ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE PREPARING FOR 2020 ONLINE OHL PRIORITY SELECTION PRESENTED BY REAL CANADIAN SUPERSTORE

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

OHL Draft 2020Press Release

 

Toronto, Ont. – In the midst of what’s been an unprecedented season in the hockey world, the Ontario Hockey League is busily preparing for one of the biggest days on its calendar – the 2020 OHL Priority Selection Presented by Real Canadian Superstore, which is currently scheduled to take place on Saturday April 4th beginning at 9:00am.

The annual Priority Selection is one of the highlights of the season as 300 players join OHL member team organizations, striving to grow their game while pursuing their academic endeavours in the world’s premier development League. In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Priority Selection will be held entirely online, adhering to all government and public health physical distancing guidelines at both the League and member team levels. This year’s unique approach to a very special day will be conducted in the interest of ensuring the health and safety of prospects, their families as well as OHL member team and League personnel.

The League has reached out to prospects and their families to both explain the process and the program, and to remind them of the March 28, 2020 emergency order in Ontario prohibiting organized public gatherings and social gatherings of more than five people. Teams in Pennsylvania and Michigan are also following public health recommendations of local, state and federal governments.

All member teams have been advised of the guidelines and rules of the process including:

  • League and member team staff cannot work from the premise of their hockey offices or arenas. All gatherings must adhere to the emergency order issued by the Ontario Government on March 28 prohibiting public or social gatherings of more than five people.
  • All self-isolating or quarantined participants must respect those guidelines
  • Proper protocols must be in place including: access to hand sanitizers, hand-washing facilities, etc.
  • League staff, including Commissioner David Branch, will be working remotely and respecting the established health guidelines.
  • The 2020 OHL Priority Selection will be conducted entirely online. In addition, the first three rounds of the event will be streamed on the OHL’s YouTube channel with player highlight footage and live updates. The League will also be gathering content throughout the event, engaging draftees, general managers and OHL Central Scouting personnel on virtual platforms.

Players, families and fans are invited to follow the first three rounds of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection streaming live on the OHL’s YouTube channel.

Follow the Ontario Hockey League on Twitter (@OHLHockey), Instagram (@ohlofficial), Facebook (@OHLHockey) and YouTube (@ontariohockeyleagueofficial) for complete up to the minute coverage of the 2020 OHL Online Priority Selection Presented by Real Canadian Superstore.

For more information, visit ontariohockeyleague.com.

About the Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League which is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and four American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL is made up of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League and U SPORTS than any other league.

OHL Writers’ Draft Eligible Player of the Year

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

First off, I want to begin by saying I hope you are all safe and healthy in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. We all have to do our part to keep our families, our friends, our neighbours and ourselves from catching and spreading this terrible virus.

We don’t know when hockey will return, and for this piece here, we don’t know when the National Hockey League Draft will take place and how exactly the NHL will conduct the draft or how the draft order will be set. But here at OHLW, we will continue to bring you the usual content regarding the draft as we will get through this and it will eventually take place.

Our draft eligible player of the year isn’t always a reflection of the player we believe should be the first Ontario Hockey League player selected at the draft, but rather the player that performed the best from the first drop of the puck to the final horn of the season.

This year, for us, that player is Marco Rossi of the Ottawa 67’s.

Rossi, Marco
Marco Rossi of the Ottawa 67’s. Photo by OHL Images

Rossi led the entire OHL in assists (81) and points (120) and finished tenth in goals (39) en route to capturing the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy for most points on the season. He also led the entire league in plus/minus with a plus-69, and finished second in powerplay assists (31).

Rossi was named in the recent Coaches Poll as the Eastern Conference’s smartest player, best playmaker and best shootout shooter. He finished second in the voting as best on face-offs and defensive forward. He was voted as the third best penalty killer by the coaches.

On three occasions, November, December and February, Rossi was selected our draft eligible player of the month. The quest for perfection was interrupted twice by a player we gave consideration here to: Cole Perfetti of the Saginaw Spirit.

Perfetti finished second only to Rossi in the OHL scoring race with 111 points and assists (74). It’s the first time since the 2014-2015 season when teammates Dylan Strome and Connor McDavid of the Erie Otters that draft eligible players finished one-two in the OHL scoring race. Prior to those two accomplishing the feat, you’d have to go back to 2009-2010 when Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin both finished with 106 points and went one-two respectively at the NHL Draft.

We also gave some quick consideration to London Knights’ netminder Brett Brochu. In a season where there were more questions then answers coming into the season, Brochu took to the crease and ran with it. He set an OHL record with 32 wins for a first year netminder on lost just 6 games on the year. Not bad for a goaltender not ranked on NHL Central Scouting’s Players to Watch Lists or mid-term rankings!

Jacob Perreault – Sarnia Sting – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height: 5’11”

Weight: 198 Pounds

Date of birth: April 15,2002

Hometown: Hinsdale, Illinois

Position: Right Wing

Shoots: Right

OHL Draft: Round 1, 19th overall, 2018 Priority Selection

NHL Central Scouting Rankings

Pre-season

 November Mid-term Final
A Prospect A Prospect 17 N.A.

17 N.A.

Jacob Perreault was selected as the second to last pick of the first round of the 2018 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection. The son of former NHL’er Yanic Perreault, he was born on April 15, 2002 in Montreal Quebec while dad was a member of the Montreal Canadiens.

Perreault has two brothers and a sister also involved in hockey. Youngest brother Gabriel (14) just finished this season with the Chicago Mission. Older sister Liliane (20) just completed her second season in the NCAA at Mercyhurst University. The eldest, Jeremy (21) last played for the Chicago Cougars of the USPHL. Dad is still in the game as a Development Coach with the Chicago Blackhawks.

