OHL Writers

OHL’s Draft Eligible Statistical Leaders November 2022

Posted on December 2, 2022 by Dominic Tiano

Another month is completed in the Ontario Hockey League so it’s time to look at the statistical leaders among players eligible for the 2023 National Hockey League Entry Draft.

You will find some key players missing and others on the list may surprise, or even shock you. But we are only one-third of the way through the season so this will change no doubt.

As always, we take great care in compiling stats, but we aren’t perfect. Always refer to the OHL website for official stats.

Points Leaders
Player	Team	GP	G	A	Pts
Colby Barlow	Owen Sound Attack	20	17	14	31
Luca Pinelli	Ottawa 67’s	23	12	18	30
Ryan Abraham	Windsor Spitfires	21	8	18	26
Quentin Musty	Sudbury Wolves	20	7	18	25
Dalyn Wakely	North Bay Battalion	24	14	10	24
Matthew Soto	Kingston Frontenacs	24	9	15	24
Denver Barkey	London Knights	23	7	17	24
Calem Mangone	Saginaw Spirit	24	7	17	24
Brady Stonehouse	Ottawa 67’s	23	12	9	21
Spencer Sova	Erie Otters	22	10	11	21
Goal Scoring Leaders
Player	Team	GP	G	GPG
Colby Barlow	Owen Sound Attack	20	17	0.85
Dalyn Wakely	North Bay Battalion	24	14	0.58
Aidan Castle	Niagara IceDogs	21	12	0.57
Brady Stonehouse	Ottawa 67’s	23	12	0.52
Luca Pinelli	Ottawa 67’s	23	12	0.52
Brad Gardiner	Ottawa 67’s	23	12	0.52
Alex Pharand	Sudbury Wolves	22	11	0.50
Angus MacDonell	Sarnia Sting	24	11	0.46
Spencer Sova	Erie Otters	22	10	0.45
Cooper Foster	Ottawa 67’s	23	10	0.43
Assist Leaders
Player	Team	GP	A	APG
Quentin Musty	Sudbury Wolves	20	18	0.90
Ryan Abraham	Windsor Spitfires	21	18	0.86
Luca Pinelli	Ottawa 67’s	23	18	0.78
Denver Barkey	London Knights	23	17	0.74
Calem Mangone	Saginaw Spirit	24	17	0.71
Hunter Brzustewicz	Kitchener Rangers	21	16	0.76
Matthew Soto	Kingston Frontenacs	24	15	0.63
Colby Barlow	Owen Sound Attack	20	14	0.70
Lucas Moore	Hamilton Bulldogs	20	14	0.70
Brody Crane	London Knights	23	14	0.61
Defencemen Point Leaders
Player	Team	GP	G	A	Pts
Spencer Sova	Erie Otters	22	10	11	21
Brody Crane	London Knights	23	6	14	20
Oliver Bonk	London Knights	23	5	13	18
Hunter Brzustewicz	Kitchener Rangers	21	1	16	17
Chas Sharpe	Mississauga Steelheads	22	3	12	15
Quinton Burns	Kingston Frontenacs	24	1	13	14
Beau Akey	Barrie Colts	20	4	9	13
Tristan Bertucci	Flint Firebirds	20	2	11	13
Nicholas DeAngelis	Windsor Spitfires	22	1	12	13
Thomas Sirman	Ottawa 67’s	23	4	8	12
Plus/Minus Leaders
Player	Team	GP	+/-
Luca D’Amato	Oshawa Generals	24	+21
Luca Pinelli	Ottawa 67’s	23	+16
Colby Barlow	Owen Sound Attack	20	+15
Coulson Pitre	Flint Firebirds	24	+15
Brady Stonehouse	Ottawa 67’s	23	+14
Wyatt Kennedy	North Bay Battalion	24	+14
Ethan Miedema	Windsor Spitfires	22	+12
Kocha Delic	Sudbury Wolves	15	+11
Nicholas DeAngelis	Windsor Spitfires	22	+11
Tristan Bertucci	Flint Firebirds	20	+10
Penalty Minutes Leaders
Player	Team	GP	PIM	M/G
Djibril Toure	Sudbury Wolves	19	49	2.58
Angus MacDonell	Sarnia Sting	24	48	2.00
Ryder McIntyre	Oshawa Generals	19	46	2.42
Connor Clattenburg	Soo Greyhounds	19	45	2.37
Quinton Burns	Kingston Frontenacs	24	44	1.83
Faceoff Leaders (minimum 150 faceoffs)
Player	Team	GP	FOA	FOW	%
Michael Podolioukh	North Bay Battalion	16	169	97	57.4
Noah Morneau	Windsor Spitfires	19	243	137	56.4
Ethan Larmand	Sudbury Wolves	22	300	168	56.0
Denver Barkey	London Knights	23	303	166	54.8
Ethan Hay	Flint Firebirds	24	319	172	53.9
Goaltenders Leaders – Goals Against Average
Player	Team	GP	Min	GA	Avg
Collin MacKenzie	Ottawa 67’s	8	415	13	1.88
Charlie Schenkel	Soo Greyhounds	14	819	41	3.00
Mason Vaccari	Kingston Frontenacs	9	537	28	3.13
Liam Sztuska	Peterborough Petes	6	363	19	3.14
Goaltending Leaders – Save Percentage
Player	Team	GP	SH	SVS	SV%
Collin MacKenzie	Ottawa 67’s	8	184	171	0.929
Charlie Schenkel	Soo Greyhounds	14	553	508	0.919
Mason Vaccari	Kingston Frontenacs	9	306	278	0.908
Liam Sztuska	Peterborough Petes	6	189	170	0.899

