GREENTREE, PARSONS AND BELCHETZ 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, January 5, 2025.



Spitfires’ Liam Greentree Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week

Los Angeles Kings prospect Liam Greentree of the Windsor Spitfires is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week for the second time this season, registering five goals, seven assists and 12 points over four victories.

Greentree captained the League-leading Spitfires to a four-win week, starting with a goal and three assists in a 6-4 victory over the Flint Firebirds on New Year’s Eve, earning first star honours. On Thursday, he recorded a career-high five-point game with a goal and four assists to claim second star honours in a 9-5 win against the Guelph Storm. Greentree continued his strong play on Saturday, earning first star honours with two goals in a 7-5 triumph over the Erie Otters. He capped off the week on Sunday by netting the overtime winner in a 4-3 victory over the Niagara IceDogs, earning first star honours once again and sealing a perfect week for the Spitfires.

A recently turned 19-year-old left-winger from Oshawa, Ont., Greentree leads all OHL players in points this season with 68 (29-39–68) in 38 games. Drafted 26th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2024 NHL Draft, the 6-foot-3, 216lb. forward has tallied 203 points (90-113-203) in 163 regular season games for Windsor. He was selected by the Spitfires in the second round (34th overall) of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection.

Also considered for the award this week, Spitfires teammate and Washington Capitals prospect Ilya Protas posted five goals and five assists in the four wins. Philadelphia Flyers prospect Denver Barkey of the London Knights was also a standout, recording 11 points (3-8-11) in three contests.

2024-25 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Dec. 30 – Jan. 5: Liam Greentree (Windsor Spitfires)
Dec. 28 – Dec. 29: Cole Davis (Windsor Spitfires)
Dec. 16 – Dec. 22: Marco Mignosa (Soo Greyhounds)
Dec. 9 – Dec. 15: Ryan Roobroeck (Niagara IceDogs)
Dec. 2 – Dec. 8: Beckett Sennecke (Oshawa Generals)
Nov. 25 – Dec. 1: Blake Montgomery (London Knights)
Nov. 18 – Nov. 24: Joey Willis (Saginaw Spirit)
Nov. 11 – Nov. 17: Joey Willis (Saginaw Spirit)
Nov. 4 – Nov. 10: Sam Dickinson (London Knights)
Oct. 28 – Nov. 3: Marco Mignosa (Soo Greyhounds)
Oct. 21 – Oct. 27: Sam Dickinson (London Knights)
Oct. 14 – Oct. 20: Liam Greentree (Windsor Spitfires)
Oct. 7 – Oct. 13: Calvin Crombie (Brantford Bulldogs)
Sept. 30 – Oct. 6: Kevin He (Niagara IceDogs)
Sep. 25 – Sept. 29: Michael Misa (Saginaw Spirit)



Rangers’ Jackson Parsons Named OHL Goaltender of the Week

Jackson Parsons of the Kitchener Rangers is the OHL Goaltender of the Week for the fourth time this season, going 3-0-0-0, along with a 1.30 goals-against average, and a .948 save percentage.

Turning aside 73 shots last week, Parsons made 23 saves on New Year’s Eve, defeating the North Bay Battalion 5-2 to close out the year. He followed that up on Thursday by stopping 27 of the 28 shots he faced, earning first star honours in a 2-1 overtime win against the Brantford Bulldogs. Parsons capped off the week with another victory on Friday, turning aside 23 of 24 shots to earn second star honours in a 3-1 win over the Erie Otters.

A 20-year-old from Embrun, Ont., Parsons is 23-6-1-0 on the season, leading all OHL netminders with a 2.03 goals-against average and ranking second in save percentage at .928, along with four shutouts over 30 games played. The former third-round pick (53rd overall) by Kitchener in 2020 is now in his fourth OHL season, boasting a career record of 60-38-5-0 with a 2.95 goals-against average, .903 save percentage, and eight shutouts over 108 regular season games. Parsons is committed to play NCAA Division I hockey at Clarkson University next season.

Also considered for the award this week, Zachary Jovanovski of the Guelph Storm was excellent, going 1-1 including a shutout with a 1.97 goals-against average and .938 save percentage, while Trenten Bennett of the Owen Sound Attack was also a standout in the crease, going 1-2 including a shutout, with a 1.68 goals-against average and .944 save percentage.