During the 2017-2018 season, Perreault played for the Chicago Mission Under-16 squad and in 20 games scored 14 goals and added 11 helpers leading the HPHL in goals and points.

Perreault burst onto the scene with the Sting a season ago and finished second among rookies in goals with 30 and fourth in points with 55 while playing in 63 games. He was named to the OHL First All-Rookie squad.

Jacob Perreault of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images
Jacob Perreault of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images

This season, Perreault has done nothing short of solidifying his draft position. He finished the shortened year with 39 goals and 31 assists in 57 games.

While Perreault is predominantly a winger, he has at times shown the ability of playing down the middle. His father was a force in the faceoff circle, the best ever since the NHL started keeping faceoff statistics winning 61.1% of his draws. It’s something the younger Perreault has learned from his father. While he only took 104 draws, he won 60 of them, good for 57.7%.

Perreault has an elite level shot, one of the best in the entire OHL let alone the draft class. He gets it off with such a deceptive release, it’s hard and it is deadly accurate. But most importantly, he can beat goaltenders from anywhere inside the offensive zone with it. With an 18.8 shooting percentage, you can see how deadly his shot can be. But he also possesses a superb back hand, and a half-slap one-timer that fools just about everyone.

While there have been some questions raised about Perreault’s skating, any issues should have been put to rest at the Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game on-ice testing. While Perreault finished second in overall testing to Jean-Luc Foudy, widely considered the best skater in the draft class, it was Perreault that finished atop the rankings in on-ice testing, leading the way in 30-meter forward skating, 30-meter forward skating with the puck, reaction, weave agility with the puck, second in weave agility and third in transition agility with the puck. (See full results here).

At 5’11”, Perreault isn’t exactly big. But he has a lot of muscle in his frame weighing in at 198 pounds. While he doesn’t shy away from physicality, he is at his best when he escapes defenders and gets himself into open situations where he can unleash his shot. How dangerous he can be in space is evidenced when there is open ice on the powerplay. Perreault finished second among draft eligible players in powerplay goals.

That said, his goals to assist ratio suggest Perreault plays with a shoot first mentality. And while he possesses an elite shot and can score in multiple ways, we sometimes feel that Perreault passes up opportunities to shoot or take the puck to the net or carry it with possession, something he’s capable of, he is dishing off to teammates instead.

One of three things can explain that: 1) he lacks confidence, 2) he doesn’t think the game at a high enough level, or 3) Perreault is a raw talented player that just needs to gain more experience. We lean heavily towards number three.

As pointed out earlier, Perreault is a very good skater who is very strong on his edges. But often times he skates off balance and can be prone to being knocked off the puck. Finding consistency is also key for Perrault. At times he has shown he can dominate and take over a game but at times you wonder if he even played.

The tools are there, the hockey sense is there. It’s just a matter of finding some consistency and confidence and putting it all together.

I wouldn’t bet against him!

You can find Perreault among the leaders in a variety of draft eligible statistical leaders.

OHL ANNOUNCES 2019-20 COACHES POLL WINNERS

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Coaches Poll

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the results of the Eastern and Western Conference Coaches Polls for the 2019-20 OHL regular season.

The OHL Coaches Poll provides member club coaches with the opportunity to recognize the top three players in 20 different skill categories within their own conference.

In the Eastern Conference, the first place Ottawa 67’s led the way with eight players spread out over an impressive 17 different categories. Top 2020 NHL Draft prospect and OHL scoring champion Marco Rossi was included in six different fields, being voted the Conference’s Smartest Player, Best Playmaker and Best Shootout Shooter. Teammate Noel Hoefenmayer was a two-time first place finisher, being recognized with the East’s Hardest Shot and as the Top Offensive Defenceman. The Peterborough Petes featured seven different players in the final results covering 15 different categories. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect and OHL goal-scoring leader Nick Robertson was included in six different fields, placing first as the Conference’s Most Dangerous in the Goal Area and Best Shot. Petes captain Zach Gallant was voted Best in Faceoffs, finishing in the top-three in that field for the fourth straight season. Overage Oshawa Generals captain Kyle MacLean also had a strong showing in the poll, being included in four different categories while being voted the East’s Best Defensive Forward and Top Penalty Killer. Mississauga Steelheads forward Keean Washkurak was voted the East’s Hardest Worker for a second straight year while teammate Thomas Harley took Best Skater recognition after placing second in 2018-19.

In the Western Conference, top 2020 NHL Draft prospect Cole Perfetti of the Saginaw Spirit led all OHL players with first place finishes in four different categories including Smartest Player, Best Playmaker, Best Stickhandler and Best Shootout Shooter. Teammate Damien Giroux placed first in two different categories including Hardest Worker and Best Defensive Forward. The first place London Knights and the defending OHL champion Guelph Storm each featured six different players in the results. London forwards Liam Foudy and Connor McMichael were both included in three different categories, with the former placing first as the Conference’s Best Skater and Best Penalty Killer while the latter was voted the West’s Best Shot and Most Dangerous in the Goal Area. The Storm had three players involved in three different categories headlined by Nico Daws who was voted Most Improved, Best Puckhandling Goaltender and second-best Shootout Goaltender, while Pavel Gogolev and captain Cam Hillis were also part of three separate fields. Windsor Spitfires captain Luke Boka was voted the Conference’s Best Shot Blocker for the third consecutive year. Flint Firebirds defenceman Tyler Tucker was voted the West’s Best Body Checker after earning the same distinction in the Eastern Conference last season.

The Coaches Poll is tabulated when each team submits one nominee per category, and coaches then vote for the top three players for each category within their conference.  Players receive five points for a first place vote, three points for a second place vote, and one point for a third place vote.  Clubs are not permitted to vote for players from their own team allowing for a maximum of 45 possible points for each winner.