OHL Writers Draft Eligible Player of the Month for November

Posted on December 2, 2022 by Dominic Tiano

Quentin Musty of the Sudbury Wolves. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images

The month of November saw some surprising yet great performances both individually and by teams. Unfortunately, there were some less than stellar performances as we are left waiting for some of the 2023 National Hockey League Entry Draft eligible players to break out, for lack of a better term.

The good outweigh the disappointing so we’ve got that covered as we name our draft eligible goaltender, defenceman and forward for the 2023 draft.

Our monthly choices:

Draft Eligible Forward of the Month – Quentin Musty – Sudbury Wolves

Normally, I would not put a player on the list that received a suspension, but what are you going to do? Musty’s suspension occurred during his last game of the month so, I couldn’t ignore the rest of the month. What exactly did he do? Well, he put up points in all 9 games he appeared in and totaled 3 goals and 12 assists for 15 points in those 9 games. Musty is now 4^th in scoring among draft eligible players and leads them all in assists.

Also considered were Luca Pinelli of the Ottawa 67’s with 6 goals and 9 assists in 12 games and Dalyn Wakely of the North Bay Battalion with 11 goals and 6 assists in 13 games.

Draft Eligible Defenceman of the Month – Brody Crane – London Knights

London Knights defenceman Brody Crane appeared in 12 games in the month of November and scored 4 goals while assisting on 10 others. Crane had back-to-back two goal games in mid-November. He was held pointless just three times and never in back-to-back games. His 6 goals and 14 assists on the season have him second in scoring among draft eligible defencemen.

Also considered was Crane’s teammate Oliver Bonk who posted 3 goals and 11 helpers in 12 games and was named the OHL Rookie of the Month for November.

Draft Eligible Goaltender of the Month – Charlie Schenkel – Soo Greyhounds

With an August 16, 2004, birthdate, Charlie Schenkel was eligible for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft but went unselected and is eligible to re-enter the draft for 2023. He made five starts in November and came away with a 2-1-1-1 record with a 2.16 goals-against-average and a .921 save-percentage. His best performance of the month was a 35-save shutout against the Mississauga Steelheads on November 25.

Schenkel sits sixth in the OHL with a goals-against-average of 3.00 and fifth with a save-percentage of .912.

Also considered was Andrew Oke of the Saginaw Spirit – also a draft re-entry – who went 4-0-0-0 with a .926 save-percentage.

Forwards

Quentin Musty – Sudbury Wolves – November

Ryan Abraham – Windsor Spitfires – October

Defencemen

Brody Crane – London Knights – November

Hunter Brzustewicz – Kitchener Rangers – October

Goaltenders

Andrew Oke – Saginaw Spirit – November

Collin MacKenzie – Ottawa 67’s – October

OHL ANNOUNCES ACADEMIC PLAYERS OF THE MONTH FOR NOVEMBER

Posted on December 2, 2022 by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Finn Harding of the Mississauga Steelheads, Braedyn Rogers of the Owen Sound Attack, James Guo of the Peterborough Petes and Bronson Ride of the Windsor Spitfires have been named Academic Players of the Month for November.

East Division: Peterborough Petes defenceman James Guo is the OHL East Division Academic Player of the Month for November.

Guo is achieving an 87 percent average in grade 12 university-level Advanced Functions, Interdisciplinary Studies and Nutrition and Health at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School.

“James is a dedicated athlete and student,” said Petes academic advisor Shannon Fife. “He balances his academics with a busy on and off-ice schedule. James is a leader and presents himself as such in the school.”

The 17-year-old from Woodbridge, Ont. has played 18 games this season, recording one goal for the Petes. The 6-foot-1, 180Ib. blueliner was selected in the fourth round (74th overall) by Peterborough in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection.

Central Division: Mississauga Steelheads rookie defenceman Finn Harding is the OHL Central Division Academic Player of the Month for November.

Harding is currently achieving a 91 percent overall average, including a 94 percent average in French Immersion, an 87 percent average in Chemistry, a 93 percent average in Advanced Functions, and a 90 percent average in Co-op at Philip Pocock Catholic Secondary School.

“Finn is a diligent and responsible student, whose maturity makes him a pleasure to teach,” said the Steelheads academic advisor Jeff Kyrzakos. Finn has managed to achieve a 91 percent average with a difficult course load while managing the transition to the OHL.”

The 17-year-old from Toronto, Ont. has played 18 games this season, recording two goals and one assist for a total of three points. The 6-foot-1, 182Ib. blueliner was selected in the eighth round (151st overall) by the Steelheads in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection.

Midwest Division: Owen Sound Attack defenceman Braedyn Rogers is the OHL Midwest Division Academic Player of the Month for November.