2024-25 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Dec. 30 – Jan. 5: Jackson Parsons (Kitchener Rangers)
Dec. 28 – Dec. 29: Ben Hrebik (Barrie Colts)
Dec. 16 – Dec. 22: Nathan Day (Flint Firebirds)
Dec. 9 – Dec. 15: Ryerson Leenders (Brantford Bulldogs)
Dec. 2 – Dec. 8: Jackson Parsons (Kitchener Rangers)
Nov. 25 – Dec. 1: Aleksei Medvedev (London Knights)
Nov. 18 – Nov. 24: Jackson Parsons (Kitchener Rangers)
Nov. 11 – Nov. 17: Carter George (Owen Sound Attack)
Nov. 4 – Nov. 10: Andrew Oke (Saginaw Spirit)
Oct. 28 – Nov. 3: Jackson Parsons (Kitchener Rangers)
Oct. 21 – Oct. 27: Nathan Day (Flint Firebirds)
Oct. 14 – Oct. 20: Joey Costanzo (Windsor Spitfires)
Oct. 7 – Oct. 13: Finn Marshall (Sudbury Wolves)
Sept. 30 – Oct. 6: Joey Costanzo (Windsor Spitfires)
Sept. 25 – Sept. 29: Jack Ivankovic (Brampton Steelheads)



Spitfires’ Ethan Belchetz Named OHL Rookie of the Week

Ethan Belchetz of the Windsor Spitfires is the OHL Rookie of the Week for the second time this season, recording three goals, four assists, and seven points in four victories.

Belchetz kicked off the week with a pair of assists on Thursday as the Spitfires secured a 9-5 home victory over the Guelph Storm. He remained productive on Saturday, picking up an assist before scoring the third period game winner to earn third star recognition in a 7-5 win against the Erie Otters. The 6-foot-5, 226lb. forward from Oakville, Ont. capped off the week with another goal on Sunday, helping the Western Conference-leading Spitfires edge the Niagara IceDogs 4-3 in overtime. Windsor now boasts a 29-7-2-1 record this season.

Selected first overall by Windsor in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection from the Oakville Rangers U16 AAA program, the 2024 OHL Cup champion and MVP is excelling in his rookie campaign. He ranks second among all OHL rookies with 26 points (12-14–26) over 30 games. Belchetz won gold representing Canada White at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in November, recording five points (4-1–5) in as many games.

Also considered for the award this week, Brooks Rogowski of the Oshawa Generals scored twice and added two assists over four games played. Guelph Storm netminder Zachary Jovanovski was also a standout, playing to a 1-1 record including a shutout, along with a 1.97 goals-against average and .938 save percentage.

2024-25 OHL Rookies of the Week – Regular Season:
Dec. 30 – Jan. 5: Ethan Belchetz (Windsor Spitfires)
Dec. 28 – Dec. 29: Carson Harmer (Saginaw Spirit)
Dec. 16 – Dec. 22: Logan Hawery (London Knights)
Dec. 9 – Dec. 15: Liam Beamish (Sarnia Sting)
Dec. 2 – Dec. 8: Lev Katzin (Guelph Storm)
Nov. 25 – Dec. 1: Aleksei Medvedev (London Knights)
Nov. 18 – Nov. 24: Gavin Betts (Kingston Frontenacs)
Nov. 11 – Nov. 17: Beckham Edwards (Sarnia Sting)
Nov. 4 – Nov. 10: Carter Stevens (Guelph Storm)
Oct. 28 – Nov. 3: Aleksei Medvedev (London Knights)
Oct. 21 – Oct. 27: Cole Zurawski (Flint Firebirds)
Oct. 14 – Oct. 20: Alessandro Di Iorio (Sarnia Sting)
Oct. 7 – Oct. 13: Pierce Mbuyi (Owen Sound Attack)
Sept. 30 – Oct. 6: Beckham Edwards (Sarnia Sting)
Sept. 25 – Sept. 29: Ethan Belchetz (Windsor Spitfires)

OHL Announces Academic Players of the Month for November Presented by Hockley Valley Resort

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Academic Players of the Month for November, proudly presented by Hockley Valley Resort.

East Division – Brooks Rogowski (Oshawa Generals)
Oshawa Generals rookie forward Brooks Rogowski is the East Division Academic Player of the Month for November. The 16-year-old from Brighton, Mich. is currently excelling in five Grade 11 courses at Gull Lake Virtual and Kalamazoo Community College, maintaining a 78 percent overall average in English, World History, Algebra, American Government, and Health Nutrition.

“Brooks is a conscientious and personable individual who leads by example demonstrating a strong work ethic both on and off the ice,” said Generals Academic Advisor Tom Buchanan.

