Ben Danford – Oshawa Generals – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano
Ben Danford of the Oshawa Generals. Photo by OHL Images.
HTWTDOBPOSSHOHL DRAFTNHLCSNAT
6’2”190Feb 6, 2006RDR14th, 202232nd, N.A.CAN
SEASONLEAGUETEAMGPGAPTS
2021-2022ETAHL U16Quinte Red Devils2672229
2022-2023WHC U17Canada Red7112
2022-2023OHLOshawa Generals6341721
2023-2024Hlinka/
Gretzky		Canada5000
2023-2023OHLOshawa Generals6413233

Last season, rookie defenseman Ben Danford demonstrated defensive maturity beyond his years. This season, he has elevated his game even further. If defensive prowess in his own zone is all Danford achieves at the next level, there will still be demand for a big, right-handed blueliner with sound defensive instincts.

Danford’s competitiveness in his own zone stands out. He just doesn’t want to give his opponents anything. He takes away time and space with solid gap control and has a very active stick. He battles hard along the walls and behind the goal line. He can make life difficult for opponents in front of his own net. Yet he’s not really considered physical because he doesn’t go out looking to make a hit. Physicality comes in many forms though. He’s also an excellent shot blocker.

While Danford’s skating ability is currently average, lacking speed and agility, he uses it effectively to maintain gaps and force opponents to the outside. Moreover, he selectively jumps into the offensive play, joining rushes and leading breakouts, displaying wise decision-making and considerable improvement over the past year.

Danford is skilled at protecting his own blue line and maintaining the offensive zone with equal proficiency. He has a talent for sustaining offensive pressure, using his hockey intelligence to get pucks to the net from the point. While his shot may lack overpowering velocity, he generates rebounds and second chances.

Danford needs another season to demonstrate sustained offensive growth before determining if his skills will transfer successfully to the next level. Currently, he is tracking towards a promising career as a defensively skilled player with room to build an effective offensive dimension over time.

13 OHL PLAYERS SELECTED TO REPRESENT CANADA AT 2023 HLINKA GRETZKY CUP

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League is pleased to congratulate 13 OHL players on being selected to represent Canada at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup to be held from July 31st through August 5th in Trencin, Slovakia and Breclav, Czechia.

The 13 OHL players are part of a Canadian roster consisting of 24 names that was assembled by Alan Millar (Tottenham, Ont.), director of player personnel, and Cam Russell (Halifax Mooseheads), the U18 lead for the Program of Excellence management group, with support from Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of hockey operations, Benoit Roy (Sudbury, Ont.), senior manager of hockey operations, and Byron Bonora (Brooks, Alta.), manager of hockey operations and U17 head scout. Head coach Alan Letang (Sarnia Sting) and assistant coaches Kris Mallette (Kelowna Rockets) and Sylvain Favreau (Drummondville Voltigeurs) also provided input.

OHL Rookie of the Year Michael Misa headlines the 13 OHL players named to the roster, being joined by Saginaw Spirit teammate Zayne Parekh on the blue line. Misa and Parekh are accompanied by fellow OHL first all-rookie team members Sam Dickinson of the London Knights and Liam Greentree of the Windsor Spitfires while second team voting recipient Anthony Cristoforo of the Windsor Spitfires is also included.

The Ottawa 67’s feature a pair of teammates on the blueline in Henry Mews and Frankie Marrelli while the Mississauga Steelheads joined the 67’s, Saginaw Spirit and Windsor Spitfires in also producing two players named to the squad in forward Porter Martone and goaltender Ryerson Leenders.

OHL Players Named to Canada’s National Summer Under-18 Team:

Goaltender:
Carter George (Owen Sound Attack)
Ryerson Leenders (Mississauga Steelheads)

Defencemen:
Anthony Cristoforo (Windsor Spitfires)
Ben Danford (Oshawa Generals)
Sam Dickinson (London Knights)
Frankie Marrelli (Ottawa 67’s)
Henry Mews (Ottawa 67’s)
Zayne Parekh (Saginaw Spirit)

Forwards:
Cole Beaudoin (Barrie Colts)
Liam Greentree (Windsor Spitfires)
Porter Martone (Mississauga Steelheads)
Michael Misa (Saginaw Spirit)
Malcolm Spence (Erie Otters)

Prior to the start of the tournament, the team will practice at the Ice Palace in Budapest, Hungary from July 23-27, and will face off against Hungary’s national under-20 team on July 27 at 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT. It will also take on Czechia on July 29 at 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT at Fosfa Arena in Breclav as a part of its pre-tournament schedule.

Canada will open the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup against Finland on July 31 at 9:30 a.m. ET/6:30 a.m. PT. It will also face co-host Slovakia and Switzerland in the preliminary round before the tournament concludes with the medal games on Aug. 5.

TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast all Team Canada games and select elimination and medal games; please check local listings for more details.

Canada has won 23 gold medals in 31 years of summer under-18 competition, along with three silver medals and one bronze.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca.


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.