Rogers is currently achieving an 83 percent average in English, a 94 percent average in Nutrition and Health, an 84 percent average in international Business, and a 92 percent average in Co-op at Owen Sound District Secondary School.

“Braedyn has a solid work ethic both on and off the ice,” said Owen Sound’s academic advisor Sarah Rowe. “His teachers describe him as a conscientious worker and a dedicated student. He completed English in the summer and now carries a workload that includes two grade 12 university level courses despite only being in grade 11. Braedyn has a very positive attitude and is a pleasure to work with.”

The Belleville, Ont. native has played 11 games this season, recording one assist for the Attack. He also represented Canada Red at the recent World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in British Columbia. The Attack selected Rogers in the second round (30th overall) of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection.

West Division: Windsor Spitfires blueliner Bronson Ride is the OHL West Division Academic Player of the Month for November.

Ride, who also earned the honours in October 2021, has carried an overall average of 90 percent to date, including high marks in grade 12 Data, Functions, Business Leadership and Co-op at St. Anne High School.

“Bronson has started off this grade 12 year on a very high note,” said Spitfires academic advisor Danielle Chevalier. “He is excelling in all of his courses. His teachers love his maturity and hard work ethic. They say he is a pleasure to have in their classrooms.”

The 17-year-old from Oakville, Ont. has appeared in 23 games this season, recording one goal and four assists. Ride was selected in the second round (20th overall) by the Spitfires in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection.

2022-23 OHL Academic Players of the Month:

East Division:
November – James Guo (Peterborough Petes)
October – Brad Gardiner (Ottawa 67’s)

Central Division:
November – Finn Harding (Mississauga Steelheads)
October – Kieron Walton (Sudbury Wolves)

Midwest Division:
November – Braedyn Rogers (Owen Sound Attack)
October – Denver Barkey (London Knights)

West Division:
November – Bronson Ride (Windsor Spitfires)
October – Alex Kostov (Soo Greyhounds)

The OHL continues to produce student-athletes that move on to both professional and U SPORTS men’s hockey endeavors.

A total of 349 graduates utilized their OHL Scholarship at post-secondary institutions across North America during the 2021-22 academic year, with a total contribution by teams of over $3.5 million. Over the past 10 seasons, OHL Scholarship payments have totaled more than $25 million.

A total of 217 OHL Alumni were included on U SPORTS men’s hockey rosters to open the 2022-23 season.

Click here for more information about ‘OHL Players First’ programs.

OHL ANNOUNCES TOP PERFORMERS OF THE MONTH FOR NOVEMBER

Posted on December 2, 2022 by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the Top OHL Performers of the Month for regular season games played in November 2022 including London Knights teammates Sean McGurn and Oliver Bonk along with Saginaw Spirit teammates Pavel Mintyukov and Tristan Lennox.

OHL Player of the Month – Sean McGurn (London Knights):
London Knights forward Sean McGurn is the OHL Player of the Month for November, leading all players with 20 points including six goals, 14 assists and a plus/minus rating of plus-7 in 12 contests last month. The overage centreman helped the Knights turn around a slow start to their season, registering points in 10 of his 12 outings as London played to a November mark of 10-2-0-0. McGurn logged seven multi-point performances, including three straight capped by a goal and two helpers on Nov. 12th in Windsor as the Knights defeated the Spitfires 6-1. McGurn scored in four consecutive contests as part of a 12-game point streak. He posted another goal and two assist showing on Nov. 19th in Flint as the Knights defeated the Firebirds 7-4. He did so again on Nov. 27th in Oshawa as London skated to a 4-2 win. McGurn becomes the first Knights player to earn OHL Player of the Month honours since Mitch Marner last received the title in February 2016.

A 20-year-old native of Ottawa, Ont., McGurn is in his third season with the Knights and sits fourth in OHL scoring with 32 points (10-22–32) in 23 games. He’s won 57.4 percent of his faceoffs this season while taking just two minutes in penalties thus far. He’s accumulated 108 points (31-77–108) over 127 regular season games since being selected by London in the third round (53rd overall) of the 2018 OHL Priority Selection. McGurn attended rookie camp with the Toronto Maple Leafs in September.

OHL Defenceman of the Month – Pavel Mintyukov (Saginaw Spirit):
For the second straight month, Anaheim Ducks prospect Pavel Mintyukov of the Saginaw Spirit is the OHL Defenceman of the Month, leading all defenders with 17 points including six goals, 11 assists and a plus/minus rating of plus-12 in 11 games. Mintyukov’s continued excellence on the blue line helped the Spirit play to a November record of 10-1-0-0 as they roll into the month of December as the hottest team in the OHL. His month included six different multi-point showings, starting with a goal and an assist on Nov. 3rd as the Spirit came back to defeat the Kingston Frontenacs 3-2. He tacked on three points (1-2–3) on Nov. 6th in Oshawa as the Spirit took a 5-0 road win. Mintyukov registered his second multi-goal showing of the campaign on Nov. 12th against Sault Ste. Marie, tying the game with 16 seconds to spare in an eventual 4-3 overtime win over the Greyhounds. He rounded-out November with back-to-back multi-point totals, picking up a goal and an assist in a 4-1 win over Sarnia on Nov. 25th before scoring and adding two helpers in a Nov. 26th 7-2 win over the Windsor Spitfires. This marks Mintyukov’s third OHL Defenceman of the Month honour following previous titles in October 2022 and March 2021. He’s the first player to be named OHL Defenceman of the Month in each of the first two months of a season since Dougie Hamilton of the Niagara IceDogs in October and November 2011.

