Zayne Parekh of the Saginaw Spirit. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images
The 2023-2024 Ontario Hockey League season will be remembered as one of the most competitive and unpredictable in recent memory. The fact that not a single playoff series was set until the last day of the season truly speaks volumes about the level of competition and passion in the league.
Today, we take a look at players eligible for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and who had the most impact in March with our forward, defenceman, and goaltender of the month.
Forward of the Month – Beckett Sennecke – Oshawa Generals
March was Sennecke’s best all-around month of the season and offensively he produced 6 goals and 12 assists in 10 games. He was a plus player in each game and he was kept off the scoresheet just twice. He also had 5 multi-point games.
Also considered were: Dalyn Wakely of the North Bay Battalion with 7 goals and 12 assists in 9 games; his teammate Anthony Romani with 11 goals and 6 assists in 10 games; Ruslan Gazizov of the London Knights with 8 goals and 7 assists in 9 games; Sam Alfano of the Erie Otters with 8 goals and 8 assists in 10 games.
Defenceman of the Month – Zayne Parekh – Saginaw Spirit
For the third time in the season, Parekh is our choice here. In 11 games in March, Parekh had 5 goals and 11 assists and established himself as the top offensive blueliner in the draft. He was held pointless in just two of the games and was a minus player just twice.
Also considered were: Jakub Fibigr of the Mississauga Steelheads who had 1 goal and 12 assists in 11 games; Luca Marrelli of the Oshawa Generals who had 3 goals and 8 assists in 10 games; Henry Mews of the Ottawa 67’s had 4 goals and 6 assists in 12 games.
Goaltender of the Month – Jacob Oster – Oshawa Generals
Oster is a two-time goaltender of the month for us after we selected him in January as well. He appeared in 9 games in March and was a perfect 9-0-0-0. He stopped 223 of 244 shots he faced for a save percentage of .914. This will be Oster’s third and final year of draft eligibility.
Also considered were: Liam Sztuska of the Peterborough Petes who went 2-3-0 and had a save percentage of .915; Charlie Robertson of the Niagara IceDogs who went 1-3-0-1 with a save percentage of .913; Ryerson Leenders of the Mississauga Steelheads who went 3-0-2-0 with a save percentage of .917.
Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Week for the week of regular season games ending Sunday, March 17, 2024.
Knights’ Ruslan Gazizov Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week
Ruslan Gazizov of the London Knights is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week for the second time this season, recording six goals, three assists, and nine points over three contests as the Knights earned six points last week.
Extending London’s winnings to five consecutive games, Gazizov registered a pair of helpers on Wednesday in a 5-1 road win over the Erie Otters. He found the scoresheet again on Friday, earning first star honours with a career-high four-goal performance to defeat the Soo Greyhounds 6-3. Gazizov earned first star recognition again on Sunday, closing out the week with two goals and an assist in a 7-4 victory over the Windsor Spitfires.
Selected by the Knights in the first round (12th overall) of the 2021 CHL Import Draft, the 20-year-old Gazizov has recorded a career-high 79 points (36-43–79) through 62 outings this season, helping the Knights play to a League-leading record of 48-14-1-3. Gazizov has tallied 69 goals, 86 assists, and 155 points over 172 regular season games played in three seasons with London. He competed in the 2022 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Kitchener.
Also considered for the award, Owen Van Steensel of the North Bay Battalion registered five goals and two assists to help the Troops earn five points last week. Blueliner Chas Sharpe of the Mississauga Steelheads also found success, tallying eight points (3-5-8) in four games.
2023-24 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season: Mar. 11 – Mar. 17: Ruslan Gazizov (London Knights) 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)
IceDogs’ Charlie Robertson Named OHL Goaltender of the Week
Charlie Robertson of the Niagara IceDogs is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, playing to a 1-1 record including a shutout, along with a 1.51 goals-against average and .959 save percentage.
Making a total of 70 saves last week, Robertson stopped 40 of the 43 shots that came his way on Friday, falling short in a 3-2 road loss to the Mississauga Steelheads. The 6-foot-4, 175lb. netminder closed out the weekend with a 30-save shutout performance on Sunday at home, earning first star honours in a 3-0 win over the Barrie Colts. The shutout is Robertson’s first of the season and the fourth of his OHL career.
