ROOBROECK AND IVANKOVIC NAMED OHL TOP PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Week for the week of regular season games ending Sunday, March 10, 2024.



Generals’ Dylan Roobroeck Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week

New York Rangers prospect Dylan Roobroeck of the Oshawa Generals is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording three goals, four assists, and seven points over three contests to help the Generals earn six points last week.

Helping the Generals stretch their current winning streak to seven games last week, Roobroeck found the back of the net on Tuesday, scoring a goal in a 5-4 win over the Ottawa 67’s. Roobroeck hit the scoresheet again on Friday, registering a four-point night with a goal and three helpers to defeat the Brantford Bulldogs 6-4. The 6-foot-7, 195lb. forward extended his point streak to six games with a goal and an assist to earn first star honours on Sunday, as the Generals defeated the Barrie Colts 5-1 at home.

A 19-year-old from London, Ont., Roobroeck has recorded 63 points (21-42–63) through 63 outings this season. Originally selected in the third round (45th overall) by the Niagara IceDogs in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection from the London Jr. Knights AAA U16 program, Roobroeck has tallied 44 goals, 93 assists, and 137 points over 195 regular season games between the Generals and the IceDogs. Roobroeck was the New York Rangers’ sixth round (178th overall) pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Also considered for the award, Beau Jelsma of the Barrie Colts registered four goals and four assists to help the Colts earn five points last week. 2024 NHL Draft eligible Marek Vanacker of the Brantford Bulldogs also found success, tallying seven points (3-4-7) in three games played.

2023-24 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Mar. 4 – Mar. 10: Dylan Roobroeck (Oshawa Generals)
Feb. 26 – Mar. 3: Jacob Maillet (Ottawa 67’s)
Feb. 19 – Feb. 25: Carson Rehkopf (Kitchener Rangers)
Feb. 12 – Feb. 18: Rodwin Dionicio (Saginaw Spirit)
Feb. 5 – Feb. 11: David Goyette (Sudbury Wolves)
Jan. 29 – Feb. 4: Gavin Bryant (Niagara IceDogs)
Jan. 22 – Jan. 28: Liam Greentree (Windsor Spitfires)
Jan. 15 – Jan. 21: Quentin Musty (Sudbury Wolves)
Jan. 8 – Jan. 14: Oliver Bonk (London Knights)
Jan. 1 – Jan. 7: Anthony Romani (North Bay Battalion)
Dec. 28 – Dec. 31: Sam Dickinson (London Knights)
Dec. 11 – Dec. 18: Ruslan Gazizov (London Knights)
Dec. 4 – Dec. 10: Nick Lardis (Brantford Bulldogs)
Nov. 27 – Dec. 3: Pano Fimis (Erie Otters)
Nov. 20 – Nov. 26: Matyas Sapovaliv (Saginaw Spirit)
Nov. 13 – Nov. 19: Donovan McCoy (Peterborough Petes)
Nov. 6 – Nov. 12: Denver Barkey (London Knights)
Oct. 30 – Nov. 5: Braeden Kressler (Flint Firebirds)
Oct. 23 – Oct. 29: Kirill Kudryavtsev (Soo Greyhounds)
Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: Anthony Romani (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Carson Rehkopf (Kitchener Rangers)
Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Jordan D’Intino (Soo Greyhounds)
Sep. 28 – Oct. 1: Jax Dubois (Peterborough Petes)
 



Steelheads’ Jack Ivankovic Named OHL Goaltender of the Week

First-year netminder Jack Ivankovic of the Mississauga Steelheads is the OHL Goaltender of the Week for the second time this season, playing to a 2-0 record along with a 1.50 goals-against average and .953 save percentage.

Making a total of 61 saves last week, Ivankovic stopped 28 of the 29 shots that came his way on Wednesday morning to earn second star honours as the Steelheads defeated the Brantford Bulldogs 5-1 at home. The 5-foot-11, 170lb. rookie closed out the weekend with a 33-save performance on Sunday in the nation’s capital, earning third star honours in a 4-2 win over the Ottawa 67’s.

Ivankovic has appeared in 22 games for the Steelheads this season, playing to a 12-4-4-0 record, along with a 2.68 goals-against-average and .918 save percentage. The hometown product was the Steelheads’ first round (seventh overall) pick in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection from the Mississauga Senators U16 program. Ivankovic represented Team Canada White at the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in November, returning from Prince Edward Island with a gold medal.

Also in the running for the award this week, Charlie Schenkel of the Soo Greyhounds played to a 2-0 record with a 1.45 goals-against average, and .947 save percentage. Andrew Oke of the Saginaw Spirit was also solid in the crease, playing to a 1-0-1-0 mark including a shutout, along with a 1.45 goals-against average and .945 save percentage.

2023-24 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Mar. 4 – Mar. 10: Jack Ivankovic (Mississauga Steelheads)
Feb. 26 – Mar. 3: Liam Sztuska (Peterborough Petes)
Feb. 19 – Feb. 25: Michael Simpson (London Knights)
Feb. 12 – Feb. 18: Matteo Drobac (Brantford Bulldogs)
Feb. 5 – Feb. 11: Ben West (Barrie Colts)
Jan. 29 – Feb. 4: Owen Willmore (London Knights)
Jan. 22 – Jan. 28: Sam Hillebrandt (Barrie Colts)
Jan. 15 – Jan. 21: Matteo Drobac (Brantford Bulldogs)
Jan. 8 – Jan. 14: Michael Simpson (London Knights)
Jan. 1 – Jan. 7: Jacob Oster (Oshawa Generals)
Dec. 28 – Dec. 31: Brayden Gillespie (Guelph Storm)
Dec. 11 – Dec. 18: Jacob Oster (Oshawa Generals)
Dec. 4 – Dec. 10: Max Donoso (Ottawa 67’s)
Nov. 27 – Dec. 3: Marcus Vandenberg (Niagara IceDogs)
Nov. 20 – Nov. 26: Jack Ivankovic (Mississauga Steelheads)
Nov. 13 – Nov. 19: Carter George (Owen Sound Attack)
Nov. 8 – Nov. 12: Jackson Parsons (Kitchener Rangers)
Oct. 30 – Nov. 7: Jacob Oster (Oshawa Generals)
Oct. 23 – Oct. 29: Sam Hillebrandt (Barrie Colts)
Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: Brayden Gillespie (Guelph Storm)
Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Collin MacKenzie (Ottawa 67’s)
Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Ryerson Leenders (Mississauga Steelheads)
Sep. 28 – Oct. 1: Ryerson Leenders (Mississauga Steelheads)