A recently-turned 19-year-old standing 6-foot-3 and 195Ibs., Mintyukov sits second in OHL scoring with 35 points (12-23–35) in 24 games this season, paired with the League’s third-best plus/minus rating of plus-19. He became the first defenceman to ever lead the Spirit in scoring last season, recording 62 points (17-45–62) in 67 games before being selected 10th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2022 NHL Draft. The Spirit selected Mintyukov with the 52nd overall pick of the 2020 CHL Import Draft. He was voted to the OHL’s third all-star team last season.

OHL Goaltender of the Month – Tristan Lennox (Saginaw Spirit):
New York Islanders prospect Tristan Lennox of the Saginaw Spirit is the OHL Goaltender of the Month for November, helping the Spirit ascend to first place in the West Division standings with a record of 6-1-0-0, goals-against average of 1.86 and save percentage of .931 in seven appearances. After his lone loss to start the month, Lennox posted his first shutout of the campaign on Nov. 6th in Oshawa, making 26 saves as the Spirit defeated the Generals 5-0. He turned aside 28 shots a week later in Sarnia as the Spirit defeated the Sting by a score of 4-3 in overtime on Nov. 11th. Lennox registered 36 saves in a 4-3 overtime road win over the Flint Firebirds on Nov. 23rd, earning second star recognition for his efforts. He closed out November with a sixth straight win on Nov. 26th, making 27 saves as the Spirit defeated visiting Windsor 7-2 to match a franchise record with their ninth consecutive victory. Lennox is the first Spirit goaltender to earn OHL Goaltender of the Month honours since Ivan Prosvetov who last did so in March 2019.

A 20-year-old from Cambridge, Ont., Lennox owns a 12-3-0-0 record with a 2.95 goals-against average and .891 save percentage through 16 games in this, his fourth OHL season. The overage goaltender has played to a career mark of 46-33-3-2 with a 3.25 goals-against average and .887 save percentage in 92 regular season games, all with the Spirit who selected him in the second round (26th overall) of the 2018 OHL Priority Selection. Lennox was drafted by the New York Islanders in the third round (93rd overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft.

OHL Rookie of the Month – Oliver Bonk (London Knights):
Draft eligible London Knights blueliner Oliver Bonk is the OHL Rookie of the Month for November, leading all rookies with 14 points including three goals, 11 assists and a plus/minus rating of plus-5 in 12 games. Bonk’s presence and increased responsibility on the Knights blue line helped the green and gold surge to a 10-2-0-0 record in the month of November, pushing them to the top of the Midwest Division standings. Bonk recorded points in 10 of his 12 November contests, opening the month by matching his October total in a single game with three points (1-2–3) in a 6-3 loss to the Erie Otters on Nov. 4th. Bonk registered points in eight consecutive games, capped by a goal and an assist on Nov. 19th in Flint as the Knights defeated the Firebirds 7-4. He lit the lamp again on Nov. 25th in Kitchener as the Knights defeated the rival Rangers 4-0. Bonk becomes the first Knights defenceman to earn OHL Rookie of the Month recognition since John Carlson last did so in December 2008.

A 17-year-old from Ottawa, Ont., Bonk leads the Knights offensively from the blue line with 18 point (5-13–18) in 23 games. The 6-foot-2, 179Ib. right-shot appeared in 10 games with London last season, recording three assists while also excelling with the St. Thomas Stars of the GOJHL where he posted 32 points (5-27–32) in as many games to earn GOJHL West Top Rookie Defenceman honours, also being voted to the GOJHL West Rookie All-Star Team. The son of former long-time NHL forward Radek Bonk, Oliver was London’s second round (26th overall) pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection. He won gold with Canada in this past summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup Tournament. Bonk was listed as a ‘B’ rated skater on NHL Central Scouting’s latest Players to Watch list released on Oct. 25th.

2022-23 OHL Performers of the Month:

Player of the Month:
November – Sean McGurn (London Knights)
October – Brennan Othmann (Flint Firebirds)

Defenceman of the Month:
November – Pavel Mintyukov (Saginaw Spirit)
October – Pavel Mintyukov (Saginaw Spirit)

Goaltender of the Month:
November – Tristan Lennox (Saginaw Spirit)
October – Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes)

Rookie of the Month:
November – Oliver Bonk (London Knights)
October – Michael Misa (Saginaw Spirit)

BROCHU AND DONOVAN NAMEDOHL TOP PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK

Posted on November 28, 2022 by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Week for the week of regular season games ending Sunday, November 27, 2022.

Bulldogs’ Jorian Donovan Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week

Ottawa Senators prospect Jorian Donovan of the Hamilton Bulldogs is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording three goals, three assists and six points in two games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-9.

