COLTS’ VIERLING AWARDED WILLIAM HANLEY TROPHY AS OHL’S MOST SPORTSMANLIKE PLAYER

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Barrie Colts forward Evan Vierling is the 2022-23 recipient of the William Hanley Trophy awarded to the League’s Most Sportsmanlike Player as voted by OHL General Managers.

The 20-year-old overage forward from Aurora, Ont. led the Colts with 95 points including 35 goals and 60 assists over 60 regular season games, taking just 12 penalty minutes in the process. He becomes the ninth player in Colts franchise history to record 60 assists in a season, and the first to ever claim the William Hanley Trophy.

“It truly is an honour to be recognized with the William Hanley Trophy,” said Vierling. “When looking back at the past winners, it’s a great group to join and a nice way to finish off my OHL career. My success this year is a reflection of all the help I got from my teammates, coaches, and family.”

Vierling was a consistent offensive producer for the Colts, recording at least three points in a game 15 different times over the course of the season. His campaign was highlighted by five-point efforts on Dec. 13th in a 7-5 win over the Sudbury Wolves (1-4–5) and Mar. 5th in a 6-3 road win over the Owen Sound Attack (3-2–5), one of his two hat tricks on the season.

“Anytime you can have a player that wins a league award it’s always great news for the franchise,” said Colts Head Coach and General Manager Marty Williamson. “Evan was a key contributor to our team this season and he took his play to the next level. It’s a reflection of his game by finishing with 95 points and only 12 minutes in penalties. The entire Colts organization is proud of him.”

Vierling recorded 13 points (1-12–13) in seven playoff outings for the Colts this spring before being sidelined by an injury in Game 2 of Barrie’s second round series against the North Bay Battalion.

Entering the League as the second overall pick of the 2018 OHL Priority Selection by the Flint Firebirds, Vierling turned in a productive four-year career that yielded 213 points (75-138–213) over 218 regular season games between the Colts and Firebirds. He was selected by the New York Rangers in the fifth round (127th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft, and attended training camp with the Columbus Blue Jackets last October.

The William Hanley Trophy is awarded each year based on a selection by the 20 General Managers of the Ontario Hockey League.  All 20 teams submit a nominee but are not permitted to vote for their own candidate. The trophy is presented by the OHL to commemorate William Hanley, former Secretary-Manager of the Ontario Hockey Association for over 25 years.

Owen Sound Attack forward Cedrick Guindon finished as a runner-up in award voting, followed by Oshawa Generals forward Calum Ritchie who placed third.

Vierling follows a number of current NHL players to have previously won the award, including 2022 recipient Wyatt Johnston (Windsor Spitfires) of the Dallas Stars, as well as Nick Robertson (Peterborough 2020), three-time winner Nick Suzuki (Owen Sound/Guelph 2017, ’18, ’19), Mike Amadio (North Bay 2016), Dylan Strome (Erie 2015), Connor McDavid (Erie 2014), Brandon Saad (Saginaw 2012) and Jeff Carter (Sault Ste. Marie 2005).

Vierling will be the OHL’s nominee for the Canadian Hockey League Sportsman of the Year Award, presented at the CHL Awards Ceremony on Saturday, June 3 during the 2023 Memorial Cup presented by Kia which takes place in Kamloops, British Columbia. Vierling will be formally presented with the William Hanley Trophy at the OHL’s Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, June 14 at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

For a complete history of OHL award winners, visit ontariohockeyleague.com.


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

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Cedrick Guindon – Owen Sound Attack – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano
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Cedrick Guindon of the Owen Sound Attack. Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images

There is no denying that Owen Sound Attack pivot Cedrick Guindon has been an offensive producer at every level he has played. Even as a true rookie in the Ontario Hockey League this season, Guindon was successful. His 30 goals and 59 points were second among rookies next to Sudbury Wolves David Goyette. And his 30 goals were tied for tops among Owen Sound skaters while his 59 points were good for second.

During the 2019-2020 season, Guindon was named the Hockey Eastern Ontario (HEO) Player of the Year, the HEO U-18 Rookie of the Year and named to the All-Star Team. During the 2018-2019 season, He led the HEO Under-15 in goals and points while helping his team to a championship. He also led the HEO Under-14 during the 2017-2018 season in goals, assists and points while winning a championship.

Guindon is a very good skater with decent amount of top speed but I would like to see a little improvement in his first step explosiveness. He has an excellent shot with deadly accuracy and a very deceptive release point. He is also able to get it through bodies making subtle adjustments to get it through sticks and legs and on target.

