OHL THIS WEEK: JANUARY 3 TO 5, 2020

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Press Release

 

OHL This Week

Toronto, Ont. – Welcome back, it’s 2020! Here’s a look at what’s happening across the Ontario Hockey League this week.

HAPPY NEW YEAR – A DECADE OF OHL CHAMPIONS:
There’s lots to look back on from the past decade. The OHL spent the days leading up to New Year’s Eve recounting past champions and some of the greatest moments of the past 10 years.
WATCH • DECADE IN REVIEW

HAYTON’S PAIR PROPELS CANADA PAST SLOVAKIA IN QUARTERFINALS:
Soo Greyhounds graduate Barrett Hayton scored a pair of goals to lead Canada past Slovakia 6-1 and into the semi-finals at the 2020 World Juniors. Canada will now face off against Finland in Saturday’s semi-final game with a 1pm ET puck drop.
READ MORE

OHL TOP PERFORMERS OF THE MONTH FOR DECEMBER:
Mississauga’s Cole Schwindt, Ottawa’s Noel Hoefenmayer, Peterborough’s Mason McTavish and Kitchener’s Jacob Ingham are OHL Top Performers for November 2019.
READ MORE

KNIGHTS’ EVANGELISTA ADDED TO KUBOTA CHL/NHL TOP PROSPECTS GAME:
London Knights forward Luke Evangelista has been added to the 2020 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. He’ll replace injured Oshawa Generals forward Oliver Suni. Evangelista has 33 points (14-19–33) over 35 games with the Knights this season after being the club’s first round pick in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection.
READ MORE

ROOKIE PHENOM WRIGHT TAKING THE LEAD IN KINGSTON:
At 15-years-old, Kingston Frontenacs rookie star Shane Wright has been entrusted with an ‘A’ on his jersey. The OHL’s Sarah Jean Maher caught up with Wright and his Frontenacs teammates this past week.
READ MORE

67’s, PETES AND STORM IN KIA CHL TOP 10 RANKINGS:
The Ottawa 67’s remain the second-ranked team in the CHL this week while the Peterborough Petes and Guelph Storm are also inside the Top 10. The Windsor Spitfires and Saginaw Spirit both received honourable mentions.
FULL RANKINGS

KIA CHL TOP 10 SPOTLIGHT – SAGINAW SPIRIT:
As the season enters its second half, the Saginaw Spirit are recognized as an honourable mention in the latest Kia CHL Top-10 Rankings. The Spirit are currently riding a six-game winning streak and sit tied atop the West Division.
READ MORE

67’s’ GARREFFA NAMED OHL ‘ON THE RUN’ PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Joseph Garreffa of the Ottawa 67’s is the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week of games spanning December 18-29 with 10 points over three contests.
READ MORE

GARREFFA, HOEFENMAYER AND SCHWINDT NAMED TO VAUGHN CHL TEAM OF THE WEEK:
Ottawa 67’s teammates Joseph Garreffa and Noel Hoefenmayer join Mississauga Steelheads forward Cole Schwindt on the Vaughn CHL Team of the Week.
READ MORE

VAUGHN SAVES OF THE WEEK – JAN. 1, 2020:
The first 2020 edition of Vaughn Saves will have you coming back for more! Check out big stops from the Oshawa Generals duo of Zachary Paputsakis and Andrew MacLean, Hamilton’s Zachary Roy, Sault Ste. Marie’s Bailey Brkin, Peterborough’s Hunter Jones, Barrie’s Jet Greaves, Ottawa’s Cedrick Andree, Windsor’s Xavier Medina and Kitchener’s Jacob Ingham.
WATCH

OHL WEEKEND NOTEBOOK: DEC. 30, 2019:
The OHL Weekend Notebook recaps the weekend that was with news, information and interesting facts from both on and off the ice. Here are 10 of the leading stories from this past weekend.
READ MORE

CHROMIAK, MCGURN SCORE FIRST OHL GOALS:
The latest instalment of OHL Milestone Moments features two young forwards who scored their first OHL goals this past week. Kingston Frontenacs forward Martin Chromiak scored in his OHL debut on Thursday after London’s Sean McGurn found the back of the net on New Year’s Eve.
WATCH

SPIRIT’S DUHART REPRESENTS OHL IN CHL SHOWDOWN:
Saginaw Spirit forward Dalton Duhart is this week’s OHL representative in CHL Showdown, a weekly contest that features one great play from all three leagues.
WATCH & VOTE AT CHLSHOWDOWN.CA

#PLAYERSFIRST – HOLISTIC APPROACH TO PLAYER DEVELOPMENT:
The OHL’s holistic approach to player development allows it to produce great hockey players as well as well-rounded young men. The League and its member teams strive to develop the whole person through education, awareness and community involvement.
FACT OF THE WEEK • ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

OHL CUP POWERED BY UNDER ARMOUR MINOR MIDGET TOP-10 RANKINGS:
The Quinte Red Devils remain on top of the OHL Cup Powered by Under Armour Minor Midget Top-10 Rankings after finishing in the final four of last weekend’s Toronto Marlboros Holiday Classic. The Toronto Titans, Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs and Toronto Nationals are also on the rise inside the Top-5.
FULL RANKINGS

67’s EARN FRANCHISE RECORD 15TH CONSECUTIVE WIN:
The Ottawa 67’s set a new franchise record on Thursday, defeating the Kingston Frontenacs 8-4 for their 15th consecutive win. Ottawa’s 15-game winning streak surpasses the franchise’s prior mark set during the 1998-99 season.
READ MORE

STORM’S PHILLIPS RETURNS FROM KINGS ORGANIZATION:
The Los Angeles Kings have reassigned overage defenceman Markus Phillips back to the Guelph Storm where he won an OHL Championship last spring. The 20-year-old defenceman has spent the majority of this season with the ECHL’s Fort Wayne Komets, recording six assists over 20 games.
READ MORE

67’s’ OKHOTYUK SIGNS WITH DEVILS:
The New Jersey Devils have signed Ottawa 67’s defenceman Nikita Okhtoyuk to a three-year entry level NHL contract. The 19-year-old defenceman has six assists in an injury-shortened 12 game season to this point after being New Jersey’s second round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-1 defenceman recorded 17 points (2-15–17) with the 67’s last season.
READ MORE

ATTACK’S DUDAS SIGNS WITH KINGS:
The Los Angeles Kings have signed Owen Sound Attack captain Aidan Dudas to a three-year entry level NHL contract. The Owen Sound Attack captain is currently representing Canada at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Ostrava, Czech Republic. The Parry Sound, Ont. native has 30 points (11-19–30) in Owen Sound this season.
READ MORE

TOP CHL IMPORT DRAFT SELECTION MARTIN CHROMIAK COMMITS TO FRONTENACS:
The Kingston Frontenacs have received a commitment from 2019 second overall CHL Import Draft selection Martin Chromiak. Chromiak spent the beginning of this season with HK Dukla Trencin of the Slovakian Tipsport Liga. While playing against men in a professional league he scored five goals and an assist in 32 games.
READ MORE

5 QUESTIONS WITH JAMIE DRYSDALE:
Defenceman Jamie Drysdale of the Erie Otters shares his thoughts about being named to Canada’s National Junior Team and playing in his NHL Draft season.
READ MORE

HOW OWEN BRADY’S CANCER DIAGNOSIS DIDN’T STOP HIS NHL DREAM:
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman spoke with Oshawa Generals prospect Owen Brady as part of the Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour’s coverage this past weekend in Whitby, Ont. Friedman chats with Brady about his journey through an osteosarcoma diagnosis followed by a brave fight and current recovery as he looks to make a return to the ice.
WATCH AT SPORTSNET.CA

ROGERS HOMETOWN HOCKEY TOUR VISITS COBOURG:
The Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour shifts to Cobourg, Ont. this weekend after last weekend’s stop in Whitby covered such stars as OHL graduate James Neal. Cobourg is the home of OHL graduate and three-time Stanley Cup champion Justin Williams. Visit hometownhockey.com for all of this weekend’s coverage.