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 Players of the Month: February

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Forward of the Month – Ryan Abraham – Windsor Spitfires

If you like offence then February was your month and for us Abraham stood out the most. He’s a draft re-entry who appeared in 12 games in February and scored 9 goals while assisting on 11. He had points in all but 1 game and had a 5-point game on the 23rd against the Guelph Storm.

Last months winner, Brantford’s Marek Vanacker was also considered. He had 5 goals and 12 assists in 12 games. Beau Jelsma of the Barrie Colts had 12 goals and 8 assists in 12 games. A trio of North Bay Battalion were also considered: Dalyn Wakely, Anthony Romani and Owen Van Steensel had 9 goals and 12 assists in 12 games.

Defenceman of the Month – Sam Dickinson -London Knights

Dickinson makes our cut for the second time this season after being our choice back in December. It was an excellent month of February where he scored 4 goals and added 16 assists in 12 games. He was held off the scoresheet just once, back in his first game of the month against the Erie Otters on February 2. He had seven 2-point games and one 3-point game in the month.

 Consideration was also given to Saginaw Spirit defenceman Zayne Parekh, who was our choice in November and January. He had 6 goals and 9 assists in 11 games during the month of February He was held off the scoresheet just twice and made highlight reels throughout the month.

Goaltender of the Month – Carter George – Owen Sound Attack

January was a banner month for goaltenders, February not so much but George stood out. He started all but one of the Attacks 10 games in February and posted a 3-3-2-1 record with a .910 save percentage and 3.25 goals against average. George is the top ranked goaltender on NHL Central Scouting’s North American rankings and it’s easy to see why.

Consideration was given to Jacob Brown of the Flint Firebirds (3 games) with a .926 saver percentage; Collin MacKenzie of the Ottawa 67’s (2 games) with a .952 save percentage; and Owen Willmore of the London Knights (4 games) with a .915 save percentage but we felt they didn’t play enough games.   

Our monthly choices:

Forward of the Month

Ryan Abraham – Windsor Spitfires – February

Marek Vanacker – Brantford Bulldogs – January

Ruslan Gazizov – London Knights – December

Liam Greentree – Windsor Spitfires – November

Adrian Misaljevic – Kitchener Rangers – October

Defenceman of the Month

Sam Dickinson – London Knights – February

Zayne Parekh – Saginaw Spirit – January

Sam Dickinson – London Knights – December

Zayne Parekh – Saginaw Spirit – November

Jacob LeBlanc – Sarnia Sting – October

Goaltender of the Month

Carter George – Owen Sound Attack – February

Jacob Oster – Oshawa Generals – January

Carter George – Owen Sound Attack – December

Jack Parsons – Kitchener Rangers – November

Brayden Gillespie – Guelph Storm – October

Beau Jelsma – Barrie Colts – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano
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Beau Jelsma of the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson/OHL Images.

So, Beau Jelsma of the Barrie Colts had a pretty decent season prior to the OHL Priority Selection in 2020 with the Buffalo Jr Sabres Under-15 squad. Putting up 26 goals and 17 helpers in 53 games wasn’t too shabby. To say what came after that was a surprise would be an understatement.

Once his Under-15 season was over, Jelsma moved onto the Brantford 99’ers Under-16 team and scored once in 2 regular season games. But it was the playoffs where he put up 11 goals and 10 assists in 12 games that was both inspiring and surprising.

Of course, like most OHL players, Jelsma would miss the 2020-21 season in its entirety due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And like so many others, where to rank Jelsma at the start of the year raised question. If you compare NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term ranking to their final ranking and focus on players that were in the draft range at mid-term, Jelsma was one of the highest risers on their final list.

I’ve learned my lesson not to shy away from smaller players and at 5’9”, Jelsma certainly is on the smaller side. But even at 5’9” Jelsma is incredibly strong, hard to knock off pucks, engages physically along the walls and gets to the dirty area in front of the net and yes, wins most of his board battles.

Jelsma is a speedy and strong skater who generates a lot of speed with his crossovers. He can also maintain possession of the puck at top speed and is not afraid to take on defenders’ one-on-one, take it to the outside and then cut back inside with that upper body strength. He will also get in on the forecheck and as mentioned, is not shy about doing battle. Tenacious in every aspect is a good word to use.

Jelsma also sees the ice extremely well and can see the play developing. While he’s been a scorer more than a playmaker through his career, he can set up teammates. But when a teammate has the puck is when he is most dangerous. He reads the play so well that he can leak into open areas and create passing lanes for his teammates and then he releases his shot quickly and accurately. His shooting percentage was good at 20.5%.

Faceoffs is an area where Jelsma needs to put in some work. He was at 50.6% at the dot this season and that’s not bad for a rookie in the OHL. Defensively, He has made improvements throughout the season and can be trusted in any situation including the penalty kill – but it is still a work in progress.