Acquired by the IceDogs in a trade with the North Bay Battalion on Jan. 7, Robertson has appeared in 30 games between Niagara and North Bay, going 8-11-4-1 with a 4.71 goals-against average and .875 save percentage. Guarding the crease in his second OHL season, Robertson has played to a career mark of 20-17-4-2 between the IceDogs and Battalion, along with a 4.06 goals-against average and .881 save percentage. The 18-year-old London, Ont. native was the Battalion’s seventh round (130th overall) pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection from the London Jr. Knights U16 program. Robertson competed in the 2023 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, and attended rookie camp with the Florida Panthers last September.
Also in the running for the award this week, rookie Landon Miller of the Soo Greyhounds played to a 1-0-0-1 record with a 1.21 goals-against average, and .958 save percentage. Jacob Oster of the Oshawa Generals was also solid in the crease, playing to a 3-0 mark with a 2.66 goals-against average and .909 save percentage.
2023-24 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season: Mar. 11 – Mar. 17: Charlie Robertson (Niagara IceDogs) 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.
Nathan Day of the Flint Firebirds. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images
If you are an NHL team looking to draft a goaltender with relative success from the Ontario Hockey League then your chances of success are relatively diminished. While there have been some mildly successful picks, the odds are stacked against you.
There are many reasons. For parents, it is cost prohibitive to provide equipment for their kids when they are outgrowing that equipment every other year. Many European hockey federations are investing more money and time in developing goaltenders from a young age than Canada does. The CHL even banned drafting import goalies from 2014 to 2018 and all that did was dilute the product on the ice.
Even the NHL salary cap plays a role. Skaters earn more money than goaltenders so the better athletes chose not to tend the net. I admit, that thought process enters the parent’s mind long before it enters the player’s mind.
The last OHL goaltender chosen in the first round of the NHL draft was Malcolm Subban back in 2012. Since then, there have been 7 goaltenders drafted in the first round – three Russians, two Americans, one Swede and one from the Western Hockey League.
We also know that NHL teams don’t like to use first round picks on goaltenders. From 2000-2021 the majority of goaltenders were picked in the sixth round and followed closely by the fifth round. There is a drop off to the next two busiest rounds for goaltenders which are the third round and seventh round.
Here’s a look at the goaltenders ranked by NHL Central Scouting with their mid-term rank and their final rank:
Goalie
Team
Height
Weight
Mid
Final
Nathan Day
Flint
6’3”
181
14
12
Charlie Robertson
North Bay
6’3”
167
12
13
Zach Bowen
London
6’2”
176
29
15
Charlie Schenkel
Soo
6’6”
197
23
25
Owen Flores
Niagara
6’2”
178
NR
27
Andrew Oke
Saginaw
6’2”
194
NR
29
Corbin Votary
Owen Sound
6’2”
198
NR
32
Here’s a look at their regular season stats:
Goalie
Team
GP
Min
Shots
Saves
GA
SO
GAA
SAV%
Nathan Day
Flint
32
1659
856
748
108
0
3.91
.874
Charlie Robertson
North Bay
21
1155
563
502
61
3
3.17
.892
Zach Bowen
London
26
1373
701
630
71
1
3.10
.899
Charlie Schenkel
Soo
31
1753
958
856
102
2
3.49
.894
Owen Flores
Niagara
42
2209
1557
1388
169
0
4.59
.891
Andrew Oke
Saginaw
24
1269
675
602
73
0
3.45
.892
Corbin Votary
Owen Sound
30
1628
862
761
101
0
3.72
.883
Obviously, we shouldn’t put too much stock into the stats because everyone is in a different situation. Flores was on a bad team in Niagara and no one played as much or faced as much rubber as he did, yet he managed to allow a goal per game+ less then his partners in Niagara. On the flip side, Day, Robertson and Bowen played for three very good defensive teams. Flores averaged ten+ shots more against per game than that trio yet his save percentage was comparable to Robertson and Bowen.