COMMUNITY CORNER:

Quinton Byfield Bobblehead Night in Sudbury: He won’t be in the lineup, but there’ll be plenty of his bobbleheads at the Sudbury Community Arena on Friday as the Wolves host Quinton Byfield Bobblehead Night at home to the Barrie Colts. The first 1,000 fans into the arena on Friday will received a free Quinton Byfield Bobblehead!
READ MORE AT SUDBURYWOLVES.COM

Firebirds Fight Hunger: The Flint Firebirds have partnered with the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan for the team’s fifth annual “Firebirds Fight Hunger” campaign. Fans are encouraged to bring in a minimum of five non-perishable food items to be donated during Friday’s game against the visiting Oshawa Generals, as well as Saturday’s tilt against the London Knights.
MORE DETAILS AT FLINTFIREBIRDS.COM

Storm presents “Angels in the Stands”: As the Storm host the Peterborough Petes on Friday, January 3rd, they’ll be presenting their first annual “Angels in the Stands” game in support of Michael House. Michael House provides pregnancy and parenting support services to pregnant and parenting women in the community. There will be contests held and “Holiday Hoopla” Fan Bags containing Guelph Storm baseball caps and other fun items available for purchase. All donations will go toward Michael House.
READ MORE AT GUELPHSTORM.COM

Ted Lindsay Night in Saginaw: The Saginaw Spirit pay homage to a Detroit Red Wings all-time great on Saturday on Ted Lindsay Night at the Dow Event Center. Fans will have the opportunity to have their photo taken alongside the Ted Lindsay MVP Trophy in the Red Room prior to game time.
FULL DETAILS AT SAGINAWSPIRIT.COM

67’s host Teddy Bear Toss: Sunday’s tilt against the visiting Erie Otters is the Ottawa 67’s Teddy Bear Toss game, where fans are welcome to bring new or gently used stuffed animals to be launched onto the ice following the first Ottawa goal, where they will then be collected and later donated. Bears will also be available for purchase.
MORE INFO AT OTTAWA67s.COM

Isaac Nurse Bobblehead Night in Hamilton: The first 1000 fans to arrive for Sunday’s matchup between the host Hamilton Bulldogs and the Niagara IceDogs will receive an exclusive Isaac Nurse Bobblehead, one of three different bobbleheads available at Bulldogs games this season.

ALUMNI NOTES:

3 OHL grads win Spengler Cup with Canada: Three OHL graduates are Spengler Cup champions after representing Canada at the annual clash in Davos, Switzerland. Canada returned to the top of the podium after settling for second place last year, winning their 16th event title and fourth in the past five years. OHL graduates Brendan Burke (Univ. of Alberta/London Knights), Dustin Jeffrey (Lausanne HC/Soo Greyhounds) and Mathew Maione (Dinamo Riga/Niagara IceDogs) were part of the Canadian squad.

Stephens scores first NHL goal: Former Saginaw Spirit and London Knights forward Mitchell Stephens scored his first career NHL goal on Saturday. The 22-year-old helped the Tampa Bay Lightning defeat the Montreal Canadiens 5-4, scoring in his eighth career contest. A second round pick of the Lightning in the 2015 NHL Draft, Stephens had registered 10 points (5-5–10) in 24 games with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch to start the season and now has a goal through 11 contests with the Lightning. Stephens played in the OHL from 2013-17, spending three and a half seasons in Saginaw before finishing his career in London. The Peterborough, Ont. native put up 160 points (73-87–160) over 209 career regular season contests.

Marchment makes NHL debut: Mississauga Steelheads graduate Mason Marchment made his NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. The 24-year-old from Uxbridge, Ont. was called up by the Leafs earlier this week after recording four points (2-2–4) in 11 games with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies to start the season. Marchment, who was a Calder Cup champion with the Marlies in 2018, played two OHL seasons between Erie, Hamilton and Mississauga from 2014-16. He is the son of OHL graduate and long-time NHL defenceman Bryan Marchment.

Smith makes NHL debut: It was a long time coming for Dalton Smith, but the Ottawa 67’s graduate made his NHL debut at 27-years-old on New Year’s Eve as the Buffalo Sabres fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-4. Smith, who has spent parts of eight seasons in the minors since graduating from the 67’s in 2011-12, was sent back to the the AHL’s Rochester Americans following the game, but will always have the memory of his first NHL contest. The 6-foot-2, 217Ib. winger spent four seasons in Ottawa from 2008-12, recording 105 points (50-55–105) over 196 career regular season contests. He was a second round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2010.

11 OHL grads named to AHL All-Star rosters: A total of 11 OHL grads have been named to AHL All-Star Game rosters including Andrew Aggozzino (WBS Penguins/Niagara IceDogs), Reid Boucher (Utica Comets/Sarnia Sting), Kyle Capobianco (Tucson Roadrunners/Sudbury Wolves), Morgan Frost (Lehigh Valley Phantoms/Soo Greyhounds), Joey Keane (Hartford Wolf Pack/London Knights), Rasmus Sandin (Toronto Marlies/Soo Greyhounds), Michael Sgarbossa (Hershey Bears/Sudbury Wolves), Anthony Stolarz (San Diego Gulls/London Knights), Jack Studnicka (Providence Bruins/Niagara IceDogs), Chris Terry (Grand Rapids Griffins/Plymouth Whalers), Owen Tippett (Springfield Thunderbirds/Saginaw Spirit). Former OHL coaches behind the bench will include Kris Knoblauch (Hartford Wolf Pack/Erie Otters) and Jay Varady (Tucson Roadrunners/Kingston Frontenacs) as well as OHL playing graduate Chris Taylor (Rochester Americans/London Knights). The 2020 AHL All-Star Classic is set for January 26-27 in Ontario, California.
READ MORE AT THEAHL.COM

Dansk named AHL Goaltender of the Month: Erie Otters graduate Oscar Dansk is the AHL Goaltender of the Month for December, going 7-0 with a 1.57 goals-against average and .943 save percentage with the Chicago Wolves, top affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights. Dansk is 11-6 with a 2.75 goals-against average and .903 save percentage in Chicago this season. The 25-year-old played two seasons in Erie from 2012-14, going 40-32-4-3 with a 3.25 goals-against average and .897 save percentage. He was a second round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2012.

Timmins’ game continuing to come around: Soo Greyhounds graduate Conor Timmins has battled injury since graduating from the OHL in 2018. The 21-year-old Colorado Avalanche prospect is finding success in 2019-20 though, recording 13 points (3-10–13) in 22 games with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles. TheAHL.com’s Demitri Herrera takes a closer look at where Timmins fits into Colorado’s plans as he continues to develop in their farm system.
READ MORE AT THEAHL.COM

Parsons named ECHL Goaltender of the Week: London Knights graduate Tyler Parsons is the ECHL Goaltender of the Week, going 2-0 with a shutout and a 1.00 goals-against average for the Kansas City Mavericks. The 22-year-old is 6-3 with a 2.76 goals-against average and .916 save percentage in 10 games with Kansas City this season. The Chesterfield, Mich. native is a Calgary Flames prospect who was selected in the second round of the 2016 NHL Draft. Parsons, who won a Memorial Cup with London in 2016, played three OHL seasons with the Knights from 2014-17, going 75-25-4-6 with a 2.65 goals-against average and .918 save percentage.

Maletta makes return to ice with Brock Badgers: It’s been a long road back for OHL graduate Jordan Maletta, but the 24-year-old, who once signed a three-year entry level deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets, has returned to the ice with the Brock Badgers Men’s Hockey program. Maletta suits up under former Niagara IceDogs head coach Marty Williamson in St. Catharines after missing out on the entire 2018-19 season. The 6-foot-3, 215Ib. centreman played two pro seasons in the Columbus organization before being sidelined with an injury. The former first round pick in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection played five OHL seasons between Windsor and Niagara, recording 191 points (82-109–191) over 314 regular season games.

KEY MATCHUPS:

Peterborough Petes at Guelph Storm
Friday, January 3rd

Coming off a 5-0 loss, their third defeat in four games since returning from the holiday break, and trailing two points behind the league-leading Ottawa 67’s, the Peterborough Petes will be as hungry as ever for victory when they head to Guelph Friday evening for their second game of the New Year.

This will be the second meeting of the two clubs, with Guelph having claimed victory in their first tilt just recently on Dec. 28 by a 3-2 OT tally. Former Pete Pavel Gogolev notched the overtime winner against his previous team just 12 seconds in.

Rookie Mason McTavish continues to impress, skating in with 32 points to his name through just as many games atop the rookie scoring list. He netted his first career hat trick and career-high five point showing last weekend in his club’s 7-3 trampling over the Niagara IceDogs.

Guelph skates into the match having won six of their last 10 games. Gogolev leads the team with 57 points (27-30-57) and goals in his last nine games. He’s followed by Montreal draft pick Cam Hillis and then Eric Uba, who’s picked up seven points (2-5-7) in his last four games.

Saginaw Spirit at Kitchener Rangers
Friday, January 3rd

Two must-see Western Conference teams in Saginaw and Kitchener will go head-to-head on Friday evening at the Aud, looking to build on their win streaks and kick off the New Year in the win column.

The Rangers have won 11 of their last 12 games and are heading into Friday’s tilt on a three-game win skid that has seen multi-point performances from their leading trio of Riley Damiani, Jonathan Yantsis, and Greg Meireles. In fact, Meireles, a sixth round draft pick of the Florida Panthers last June, has picked up points in his last seven games. Jacob Ingham has continued to stand tall between the pipes with 11 wins in his last 13 starts and two shutouts within the last month.