All 20 categories are listed below with Eastern Conference and Western Conference winners including their final point totals in brackets.

Most Underrated Player:

Eastern Conference:
1. Luke Moncada, North Bay Battalion (28)
2. James Hardie, Mississauga Steelheads (22)
T-3. Austen Keating, Ottawa 67’s (15)
T-3. Kyle MacLean, Oshawa Generals (15)

Western Conference:
1. Chad Yetman, Erie Otters (33)
2. Connor Corcoran, Windsor Spitfires (20)
3. Eric Uba, Guelph Storm (11)

Most Improved Player:

Eastern Conference:
1. Jack Quinn, Ottawa 67’s (29)
2. Tyson Foerster, Barrie Colts (28)
3. Zayde Wisdom, Kingston Frontenacs (16)

Western Conference:
1. Nico Daws, Guelph Storm (45)
2. Tyler Angle, Windsor Spitfires (19)
3. Luke Evangelista, London Knights (16)

Smartest Player:

Eastern Conference:
1. Marco Rossi, Ottawa 67’s (41) – finished first in 2018-19
2. Shane Wright, Kingston Frontenacs (17)
3. Akil Thomas, Peterborough Petes (10)

Western Conference:
1. Cole Perfetti, Saginaw Spirit (31)
2. Jamie Drysdale, Erie Otters (27)
3. Connor McMichael, London Knights (22)

Hardest Worker:

Eastern Conference:
1. Keean Washkurak, Mississauga Steelheads (24) – finished first in 2018-19
2. Nick Robertson, Peterborough Petes (19)
3. Kyle MacLean, Oshawa Generals (15) – finished second in 2018-19

Western Conference:
1. Damien Giroux, Saginaw Spirit (37)
2. Luke Boka, Windsor Spitfires (22)
3. Vladislav Kolyachonok, Flint Firebirds (11)

Best Playmaker:

Eastern Conference:
1. Marco Rossi, Ottawa 67’s (45)
2. Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, Peterborough Petes (17)
3. Philip Tomasino, Oshawa Generals (16)

Western Conference:
1. Cole Perfetti, Saginaw Spirit (40)
2. Ryan Merkley, London Knights (22)
3. Cam Hillis, Guelph Storm (15)

Most Dangerous in Goal Area:

Eastern Conference:
1. Nick Robertson, Peterborough Petes (36)
2. Arthur Kaliyev, Hamilton Bulldogs (27) – finished second in 2018-19
3. Jack Quinn, Ottawa 67’s (21)

Western Conference:
1. Connor McMichael, London Knights (36)
2. Pavel Gogolev, Guelph Storm (35)
3. Jonathan Yantsis, Kitchener Rangers (7) – finished third in 2018-19

Best Skater:

Eastern Conference:
1. Thomas Harley, Mississauga Steelheads (30) – finished second in 2018-19
2. Brett Neumann, Oshawa Generals (19) – finished first in 2018-19
3. Declan Chisholm, Peterborough Petes (16)

Western Conference:
1. Liam Foudy, London Knights (35)
2. Jamie Drysdale, Erie Otters (28) – finished tied for third in 2018-19
3. Jean-Luc Foudy, Windsor Spitfires (18) – finished tied for third in 2018-19

Best Shot:

Eastern Conference:
1. Nick Robertson, Peterborough Petes (38)
2. Arthur Kaliyev, Hamilton Bulldogs (25) – finished first in 2018-19
3. Jack Quinn, Ottawa 67’s (18)

Western Conference:
1. Connor McMichael, London Knights (39)
2. Pavel Gogolev, Guelph Storm (31)
3. Jacob Perreault, Sarnia Sting (15)

Hardest Shot:

Eastern Conference:
1. Noel Hoefenmayer, Ottawa 67’s (41)
2. Arthur Kaliyev, Hamilton Bulldogs (24) – finished first in 2018-19
3. Nick Robertson, Peterborough Petes (13)

Western Conference:
1. Brady Lyle, Owen Sound Attack (35)
2. Bode Wilde, Saginaw Spirit (22)
3. Connor Corcoran, Windsor Spitfires (14)

Best Stickhandler:

Eastern Conference:
1. Joseph Garreffa, Ottawa 67’s (35) – finished second in Western Conference in 2018-19
2. Nick Robertson, Peterborough Petes (17) – finished first in 2018-19
3. Philip Tomasino, Oshawa Generals (16)

Western Conference:
1. Cole Perfetti, Saginaw Spirit (31)
2. Evgeniy Oksentyuk, Flint Firebirds (24)
3. Aidan Dudas, Owen Sound Attack (15)

Best on Face-Offs:

Eastern Conference:
1. Zach Gallant, Peterborough Petes (36) – finished second in 2018-19, second in 2017-18 and first in 2016-17
2. Marco Rossi, Ottawa 67’s (23)
3. Cole Schwindt, Mississauga Steelheads (12)

Western Conference:
T-1. Ty Dellandrea, Flint Firebirds (29) – finished first in 2018-19
T-1. Jason Willms, London Knights (29) – finished first in Eastern Conference in 2018-19
2. Greg Meireles, Kitchener Rangers (9)
3. Cam Hillis, Guelph Storm (8)

Best Body Checker:

Eastern Conference:
1. Navrin Mutter, Hamilton Bulldogs (29) – finished second in 2018-19
2. Macauley Carson, Sudbury Wolves (18)
3. Kevin Bahl, Ottawa 67’s (14)