Oshawa’s second-round pick in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection, Rogowski has six points (2-4–6) through his first 27 career OHL contests. The 6-foot-6, 214lb. right-winger spent the 2023-24 season at Detroit Catholic Central, tallying 43 points (19-24-43) in 25 appearances.

Central Division – Braidy Wassilyn (Niagara IceDogs)
Niagara IceDogs first-year forward Braidy Wassilyn is the Central Division Academic Player of the Month for November. Wassilyn has achieved high standing in Grade 11 studies at Governor Simcoe Secondary School, earning a 100 percent average in Physical Activity, 98 percent average in Sociology/Anthropology/Psychology and 90 percent average in American History.

“Braidy is an excellent young man both on and off the ice. He currently maintains a 96% in his Grade 11 courses. He is an excellent role model for other student athletes due to his strong work ethic and commitment to his studies. Moreover, he displays character and maturity beyond his 16 years,” said IceDogs Academic Advisor, Tim Tope.

Selected fourth overall by the IceDogs last spring, the 16-year-old from Campbellville, Ont. has registered three goals, 17 assists and 20 points in 20 games played so far this season. The 5-foot-11, 194lb. centreman collected 62 points (31-31-62) in 32 games played with the Markham Majors U16 AAA program during the 2023-24 season.

Midwest Division – Andrew MacNiel (Kitchener Rangers)
Kitchener Rangers blueliner Andrew MacNiel is the Midwest Division Academic Player of the Month for November. MacNiel is currently achieving outstanding grades in three university-level courses, including grade 12 Advanced Functions, Biology and Sports Analytics at TPH Academy in partnership with Virtual High School and Blyth Academy where he was also named one of two “Impact Players of the Month” in November.

“Within the community, Andrew has also taken the initiative to represent the Kitchener Rangers organization, having already attended four community events, including the KW Kids with Cancer Run, two appearances at The Child Witness Centre and joining a U10 AAA Kitchener Jr. Rangers practice,” said Rangers Academic Advisor, Dave Tennant.

“Ranger Management and school staff all agree that Andrew is a very personable young man who is not only focused on his own academic work, but is quick to jump in to assist others, a true leader in every sense of the word,” he added.

The 17-year old Cobourg, Ont. native was selected in the fourth round (70th overall) by Kitchener in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection from the Peterborough Pete’s AAA U16 program and has registered two assists in 15 games played for the Rangers this season. MacNiel appeared in five games with Kitchener during 2023-24, spending the majority of the season with the Fort Erie Meteors of the GOJHL.

West Division – Hughston Hurt (Sarnia Sting)
Sarnia Sting second-year defenceman Hughston Hurt is the West Division Academic Player of the Month. The 17-year-old from Oakland Township, Mich. is achieving a 95 percent average across five Grade 12 courses at Stoney Creek Michigan Online school, learning English Literature, English Composition and Language, Financial Mathematics, Mathematics Models and Applications, and United States Government and Politics.

“Hughston has been excelling both in the classroom and on the ice, earning a spot on the NHL watch list for the 2025 Draft. Since joining Sarnia, he has demonstrated an impressive ability to balance the demands of academics and hockey. With his positive attitude, quiet leadership, and disciplined approach, he has become an excellent ambassador for the Sting organization. Both the school and the team are proud to nominate Hughston for this award,” said Sting Academic Advisor Todd Whitlock.

A fourth round pick of the Sting from the Detroit Little Caesars 15U AAA program, the 6-foot-1, 178lb. blueliner was the recipient of the Sting’s Rookie of the Year Award for the 2023-24 season, registering 10 assists in 67 games played. Hurt was named part of the Sting’s Leadership group for 2024-25, and has recorded one goal, five assists and six points in 28 contest this season.

2024-25 OHL Academic Players of the Month:

East Division:
November – Brooks Rogowski (Oshawa Generals)
October – Mason Vaccari (Kingston Frontenacs)

Central Division:
November – Braidy Wassilyn (Niagara IceDogs)
October – Kent Greer (North Bay Battalion)

Midwest Division:
November – Andrew MacNiel (Kitchener Rangers)
October – Jimmy Sutherland (Guelph Storm)

West Division:
November – Hughston Hurt (Sarnia Sting)
October – Kaden Sienko (Saginaw Spirit)

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

A total of 331 graduates utilized their OHL Scholarship at post-secondary institutions across North America during the 2023-24 academic year, with a total contribution by teams of over $3.9 million. Over the past 10 seasons, OHL Scholarship payments have totaled more than $25 million.

A total of 194 OHL Alumni were included on U SPORTS men’s hockey rosters to open the 2024-25 season