Saginaw rolls in with six straight wins under their belt. In the absence of many of the league’s top scorers to their respective World Junior squads, top NHL Draft hopeful Cole Perfetti has seamlessly continued to soar among the league’s point leaders, heading into Friday’s game with an eighth-best 55 (20-35-55) to his name. He’s amassed points in his last five games.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

Friday January 3rd:
Oshawa at Flint – 7:00pm
Erie at Kingston – 7:00pm
Owen Sound at Sarnia – 7:05pm
Barrie at Sudbury – 7:05pm
Windsor at Soo – 7:07pm
Peterborough at Guelph – 7:30pm
Saginaw at Kitchener – 7:30pm
Mississauga at London – 7:30pm

Saturday January 4th:
Kingston at Hamilton – 4:00pm
London at Flint – 7:00pm
Kitchener at Niagara – 7:00pm
Oshawa at Saginaw – 7:05pm
Windsor at Sudbury – 7:05pm
Sarnia at Soo – 7:07pm
North Bay at Barrie – 7:30pm
Guelph at Owen Sound – 7:30pm

Sunday January 5th:
Kitchener at Guelph – 2:00pm
Niagara at Hamilton – 2:00pm
Peterborough at Mississauga – 2:00pm
Windsor at North Bay – 2:00pm
Erie at Ottawa – 2:00pm
Sarnia at Saginaw – 5:30pm

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CHL Announces 2017-18 Award Winners

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Regina, SK – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the 10 national award winners for the 2017-18 season including Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Alex Barré-Boulet of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada who earned Sportsnet CHL Player of the Year honours.

The awards were presented as part of the 2018 Mastercard Memorial Cup festivities in Regina.

2017-18 CHL Award Winners: Sherwin-Williams Top Prospect Award: Andrei Svechnikov, Barrie Colts

Barrie Colts forward Andrei Svechnikov is listed number one in NHL Central Scouting’s Final North American Rankings for the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas.  The 18-year-old forward from Barnaul, Russia, registered 40 goals, 32 assists and 72 points in an injury-shortened 44-game rookie season.  He becomes the first OHL player to win the award since first overall NHL Draft pick Connor McDavid of the Erie Otters did so in 2014-15. Finalists for the award include Filip Zadina of the Halifax Mooseheads who was listed third by NHL Central Scouting, and Ty Smith of the Spokane Chiefs ranked 14th.

CCM Top Scorer Award: Jayden Halbgewachs, Moose Jaw Warriors

San Jose Sharks prospect Jayden Halbgewachs led the CHL with 70 goals and 129 points in 72 games, helping the Moose Jaw Warriors capture the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as WHL regular season champions for the first time in franchise history. The 21-year-old product of Emerald Park, Sask. became the first WHL player to reach the 70-goal plateau since 1998-99 when Pavel Brendl did so with the Calgary Hitmen. The offensive outburst earned Halbgewachs a free agent contract with the NHL’s San Jose Sharks. He follows Regina Pats forward Sam Steel as the second straight WHL player to earn the distinction. Finalists for the award were Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Alex Barré-Boulet of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada with 53 goals, 63 assists and 116 points in 65 games, and Ottawa Senators prospect Aaron Luchuk of the Barrie Colts with 50 goals, 65 assists and 115 points in 68 games.

Bumper to Bumper Sportsman of the Year Award: Aleksi Heponiemi, Swift Current Broncos

Florida Panthers prospect Aleksi Heponiemi of the Swift Current Broncos was one of the most proficient passers in the WHL during the 2017-18 season, recording a single-season franchise record 90 assists along with 28 goals and 118 points in only 57 games. Heponiemi recorded just 28 penalty minutes in the process to earn the Brad Hornung Trophy as WHL Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year. A product of Tampere, Finland, Heponiemi represented Finland at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship before helping his Swift Current Broncos claim the Ed Chynoweth Cup as 2018 WHL Champions. Heponiemi becomes the first WHL player to claim the award since Kelowna’s Rourke Chartier did so in 2014-15. Finalists for the award were Vegas Golden Knights prospect Nick Suzuki of the Owen Sound Attack and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada forward Joel Teasdale.

CHL Award Winners
Humanitarian of the Year Garrett McFadden of Guelph Storm, Defenceman of the Year Nicolas Hague of Mississauga Steelheads, Coach of the Year Drew Bannister of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and Top Prospect Andrei Svechnikov of Barrie Colts at the Brandt Centre on May 26, 2018 in Regina, Canada. (Photo by Marissa Baecker/CHL Images)

TVA Sports Humanitarian of the Year Award: Garrett McFadden, Guelph Storm

Guelph Storm captain Garrett McFadden is the CHL’s Humanitarian of the Year after being named a finalist for the award last season, establishing himself as an exceptional ambassador for his team and the league both on and off the ice. The 20-year-old native of Kincardine, Ont. continued his tremendous work with ‘McFadden’s Movement’ in support of youth mental health awareness.  The initiative took new heights in 2017-18 with the introduction of an Ambassadors Program along with fundraising efforts that totaled $20,000 to local mental health resources. The $20,000 raised by McFadden’s Movement fundraising programs and corporate partnership support more than triples his donation from 2016-17, and has been split between WES for Youth Online (a free youth online counseling service created in memory of McFadden’s family friend), and the Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo-Wellington Branch. On the ice, the fifth-year veteran recorded six goals, 38 assists and 44 points in 68 games. McFadden is the first OHL player to win the award since Saginaw’s Will Petschenig did so in 2015-16. Finalists for the award were New York Rangers prospect Ty Ronning of the Vancouver Giants and forward Vincent Tremblay-Lapalme of the Chicoutimi Saguenéens.

CIBC Scholastic Player of the Year Award: Alexandre Alain, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada

Montreal Canadiens prospect Alexandre Alain excelled in Natural Sciences studies at Cégep St-Jérôme this past season while also serving as captain of the QMJHL regular season champion Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. The 21-year-old native of Québec, Que. recorded 44 goals, 43 assists and 87 points in 65 games, earning an NHL contract with the Montreal Canadiens in his overage season.  Alain is the first QMJHL player to earn the award since Shawinigan’s Alexis D’Aoust in 2015-16. Finalists for the award included 2018 NHL Draft prospects Ty Smith of the Spokane Chiefs and Barrett Hayton of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

Janes Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award: Drew Bannister, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

Drew Bannister led the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds to an all-time franchise best record of 55-7-3-3, topping the CHL Top-10 Rankings throughout much of the 2017-18 season. The 44-year-old from Belleville, Ont. helped the Greyhounds earn a Western Conference crown, capturing their fifth Hamilton Spectator Trophy as OHL regular season champions.  They set a franchise record 23-game winning-streak from October 28 to December 30 which ranks third best in OHL history, and generated a run of 29 consecutive contests without a regulation loss.  The Hounds also went on a 27-game home winning-streak from October 20 to March 14 which stands as the second-longest in OHL history following the club’s undefeated season at home in 1984-85.  The 116 points and .853 winning-percentage are both tied for second best all-time under the 68-game schedule. Bannister is the OHL’s second straight recipient of the award following Owen Sound’s Ryan McGill in 2017. Finalists for the award were Manny Viveiros of the Swift Current Broncos and Joel Bouchard of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.

Wawanesa Rookie of the Year Award: Alexis Lafrenière, Rimouski Océanic

2020 NHL Draft prospect Alexis Lafrenière of the Rimouski Océanic turned in a dominant 16-year-old season, leading CHL underage rookies with 80 points including 42 goals and 38 assists in 60 games. The product of St-Eustache, Que. was the QMJHL’s first overall pick in 2017 and didn’t disappoint, becoming the first Quebec-born CHL Rookie of the Year since Rimouski star Vincent Lecavalier back in 1997. He follows in the footsteps of another prominent Océanic forward in 2003-04 recipient Sidney Crosby. Finalists for the award were Andrei Svechnikov of the Barrie Colts and Dylan Cozens of the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

Vaughn Goaltender of the Year Award: Carter Hart, Everett Silvertips Philadelphia

Flyers prospect Carter Hart of the Everett Silvertips becomes the first two-time recipient of the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Year Award after winning 31 of his 41 appearances, logging a 1.60 goals-against average and .947 save percentage with seven shutouts. The Sherwood Park, Alta. product earned his third consecutive Del Wilson Trophy as WHL Goaltender of the Year and represented Canada at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, backstopping his nation to a gold medal before taking his Everett Silvertips to Game 6 of the 2018 WHL Championship. Hart also tied a CHL record, recording his 26th career shutout this past season. Finalists for the award were Vancouver Canucks prospect Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies netminder Samuel Harvey.