Helping guide the Bulldogs to a perfect 2-0 showing last week, Donovan recorded a pair of assists on Friday as Hamilton overcame the North Bay Battalion 4-1 at home. He registered a career-high four points on Sunday, scoring a hat trick while adding an assist as the Bulldogs defeated the visiting Soo Greyhounds in a high-scoring 10-6 victory. Donovan’s hat trick was just the third by a defenceman in Bulldogs history following prior efforts by Nathan Staios (Feb. 26, 2022 vs. Ottawa) and Ben Gleason (Nov. 24, 2017 at Oshawa).

An 18-year-old native of Richmond, Ont., Donovan leads Hamilton blueliners with 17 points (7-10–17) in 18 games this season, and is riding a current eight-game point streak that dates back to Nov. 10th. He was a fifth round (136rd overall) pick of the Ottawa Senators this past summer following three goals, 19 assists and 22 points in 64 games for the OHL champion Bulldogs. The son of former Ottawa 67’s graduate and long-time NHL forward Shean Donovan, Jorian was originally selected by Hamilton in the first round (6th overall) of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection.

Also considered for the award this week, Bulldogs’ captain Logan Morrison put up seven points (3-4–7) in two wins. Saginaw rookie Michael Misa continued his success recording two goals, five assists and seven points as the Spirit tacked three more wins onto their run of success.

2022-23 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Jorian Donovan (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Matthew Poitras (Guelph Storm)
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Brody Crane (London Knights)
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Matvey Petrov (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Deni Goure (Owen Sound Attack)
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Owen Beck (Mississauga Steelheads)
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Matthew Maggio (Windsor Spitfires)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Pavel Mintyukov (Saginaw Spirit)
Sept. 29 – Oct. 2: Tucker Robertson (Peterborough Petes)

Knights’ Brett Brochu Named OHL Goaltender of the Week

Brett Brochu of the London Knights is the OHL Goaltender of the Week with two victories including a shutout, a 1.00 goals-against average and a .969 save percentage.

Defending the crease in back-to-back wins, Brochu turned aside all 28 shots that came his way to earn first star honours as the Knights opened up the weekend with a 4-0 shutout victory over the Kitchener Rangers on Friday. Brochu returned to the crease on Sunday night in Oshawa, stopping 34 of the 36 shots he faced as the Knights defeated the Generals 4-2. Brochu’s two victories gave him 71 on his OHL career, pushing him ahead of Steve Mason for the fifth-most in franchise history.

A 20-year-old from Belle River, Ont., Brochu owns a 10-6-1-0 record with a 3.07 goals-against average and .892 save percentage in 17 games this season, winning six of his last seven starts. The reigning Jim Rutherford OHL Goaltender of the Year Award recipient owns a 71-23-3-0 record, 2.67 goals-against average, .911 save percentage and five shutouts in 102 regular season contests. Brochu was London’s sixth round (114th overall) pick in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection. He attended training camp with the Vancouver Canucks this past September.

Also in the running for the award this week, New York Islanders prospect Tristan Lennox of the Saginaw Spirit went 2-0 with a 2.49 goals-against average and .926 save percentage. Erie’s Kyle Downey was also outstanding in the crease, going 1-1 with a 1.85 goals-against average and .938 save percentage in three appearances.

2022-23 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Brett Brochu (London Knights)
Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes)
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Joe Ranger (Sudbury Wolves)
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Tristan Lennox (Saginaw Spirit)
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Carter George (Owen Sound Attack)
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Collin MacKenzie (Ottawa 67’s)
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Ivan Zhigalov (Kingston Frontenacs)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Alessio Beglieri (Mississauga Steelheads)
Sept. 29 – Oct. 2: Ben Gaudreau (Sarnia Sting)

OHL CUP U16 AAA TOP 10 RANKINGS – WEEK 1

Posted on November 24, 2022November 24, 2022 by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, Ont. – The 2022 Gloria Rints International Silver Stick is getting underway today in Whitby, Ont., marking a mid-season milestone on the road to the 2023 OHL Cup Showcase hosted by the Greater Toronto Hockey League that takes place from March 28 to April 3, 2023.

To celebrate the occasion of one of the season’s biggest U16 AAA tournaments, the OHL has released its first edition of the OHL Cup Top 10 Rankings, a list that will be released each Tuesday throughout the remainder of the season.

The 2023 OHL Cup will feature 20 teams consisting of talent eligible for the 2023 OHL Priority Selection. Starting with Wild Card Play-In matchups on Tuesday, March 28, all games will be played at the Scotiabank Pond in Toronto until the Championship Final moves to the Mattamy Athletic Centre on Monday, April 3.

The weekly rankings are determined by a panel of OHL Central Scouting staff and represent the top teams that are competing to play in the annual year-end championship tournament.