Here are some thoughts:
Nathan Day
Day got off to a slow start this season, but because of his willingness to work hard and the support of his long-time goaltending coach, he turned things around by the mid way point of the season. Day has good size, is very athletic and has an explosiveness in his lateral movement from post to post. He tracks pucks well, gets up from the butterfly and resets quickly and is very sound positionally. In tight he takes away the lower portion of the net when there are battles in front of him. What I like best about Day is that he is willing to put in all the hard work to become the best he can be.
Charlie Robertson
Robertson didn’t get to take the net a lot as the backup in North Bay but he was given the opportunity at the CHL/NHL Top Prospects game as the lone OHL goaltender to showcase himself. He has good size but doesn’t have the athleticism Day possesses. He can be aggressive in the crease challenging players, but he is not overly aggressive to the point it costs him. His lateral movement is a work in progress as is his recovery from a save. He tracks the puck extremely well, but he needs to get quicker.
Zach Bowen
It’s hard to get any traction and playing time when you are the backup to one of the best goalies the OHL has ever had. But injuries to Brett Brochu, including in the playoffs afforded Bowen the opportunity. Bowen is one very calm goaltender. He rarely gets rattled in the crease and if he gives up a soft goal it is quickly behind him and onto the next save. He is athletic and has very good lateral movement. His glove and blocker are extremely quick. He tracks extremely well and knows where everyone is on the ice and anticipates very well. He needs to work on his rebound control and using his stick.
Charlie Schenkel
It was a tough situation for Schenkel with the Soo Greyhounds. But this kid battles and only Flores faced more shots per game than he did. He’s a huge goaltender who uses his size to take away the net extremely well. He remains tall when down on his knees and battles taking place in front of him. He moves extremely well for a big goaltender, challenges well and is technically sound. Schenkel is a draft re-entry who caught the attention of some scouts last season (Central Scouting ranked him 17th), but a lack of ice time left more questions than answers. Are those questions answered after this season? Only time will tell, but it’s not a great OHL goaltending class, or CHL for that matter so someone might take a shot here.
Owen Flores
I spoke a bit about Flores earlier and it appears he opened some eyes going from not being ranked on NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings to 27th among North American goalies on their final list. I don’t know that it is enough to hear his name called out at the draft. Interesting enough, Flores attended the Detroit Red Wings Development Camp last summer after going undrafted, so he’s gotten some attention. He has good size with good mobility. He is technically sound, has vastly improved his rebound control and he is adept at killing plays. What is most impressive is that he never gives up on a play. Niagara was terrible this season. It is hard to imagine how much worse off they would have been without Flores.
Andrew Oke
Oke is a draft re-entry (ranked 9th by Central Scouting in 2022) and you can read what I had to say about him last season here. Not much has changed. I mentioned some things that Oke needed to improve on and he has put in the necessary work, but still has some work to put in. Personally, I had him ranked as the third goaltender from the OHL in 2022 based on potential alone, but I wanted to see more of an improvement this season.
Corbin Votary
Votary came to the OHL with a lot of promise as a big goaltender with good athleticism, technically strong goaltender with excellent positioning who controlled rebounds like a seasoned veteran and knew how to take away much of the net with his size. I just did not see enough from Votary this season to garner a lot of attention. He is also a draft re-entry that did not make Central Scouting’s rankings a year ago, nor was he on mine. He will be on my list in a couple of weeks, but as I said earlier, it’s not a great draft class.
It wasn’t exactly a barn burner of a March for the skaters when it comes to the players eligible for the National Hockey League Entry Draft. But it was probably the best month of the season for the goaltenders. Here’s our choices for draft eligible forward, defenceman and goaltender of the month.
Draft Eligible Forward of the Month – Max Namestnikov – Guelph Storm
We all know about the explosion of offence Namestnikov had once he was traded from the Sarnia Sting to the Guelph Storm. Max had just two assists in the month of March but tallied 12 goals in 11 games that raised his season total to 39. And 35 of those goals came after the trade, in just 47 games. He had goals in all but 3 of those 11 games and included 4 multi point games.
