
4 Prince Albert Raiders (5-0-0-0) – 1
5 Edmonton Oil Kings (5-0-0-0) – 1
6 Baie-Comeau Drakkar (5-0-0-1) – 1
7 Niagara IceDogs (3-1-0-0) 5 3
8 Drummondville Voltigeurs (2-2-0-0) 4 3
9 Spokane Chiefs (2-1-0-1) 7 3
10 Kitchener Rangers (3-0-0-0) – 1
Honourable Mention:
Victoria Royals (4-0-0-0) – 0
Brandon Wheat Kings (3-0-0-0) – 0
Sarnia Sting (3-0-0-0) – 0

 

Kia CHL Top 10