U16 AAA Rankings for the 2023 OHL Cup Powered by Under Armour – Week 1

Rank:	Team:
1	Toronto Marlboros (GTHL)
2	York-Simcoe Express (OMHA)
3	London Jr. Knights (ALLIANCE)
4	Halton Hurricanes (OMHA)
5	Toronto Jr. Canadiens (GTHL)
6	Peterborough Petes (OMHA)
7	Vaughan Kings (GTHL)
8	Mississauga Rebels (GTHL)
9	Toronto Nationals (GTHL)
10	Mississauga Senators (GTHL)
	Honourable Mention:
	Southern Tier Admirals (OMHA)
	Waterloo Wolves (ALLIANCE)
	Don Mills Flyers (GTHL)

History:
The OHL Cup returned in 2022 and did not disappoint as underage star Michael Misa turned heads, setting a new Showcase scoring record with 20 points (10-10–20) in seven games, capped by a hat-trick and five-point performance in a Mississauga Senators championship victory. The wild card entry Senators prevailed in the championship final over the Toronto Jr. Canadiens by a score of 6-2, finishing the tournament with a record of 6-1. Misa (Saginaw Spirit) and Mississauga Senators teammate Malcolm Spence (Erie Otters) would go on to be selected first and second overall in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection.

The 2022 OHL Priority Selection featured 19 players chosen in the first round who competed for the OHL Cup including Michael Misa (Mississauga Senators – 1st overall Saginaw Spirit), Malcolm Spence (Mississauga Senators – 2nd overall Erie Otters), Sam Dickinson (Toronto Marlboros – 4th overall Niagara IceDogs), Porter Martone (Toronto Jr. Canadiens – 5th overall Sarnia Sting), Jack Van Volsen (Toronto Jr. Canadiens – 6th overall Peterborough Petes), Henry Mews (Toronto Jr. Canadiens – 7th overall Ottawa 67’s), Beckett Sennecke (Toronto Marlboros – 8th overall Oshawa Generals), Michael Hage (Toronto Jr. Canadiens – 9th overall Kitchener Rangers), Jett Luchanko (London Jr. Knights – 12th overall Guelph Storm), Lucas Karmiris (Brantford 99ers -13th overall Mississauga Steelheads), Ben Danford (Quinte Red Devils – 14th overall Oshawa Generals), Luca Testa (Niagara North Stars – 15th overall London Knights), Christopher Brown (North York Rangers – 16th overall Soo Greyhounds), Gabriel Frasca (Mississauga Senators – 17th overall Kingston Frontenacs), Kaden Pitre (Vaughan Kings – 18th overall Flint Firebirds), Zayne Parekh (Markham Majors – 19th overall Saginaw Spirit), Frankie Marrelli (Markham Waxers – 21st overall Ottawa 67’s), Anthony Cristoforo (Toronto Jr. Canadiens – 22nd overall Windsor Spitfires) and Marek Vanacker (Brantford 99ers – 23rd overall Hamilton Bulldogs).

Notable OHL Cup graduates currently playing in the NHL include Connor McDavid (Toronto Marlboros/Edmonton Oilers), Steven Stamkos (Markham Waxers/Tampa Bay Lightning), John Tavares (Toronto Marlboros/Toronto Maple Leafs), Mitch Marner (Vaughan Kings/Toronto Maple Leafs), Travis Konecny (Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs/Philadelphia Flyers), Taylor Hall (Greater Kingston Frontenacs/Boston Bruins), Tyler Seguin (Toronto Nationals/Dallas Stars), Jamie Drysdale (Toronto Marlboros/Anaheim Ducks) and Wyatt Johnston (Toronto Marlboros/Dallas Stars) among a host of other names.

For more information, visit OHLCup.ca.

FOUR OHL CLUBS BID TO HOST 2024 MEMORIAL CUP PRESENTED BY KIA

Posted on November 24, 2022 by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, Ont. – The Canadian Hockey League announced today that four Ontario Hockey League clubs have submitted intents to bid for the hosting rights of the 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Kia.

The Kingston Frontenacs, Niagara IceDogs, Saginaw Spirit, and Soo Greyhounds will each submit their bids prior to the January 31 deadline, with the winning bid then announced in March 2023.

“We are excited to have four diverse communities express their interest to bid for the 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Kia,” said Dan MacKenzie, President of the Canadian Hockey League. “The Memorial Cup is a great hockey tradition that not only celebrates the best in junior hockey but also honours the brave men and women who served and continue to serve our country.”

Open to bids from the OHL and returning to the League for the first time since 2017, the 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Kia will take place in June 2024 and will feature the playoff champion from the Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and Western Hockey League, in addition to the chosen OHL host club.

The Frontenacs, IceDogs, and Spirit would all be first-time hosts of the Memorial Cup, while the Greyhounds both hosted and won the year-end tournament in 1993 following past participation in 1985, 1991, and 1992.

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.

About Kia Canada
Kia Canada Inc., founded in 1999, is a subsidiary of Kia Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. The company employs 170 people at its headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario, as well as in locations across Canada and at its regional office in Montréal, Québec. Kia offers products and services that are innovative, dynamic, thoughtful and award-winning, through a network of 197 dealers across the country. The company’s brand slogan – ‘Movement that inspires’ reflects Kia’s commitment to inspiring consumers through its products and services. To learn more, visit kia.ca or Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

POITRAS AND SIMPSON NAMEDOHL TOP PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK

Posted on November 21, 2022 by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Week for the week of regular season games ending Sunday, November 20, 2022

Storm’s Matthew Poitras Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week

Boston Bruins prospect Matthew Poitras of the Guelph Storm is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week after recording two goals, six assists and eight points in a pair of Storm victories.