Guindon also has an excellent work ethic but his lack of bulk and strength hinders his ability to fight through contact where he can be separated from the puck. But he also has the vision and hockey sense to, when without the puck, elude defenders and get himself into open areas where his teammates can feed him to release his shot.

Guindon is okay on the defensive side of the puck but it’s a work in progress and it will have to continue to be. He’s had some PK time with the Attack and has shown he can be a threat offensively there as well. As a rookie, he held his own on the dot winning 52.1% of his draws. And his shooting percentage was more than acceptable at 15.1%.

Moving forward, Guindon will have to continue to add some much-needed muscle, but also has to learn that what worked for him in the HEO won’t always work at the OHL level and beyond. He’s shown progression there throughout the season and I am left asking myself how much further along he would be had he not lost all of last season to the pandemic.

And that’s the issue rating some of these OHL players.

OHL ANNOUNCES TOP PERFORMERS OF THE MONTH FOR MARCH

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the Top OHL Performers of the Month for regular season games played in March 2022, including Windsor Spitfires forward Wyatt Johnston, Saginaw Spirit blueliner Pavel Mintyukov, Owen Sound Attack forward Cedrick Guindon and Hamilton Bulldogs netminder Marco Costantini.

OHL Player of the Month – Wyatt Johnston (Windsor Spitfires):
For the third time this season, Dallas Stars prospect Wyatt Johnston of the Windsor Spitfires is the OHL Player of the Month, producing 13 goals, 17 assists and 30 points in 15 March matchups. Johnston, who also registered a plus/minus rating of plus-11, posted multi-point outputs in 11 of his 15 contests, scoring four game winning goals as the Spits played to a record of 12-2-1-0. Johnston helped the Spitfires collect an important two points in a West Division clash at the beginning of the month, scoring and adding two assists in a 7-3 win over Sault Ste. Marie on Mar. 5th. He chipped in on a Will Cuylle OT winner, picking up three points in a 5-4 triumph over the Erie Otters on Mar. 12th. Johnston’s first career hat trick came on Mar. 19th in Flint as the Spits leapfrogged the Firebirds in the West Division standings with a 6-3 win. He’s riding a run of seven consecutive multi-point outings, with the latest contribution coming Thursday night with three points in a 5-1 win over Sarnia. Johnston earned star of the game recognition seven different times, picking up first star honours in four games.

An 18-year-old native of Toronto, Ont., Johnston leads the OHL with 115 points (42-73–115) in 61 games, also boasting a plus-30 rating. Johnston’s 115 points are the 11th-most in Windsor Spitfires history. He was a first round (23rd overall) pick of the Dallas Stars in the 2021 NHL Draft, and signed a three-year entry level NHL contract with the club on Sept. 28, 2021. A former World Under-18 Hockey Championship gold medalist with Team Canada, Johnston was Windsor’s first round (6th overall) pick in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection.

OHL Defenceman of the Month – Pavel Mintyukov (Saginaw Spirit):
First-year Saginaw Spirit blueliner Pavel Mintyukov is the OHL Defenceman of the Month for March, leading all rearguards with 15 points including five goals and 10 assists in 13 games. The 2022 NHL Draft prospect recently competed in the Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game and registered three different multi-point outings for the Spirit in the month of March. Mintyukov became the only OHL defenceman to record six points in a game this season on Mar. 11th, setting a Spirit record for blueliners by scoring twice while adding four assists in a 7-6 win over Owen Sound. He put up a goal and two assists in an 8-5 loss to the London Knights on Mar. 18th and did so again on Mar. 25th as the Spirit staged a big comeback to defeat the Sarnia Sting 9-8 in overtime. Mintyukov is the first Spirit defenceman to earn OHL Defenceman of the Month honours since Bode Wilde last did so in December 2018.

An 18-year-old late 2003-born defenceman, Mintyukov has 15 goals, 38 assists and 53 points in 60 games this season, and is one of six blueliners in Spirit history to eclipse the 50-point mark in a campaign. The 6-foot-2, 190Ib. defender was the fifth-ranked North American skater on NHL Central Scouting’s Midterm Draft Rankings. The Spirit selected Mintyukov with the 52nd overall pick of the 2020 CHL Import Draft.