Western Conference:
1. Tyler Tucker, Flint Firebirds (23) – finished first in Eastern Conference in 2018-19, third in Eastern Conference in 2017-18
2. Kelton Hatcher, Sarnia Sting (15) – finished second in 2018-19
3. Mark Woolley, Owen Sound Attack (14)

Best Shot Blocker:

Eastern Conference:
T-1. Nikita Okhotyuk, Ottawa 67’s (21) – finished third in 2018-19
T-1. Jacob Paquette, Peterborough Petes (21)
2. Macauley Carson, Sudbury Wolves (18) – finished tied for first in 2018-19
3. Mason Howard, Niagara IceDogs (10)

Western Conference:
1. Luke Boka, Windsor Spitfires (25) – finished first in 2018-19 and 2017-18
2. Tyler Tucker, Flint Firebirds (19)
3. Fedor Gordeev, Guelph Storm (14)

Best Defensive Forward:

Eastern Conference:
1. Kyle MacLean, Oshawa Generals (24) – finished first in 2018-19
2. Marco Rossi, Ottawa 67’s (21)
3. Macauley Carson, Sudbury Wolves (19)

Western Conference:
1. Damien Giroux, Saginaw Spirit (25) – finished second in 2018-19
2. Liam Foudy, London Knights (21)
3. Cam Hillis, Guelph Storm (15)

Best Penalty Killer:

Eastern Conference:
1. Kyle MacLean, Oshawa Generals (24)
2. Jacob Paquette, Peterborough Petes (16)
3. Marco Rossi, Ottawa 67’s (15)

Western Conference:
1. Liam Foudy, London Knights (41) – finished first in 2018-19
2. DJ Busdeker, Saginaw Spirit (12)
3. Keegan Stevenson, Guelph Storm (9)

Best Offensive Defenceman:

Eastern Conference:
1. Noel Hoefenmayer, Ottawa 67’s (45) – finished third in 2018-19
2. Thomas Harley, Mississauga Steelheads (22) – finished first in 2018-19
3. Declan Chisholm (Peterborough Petes (18)

Western Conference:
1. Ryan Merkley, London Knights (41) – finished second in Eastern Conference in 2018-19
2. Jamie Drysdale, Erie Otters (22)
3. Brady Lyle, Owen Sound Attack (15)

Best Defensive Defenceman:

Eastern Conference:
1. Kevin Bahl, Ottawa 67’s (45)
2. Nico Gross, Oshawa Generals (19)
3. Jacob Paquette, Peterborough Petes (17) – finished first in 2018-19

Western Conference:
1. Alec Regula, London Knights (28)
2. Michael Vukojevic, Kitchener Rangers (20)
3. Connor Corcoran, Windsor Spitfires (17)

Best Puck-Handling Goaltender:

Eastern Conference:
1. Kai Edmonds, Mississauga Steelheads (26)
2. Zachary Roy, Hamilton Bulldogs (17)
3. Christian Propp, Kingston Frontenacs (16)

Western Conference:
1. Nico Daws, Guelph Storm (35)
2. Jacob Ingham, Kitchener Rangers (33)
3. Tristan Lennox, Saginaw Spirit (8)

Best Shootout Shooter:

Eastern Conference:
1. Marco Rossi, Ottawa 67’s (29)
2. Nick Robertson, Peterborough Petes (23)
3. Philip Tomasino, Oshawa Generals (12)

Western Conference:
1. Cole Perfetti, Saginaw Spirit (25)
2. Liam Hawel, Kitchener Rangers (21)
3. Pavel Gogolev, Guelph Storm (18)

Best Shootout Goaltender:

Eastern Conference:
1. Cedrick Andree, Ottawa 67’s (32)
2. Hunter Jones, Peterborough Petes (23)
3. Marco Costantini, Hamilton Bulldogs (14)

Western Conference:
1. Jacob Ingham, Kitchener Rangers (39) – finished third in Eastern Conference in 2018-19
2. Nico Daws, Guelph Storm (23)
3. Anthony Popovich, Flint Firebirds (8)

FANTILLI BROTHERS COMMIT TO STEEL

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

GENEVA, ILLINOIS — The Chicago Steel announced Wednesday the signing of forward Adam Fantilli of Kimball Union Academy to a USHL tender agreement for the 2020-2021 season. Perhaps the most highly-touted prospect in the 2004 birth year, the 6-foot-2, 181-pound forward will join the Steel this fall.

Source: FANTILLI BROTHERS COMMIT TO STEEL

OHL’s Draft Eligible End of Season Statistical Leaders

Posted on by Dominic Tiano
Brett Brochu of the London Knights. Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images
Brett Brochu of the London Knights. Photo by Luke Durda / OHL Images

By now everyone is aware that the Ontario Hockey League and Canadian Hockey League have cancelled the remaining portion of the regular season, playoffs and the Memorial Cup due to the coronavirus.

Whether we like it or not, it had to be done and the Province of Ontario did the right thing by shutting everything but essential services down for the next two weeks.

When the OHL paused its regular season, it was just a few games away of completing the 2019-2020 season, so this by no means is a small sample size. In some cases, teams only had 4 games remaining in the 68-game regular season while others had 6.

Rather then break it all down for you, we’ll just leave the season ending stats here for you. Remember, this only includes first time draft eligible players (does not include draft re-entry players) and always refer to the OHL website for official stats.