Superstore Defenceman of the Year Award: Nicolas Hague, Mississauga Steelheads

Vegas Golden Knights prospect Nicolas Hague of the Mississauga Steelheads earns Superstore CHL Defenceman of the Year honours after setting an all-time franchise record for goals by a defenceman with 35, adding 43 assists for 78 points in 67 games. His 35 tallies were the most by an OHL defenceman since 1998 as he finished the season with 26 multi-point performances. Hague becomes the first OHL recipient of the award since Sault Ste. Marie’s Anthony DeAngelo claimed the honour in 2014-15. Finalists for the award were Los Angeles Kings prospect Kale Clague of the Moose Jaw Warriors and fifth-year veteran Olivier Galipeau of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan.

Sportsnet Player of the Year Award: Alex Barré-Boulet, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada

Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Alex Barré-Boulet led the QMJHL with 53 goals and 63 assists for 116 points in 65 games. The recently turned 21-year-old native of Montmagny, Que. wrapped up his four-year career with 337 points (140-197–337) in 263 games, earning an NHL contract in his overage season. Barré-Boulet led the Armada to a QMJHL regular season title before steering them to Game 6 of the President Cup Final.   He is the first Armada player to win the award and the QMJHL’s first recipient since Val-d’Or’s Anthony Mantha claimed the honours in 2013-14. Finalists for the award were Philadelphia Flyers prospect Carter Hart of the Everett Silvertips and St. Louis Blues prospect Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting.

CHL announces 2017-18 Award Finalists

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the nominees for the 10 major awards that will be presented at the annual CHL Awards Ceremony which takes place on Saturday May 26 as part of the 2018 Mastercard Memorial Cup festivities in Regina.

Sherwin-Williams Top Prospect Award:
Ty Smith (Spokane Chiefs)
Andrei Svechnikov (Barrie Colts)
Filip Zadina (Halifax Mooseheads)


Most recent winner by league: Nolan Patrick (Brandon Wheat Kings 2017), Pierre-Luc Dubois (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 2016), Connor McDavid (Erie Otters 2015).


CCM Top Scorer Award:
Jayden Halbgewachs (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Aaron Luchuk (Barrie Colts)
Alex Barré-Boulet (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)

Most recent winner by league: Sam Steel (Regina Pats 2017), Conor Garland (Moncton Wildcats 2016), Dylan Strome (Erie Otters 2015).

BRP Sportsman of the Year Award:
Aleksi Heponiemi (Swift Current Broncos)
Nick Suzuki (Owen Sound Attack)
Joel Teasdale (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)

Most recent winner by league: Nick Suzuki (Owen Sound Attack 2017), Samuel Girard (Shawinigan Cataractes 2016), Rourke Chartier (Kelowna Rockets 2015).

TVA Sports Humanitarian of the Year Award:
Ty Ronning (Vancouver Giants)
Garrett McFadden (Guelph Storm)
Vincent Tremblay-Lapalme (Chicoutimi Saguenéens)

Most recent winner by league: Tyler Wong (Lethbridge Hurricanes 2017), Will Petschenig (Saginaw Spirit 2016), Danick Martel (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 2015).

CIBC Scholastic Player of the Year Award:
Ty Smith (Spokane Chiefs)
Barrett Hayton (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Alexandre Alain (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)

Most recent winner by league: Sasha Chmelevski (Ottawa 67’s 2017), Alex D’Aoust (Shawinigan Cataractes 2016), Josh Morrissey (Prince Albert Raiders 2013).

Janes Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award:
Manny Viveiros (Swift Current Broncos)
Drew Bannister (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Joel Bouchard (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)

Most recent winner by league: Ryan McGill (Owen Sound Attack 2017), Gilles Bouchard (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 2016), Jim Hiller (Tri-City Americans 2012).

Wawanesa Rookie of the Year Award:
Dylan Cozens (Lethbridge Hurricanes)
Andrei Svechnikov (Barrie Colts)
Alexis Lafrenière (Rimouski Oceanic)

Most recent winner by league: Nico Hischier (Halifax Mooseheads 2017), Alexander Nylander (Mississauga Steelheads 2016), Brett Connolly (Prince George Cougars 2009).

Vaughn Goaltender of the Year Award:
Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips)
Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)
Samuel Harvey (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)

Most recent winner by league: Michael McNiven (Owen Sound Attack 2017), Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips 2016), Philippe Desrosiers (Rimouski Oceanic 2015).

Superstore Defenceman of the Year Award:
Kale Clague (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Nicolas Hague (Mississauga Steelheads)
Olivier Galipeau (Acadie-Bathurst Titan)

Most recent winner by league: Thomas Chabot (Saint John Sea Dogs 2017), Ivan Provorov (Brandon Wheat Kings 2016), Anthony DeAngelo (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 2015).

Sportsnet Player of the Year Award:
Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips)
Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia Sting)
Alex Barré-Boulet (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)

Most recent winner by league: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters 2017), Anthony Mantha (Val-d’Or Foreurs 2014), Brendan Shinnimin (Tri-City Americans 2012).

For more information please visit www.mastercardmemorialcup.ca.

OHL Announces Academic Player of the Year Award Winners for 2017-18

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Greyhounds’ Barrett Hayton, Steelheads’ Stephen Gibson, Attack’s Mack Guzda earn Academic Honours

OHL Logo

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the recipients of the league’s three Academic Player of the Year awards for the 2017-18 season.

Barrett Hayton of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds is the recipient of the Bobby Smith Trophy as Scholastic Player of the Year, with Stephen Gibson of the Mississauga Steelheads earning the Roger Neilson Memorial Award as the Top Post-Secondary School Student, and Mack Guzda of the Owen Sound Attack named the Ivan Tennant Memorial Award recipient for Top High School Student.

All three players will be formally presented with their awards at the annual OHL Awards Ceremony on Wednesday June 6.  Hayton will be the OHL’s nominee for CHL Scholastic Player of the Year which will be announced on Saturday May 26 as part of the events at the 2018 Mastercard Memorial Cup in Regina.

Bobby Smith Trophy (OHL Scholastic Player of the Year) – Barrett Hayton, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds:

Barrett Hayton earns OHL Scholastic Player of the Year honours for his achievements as a Grade 12 student at Superior Heights combined with his on-ice excellence for the Greyhounds.  This season he obtained an overall average of 87% studying University level courses in Math – Advanced Functions, Math – Data Management, Biology, Chemistry, English, and Recreation & Healthy Active Living Leadership, while producing 60 points in 63 regular season games.

“It is an incredible honour to win this award,” said Hayton. “It would not have been possible without the support of the Soo Greyhounds organization and Superior Heights School. I take pride both on and off the ice to develop not only as a player but also as a person.”

The 17-year-old from Peterborough, Ont., scored 21 goals and 39 assists this season contributing to a banner season in Sault Ste. Marie where the club finished atop the OHL’s regular season standings with a record 55 wins and 116 points.  The first round pick in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection won gold with Canada at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup and is now a projected first round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft and was listed ninth among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings.

“We wish to congratulate Barrett on being awarded the Bobby Smith Trophy,” said Greyhounds General Manager Kyle Raftis. “As an organization, we couldn’t be more proud of Barrett. He embodies all of the qualities you wish for in a Greyhound. Known for his dedicated and disciplined personality, Barrett’s academic work ethic is synonymous with his devotion to the game. Barrett demonstrates that you can have tremendous success on the ice, and still maximize your academic potential.”

Each year the Bobby Smith Trophy is presented to the OHL Scholastic Player of the year who best combines high standards of play and academic excellence.  The trophy is in honour of Bobby Smith, a former Ottawa 67’s star who exhibited a standard of excellence in both of these areas.  First presented in 1980, Hayton is the third member of the Greyhounds to receive the award following Darnell Nurse (2013) and Jake McCracken (1997).  Past recipients include three-time winner Dustin Brown (Guelph 2001-03), Steven Stamkos (Sarnia 2007), Matt Duchene (Brampton 2009), Dougie Hamilton (Niagara 2011), back-to-back winner Connor McDavid (Erie 2014-15), Nicolas Hague (Mississauga 2016), and Sasha Chmelevski (Ottawa 2017).

Runner-up for the award this season was fellow 2018 NHL Draft prospect Ty Dellandrea of the Flint Firebirds, with finalists that include top prospects Kevin Bahl of the Ottawa 67’s and Aidan Dudas of the Owen Sound Attack.