Poitras helped the Storm come from behind to defeat the Niagara IceDogs 6-4 on Thursday night, recording four primary assists, with three of them coming in the third period. After earning third star recognition on Friday, Poitras was named the game’s first star on Saturday, scoring twice while adding two assists as Guelph defeated the visiting Kitchener Rangers 5-3. Poitras opened the scoring in Saturday’s win and scored the eventual game winning goal early in the second period.

An 18-year-old from Brooklin, Ont., Poitras leads the Storm with 23 points (6-17–23) in 16 games this season while also owning a club-high plus-4 rating. He’s won 54.3 percent of his faceoffs on the campaign and is in the midst of a six-game point streak that dates back to Oct. 30th. The 5-foot-11, 170Ib. centreman was selected by the Boston Bruins in the second round (54th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft. Poitras was Guelph’s first round (12th overall) pick in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection from the Whitby Wildcats U16 program.

Also considered for the award this week, Seattle Kraken prospect Ty Nelson put up six points (2-4–6) in three games on the North Bay Battalion blue line. Poitras’ new Guelph Storm teammate Max Namestnikov got off to a great start in his new surroundings, recording six points (3-3–6) last week.

2022-23 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Matthew Poitras (Guelph Storm)
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Brody Crane (London Knights)
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Matvey Petrov (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Deni Goure (Owen Sound Attack)
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Owen Beck (Mississauga Steelheads)
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Matthew Maggio (Windsor Spitfires)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Pavel Mintyukov (Saginaw Spirit)
Sept. 29 – Oct. 2: Tucker Robertson (Peterborough Petes)

Petes’ Michael Simpson Named OHL Goaltender of the Week

Michael Simpson of the Peterborough Petes is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, posting a 2-0 record with a 1.50 goals-against average, .950 save percentage and one shutout.

October’s OHL Goaltender of the Month, Simpson went a perfect 26-for-26 on Thursday night against the Oshawa Generals as the Petes defeated their long-time rival by a score of 4-0. Simpson returned to the crease on Saturday in Mississauga, making 31 saves for second star honours as Peterborough defeated the host Steelheads 7-3.

A 19-year-old from London, Ont., Simpson leads the OHL with a 2.28 goals-against average, .925 save percentage and two shutouts through 16 games, posting a record of 9-4-1-2. The second-year netminder played to a 20-18-3-1 mark in 2021-22, registering a 3.56 goals-against average and .891 save percentage. Simpson was a 10th round (193rd overall) pick of the Petes in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection from the London Jr. Knights U16 program.

Also in the running for the award this week, Barrie Colts netminder Ben West turned aside 82 shots, going 1-1 with a 2.53 goals-against average and .943 save percentage. Ottawa’s Max Donoso helped the 67’s continue their current winning streak, going 2-0 with a 3.00 goals-against average and .900 save percentage.

2022-23 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes)
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Joe Ranger (Sudbury Wolves)
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Tristan Lennox (Saginaw Spirit)
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Carter George (Owen Sound Attack)
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Collin MacKenzie (Ottawa 67’s)
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Ivan Zhigalov (Kingston Frontenacs)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Alessio Beglieri (Mississauga Steelheads)
Sept. 29 – Oct. 2: Ben Gaudreau (Sarnia Sting)

CRANE AND RANGER NAMEDOHL TOP PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK

Posted on November 15, 2022 by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Week for the week of regular season games ending Sunday, November 13th.

Knights’ Brody Crane Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week

Brody Crane of the London Knights is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording four goals, three assists and seven points in three games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-3.

Helping the Knights to a perfect 3-0 showing, Crane opened up the weekend with a pair of goals on Friday as London defeated visiting Barrie in a thrilling 5-4 overtime win. He registered a career-high four points on Saturday, scoring twice while adding two assists as the Knights defeated the Windsor Spitfires 6-1. The 5-foot-11, 185lb. forward contributed another assist on Sunday as the Knights closed out the weekend with a 4-2 win over the Soo Greyhounds.

An 18-year-old native of Union, Ont., Crane has produced six goals, eight assists and 14 points in 16 games this season. The former fourth round (62nd overall) pick by the Knights in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection has registered 14 goals, 15 assists and 29 points in 72 career regular season games. The son of former Knights, Ottawa 67’s and Windsor Spitfires forward Derrick Crane (1990-93), Brody attended rookie camp with the New Jersey Devils this past fall.

Also given consideration for the award this week were recent award recipient Deni Goure of the Owen Sound Attack, who recorded three goals, five assists and eight points (3-5-8) in four games. Logan Morrison of the Hamilton Bulldogs was also a standout, recording one goal and six helpers (1-6-7) over three outings.

2022-23 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Brody Crane (London Knights)
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Matvey Petrov (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Deni Goure (Owen Sound Attack)
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Owen Beck (Mississauga Steelheads)
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Matthew Maggio (Windsor Spitfires)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Pavel Mintyukov (Saginaw Spirit)
Sept. 29 – Oct. 2: Tucker Robertson (Peterborough Petes)

Wolves’ Joe Ranger Named OHL Goaltender of the Week

Joe Ranger of the Sudbury Wolves is the OHL Goaltender of the Week with two wins, a goals-against average of 2.00 and a save percentage of .931.