Points Leaders
Player Team GP G A Pts
*Marco Rossi Ottawa 67’s 56 39 81 120
*Cole Perfetti Saginaw Spirit 61 37 74 111
Jack Quinn Ottawa 67’s 62 52 37 89
Quinton Byfield Sudbury Wolves 45 32 50 82
Tyson Foerster Barrie Colts 62 36 44 80
Jacob Perreault Sarnia Sting 57 39 31 70
Ty Tullio Oshawa Generals 62 27 39 66
James Hardie Mississauga Steelheads 59 34 29 63
Luke Evangelista London Knights 62 23 38 61
Rory Kerins Soo Greyhounds 64 30 29 59
Goal Scoring Leaders
Player Team GP G GPG
Jack Quinn Ottawa 67’s 62 52 0.84
Marco Rossi Ottawa 67’s 56 39 0.70
Jacob Perreault Sarnia Sting 57 39 0.68
Cole Perfetti Saginaw Spirit 61 37 0.61
Tyson Foerster Barrie Colts 62 36 0.58
James Hardie Mississauga Steelheads 59 34 0.58
Quinton Byfield Sudbury Wolves 45 32 0.71
Rory Kerins Soo Greyhounds 64 30 0.47
Zayde Wisdom Kingston Frontenacs 64 30 0.47
Assist Leaders
Player Team GP A APG
*Marco Rossi Ottawa 67’s 56 81 1.45
*Cole Perfetti Saginaw Spirit 61 74 1.21
Quinton Byfield Sudbury Wolves 45 50 1.11
Tyson Foerster Barrie Colts 62 44 0.71
Ty Tullio Oshawa Generals 62 39 0.63
Jamie Drysdale Erie Otters 49 38 0.78
Luke Evangelista London Knights 62 38 0.61
Jack Quinn Ottawa 67’s 62 37 0.60
Brandon Coe North Bay Battalion 60 32 0.53
Jacob Perreault Sarnia Sting 57 31 0.54
Defencemen Point Leaders
Player Team GP G A Pts
Jamie Drysdale Erie Otters 49 9 38 47
Ryan O’Rourke Soo Greyhounds 54 7 30 37
Jack Thompson Sudbury Wolves 63 13 19 32
Ruben Rafkin Windsor Spitfires 59 4 27 31
Donovan Sebrango Kitchener Rangers 56 6 24 30
Isaak Phillips Sudbury Wolves 63 9 17 26
Cameron Supryka Hamilton Bulldogs 53 3 18 21
Ole Bjorgvik-Holm Mississauga Steelheads 57 2 17 19
Plus/Minus Leaders
Player Team GP +/-
*Marco Rossi Ottawa 67’s 56 +69
Cole Perfetti Saginaw Spirit 61 +49
Jack Quinn Ottawa 67’s 62 +48
Quinton Byfield Sudbury Wolves 45 +26
Anthony Costantini Ottawa 67’s 59 +21
Powerplay Goals
Player Team GP PPG
*Tyson Foerster Barrie Colts 62 18
Jacob Perreault Sarnia Sting 57 15
Jack Quinn Ottawa 67’s 62 15
James Hardie Mississauga Steelheads 59 11
Logan Morrison Hamilton Bulldogs 59 9
Powerplay Assists
Player Team GP PPA
Marco Rossi Ottawa 67’s 56 31
Cole Perfetti Saginaw Spirit 61 24
Jamie Drysdale Erie Otters 49 19
Quinton Byfield Sudbury Wolves 45 16
Tyson Foerster Barrie Colts 62 16
Shorthanded Goals
Player Team GP SHG
Jack Quinn Ottawa 67’s 62 3
Quinton Byfield Sudbury Wolves 45 2
Cole Perfetti Saginaw Spirit 61 2
Tyson Foerster Barrie Colts 62 2
Anthony Tabak Barrie Colts 67 2
Penalty Minutes Leaders
Player Team GP PIM M/G
Ryan O’Rourke Soo Greyhounds 54 79 1.46
Hayden Fowler Erie Otters 52 78 1.50
Gerard Keane London Knights 55 68 1.24
Ruben Rafkin Windsor Spitfires 59 61 1.03
Reid Valade Kitchener Rangers 62 57 0.92
Faceoff Leaders (minimum 300 faceoffs)
Player Team GP FOA FOW %
Marco Rossi Ottawa 67’s 56 1175 687 58.5
Isaac Langdon Kitchener Rangers 53 501 274 54.7
Rory Kerins Soo Greyhounds 64 1175 632 53.8
Quinton Byfield Sudbury Wolves 45 586 304 51.9
Hayden Fowler Erie Otters 52 479 246 51.4
Cole Perfetti Saginaw Spirit 61 322 165 51.2
Longest Goal Scoring Streak
Player Team From To Gms Goals
Jack Quinn Ottawa 67’s Dec 6 Jan 2 8 12
Longest Assist Streak
Player Team From To Gms Assts
Marco Rossi Ottawa 67’s Nov 16 Dec 28 11 17
Longest Point Streak
Player Team From To Gms Pts
Marco Rossi Ottawa 67’s Nov 10 Jan 10 18 48
Shots On Goal Leaders
Player Team GP SOG
James Hardie Mississauga Steelheads 59 252
Cole Perfetti Saginaw Spirit 61 244
Jack Quinn Ottawa 67’s 62 240
Tyson Foerster Barrie Colts 62 225
Ty Tullio Oshawa Generals 62 213
Shooting Percentage
Player Team GP Shots Goals %
Rory Kerins Soo Greyhounds 64 132 30 22.72
Jack Quinn Ottawa 67’s 62 240 52 21.67
Quinton Byfield Sudbury Wolves 45 148 32 21.62
Theo Hill Sarnia Sting 53 53 11 20.75
Marco Rossi Ottawa 67’s 56 193 39 20.21
Goaltenders Leaders – Goals Against Average
Player Team GP Min GA Avg
*Brett Brochu London Knights 42 2271 91 2.40
Will Cranley Ottawa 67’s 21 1218 57 2.81
Nick Chenard Owen Sound Attack 13 687 33 2.88
Zachary Paputsakis Oshawa Generals 32 1520 82 3.24
Xavier Medina Windsor Spitfires 37 2044 118 3.46
Aidan Campbell Erie Otters 26 1365 83 3.65
Nick Malik Soo Greyhounds 16 891 56 3.77
Tucker Tynan Niagara IceDogs 23 1296 82 3.80
Owen Bennett Guelph Storm 27 1532 100 3.92
Goaltending Leaders – Save Percentage
Player Team GP SH SVS SV%
Brett Brochu London Knights 42 1124 1033 0.919
Tucker Tynan Niagara IceDogs 23 916 834 0.910
Nick Chenard Owen Sound Attack 13 363 330 0.909
Zachary Paputsakis Oshawa Generals 32 814 732 0.899
Will Cranley Ottawa 67’s 21 538 481 0.894
Xavier Medina Windsor Spitfires 37 1031 913 0.886
Nick Malik Soo Greyhounds 16 490 434 0.886
Owen Bennett Guelph Storm 27 841 741 0.881
Goaltending Leaders – Wins
Player Team GP W L OL
**Brett Brochu London Knights 42 32 6 0
Will Cranley Ottawa 67’s 21 17 9 4
Xavier Medina Windsor Spitfires 37 17 11 4
Tucker Tynan Niagara IceDogs 23 11 8 4
Zachary Paputsakis Oshawa Generals 32 11 8 5
Goaltending Leaders – Shutouts
Player Team GP SO
Will Cranley Ottawa 67’s 21 4
Brett Brochu London Knights 42 2
Nick Chenard Owen Sound Attack 13 1
Zachary Paputsakis Oshawa Generals 32 1
*Leads entire OHL
**OHL record for a rookie