Also considered were Coulson Pitre of the Flint Firebirds with 4 goals and 7 assists in 9 games, Joey Willis of the Saginaw Spirit had 5 goals and 8 assists in 11 games and Brady Stonehouse of the Ottawa 67’s who had 7 goals and 4 assists in 10 games.
Draft Eligible Defenceman of the Month – Matthew Mania – Sudbury Wolves
Mania quietly put together a solid season for the Sudbury Wolves and the month of March was a very good one for him. He appeared in 12 games scoring 3 goals and adding 6 assists and a plus-7 to finish the season with 10 goals and 28 assists and a plus-21 while playing in 67 games.
Also considered was Hunter Brzustewicz who had 8 assists in 12 games for the Rangers.
Draft Eligible Goaltender of the Month – Charlie Robertson – North Bay Battalion
Robertson had a great start to the month of March posting consecutive shutouts beginning with a 20 save blanking of the Niagara IceDogs on March and 5 days later blanking the Oshawa Generals with a 28 save performance. Robertson went 5-0-0-0 in the month of March stopping 145 of 154 shots for a save-percentage of .942.
Also considered was Liam Sztuska of the Peterborough Petes who went 4-0-0-0 in 5 appearances and stopped 128 of 134 shots for a save-percentage of .955 and 1 shutout. Collin MacKenzie of the Ottawa 67’s was also considered as he posted a 7-0-0-0 record in 8 appearances with a .930 save-percentage.
We have to give a special shout out to Owen Flores of the Niagara IceDogs. He appeared in 10 games with two of those being in relief. Here are the shots he faced in his 8 full games: 66, 44, 46, 45, 48, 50, 58 and 36. In total, he stopped 399 of 440 shots he faced for a .907 save-percentage.
Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the Top OHL Performers of the Month for regular season games played in March 2023, including Barrie Colts defenceman Brandt Clarke, North Bay Battalion goaltender Domenic DiVincentiis and North Bay Battalion rookie netminder Charlie Robertson.
OHL Player & Defenceman of the Month – Brandt Clarke (Barrie Colts): Los Angeles Kings prospect Brandt Clarke of the Barrie Colts is both the OHL Player and Defenceman of the Month, recording 11 goals, 11 assists and 22 points in nine games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-16. Clarke helped the Colts play to a March record of 8-2-0-1, recording points in all nine of his contests, including seven multi-point showings. Clarke recorded his first OHL career hat trick on Mar. 2nd as the Colts fell to the Hamilton Bulldogs 7-5. The 6-foot-2, 188lb. blueliner went on to register a pair of goals and assists including the game-tying goal on Mar. 15th against Mississauga as the Colts came up short in a shootout. Clarke closed out the month scoring another hat trick on top of a pair of helpers in a high-scoring 11-4 win over the Niagara IceDogs on Mar. 18th. This mark’s Clarke’s fourth career OHL Defenceman of the Month honour after he was previously recognized in February.
A 20-year-old from Nepean, Ont., Clarke knotted a Colts single-season club record with 23 goals from the back end, doing so in just 31 games. He finished the season fifth among OHL blueliners with 61 points (23-38–61) and has produced career totals that include 40 goals, 118 assists and a franchise record 158 points by a defenceman in 143 regular season outings. Now in his third season with the Colts, Clarke was voted to the League’s second all-star team in 2021-22, recording 59 points (11-48–59) in 55 games. The blueliner was Barrie’s first round (4th overall) pick in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection from the Don Mills Flyers U16 program. He was a first round (8th overall) pick of the Los Angeles Kings in the 2021 NHL Draft, and signed a three-year entry level NHL contract with the club on Aug. 10, 2021. He played in nine games with Los Angeles earlier this season, recording two assists in the process, and was a Canadian World Junior gold medalist this past January.