OHL Goaltender of the Month – Marco Costantini (Hamilton Bulldogs):
Marco Costantini of the Hamilton Bulldogs is the OHL Goaltender of the Month for March, playing to a perfect 9-0-0-0 record with a minuscule 1.03 goals-against average, .960 save percentage and two shutouts. Costantini stopped 214 of the 223 shots he faced over the course of the month, helping the Bulldogs maintain their standing atop the Ontario Hockey League. Among his best performances included a 34-save effort on Mar. 11th in Mississauga as the Bulldogs beat the Steelheads 5-1. He posted an 18-save shutout on Mar. 14th, backstopping Hamilton to a 3-0 win over the Oshawa Generals outdoors at Tim Hortons Field. Costantini earned first star honours in an East Division showdown with Kingston on Mar. 18th, making 29 saves in a 3-1 win over the Frontenacs. He recorded his league-leading fifth shutout of the season on Mar. 27th in Oshawa, stopping 16 as the Bulldogs won 3-0. Costantini becomes the first Bulldogs netminder to earn OHL Goaltender of the Month recognition.

A 19-year-old Hamilton native, Costantini owns the league’s lowest goals-against average of 2.42, going 27-9-2-2 with a .914 save percentage and league-high matching five shutouts. Costantini has won 18 of his last 19 starts. He was Hamilton’s fifth round (95th overall) pick in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection from the OHL Cup finalist Vaughan Kings U16 program.

OHL Rookie of the Month – Cedrick Guindon (Owen Sound Attack):
Draft eligible Owen Sound Attack forward Cedrick Guindon is the OHL Rookie of the Month for March, recording 10 goals, eight assists and 18 points in 14 games with a plus/minus rating of plus-9. Guindon had points in 11 of his 14 March contests, producing five different multi-point performances. He became one of five OHL players to score four goals in a game this season on Mar. 4th, providing the Attack scoring in a 4-3 overtime road win over the Guelph Storm. He added a goal and an assist as the Attack beat the Storm once again on Mar. 7th. Guindon strung together points in six straight games from Mar. 11th to 22nd, helping the Attack ascend the Western Conference standings as they collected at least one point in each of them. He rounded-out the month of March with goals in back-to-back wins over the Sarnia Sting last weekend. Guindon is the first Attack player to win OHL Rookie of the Month honours since Artur Gavrus in October 2011.

A 17-year-old from Rockland, Ont., Guindon’s 54 points are the second-most among OHL rookies while his 27 goals place him third, one back of teammate Colby Barlow. He sits fourth among OHL rookies with 184 shots on goal. Guindon is having among the best seasons of any 16 or 17-year-old rookie in Attack franchise history with his 54 points standing as the most in that category. Guindon is the 76th-ranked North American skater on NHL Central Scouting’s Midterm Draft Rankings. He was the club’s first round (10th overall) pick in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection.

2021-22 OHL Performers of the Month:

Player of the Month:
March – Wyatt Johnston (Windsor Spitfires)
February – Logan Morrison (Hamilton Bulldogs)
January – Wyatt Johnston (Windsor Spitfires)
December – Wyatt Johnston (Windsor Spitfires)
November – Kyle Jackson (North Bay Battalion)
October – Sasha Pastujov (Guelph Storm)

Defenceman of the Month:
March – Pavel Mintyukov (Saginaw Spirit)
February – Michael Buchinger (Guelph Storm)
January – Brandt Clarke (Barrie Colts)
December – Ethan Del Mastro (Mississauga Steelheads)
November – Nathan Staios (Hamilton Bulldogs)
October – Jack Thompson (Sudbury Wolves)

Rookie of the Month:
March – Cedrick Guindon (Owen Sound Attack)
February – Michael Buchinger (Guelph Storm)
January – David Goyette (Sudbury Wolves)
December – Coulson Pitre (Flint Firebirds)
November – Owen Beck (Mississauga Steelheads)
October – Calum Ritchie (Oshawa Generals)

Goaltender of the Month:
March – Marco Costantini (Hamilton Bulldogs)
February – Luke Cavallin (Flint Firebirds)
January – Mack Guzda (Barrie Colts)
December – Mack Guzda (Barrie Colts)
November – Joe Vrbetic (North Bay Battalion)
October – Brett Brochu (London Knights)


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.

HOCKEY CANADA RECOGNIZES 13 OHL PLAYERS INVITED TO 2021 NATIONAL SUMMER UNDER-18 TEAM DEVELOPMENT CAMP

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has recognized 13 Ontario Hockey League players as part of a group of 45 players invited to attend Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team Development Camp at Seven Chiefs Sportsplex on the Tsuut’ina Nation near Calgary from July 25th to Aug 4th. Sarnia Sting head coach Alan Letang, Ottawa 67’s goaltending coach Charles McTavish and Kingston Frontenacs equipment manager Chris Cook have also been recognized, along with Owen Sound Attack therapist Andy Brown, North Bay Battalion therapist Andrew Sachkiw and Guelph Storm mental performance consultant Dr. Ashwin Patel.