OHL, OHF, HNO AND HEO STATEMENT ON OHL GOLD CUP IN RESPONSE TO CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Press Release

We as the Ontario Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey Federation, Hockey Eastern Ontario and Hockey Northwestern Ontario support the Hockey Canada Statement quoted below.

“ HOCKEY CANADA STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

CALGARY, Alta. – The following is a statement on behalf of Hockey Canada from Tom Renney, chief executive officer, and Scott Smith, president and chief operating officer, on the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Without question, this an unprecedented period of difficulty for the sports world. The health and safety of all participants in sport, including players, coaches, staff, officials, fans, family, volunteers and the general public, is of the utmost importance to Hockey Canada.

After much consultation with the Hockey Canada membership, our chief medical officer and public health officials, the Hockey Canada Board of Directors has made the decision to cancel all Hockey Canada-sanctioned activities, including our national championships, until further notice, effective Friday, March 13, 2020.

We recognize the tremendous effort that has been put forth all year by individuals across the country as they participate in Canada’s game. Although it is difficult to process the hockey season ending abruptly, we feel this is the best course of action in order to do our part in keeping our country safe.” ”

As such the 2020 OHL Gold Cup, will be cancelled. 

We do not take this decision lightly. It is important to remember that at the heart of this is the health and well-being of all the players, coaches, officials, team staff members, volunteers, and family members involved. The support and dedication that we have had from the community in the promotion and endorsement of this event is very much appreciated and has not gone unnoticed.

Further information will follow as it becomes available.

STATEMENT: CHL CANCELS 2020 PLAYOFFS AND MEMORIAL CUP

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Press Release

On March 12, 2020, in light of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), in association with our three regional leagues the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), made the decision to pause our season and last week officially cancelled all remaining regular season games.

We have continued to monitor the latest updates and advice from all public health agencies and medical experts, and worked tirelessly to determine a scenario by which the balance of our season could be played. Unfortunately, given the troubling state of our global climate and public welfare, there is still too much risk and uncertainty to move forward in good conscience.

With that in mind, CHL President Dan MacKenzie and Commissioners David Branch, Gilles Courteau, and Ron Robison, have made the difficult decision to cancel the OHL, QMJHL, and WHL playoffs, and along with the support of Kia Canada as the presenting sponsor, to cancel the 2020 Memorial Cup which was scheduled to be held in Kelowna, B.C., May 22-31, 2020.

The CHL, WHL, OHL, and QMJHL all take great pride in providing the best environment for our players both on and off the ice with health and safety for them, and all stakeholders of our game, at the forefront.

We look forward with hope that next season will provide new opportunity to celebrate, and that the Memorial Cup will be presented at our prestigious national championship, hosted by the OHL in May, 2021.

OHL ANNOUNCES 2019-20 REGULAR SEASON AWARD WINNERS

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

OHL awards

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the recipients of four of the league’s annual awards following the conclusion of the 2019-20 regular season.

Offensively, 2020 NHL Draft prospect Marco Rossi of the Ottawa 67’s captured the League’s scoring title earning the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy, while Los Angeles Kings prospect Arthur Kaliyev of the Hamilton Bulldogs is the recipient of the Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy for Top Scoring Right Winger.  Recognizing defensive efforts, the goaltending tandem of the team with the fewest goals against goes to Ottawa 67’s Cedrick Andree and Will Cranley who earn the Dave Pinkney Trophy, while Brett Brochu of the London Knights claims the F.W “Dinty” Moore Trophy as the rookie with the best goals-against average.

Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy (Scoring Champion): Marco Rossi, Ottawa 67’s

Marco Rossi finished atop the regular season scoring charts earning the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy with a CHL-leading 120 points including 39 goals, 81 assists and an impressive plus/minus rating of plus-69 over just 53 games. His 2.14 point-per-game pace led the OHL and is the highest such figure by an OHL scoring champion since London’s Patrick Kane (2.50) in 2006-07. He becomes the first Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy recipient of European descent in the award’s 74-year history.