OHL Goaltender of the Month – Domenic DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion): Winnipeg Jets prospect Domenic DiVincentiis of the North Bay Battalion is the OHL Goaltender of the Month for the second time this season, playing to a 6-0-0-0 record with a 1.00 goals-against average, a .968 save percentage and three shutout victories. DiVincentiis made 181 saves last month, winning all six of his outings for the back-to-back Central Division champions. He stopped all 46 shots that came his way on Mar. 3rd as the Battalion blanked the Mississauga Steelheads 3-0. He turned aside the 27 shots he faced the following week at home as the Battalion defeated the London Knights by a score of 4-0 on Mar. 12th. He closed out March with his third shutout of the month and his fifth of the season, blocking all 15 shots he faced as North Bay blanked the Hamilton Bulldogs 4-0 on Mar. 23rd.
An 18-year-old Bolton, Ont. native, DiVincentiis led the OHL’s regular season with 36 wins, a 2.33 goals-against average and .919 save percentage over 48 games, all figures that establish new Battalion single season records. His five shutouts were tied for the OHL lead and equal a Battalion club mark. Helping backstop the Battalion to the Eastern Conference Championship Series last season, the 6-foot-2, 190lb. goaltender has played to a career mark of 50-17-2-1 with a 2.42 goals-against average and .915 save percentage in 75 regular season games with North Bay. He was the OHL’s F.W. ‘Dinty’ Moore Trophy winner in 2021-22, posting a 2.59 goals-against average while also being voted to the League’s second all-rookie team. DiVincentiis was selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the seventh round (207th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft. He was originally North Bay’s sixth round (116th overall) pick in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection from the Vaughan Kings U16 program.
OHL Rookie of the Month – Charlie Robertson (North Bay Battalion): Draft eligible North Bay Battalion netminder Charlie Robertson is the OHL Rookie of the Month for March, playing to a 5-0-0-0 record with a 1.79 goals-against average and .942 save percentage with two shutouts. Robertson made 145 saves in March, winning all five of his outings to help the Battalion clinch a second-straight Central Division title. He stopped all 20 shots that came his way on Mar. 5th to earn his second OHL career shutout as the Battalion blanked the Niagara IceDogs 4-0. He returned to the crease on Mar. 10th, turning aside all 28 shots in a 3-0 win over the Oshawa Generals to earn his second consecutive shutout. Robertson closed out March with a 5-2 win over the Mississauga Steelheads on Mar. 26th, making 44 saves to earn first star recognition. Robertson is North Bay’s first OHL Rookie of the Month recipient since defenceman Cam Dineen, who last claimed the honour in January 2016.
A 17-year-old from London, Ont., Robertson finished the season with a 12-6-0-1 record, a 3.17 goals-against average, .892 save percentage and three shutouts in his 21 games. The 6-foot-3, 167Ib. netminder was North Bay’s seventh round (130th overall) pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection from the London Jr. Knights U16 program. He competed in the 2023 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, and was the OHL’s top-ranked goaltender on NHL Central Scouting’s Midseason Rankings, coming in at 12th in North America.
2022-23 OHL Performers of the Month:
Player of the Month: March – Brandt Clarke (Barrie Colts) February – Matthew Maggio (Windsor Spitfires) January – Colby Barlow (Owen Sound Attack) December – Francesco Pinelli (Kitchener Rangers) November – Sean McGurn (London Knights) October – Brennan Othmann (Flint Firebirds)
Defenceman of the Month: March – Brandt Clarke (Barrie Colts) February – Brandt Clarke (Barrie Colts) January – Brandt Clarke (Barrie Colts) December – Pavel Mintyukov (Saginaw Spirit) November – Pavel Mintyukov (Saginaw Spirit) October – Pavel Mintyukov (Saginaw Spirit)
Goaltender of the Month: March – Domenic DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion) February – Collin MacKenzie (Ottawa 67’s) January – Domenic DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion) December – Anson Thornton (Barrie Colts) November – Tristan Lennox (Saginaw Spirit) October – Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes)
Rookie of the Month: March – Charlie Robertson (North Bay Battalion) February – Nate Krawchuk (Sudbury Wolves) January – Liam Greentree (Windsor Spitfires) December – Zayne Parekh (Saginaw Spirit) November – Oliver Bonk (London Knights) October – Michael Misa (Saginaw Spirit)
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.
Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Week for the week of regular season games ending Sunday, March 26, 2023.