Defending the crease in back-to-back victories, Ranger turned aside 32 of the 35 shots that came his way as Sudbury opened up the weekend with a 6-3 victory over the Guelph Storm on Friday. The 6-foot, 191lb. netminder returned to the crease on Saturday, stopping 22 of the 23 shots he faced as the Wolves dominated the Kitchener Rangers in a 6-1 win at home.

A 20-year-old from Carp, Ont., Ranger owns a 6-6-2-0 record with a 3.37 goals-against average and .902 save percentage in 14 games this season. The former fourth round (63rd overall) pick by the Mississauga Steelheads in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection currently holds a 28-25-7-0 record in 69 regular season OHL appearances between Sudbury and Mississauga.

A pair of other candidates were given consideration for the award as North Bay Battalion netminder Dom DiVincentiis went 2-0 on the weekend, recording a 2.00 goals-against average and .930 save percentage in wins over Barrie and Guelph. Kitchener Rangers goaltender Marco Costantini went 2-1-0-0, posting a 2.36 goals-against average and .920 save percentage.

2022-23 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Joe Ranger (Sudbury Wolves)
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Tristan Lennox (Saginaw Spirit)
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Carter George (Owen Sound Attack)
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Collin MacKenzie (Ottawa 67’s)
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Ivan Zhigalov (Kingston Frontenacs)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Alessio Beglieri (Mississauga Steelheads)
Sept. 29 – Oct. 2: Ben Gaudreau (Sarnia Sting)

LENNOX AND PETROV NAMEDOHL TOP PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK

Posted on November 7, 2022 by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Week for the week of regular season games ending Sunday, November 6, 2022.

Battalion’s Matvey Petrov Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week

Edmonton Oilers prospect Matvey Petrov of the North Bay Battalion is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording four goals, two assists and six points in three games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-6.

Petrov helped the Battalion take three wins last week, extending their current winning streak to five games. He recorded a goal and two assists as the Battalion defeated the Niagara IceDogs in a high-scoring 9-3 victory on Thursday. Petrov’s scoring ways continued on Friday as he netted a pair of markers in a 5-1 road win over the Hamilton Bulldogs. He found the back of the net, extending his current point streak to 11 games on Saturday as the Battalion took a 5-3 win in Erie.

A 19-year-old forward, Petrov was selected in the sixth round (180th overall) by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2021 NHL Draft who signed him to an entry-level NHL contract on April 11, 2022. He leads the Troops with 20 points (8-12–20) in 14 games this season. The former first overall pick by the Battalion in the 2020 CHL Import Draft recorded 40 goals, 50 assists and 90 points last season before leading North Bay to the Eastern Conference Championship Series.

Also given consideration for the award this week were a pair of Sarnia Sting teammates in Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Ty Voit who recorded seven assists (0-7-7), and Nolan Burke who registered six goals (6-0-6) over three games played.

2022-23 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Matvey Petrov (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Deni Goure (Owen Sound Attack)
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Owen Beck (Mississauga Steelheads)
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Matthew Maggio (Windsor Spitfires)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Pavel Mintyukov (Saginaw Spirit)
Sept. 29 – Oct. 2: Tucker Robertson (Peterborough Petes)

Spirit’s Tristan Lennox Named OHL Goaltender of the Week

New York Islanders prospect Tristan Lennox of the Saginaw Spirit is the OHL Goaltender of the Week with a shutout victory, a goals-against average of 0.51 and a save percentage of .979.

Defending the crease in back-to-back games, Lennox turned aside 20 of the 21 shots he faced on Friday, surrendering a late goal to Kitchener’s Roman Schmidt as the Spirit fell 1-0 on the road. Lennox was back between the pipes on Sunday night, backstopping Saginaw to a 5-0 road win over the Oshawa Generals where he made 26 saves to earn his second career OHL shutout.

A 20-year-old native of Cambridge, Ont., Lennox was selected in the third round (93rd overall) by the New York Islanders in the 2021 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-3, 200 lb. netminder is 7-3 on the season with a 3.21 goals-against average and .879 save percentage. He owns a career mark of 41-33-3-2 with a 3.31 goals-against average and .885 save percentage over 87 career regular season games. Lennox was Saginaw’s second round (26th overall) pick in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection from the Mississauga Reps U16 program.

A pair of other candidates were given consideration for the award as Ottawa 67’s netminder Max Donoso went 2-0 on the weekend, recording a 1.50 goals-against average and .927 save percentage in wins over Barrie and Peterborough. Soo Greyhounds goaltender Samuel Ivanov went 1-0-0-1, posting a 1.44 goals-against average and .945 save percentage to help his team collect three of a possible four points.

2022-23 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Tristan Lennox (Saginaw Spirit)
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Carter George (Owen Sound Attack)
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Collin MacKenzie (Ottawa 67’s)
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Ivan Zhigalov (Kingston Frontenacs)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Alessio Beglieri (Mississauga Steelheads)
Sept. 29 – Oct. 2: Ben Gaudreau (Sarnia Sting)

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