The 18-year-old from Feldkirch, Austria helped power the first place 67’s with the League’s top power play, rounding out the campaign with a total of 34 multi-point performances, 23 of which included three points or more. His top performances included a five assist showing on October 20th against Hamilton, another five point outing on November 17th in Sarnia and a career-high six point output on November 27th in Kingston. The 5-foot-9, 187Ib. centreman finished the season with an impressive 58.5% success rate in the faceoff circle.

The fifth-ranked North American skater on NHL Central Scouting’s Midterm Draft Rankings competed in the 2020 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game this past January in Hamilton. Rossi, who was named to the OHL’s second all-rookie team in 2018-19, has accumulated 185 points (68-117–185) over just 109 regular season games since being selected by the 67’s with the 18th overall pick of the 2018 CHL Import Draft.

Rossi becomes the seventh player in 67’s franchise history to earn the award, following Tyler Toffoli (2011), two-time winner Corey Locke (2003, 2004), Andrew Cassels (1988), Jim Fox (1980), Bobby Smith (1978) and Blake Dunlop (1973). He follows other recent OHL standouts who won the award in their draft eligible seasons including Erie’s Dylan Strome (2015), Windsor’s Taylor Hall (2010), Plymouth’s Tyler Seguin (2010), London’s John Tavares (2009) and London’s Patrick Kane (2007).

The Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy was donated by the Toronto Marlboro Athletic Club in memory of Eddie Powers and was first awarded in 1945-46 to Tod Sloan of St. Michael’s who scored 79 points in 25 games.  Jason Robertson of the Niagara IceDogs was last year’s recipient with 117 points in 62 games including 48 goals and 69 assists.  Other recent winners include Barrie’s Aaron Luchuk (2018), Erie’s Alex DeBrincat (2017) and Barrie’s Kevin Labanc (2016).

Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy (Top Scoring Right Winger): Arthur Kaliyev, Hamilton Bulldogs

Los Angeles Kings prospect Arthur Kaliyev of the Hamilton Bulldogs finished fifth in OHL scoring but led all right wingers with 98 points including 44 goals and 54 assists in 57 games.

The 18-year-old from Staten Island, NY became the Bulldogs’ all-time leader in both career points (248) and goals (126) this past season, leading the team offensively while setting a new single season club mark for assists with 54.

Kaliyev was the OHL’s Player of the Month for October. His season was highlighted by 29 different multi-point performances including a career-high five-point effort on January 9th in Niagara. The former second round (26th overall) pick of the Bulldogs in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection finished with the League’s second-highest total of 288 shots on goal as he becomes the first Hamilton player in OHL history to earn the award.

Kaliyev, who was a second team all-star in 2018-19 and represented the United States at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, was a second round (33rd overall) pick by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2019 NHL Draft. He follows in the footsteps of former long-time Kings forward Jim Fox (Ottawa 67’s, 1979-80) as well as recent Kings winger Tyler Toffoli (Ottawa 67’s, 2011-12) in winning the award.

The Jim Mahon Trophy was first presented following the 1971-72 season by the players and management of the Peterborough Petes in memory of their right winger Jim Mahon who was accidentally killed that summer.  Justin Brazeau of the North Bay Battalion was last year’s recipient with 113 points in 68 games scoring 61 goals with 52 assists.  Recent winners also include Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting in 2018, Alex DeBrincat of the Erie Otters in 2017, Kevin Labanc of the Barrie Colts in 2016, and Mitch Marner of the London Knights in 2015.

Dave Pinkney Trophy (Lowest Team Goals Against): Cedrick Andree and Will Cranley, Ottawa 67’s

The Ottawa 67’s allowed the fewest goals in the OHL for the second straight season, surrendering just 164 over a 62-game schedule backstopped by the tandem of Cedrick Andree and Will Cranley.

Andree and Cranley guided the 67’s to a second consecutive Hamilton Spectator Trophy as OHL regular season champions as Ottawa played to an overall record of 50-11-0-1 for 101 points. It marks the third time in franchise history that the Barber Poles have won 50 games and the fifth time they’ve finished first overall in the regular season standings.

Andree finished with the League’s second-lowest goals-against average of 2.42, second-highest win total of 32 as part of a 32-9-0-1 record along with a .916 save percentage and four shutouts over 43 games. The 19-year-old from Orleans, Ont. was a 12th round (232nd overall) pick by the club in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection. He claimed the Pinkney Trophy alongside Michael DiPietro in 2018-19 and becomes the first back-to-back recipient since Mississauga’s JP Anderson won consecutively in 2010 and 2011.

Cranley, who appeared in just 11 games with the 67’s in 2018-19, went an impressive 18-2-0-0 with a 2.81 goals-against average, .894 save percentage and four shutouts over 21 appearances. His 18 wins are the most by a 67’s designated rookie since Lukas Mensator (26) in 2002-03 while his four shutouts are the most by a 67’s designated rookie since Levente Szuper had just as many in 1998-99.  The 18-year-old from Peterborough, Ont. was a second round (35th overall) pick by Ottawa in 2018 and was the 16th ranked North American goaltender on NHL Central Scouting’s Midterm Rankings released in mid-January.

This marks the seventh time the 67’s have led the league with the fewest goals against. They become the first back-to-back winners of the award since the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors claimed the honours in both 2010 and 2011. It marks the second time that Ottawa has won the award in consecutive seasons as a trio of Craig Hillier, Seamus Kotyk and Tim Keyes combined to earn the distinction in both 1997 and 1998. Other 67’s netminders with their names engraved on the trophy include Darren Pang (1983-84), Greg Coram (1983-84), Jim Ralph (1980-81) and Michal Larocque (1971-72).

The Dave Pinkney Trophy is awarded annually to the goaltending tandem from the team that allows the fewest goals against during the regular season.