Roger Neilson Memorial Award (Top Post-Secondary Student) – Stephen Gibson, Mississauga Steelheads:

Stephen Gibson earns his second straight academic honour for his post-secondary studies at Ryerson University excelling once again in his Business courses that include Business Information Systems, Business Law, Business Statistics, Intro to Global Management, Intro to Professional Communication, and Public Relations Principles.  This also marks the third straight season the award has been earned by a Steelheads player with Damian Bourne receiving the honour in 2016.

“I am very honoured to once again be the recipient of the Roger Neilson Memorial Award,” said Gibson. “I would like to thank Elliott Kerr, James Richmond, and the entire Mississauga Steelheads organization for allowing me to pursue my hockey goals while supporting my academic endeavours. I would also like to thank the Ontario Hockey League for creating an environment that allows players to further their education while they are playing in the league. The OHL is the best developmental hockey league in the world, while providing players every resource needed to be successful off the ice.”

The 21-year-old from Kitchener, Ont., finished his five-year OHL tenure with the Steelheads as the club’s leader in career games played with 263 after being chosen in the seventh round of the 2013 OHL Priority Selection.  The overage defenceman recorded one goal and nine assists for 10 points playing in all 68 regular season games in 2017-18.

“Our Steelheads family are very proud of Stephen and this prestigious accomplishment,” said Steelheads General Manager and Head Coach James Richmond. “He is a super person both on and off the ice and we’re happy that he is once again being recognized for his dedication to not only his athletic performance but also for his academic achievements. Congratulations Stephen and we wish you continued success!”

The Roger Neilson Memorial Award is named in honour of the Hall of Fame Coach who served behind the Peterborough Petes bench in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.  Neilson, a former high school teacher, was a pioneer in stressing the importance of education to all of his players.  First presented in 2005, fellow two-time winners include Danny Battochio (Ottawa 2005-06) and Derek Lanoue (Windsor 2010-11).

Finalists for the award include William Sirman of the Windsor Spitfires and Jonathan Yantsis of the Kitchener Rangers.

Ivan Tennant Memorial Award (Top Academic High School Student) – Mack Guzda, Owen Sound Attack:

Owen Sound rookie goaltender Mack Guzda achieved a 94% average during the 2017-18 academic season studying Algebra, Chemistry, English, Law and Order, Sport Marketing, and U.S. History through online programs with the K12 International Academy.

“It is a great honour to be the recipient of this year’s Ivan Tennant Award,” said Guzda. “I’m extremely thankful for our education consultant, coaches, management, and for the ownership group that supply any extra help we might need to grow academically. I feel extremely fortunate to be able to excel in the classroom while competing in the Ontario Hockey League.”

The 17-year-old from Knoxville, Tennessee, played 30 games between-the-pipes for the Attack this season after being chosen by the club in the second round of the 2017 OHL Priority Selection.  Named to the First All-Rookie Team, Guzda carried an overall record of 14-6-2-2 with one shutout along with a goals-against-average of 3.20 and save percentage of .879.  His 14 victories set a new Attack mark for 16-year-old netminders.

“Mack’s worth ethic in the classroom this year was second to none and we couldn’t be prouder that he’s being honoured for his academic excellence,” said Attack General Manager Dale DeGray. “The Attack have always placed a premium on education, and this is a testament to Mack, our education consultant Sarah Rowe, and the fantastic team of tutors that we have to help our players become well rounded student athletes.”

The Ivan Tennant Memorial Award is given to the Top Academic High School Player and is named in honour of Ivan Tennant, who spent a lifetime combining hockey and education.  He was the Kitchener Rangers’ Education Consultant for 20 years and a key figure on the OHL’s Education Consultant’s Committee.  First presented in 2005, Guzda is the second member of the Attack to receive the award following Andrew Shorkey in 2007.  Past recipients also include brothers Matt and Adam Pelech (Sarnia 2005 and Erie 2012), Freddie and Dougie Hamilton (Niagara 2009 and 2010), and recent winners Stephen Dhillon (Niagara 2015), Kyle Keyser (Flint 2016), and Quinn Hanna (Guelph 2017).

Finalists for the award include Billy Moskal of the London Knights and Isaac Walker of the Mississauga Steelheads.

All 20 of the OHL’s member clubs provide nominees for each award with the Bobby Smith Trophy nominees representing the 2017-18 OHL Scholastic Team:

2017-18 OHL Scholastic Team:
Barrie Colts – Nathan Allensen
Erie Otters – Maxim Golod
Flint Firebirds – Ty Dellandrea*
Guelph Storm – Owen Lalonde*
Hamilton Bulldogs – Jake Murray
Kingston Frontenacs – Ted Nichol
Kitchener Rangers – Riley Damiani*
London Knights – Billy Moskal
Mississauga Steelheads – Jacob Ingham
Niagara IceDogs – Ben Jones*
North Bay Battalion – Travis Mailhot
Oshawa Generals – Allan McShane
Ottawa 67’s – Kevin Bahl
Owen Sound Attack – Aidan Dudas
Peterborough Petes – Zach Gallant**
Saginaw Spirit – Damien Giroux*
Sarnia Sting – Colton Kammerer
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds – Barrett Hayton
Sudbury Wolves – Peter Stratis
Windsor Spitfires – Curtis Douglas


*member of 2016-17 OHL Scholastic Team
**member of 2015-16 OHL Scholastic Team

Barrett Hayton – Soo Greyhounds – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height: 6’1”

Weight: 190 pounds

Date of birth: June 9, 2000

Hometown: Peterborough, Ontario

Position: Center

Shoots: Left

OHL Draft: Round 1, 9th overall, 2016 OHL Priority Selection

He played his minor midget hockey with the Toronto Red Wings and scored 36 goals and 37 assists in 59 games. He came off an OHL Gold Cup Championship scoring 3 goals in 5 games. And in the OHL Cup, he scored 4 goals and added 2 assists in 5 games.

When Barrett Hayton was still available at the ninth spot of the 2016 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection, it was a no hesitation pick by Kyle Raftis and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

Hayton had already won a championship with the Eastern Triple A Minor Midget’s Peterborough Petes. Coming into this season, he won gold with Team Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial where he had 3 goals and 3 assists in 5 games.

Barrett Hayton of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Photo by Terrry Wilson / OHL Images.
Barrett Hayton of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

To put it simply, Hayton has won and contributed to that winning at every level. And with his Greyhounds being the top dog (no pun intended) in Canadian Major Junior, a run at an OHL and Memorial Cup championship is certainly not out of the question. That can only improve his draft stock as his performance will certainly be fresh in scout’s minds come June in Dallas for the National Hockey League Draft.

His rookie season saw Hayton score 9 goals and add 18 assists on a very deep Greyhounds roster. He also represented Canada at the World Hockey Challenge Under-17 (1 goal and 1 assist in 6 games).

But this season, Hayton is playing a more prominent offensive role with the Greyhounds. He’s posted 17 goals and 28 assists in 48 games. Among the OHL’s draft eligible players, he sits 6th in assists, 7th in points, and 8th in goals.

Coming into the season, Hayton was ranked as an A prospect on NHL Central Scouting’s Players to Watch List.  On their mid-term rankings, Hayton was ranked sixth among North American skaters. On Bob McKenzie’s ever popular mid-season rankings, Hayton was ranked 12th among all skaters. McKenzie’s rankings are done by polling NHL scouts so if you’re looking at what NHL scouts may be leaning towards, there is no better source.

When talking about Hayton, the thing that most people will say about him from the get go is “soft and incredible hands.” And that is an understatement. Along with it, he brings an above average – NHL ready – shot. He releases that shot quickly, sometimes deceptively and with a purpose.

Hayton does not lack in the hockey sense department, which means he can play any role and lineup with and against anyone. At 6’1”, he has some size and plays heavy on the puck with a relentless work ethic and forecheck. His vision is very good which allows him to make plays, and when he’s on the receiving end, as mentioned, his shot makes him a threat to score. He has a willingness to drive the net with or without the puck.

Playing in the middle is relatively new for Hayton. While he has good technique, has some agility and is strong on his skates, he needs to add some speed to his game. He plays a very good three-zone game, but I believe to play pivot at the next level, adding speed will be necessary. I agree with others who maintain that the rest of his game means he’s better suited to play the wing in the NHL. Faceoffs are not a strong suit, winning just 48.2% of his draws.

The possession game is a thriving area of Hayton’s game. His vision and passing abilities allows him to find mates and keep possession, while he is so elusive and puts himself in position for teammates to feed him and keeping possession.

Everyone you talk to speak of Hayton’s excellent leadership qualities both on and off the ice. It’s difficult to find others that work harder, and he leads by example – when you watch him work on his game, you just want to follow his lead.