One OHL goaltender, four defencemen and eight forwards were recognized as invitees to the 11-day camp. Players will be split into two teams, Red and White, and participate in practices and intrasquad games, including combined practices and intrasquad games with Canada’s National Junior Team on Aug. 2nd and 3rd.

“This stage of our Summer Showcase is about bringing together the top under-18 players in Canada to work and learn from an elite-level coaching staff, giving them the necessary skills for their hockey development to grow and succeed,” said Alan Millar, director of player personnel for Hockey Canada. “We have an opportunity to connect with the players through on- and off-ice sessions to give them the tools that will only enhance their skill set as they advance through our program and prepare for the upcoming season.”

Letang, who was appointed head coach of the Sting late last month after serving behind the Attack bench, will return to Canada’s coaching staff. Letang won a gold medal as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship and, as a player, helped Canada’s National Men’s Team to a 1998 Spengler Cup championship and won a bronze medal at the 2006 Deutschland Cup.

The camp is typically a stepping stone in evaluating and selecting Canada’s roster for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, but Canada will not participate this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The focus will now turn to the 2022 IIHF U18 World Championship next spring, where Canada will look to defend their gold medal after claiming the top prize at this year’s tournament in Texas.

OHL Players Invited to Canada’s National Summer Under-18 Team Development Camp

Goaltenders:
Domenic DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion)

Defencemen:
Jorian Donovan (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Donovan McCoy (Sudbury Wolves)
Ty Nelson (North Bay Battalion)
Spencer Sova (Erie Otters)

Forwards:
Sam Alfano (Peterborough Petes)
Pano Fimis (Niagara IceDogs)
David Goyette (Sudbury Wolves)
Cedrick Guindon (Owen Sound Attack)
Hunter Haight (Barrie Colts)
Paul Ludwinski (Kingston Frontenacs)
Bryce McConnell-Barker (Soo Greyhounds)
Matthew Poitras (Guelph Storm)

Coaches:
Assistant Coach – Alan Letang (Sarnia Sting)
Goaltending Coach – Charles McTavish (Ottawa 67’s)
Equipment Manager – Chris Cook (Kingston Frontenacs)
Therapist – Andy Brown (Owen Sound Attack)
Therapist – Andrew Sachkiw (North Bay Battalion)
Mental Performance Consultant – Dr. Ashwin Patel (Guelph Storm)

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 ANNOUNCES 2019-20 MINOR MIDGET PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Press Release

Midget Players of the Year

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the seven recipients of Minor Midget Player of the Year Awards for players representing the four Ontario Hockey Federation Member Partners including the ALLIANCE, Greater Toronto Hockey League, Northern Ontario Hockey Association, and both the Ontario Minor Hockey Association’s ETA and SCTA regions, along with Hockey Eastern Ontario, and Hockey Northwestern Ontario.

This year’s winners include Bryce McConnell-Barker of the London Jr. Knights (ALLIANCE), Pano Fimis of the Toronto Jr. Canadiens (GTHL), Cedrick Guindon of the Rockland Nationals (HEO), Brodie McLeod of the Thunder Bay Kings (HNO), Connor Toms of the Soo Jr. Greyhounds (NOHA), Donovan McCoy of the Quinte Red Devils (OMHA ETA) and Sam Alfano of the Southern Tier Admirals (OMHA SCTA).

“Congratulations to the recipients of this year’s awards and thank you to the families, coaches, and teammates for their tremendous support of these remarkable players over the course of the season and throughout their minor hockey careers,” said Kyle Pereira, the OHL’s Director of Player Recruitment.

“The OHL continues to recognize all the hard work, dedication, and extraordinary accomplishments from across Ontario. We thank all players for another great season and wish them the very best of luck in their hockey and academic careers.”

The recipients consist of four forwards and three defencemen. Looking up front, Alfano capped off the regular season second in SCTA scoring with 36 goals and 63 points in 32 appearances with the Admirals, while Guindon totaled 24 goals and 35 assists for 59 points over 41 games with the Nationals. McConnell-Barker tallied 29 goals and 48 points over 33 games with the Jr. Knights for fifth in ALLIANCE scoring and Fimis finished in a tie for first atop the GTHL scoring race with 14 goals and 28 assists for 42 points in 32 games with the league champion Jr. Canadiens.

On defence, McCoy recorded six goals and 29 assists for 35 points in as many games for the OMHA champion Red Devils while McLeod posted seven goals and 21 assists for 28 points in 39 games with the Kings. Toms registered eight goals and 15 assists, good for 23 points over 36 appearances with the Jr. Greyhounds.