F.W. “Dinty” Moore Trophy (Best Rookie GAA): Brett Brochu, London Knights

Brett Brochu of the London Knights capped off his record-breaking season with the best goals-against-average among OHL rookie goaltenders at 2.40, the lowest figure among recipients since 2012-13.

The 17-year-old product of Tilbury, Ont. suited up in 42 games with the Knights this season, posting a 32-6-0-0 record with the league’s lowest goals-against average and third-highest save percentage of .919. His 32 wins on the year came one short of the League lead and set a new record for the most victories by a 16 or 17-year-old first-year goaltender in OHL history, surpassing the previous mark set by John Vanbiesbrouck (Sault Ste. Marie, 1980-81) and Andrew Loverock (Mississauga, 2006-07).

Brochu was recognized as OHL Rookie and Goaltender of the Month in January and was awarded the League’s top goaltender honours once again in February. A sixth round pick of the Knights in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection out of the Chatham-Kent Cyclones Minor Midget program, Brochu spent the 2018-19 season with the PJHL’s Dresden Jr. Kings where was named Stobbs Division Rookie of the Year with a 27-11-0 record, 2.46 goals-against average and .915 save percentage over 38 regular season games. He proceeded to go 6-5 in the playoffs with a 2.10 goals-against average, a .931 save percentage and two shutouts.

Brochu becomes the fourth Knight to earn the distinction after former teammate Jordan Kooy (3.11 GAA in 2017-18), Ryan MacDonald (2.06 GAA in 2003-04), Sean Basilio (3.65 GAA in 1989-90), and Barry Heard (3.28 GAA in 1976-77).

The trophy is named after F.W. “Dinty” Moore of Port Colborne, Ont., who served as OHA President from 1942-45. In order to qualify for this rookie award, a goaltender must play a minimum of 900 minutes. Last year’s recipient was Sault Ste. Marie’s Ethan Taylor with a 3.24 goals-against average.

Jean-Luc Foudy – Windsor Spitfires – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height: ‘6

Weight: 176 Pounds

Date of birth: May 13, 2002

Hometown: Scarborough, Ontario

Position: Center

Shoots: Right

OHL Draft: Round 1, 10th overall, 2018 Priority Selection

NHL Central Scouting Rankings

Pre-season

 November Mid-term Final
A Prospect A Prospect 20 N.A.

33 N.A.

Jean-Luc Foudy of the Windsor Spitfires and younger Brother of Liam Foudy (18th overall pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2018) is a graduate of the Toronto Titans Minor Midget AAA system. During the 2017-2018 season, Foudy registered 25 goals and 35 assists in 52 contests for the Titans.

Foudy also appeared in both the OHL Cup (and the OHL Gold Cup, scoring 2 goals and 5 assists in 10 combined games. He would represent Canada on two occasions; first during the 2018-2019 season at the World Hockey Challenge Under-17 (1 goal and 3 assists in 5 contests) and second, at last summer’s Hlinka-Gretzky Cup (2 goals, 2 assists in 5 games).

OHL Central Scouting had this to say in his OHL draft year:

Jean-Luc is a skilled, playmaking type of center that makes everyone around him better. He has elusive speed that catches defenders off guard at times He is quick to jump into holes for loose pucks and wins the majority of races to pucks. He is crafty with the puck and can stickhandle in very tight areas. Jean-Luc is one of the smarter players in the age group He is always in the right spot at the right time and the puck seems to follow him around the ice.

The 2018-2019 season was Foudy’s rookie year in the OHL and things were looking bright. He appeared in 63 games, scoring 8 goals and assisting on 41 others. His 41 assists led all rookies a season ago.

Jean-Luc Foudy of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images
Jean-Luc Foudy of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Luke Durda / OHL Images.

Foudy comes from a sports family. As mentioned, he is the younger brother of Liam who was a star with the London Knights and got a taste of the National Hockey League this season with the Blue Jackets. His father Sean was a defensive back in the Canadian Football League for 6 seasons. His mother, France Gareau was an Olympic Athlete at the 1984 Los Angeles games. She competed in the 100-meter race and won a silver medal in the 4 X 100-meter relay. She also competed at the 1990 Commonwealth Games.

As Foudy came up through the ranks, the general consensus was that he had all the tools his older brother exhibited and, in some cases, then some. But his numbers for the 2019-2020 season are a bit disappointing. He appeared in 59 games during the cancelled regular season and, while he virtually doubled his goal production to 15 from a year ago, his helpers took a nose dive down to 28.

Foudy is an elite skater with elite speed, maybe the best in the draft class. He is a puck possession beast at top speed. He is capable of exiting his zone with possession and speed and going on the attack. He gains the zone with alarming speed and it puts defenders on their heels. However, we think he plays on the outside more then we’d like to see. He has the vision and playmaking abilities to make plays from there and we think that at times, his linemates can’t keep up to his abilities. At the same time, he has shown the ability to take pucks into high danger zones, although the willingness doesn’t appear to always be there.

Foudy is dangerous on the powerplay, especially with the extra space on the ice. The tools are all there to run the powerplay from anywhere in the offensive zone. He’s a huge minute eating pivot who could log the full two minutes on the powerplay if need be. He also takes advantage of the extra ice on the penalty kill. He finds those open areas and gets to them as quick as anyone and he can fly up the ice making him a threat on the PK.

Certainly, all the tools are there for a first-round pick at the NHL Draft. And I think the general consensus was that Foudy was a legitimate first round candidate. The cancellation of the regular season and the uncertainty of the playoffs may have hurt his chances of proving he is worthy of that. All things considered, we here at OHLW think that it’s more likely Foudy is an early second round option.