Barrett Hayton

Stat page of Barrett Hayton, from Elite Prospects

OHL’s Draft Eligible Statistical Leaders: January

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

January 31 brings us within a hair of the three-quarter mark of the Ontario Hockey League season and there are many interesting individual races in a variety of statistical categories. As always, we look at players eligible for the National Hockey League Draft in June in Dallas Texas, for the first time. That is not meant to take away from players re-entering the draft. While I believe some of them will get drafted the second time around, history has shown that they are usually passed over the second time.

It’s hard to imagine, or maybe it is not, where Andrei Svechnikov of the Barrie Colts would be had he not missed almost two months with a wrist injury. Despite missing seven weeks and playing in twenty fewer games, Svechnikov leads all draft eligible players with 23 goals in 27 games. That’s two more then Aidan Dudas of the Owen Sound Attack and three more then Ty Dellandria of the Flint Firebirds, who both have played 47 games.

Andrei Svechnikovof the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Andrei Svechnikov of the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Thanks in part to Svechnikov’s absence, a pair of highly touted defensemen lead all players in points. Evan Bouchard of the London Knights leads the pack with 60 points in 47 games. He is followed closely by Ryan Merkley of the Guelph Storm who has 57 points in 47 games. Akil Thomas of the Niagara IceDogs comes in third with 56 points in 47 games.

Of course, it goes without saying that Bouchard and Merkley lead all defensemen in the point scoring race. Rasmus Sandin of the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds sits in the next tier by himself with 30 points in 34 games. Yours truly has made it no secret that Sandin would be my choice as the second defenseman taken from the OHL. Giovanni Vallati of the Kitchener Rangers comes in fourth with 20 points in 47 games.

Over the years, there has been a great debate over the value of the plus-minus stat. Whether you agree or not, there is some value to the stat. And Sandin leads the way with a plus-28. That’s a comfortable plus-10 more than teammate Barrett Hayton and Nathan Dunkley of the London Knights.

Serron Noel of the Oshawa Generals led the entire OHL for most of the season in shooting percentage. As of January 31, he drops to second, but still leads all draft eligible players at 25%. Svechnikov comes in second, scoring on 22.3% of his shots, while Cam Hillis of the Guelph Storm comes in third at 21.8%.

Bouchard leads all shooters in shots on goal with 211, which is good enough for second overall in the OHL. He has a comfortable lead over Dellandria (173) and Dudas (172).

While we take great care in compiling stats, always refer to the OHL website for official stats.

Points Leaders
Player Team GP G A Pts
Evan Bouchard London Knights 47 16 44 60
Ryan Merkley Guelph Storm 47 12 45 57
Akil Thomas Niagara Ice Dogs 47 13 43 56
Ryan McLeod Mississauga Steelheads 47 17 36 53
Aidan Dudas Owen Sound Attack 47 21 25 46
Cam Hillis Guelph Storm 47 18 28 46
Barrett Hayton Soo Greyhounds 47 17 27 44
Ty Dellandrea Flint Firebirds 47 20 21 41
Nathan Dunkley London Knights 40 15 24 39
Andrei Svechnikov Barrie Colts 27 23 15 38
Goal Scoring Leaders
Player Team GP G GPG
Andrei Svechnikov Barrie Colts 27 23 0.85
Aidan Dudas Owen Sound Attack 47 21 0.45
Ty Dellandrea Flint Firebirds 47 20 0.43
Cam Hillis Guelph Storm 47 18 0.38
Serron Noel Oshawa Generals 42 18 0.43
Pavel Gogolev Peterborough Petes 43 18 0.42
Ryan McLeod Mississauga Steelheads 47 17 0.36
Barrett Hayton Soo Greyhounds 47 17 0.36
Evan Bouchard London Knights 47 16 0.34
Kody Clark Ottawa 67’s 38 16 0.42
Assist Leaders
Player Team GP A APG
Ryan Merkley Guelph Storm 47 45 0.96
Evan Bouchard London Knights 47 44 0.94
Akil Thomas Niagara Ice Dogs 47 43 0.91
Ryan McLeod Mississauga Steelheads 47 36 0.77
Cam Hillis Guelph Storm 47 28 0.60
Barrett Hayton Soo Greyhounds 47 27 0.57
Allan McShane Oshawa Generals 47 27 0.57
Aidan Dudas Owen Sound Attack 47 25 0.53
Rasmus Sandin Soo Greyhounds 34 24 0.71
Nathan Dunkley London Knights 40 24 0.60
Defencemen Point Leaders
Player Team GP G A Pts
Evan Bouchard London Knights 47 16 44 60
Ryan Merkley Guelph Storm 47 12 45 57
Rasmus Sandin Soo Greyhounds 34 6 24 30
Giovanni Vallati Kitchener Rangers 46 3 17 20
Merrick Rippon Ottawa 67’s 48 2 16 18
Peter Stratis Sudbury Wolves 49 5 12 17
Caleb Everett Saginaw Spirit 39 4 13 17
Kevin Bahl Ottawa 67’s 48 1 16 17
Plus/Minus Leaders
Player Team GP +/-
Rasmus Sandin Soo Greyhounds 34 +28
Nathan Dunkley London Knights 40 +18
Barrett Hayton Soo Greyhounds 47 +18
Evan Bouchard London Knights 47 +17
Tyler Tucker Barrie Colts 40 +16
Adam Liska Kitchener Rangers 44 +12
Andrei Svechnikov Barrie Colts 27 +11
Alec Regula London Knights 47 +11
William Sirman Windsor Spitfires 46 +10
Ryan Roth Soo Greyhounds 49 +10
Penalty Minutes Leaders
Player Team GP PIM M/G
Tyler Tucker Barrie Colts 40 67 1.68
Kevin Bahl Ottawa 67’s 48 67 1.40
Daylon Groulx Owen Sound Attack 39 60 1.54
Merrick Rippon Ottawa 67’s 48 57 1.19
Curtis Douglas Windsor Spitfires 46 55 1.20
Ryan Merkley Guelph Storm 47 50 1.06
Max Grondin Saginaw Spirit 46 47 1.02
Faceoff Leaders  (Minimum 200 faceoffs)
Player Team GP FOA FOW %
Billy Moskal London Knights 46 445 266 59.8
Allan McShane Oshawa Generals 47 695 382 55.0
Nathan Dunkley London Knights 40 484 263 54.3
David Levin Sudbury Wolves 32 232 125 53.9
Ryan McLeod Mississauga Steelheads 48 1043 556 53.3
Akil Thomas Niagara Ice Dogs 47 761 405 53.2
Ty Dellandrea Flint Firebirds 47 985 500 50.8
Aidan Dudas Owen Sound Attack 47 662 326 49.2
Barret Kirwin Guelph Storm 48 659 324 49.2
Cam Hillis Guelph Storm 48 776 379 48.8
Longest Goal Scoring Streak
Player Team From To Gms Goals
Brady Hinz Sarnia Sting 10/9 10/19 5 7
Kody Clark Ottawa 67’s 10/12 10/21 5 6
Nathan Dunkley Kingston Frontenacs 11/26 12/3 4 5
Blade Jenkins Saginaw Spirit 10/29 11/4 4 6
Ryan McLeod Mississauga Steelheads 1/19 1/26 3 6
Longest Assist Streak
Player Team From To Gms Assts
Ryan Merkley Guelph Storm 10/22 11/16 9 13
Akil Thomas Niagara Ice Dogs 9/30 10/19 8 10
Ryan Merkley Guelph Storm 1/11 1/28 8 10
Ryan McLeod Mississauga Steelheads 10/27 11/9 6 9
Akil Thomas Niagara Ice Dogs 12/7 12/31 6 6
Longest Point Streak
Player Team From To Gms Pts
Ryan McLeod Mississauga Steelheads 10/6 11/10 14 20
Akil Thomas Niagara Ice Dogs 12/9 1/13 12 18
Ryan Merkley Guelph Storm 11/19 12/15 10 16
Ryan Merkley Guelph Storm 10/22 11/16 9 17
Akil Thomas Niagara Ice Dogs 9/29 10/19 9 15
Shooting Percentage
Player Team GP G S %
Serron Noel Oshawa Generals 42 18 72 25.0
Andrei Svechnikov Barrie Colts 27 23 103 22.3
Cam Hillis Guelph Storm 48 19 87 21.8
Nathan Dunkley London Knights 40 15 74 20.3
Brady Hinz Peterborough Petes 49 14 73 19.2
Shots On Goal Leaders
Player Team GP SOG
Evan Bouchard London Knights 47 211
Ty Dellandrea Flint Firebirds 47 173
Aidan Dudas Owen Sound Attack 47 172
Riley Damiani Kitchener Rangers 49 133
Barrett Hayton Soo Greyhounds 47 131
Goaltenders Leaders – Goals Against Average (Min 10 games)
Player Team GP Min GA Avg
Jordon Kooy London Knights 17 827 40 2.90
Nick Donofrio Hamilton Bulldogs 11 581 30 3.10
Kai Edmonds Barrie Colts 12 569 32 3.37
Jacob Ingham Mississauga Steelheads 33 1865 117 3.76
Cameron Lamour Saginaw Spirit 12 522 37 4.25
Goaltending Leaders – Save Percentage (Min 10 games)
Player Team GP SH  SVS SV%
Jordon Kooy London Knights 17 442 402 0.910
Nick Donofrio Hamilton Bulldogs 11 270 240 0.889
Kai Edmonds Barrie Colts 12 278 246 0.885
Jacob Ingham Mississauga Steelheads 33 959 842 0.878
Marshall Frappier Sudbury Wolves 13 376 329 0.875
Goaltending Leaders – Wins
Player Team GP W L OL
Jacob Ingham Mississauga Steelheads 17 13 16 1
Nick Donofrio Hamilton Bulldogs 11 7 1 1
Jordon Kooy London Knights 17 6 6 1
Kai Edmonds Barrie Colts 12 5 4 0
Cameron Lamour Saginaw Spirit 12 5 4 0
Goaltending Leaders – Shutouts
Player Team GP SO
Nick Donofrio Hamilton Bulldogs 11 1
Mario Peccia Oshawa Generals 8 1