Frontenacs’ Ethan Miedema Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week
2023 NHL Draft prospect Ethan Miedema of the Kingston Frontenacs is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording six goals, two assists and eight points in three games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-6.
An 18-year-old native of Cobourg, Ont., Miedema has produced nine goals, 12 assists and 21 points in 32 games since joining the Frontenacs in January. In total, Miedema recorded 20 goals, 32 assists and 52 points in 68 games between Windsor and Kingston in 2022-23. The former first round (4th overall) pick by the Spitfires in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection has registered 34 goals, 56 assists and 90 points in 133 career regular season games. Miedema competed in the Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in January, and was the 45th-ranked North American skater on NHL Central Scouting’s Midseason Rankings.
Also considered for the award this week, Anaheim Ducks prospect Sasha Pastujov of the Sarnia Sting produced two goals, seven assists and nine points in four games. Logan Morrison of the Ottawa 67’s contributed two goals and four assists for six points in a pair of victories.
67’s’ Collin MacKenzie Named OHL Goaltender of the Week
Collin MacKenzie of the Ottawa 67’s is the OHL Goaltender of the Week for the second time this season, going 3-0 with a 1.35 goals-against average and a .953 save percentage.
Stopping a total of 81 shots last week, MacKenzie turned aside 30 of the 31 attempts that came his way on Thursday as Ottawa defeated the Peterborough Petes 4-1. The 6-foot, 171lb. netminder was back in the crease on Friday, stopping 26 of the 28 shots he faced as the 67’s shut down the Petes on back-to-back nights. MacKenzie closed out the weekend with a 5-1 win over the Barrie Colts, blocking 25 of the 26 shots he faced to earn Ottawa’s fifth consecutive win, establishing a franchise record with 51 wins and 107 points in the standings.
An 18-year-old from Elora, Ont., MacKenzie joined goaltending partner Max Donoso in receiving the Dave Pinkney Trophy presented to the goaltenders of the team that surrenders the fewest goals-against during the regular season. MacKenzie finished the season with a 21-2-3-0 record, a 1.88 goals-against average and .928 save percentage in 30 games. He set an OHL record on Oct. 21st in Sault Ste. Marie when he made 15 consecutive shootout saves in a 2-1 victory over the Greyhounds. MacKenzie was Ottawa’s eighth round (160th overall) pick in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection from the Waterloo Wolves U16 program.
Also in the running for the award this week, rookie netminder Charlie Robertson of the North Bay Battalion recorded a two-win week with a 2.00 goals-against average, and .947 save percentage. Joey Costanzo of the Windsor Spitfires also played to a 2-0 mark with a 2.00 goals-against average and .941 save percentage.
2022-23 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season: Mar. 20 – Mar. 26: Collin MacKenzie (Ottawa 67’s) Mar. 13 – Mar. 19: Liam Sztuska (Peterborough Petes) Mar. 6 – Mar. 12: Dom DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion) Feb. 27 – Mar. 5: Dom DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion) Feb. 20 – Feb. 26: Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes) Feb. 13 – Feb. 19: Tristan Lennox (Saginaw Spirit) Feb. 6 – Feb. 12: Zach Bowen (London Knights) Jan 30 – Feb. 5: Nate Krawchuk (Sudbury Wolves) Jan 23 – Jan. 29: Jacob Oster (Oshawa Generals) Jan 16 – Jan. 22: Mason Vaccari (Kingston Frontenacs) Jan 9 – Jan. 15: Matteo Drobac (Hamilton Bulldogs) Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Max Donoso (Ottawa 67’s) Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes) Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Marco Costantini (Kitchener Rangers) Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Owen Flores (Niagara IceDogs) Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Dom DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion) Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Brett Brochu (London Knights) Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes) Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Joe Ranger (Sudbury Wolves) Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Tristan Lennox (Saginaw Spirit) Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Carter George (Owen Sound Attack) Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Collin MacKenzie (Ottawa 67’s) Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Ivan Zhigalov (Kingston Frontenacs) Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Alessio Beglieri (Mississauga Steelheads) Sept. 29 – Oct. 2: Ben Gaudreau (Sarnia Sting)
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 