The awards are presented annually to honour the minor midget players who best exemplify outstanding ability and the qualities of sportsmanship and leadership as voted by the minor hockey coaches, managers and organizations of each respective league.

Past Award Winners:

ALLIANCE Player of the Year:
2020 – Bryce McConnell-Barker, London Jr. Knights
2019 – Deni Goure, Chatham-Kent Cyclones
2018 – Matthew Maggio, Sun County Panthers
2017 – Ryan Suzuki, London Jr. Knights
2016 – Owen Lalonde, Windsor Jr. Spitfires
2015 – Nick Suzuki, London Jr. Knights
2014 – Anthony Salinitri, Windsor Jr. Spitfires
2013 – Travis Konecny, Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs
2012 – Jared McCann, London Jr. Knights Gold
2011 – Bo Horvat, Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs

GTHL Player of the Year:
2020 – Pano Fimis, Toronto Jr. Canadiens
2019 – Shane Wright, Don Mills Flyers
2018 – Jamie Drysdale, Toronto Marlboros
2017 – Nick Porco, Vaughan Kings
2016 – Ryan Merkley, Toronto Jr. Canadiens
2015 – Ryan McLeod, Toronto Marlboros
2014 – Adam Mascherin, Vaughan Kings
2013 – Dylan Strome, Toronto Marlboros
2012 – Connor McDavid, Toronto Marlboros
2011 – Nick Ritchie, Toronto Marlboros

HEO Player of the Year:
2020 – Cedrick Guindon, Rockland Nationals
2019 – Mason McTavish, Pembroke Lumber Kings
2018 – Josh Barnes, Cornwall Colts
2017 – Alexandre Hogue, Cumberland Grads U18
2016 – Paul Larabie, Nepean Raiders
2015 – Gabriel Vilardi, CIH Academy
2014 – William Bitten, Ottawa Jr. 67’s
2013 – Andrew Peski, Ottawa Jr. 67’s
2012 – Andrew Abou-Assaly, Ottawa Jr. 67’s
2011 – Nicholas Baptiste, Ottawa Senators

HNO Player of the Year:
2020 – Brodie McLeod, Thunder Bay Kings
2019 – Jack Michaelis, Thunder Bay Kings
2018 – Michael Stubbs, Thunder Bay Kings
2017 – Christian Cicigoi, Thunder Bay Kings
2016 – Quintin Loon-Stewardson, Thunder Bay Kings
2015 – Kyle Auger, Thunder Bay Kings
2014 – Brad Belisle, Thunder Bay Kings
2013 – Zach Grzelewski, Thunder Bay Kings
2012 – Bryce Martyn, Thunder Bay Kings
2011 – Nolan Nicholas, Thunder Bay Kings

NOHA Player of the Year:
2020 – Connor Toms, Soo Jr. Greyhounds
2019 – Chase Stillman, Sudbury Minor Midget Wolves
2018 – Pacey Schlueting, North Bay Trappers
2017 – Camaryn Baber, Soo Midget Greyhounds
2016 – Damien Giroux, Sudbury Minor Midget Wolves
2015 – Cayse Ton, New Liskeard Cubs
2014 – Zach Dorval, Soo Thunder
2013 – Blake Speers, Soo Thunder
2012 – Michael Amadio, Sault Ste. Marie North Stars
2011 – Ryan Kujawinski, Sudbury Minor Midget Wolves

OMHA ETA Player of the Year:
2020 – Donovan McCoy, Quinte Red Devils
2019 – Brenden Sirizzotti, Whitby Wildcats
2018 – Quinton Byfield, York Simcoe Express
2017 – Alex Newhook, York Simcoe Express
2016 – Aidan Dudas, North Central Predators
2015 – Brady Gilmour, Quinte Red Devils
2014 – Chris Paquette, Greater Kingston Jr Frontenacs

OMHA SCTA Player of the Year:
2020 – Sam Alfano, Southern Tier Admirals
2019 – Lawson Sherk, Halton Hurricanes
2018 – Cameron Tolnai, Oakville Rangers
2017 – Matthew Dunsmoor, Guelph Jr. Gryphons
2016 – Adam McMaster, Niagara North Stars
2015 – Liam Stevens, Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs
2014 – Rylee St Onge, Niagara North Stars

*prior to 2014 there was a single OMHA Player of the Year award recipient

Past OMHA Players of the Year:
2013 – Matt Spencer, Oakville Rangers*
2012 – Nik Coric, York Simcoe Express*
2011 – Alex Yuill, Quinte Red Devils*

For more information please visit www.ontariohockeyleague.com.