Offence connects as Team Cherry triumphs 7-4 in Guelph

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Guelph, ON – For the second straight year, Team Cherry’s offensive instincts rose to the surface as gorgeous goals and a few additions to the event record book paved the way to a 7-4 win at the Sleeman Centre in Guelph.

Team Cherry’s Jim Gregory Player of the Game Award recipient Evan Bouchard (London Knights) tied a pair of event records with four assists and four points from the back end while forward Ty Dellandrea made a record-breaking contribution of his own with two goals just 20 seconds apart.

“They came at us hard to start the game but we bounced back and once we scored a goal or two we gained momentum and that really carried us,” said Bouchard, who tied Daniel Briere’s event record of four assists set back in 1996. “It’s easy to generate chemistry when you have the chance to play with great players like this.”

Dellandrea’s pair of bang-bang goals late in the first period surpassed a long-standing record set by JP Dumont back in 1996.

“The guys all played great and I was just fortunate to be able to finish on those great plays by my teammates,” said Dellandrea who is just the second Flint Firebirds player to ever suit up at the event.

“Our team grew close over these past three days and we all had a lot of fun out there tonight.”

Six different Team Cherry players had multi-point outputs as second-ranked North American skater Filip Zadina (Halifax Mooseheads), late addition Aidan Dudas (Owen Sound Attack) and Dellandrea each finished the night with a pair of markers.

After a back-and-forth opening half of the first period, Don Cherry’s squad took over with four goals in a span of 2:32.

Russian winger Egor Sokolov (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles) got things started, finishing off a broken play in the slot with a quick release through the legs of Team Orr netminder Alexis Gravel (Halifax Mooseheads) at 14:10.

Dudas snuck in behind the Team Orr defence just over a minute later, taking a Bouchard up-ice feed to go in alone and beat Gravel through the legs.

Dellandrea would proceed to set a pair of new Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game records, making the score 4-0 when he tallied 20 seconds apart to smash JP Dumont’s 1996 mark of two goals in 3:22.

Dellandrea’s second marker came on a deflection off a Nico Gross (Oshawa Generals) point release, giving Team Cherry three goals in a span of 1:07 to set another new event mark.

Team Cherry picked up where it left off 4:12 into the second frame as Barrett Hayton (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) found NHL Central Scouting’s second-ranked North American skater Filip Zadina (Halifax Mooseheads) waiting in the slot for a one-time finish past his Halifax teammate Gravel.

After a number of quality power play scoring chances, Team Orr broke its offensive silence just shy of the midway mark of the second as big blueliner Kevin Bahl (Ottawa 67’s) sent a shot toward the goal that was deflected enroute by Serron Noel (Oshawa Generals).

Both clubs changed goaltenders at the midway point with Team Cherry in the lead 5-1, outshooting Team Orr 21-14 as Jacob Ingham (Mississauga Steelheads) and Kevin Mandolese (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles) took over in the crease.

Though the 6-foot-6 defenceman has just one goal in Ottawa this season, Bahl jumped into the rush to cut Team Orr’s deficit to three with 6:12 left in the second frame, coming in late as the trailer to rip a quick wrister past Ingham.

Dudas would put away his second of the night 1:12 later, putting Team Cherry up 6-2 with a beautiful toe-drag through the slot before depositing a shot over the shoulder of Kevin Mandolese (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles) at the 15-minute mark.

Zadina would bury his second of the night on a rebound with 1:52 left in the third, grabbing the second effort off a Bouchard perimeter shot to send Team Cherry into the intermission leading 7-2.

Team Orr made things interesting in the third, getting goals from Cole Fonstad (Prince Albert Raiders) and Dmitry Zavgorodniy (Rimouski Océanic) to cut the deficit to three before the sound of the final buzzer.

Bouchard (4A) and Team Orr’s Kevin Bahl (1G, 1A) claimed Jim Gregory Player of the Game recognition as Team Cherry improved to 7-13 at the Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

Team Cherry outshot Team Orr 41-26 on the night, going 1-for-3 on the power play.

CHL’s Top Prospects Showcase Strengths in Sport Testing Combine

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Guelph, ON – The next wave of NHL Draft talent were put to the test on Wednesday competing on and off the ice in advance of the 2018 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

All 40 of the Canadian Hockey League’s top prospects in attendance seized the opportunity to showcase their individual strengths with Sport Testing to gauge fitness and skill levels for NHL management and scouts.

The day began at the University of Guelph with a series of off-ice performance measures that included strength testing, agility runs, and leg power evaluations.  The afternoon shifted to on-ice tests at Sleeman Centre including forward and backward sprints, reaction, weave agility, and transition agility drills each performed with and without a puck.

Forward Barrett Hayton of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, ranked 6th by NHL Central Scouting in their Midterm Rankings, finished atop the overall standings in the off-ice portion which factored performance results from across the seven different fields.  Defenceman Kevin Bahl of the Ottawa 67’s (ranked 30th by NHL CS) finished in second, followed by a pair of London Knights including defenceman Evan Bouchard (ranked 5th by NHL CS) in third and forward Liam Foudy (ranked 91st by NHL CS) in fourth, and forward Ryan McLeod of the Mississauga Steelheads (ranked 16th by NHL CS) finished in fifth.

Defenceman Noah Dobson of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan (ranked 8th by NHL CS) led the way in overall on-ice testing based on results across the 10 different categories.  Fellow defenceman Ty Smith of the Spokane Chiefs (ranked 14th by NHL CS) tied for second with Knights forward Liam Foudy, followed by forward Dmitry Zavgorodniy of the Rimouski Oceanic (ranked 54th by NHL CS) in fourth, and top ranked North American skater Andrei Svechnikov of the Barrie Colts finished in fifth.

In specialized Sport Testing for goalies, Jacob Ingham of the Mississauga Steelheads (ranked 3rd by NHL CS) claimed top honours in an array of reaction, agility, and movement challenges.

SWTP Skills Development - 01-24-18 (10)
Images captured during the 2018 Sherwin-Williams CHL / NHL Top Prospects Events. Photo by Terry Wilson / CHL Images.

2018 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game – Sport Testing Combine Top Performers:

Off-Ice Tests:

Vertical Jump: 1 – Liam Foudy (London Knights) 2 – Barrett Hayton (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhound) 3 – Kevin Bahl (Ottawa 67’s)

Broad Jump: 1 – Liam Foudy (London Knights) 2 – Serron Noel (Oshawa Generals) 3 – Kevin Bahl (Ottawa 67’s)

Medicine Ball Toss: 1 – Kevin Bahl (Ottawa 67’s) 1 – Anderson MacDonald (Moncton Wildcats) 3 – Liam Foudy (London Knights)

Grip Left: 1 – Barrett Hayton (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) 2 – Andrei Svechnikov (Barrie Colts) 3 – Riley Sutter (Everett Silvertips)

Grip Right: 1 – Xavier Bernard (Drummondville Voltigeurs) 2 – Riley Sutter (Everett Silvertips) 3 – Gabriel Fortier (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)

Pro-Agility Left: 1 – Barrett Hayton (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) 2 – Liam Foudy (London Knights) 3 – Noah Dobson (Acadie-Bathurst Titan)

Pro-Agility Right: 1 – Liam Foudy (London Knights) 2 – Ryan McLeod (Mississauga Steelheads) 3 – Nico Gross (Oshawa Generals) 

On-Ice Tests:

30M Forward Skate: 1 – Serron Noel (Oshawa Generals) 2 – Dmitry Zavgorodniy (Rimouski Oceanic) 3 – Liam Foudy (London Knights)

30M Forward Skate with Puck: 1 – Ty Smith (Spokane Chiefs) 2 – Liam Foudy (London Knights) 3 – Noah Dobson (Acadie-Bathurst Titan)

30M Backward Skate: 1 – Noah Dobson (Acadie-Bathurst Titan) 2 – Evan Bouchard (London Knights) 3 – Xavier Bernard (Drummondville Voltigeurs)

30M Backward Skate with Puck: 1 – Noah Dobson (Acadie-Bathurst Titan) 2 – Ty Smith (Spokane Chiefs) 3 – Liam Foudy (London Knights)

Reaction: 1 – Barrett Hayton (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) 2 – Allan McShane (Oshawa Generals) 3 – Nico Gross (Oshawa Generals)

Reaction with Puck: 1 – Liam Foudy (London Knights) 2 – Vladislav Kotkov (Chicoutimi Sagueneens) 3 – Ty Smith (Spokane Chiefs)

Weave Agility: 1 – Andrei Svechnikov (Barrie Colts) 2 – Dmitry Zavgorodniy (Rimouski Oceanic) 3 – Ty Smith (Spokane Chiefs)

Weave Agility with Puck: 1 – Andrei Svechnikov (Barrie Colts) 2 – Allan McShane (Oshawa Generals) 3 – Philipp Kurashev (Quebec Remparts)

Transition Agility: 1 – Akil Thomas (Niagara IceDogs) 2 – Barrett Hayton (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) 3 – Ryan McLeod (Mississauga Steelheads)

Transition Agility with Puck: 1 – Akil Thomas (Niagara IceDogs) 2 – Aidan Dudas (Owen Sound Attack) 3 – Cameron Hillis (Guelph Storm)

Sport Testing scores provide valuable performance benchmarks to coaches and players at all levels of hockey with data collected at the Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game shared with NHL Central Scouting and distributed to all 31 NHL teams.

For more information please visit www.sporttesting.com.

sporttesting

OHL Writers Draft Eligible Player of the Month December

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

It seems like the easiest thing to do would be to take November’s write-up, change a couple of names, and use it for December.

But how much fun would that be?

Barrie Colts superstar and consensus top-two pick for the 2018 National Hockey League Draft Andrei Svechnikov returned from injury and appeared in 6 games scoring 4 goals and 3 assists before leaving to represent Russia at the World Junior Championship in Buffalo where he has 5 assists to date.

Adam Liska of the Kitchener Rangers posted 4 goals and 4 assists in just 6 games before he departed for Buffalo to represent his native Slovakia.

I wanted to specifically recognize those two players, but I also wanted to take the whole month into consideration without taking into consideration what was happening at the World Juniors.

Evan Bouchard of the London Knights. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Evan Bouchard of the London Knights. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

There are a few players that deserve recognition. Akil Thomas of the Niagara IceDogs posted 4 goals and 8 assists in 10 games and is currently riding a 6-game point streak. Barrett Hayton has been huge in helping the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds stretch their winning streak to 23 games in the absence of Boris Katchouk. Hayton registered 5 goals and 8 assists in 11 games.

Like November there are also two dynamic defencemen in the picture: Ryan Merkley of the Guelph Storm and Evan Bouchard of the London Knights. Merkley has 3 goals and 10 assists in 11 games and leads the Storm in scoring. He also had a 6-game point streak where he scored 3 goals and 8 assists.

Bouchard notched 5 goals and added 11 assists in 11 games and is tied for his team lead in points. Bouchard has an active point streak of 6 games heading into January with 3goals and 7 assists and now leads all draft eligible players in points as well as a large lead in shots on goal.

Like November however, I must go with one of the two defencemen who run their team’s offence. But like November, it’s not just about the offence and I have to once again go with Bouchard.

Bouchard finished December with a plus-7. He averaged over 30 minutes per game playing in all situations with some very clutch offence. He notched 3 game winning goals, two if them coming in overtime while setting up 2 game winning goals, one in overtime.

Bouchard was named the game’s first star once, second star once and third star twice in December.

Player of the Month

Evan Bouchard – London Knights (November)

Brady Hinz – Sarnia Sting (October)

Matthew Struthers – Owen Sound Attack (September)

OHL Announces Academic Players of the Month for February

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the OHL Academic Players of the Month for February 2017, including Sasha Chmelevski of the Ottawa 67’s, Reagan O’Grady of the Sudbury Wolves, Evan Bouchard of the London Knights and Barrett Hayton of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

OHL

East Division: For the second time in his OHL career, Ottawa 67’s forward Sasha Chmelevski has earned Academic Player of the Month honours, claiming East Division recognition for the month of February. A native of Northville, Mich., Chmelevski holds a 96% average in Grade 12 Statistics and Probability, British Literature, Anatomy and Physiology, Marketing and Psychology courses. “Sasha approaches his studies as a mature, disciplined, and self-motivated student, who works hard to balance the demands of school and hockey,” said 67’s Academic Advisor Eileen Duffin. The 2017 NHL Draft prospect sits fourth in OHL scoring with 19 goals, 21 assists and 40 points over 49 games. He represented Team Orr in the 2017 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, scoring a goal in Quebec City and also represented the United States at the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament this past summer, recording four goals and five assists in four contests. Chmelevski was Sarnia’s first round (10th overall) pick in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection.

Central Division: Third-year defenceman Reagan O’Grady of the Sudbury Wolves is the OHL Central Division Academic Player of the Month for February. The 18-year-old Lindsay, Ont. native holds an 81% average in Grade 12 University level courses at Lasalle Secondary School and is set to begin University in September. In 56 games this season, the draft eligible blueliner has four goals, 10 assists and 14 points. O’Grady was originally Kingston’s first round (15th overall) pick in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection from the Toronto Marlboros Minor Midgets.

Midwest Division: Sophomore defenceman Evan Bouchard of the London Knights is the OHL Midwest Division Academic Player of the Month for February. The Oakville, Ont. native is maintaining a 93% average in Grade 12 University level studies at Blyth Academy. “Evan’s success this year can be credited to his positive attitude and work ethic,” said Knights Academic Advisor Trish Hurley. “He exemplifies the OHL policy of ‘providing the best of both worlds’ with regard to academics and hockey.” Bouchard is the Sports Representative on Blyth Academy’s Student Council and is involved with clubs within the school community. He has helped organize multiple fundraisers since the start of the school year including an initiative for Sick Kids Hospital. Bouchard has nine goals, 25 assists and 34 points to go with a plus/minus rating of plus-29 in 59 contests this season. He was London’s first round (17th overall) pick in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection and won’t be eligible for the NHL Draft until 2018.

West Division: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds rookie Barrett Hayton is the OHL West Division Academic Player of the Month. The Peterborough, Ont. native has an overall average of 85% in Grade 11 University level Mathematics, English, Science and Physical Education programs at Superior Heights Secondary School. “Barrett is a great example of how a student-athlete with the Greyhounds can achieve success both on the ice and in the classroom,” said Greyhounds general manager Kyle Raftis. Hayton has seven goals, 13 assists and 20 points in 54 games with the Hounds this season and represented Team Canada White at the 2016 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, recording a goal and an assist in six games. He was Sault Ste. Marie’s first round (9th overall) pick in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection from the Toronto Red Wings Minor Midgets.

2016-17 OHL Academic Players of the Month:

East Division:
February – Sasha Chmelevski (Ottawa 67’s)
January – William Ennis (Oshawa Generals)
December – Nathan Dunkley (Kingston Frontenacs)
November – Matthew Strome (Hamilton Bulldogs)
October – Zach Gallant (Peterborough Petes)

Central Division:
February – Reagan O’Grady (Sudbury Wolves)
January – Ben Jones (Niagara IceDogs)
December – Adam McMaster (North Bay Battalion)
November – Kyle Heitzner (Barrie Colts)
October – Jacob Ingham (Mississauga Steelheads)

Midwest Division:
February – Evan Bouchard (London Knights)
January – Luke Richardson (Kitchener Rangers)
December – Nick Deakin-Poot (Guelph Storm)
November – Cade Robinson (Erie Otters)
October – Nick Suzuki (Owen Sound Attack)

 West Division:
February – Barrett Hayton (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
January – Ryan McGregor (Sarnia Sting)
December – Damien Giroux (Saginaw Spirit)
November – Hunter Holmes (Flint Firebirds)
October – Cole Purboo (Windsor Spitfires)

During the 2015-16 season, the OHL centrally administered Scholarship Program facilitated scholarships for 315 OHL graduates attending 57 different academic institutions with a total scholarship payment in excess of $2.9 million.  Click here for more information about ‘OHL Players First’ programs.