Draft Eligible Forward of the Month: Nick Lardis – Hamilton Bulldogs
What a month of February it was for Lardis. In 12 games he notched 10 goals and 11 assists. He scored in all but 4 games, had 2 multi goal games and was held pointless just twice during the month. He fired a whopping 51 shots on goal for a 19.6 shooting percentage and took no penalties.
Also considered were Dylan Roobroeck of the Oshawa Generals who had 7 goals and 10 assists in 13 games and Zakary Lavoie of the Niagara IceDogs who notched 7 goals and 10 assists in 14 games.
Draft Eligible Defenceman of the Month: Rodwin Dionicio – Windsor Spitfires
Dionicio gets the nod on back-to-back months from us here. He has been on a tear since the Spitfires acquired him at the trade deadline. He appeared in 12 games in the month of February scoring 4 goals in consecutive games from February 5 through February 11. He also added 12 assists in those 12 games. He was held off the scoreboard in just 4 games. He finished the month with a plus-7 and complied 22 minutes in penalties.
Also considered were Tristan Bertucci of the Flint Firebirds who had 7 goals and 8 assists in 12 games and Hunter Brzustewicz of the Kitchener Rangers who scored twice and assists on 11 others in 12 games.
Draft Eligible Goaltender of the Month: Tristan Malboeuf – Hamilton Bulldogs
Malboeuf appeared in 7 games during the month of February and posted a 4-1-0-0 record. He stopped 163 of the 175 shots he faced for a save-percentage of .931 and included a 40 save shutout on February 20 against the Kitchener Rangers.
Also considered was Collin MacKenzie of the Ottawa 67’s who appeared in 7 games and stopped 133 of 140 shots for a save-percentage of .950. He went 5-0-1-0 on the month.
Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the Top OHL Performers of the Month for regular season games played in February 2023, including Windsor Spitfires forward Matthew Maggio, Barrie Colts defenceman Brandt Clarke, Ottawa 67’s goaltender Collin MacKenzie and Sudbury Wolves rookie netminder Nate Krawchuk.
OHL Player of the Month – Matthew Maggio (Windsor Spitfires): New York Islanders prospect Matthew Maggio of the Windsor Spitfires is the OHL Player of the Month for February, producing 11 goals, 15 assists and 26 points in 12 games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-12. Maggio guided his team to a February mark of 9-2-1-0, registering points in nine of his 12 outings, seven of those yielding multiple points. The 6-foot, 185 Ib. forward started the month with back-to-back two-goal, three-point outings in home victories over Sault Ste. Marie and Hamilton. He then logged a goal and four assists (1-4–5) on Feb. 5th as the Spitfires defeated the Owen Sound Attack 8-1.Maggio’s scoring ways continued on Feb. 16th with another multi-point showing, recording a goal and three helpers (1-3–4) in a 6-5 overtime win over the Flint Firebirds.He closed out the month with another four-point night on Feb. 26th with a pair of goals and assists (2-2–4) to earn first star honours while recording his 200th career point as the Spitfires defeated the Kingston Frontenacs in an 8-4 road win.
A 20-year-old from nearby Tecumseh, Ont., Maggio leads the OHL with 46 goals and 94 points (46–48-94) on the season. Of Maggio’s 46 goals, just three have come on the power play. He helped the Spitfires win a Western Conference title last spring, following-up a 38-goal regular season with 17 points (7-10–17) in 25 playoff contests before being selected by the New York Islanders in the fifth round (142nd overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft. Maggio was originally Ottawa’s fifth round (86th overall) pick in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection from the Sun County Panthers U16 program.
OHL Defenceman of the Month – Brandt Clarke (Barrie Colts): Los Angeles Kings prospect Brandt Clarke of the Barrie Colts is the OHL Defenceman of the Month for the second straight month, recording two goals, 17 assists and 19 points in 13 games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-12. Clarke helped the Colts play to a February record of 9-2-2-0, finishing the month with four consecutive victories. His month included points in 10 of his 13 contests, including eight multi-point showings. Clarke recorded a pair of assists, including the overtime winner on Feb. 5th as the Colts defeated the Sudbury Wolves 2-1. The 6-foot-2, 188lb. blueliner went on to register three assists on Feb. 20th against Kingston, as the Colts blanked the Frontenacs 4-0. Clarke made Colts franchise history to close out the month, surpassing Luch Nasato as the club’s all-time top-scoring defenceman with a goal and an assist in a 9-4 win over the Niagara IceDogs on Feb. 26th. He wrapped up February on a seven-game point streak. This mark’s Clarke’s third career OHL Defenceman of the Month honour after he was previously recognized in January.
A 20-year-old from Nepean, Ont., Clarke has produced career totals that include 29 goals, 107 assists and a franchise record 136 points by a blueliner in 134 regular season games. 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 – Collin MacKenzie (Ottawa 67’s): Draft-eligible Ottawa 67’s netminder Collin MacKenzie is the OHL Goaltender of the Month for February, playing to a record of 4-0-1-0 with a 1.45 goals-against average and .950 save percentage over six appearances. MacKenzie opened the month of February by stopping 30 of 31 shots on the road in Saginaw as the 67’s defeated the Spirit 5-1 on Feb. 4th. MacKenzie entered a game on Feb. 9th against the Gatineau Olympiques, stopping all six shots he faced before turning aside 14 of 15 in a win over the Niagara IceDogs on Feb. 10th. Other highlights in February included a 40-save, first star performance on Feb. 16th in Peterborough as the 67’s defeated the Petes 3-2. MacKenzie helped the 67’s defeat the West Division-leading Windsor Spitfires on Feb. 24th, making 28 saves in a 6-1 outcome. He becomes the first 67’s netminder to earn OHL Goaltender of the Month honours since Cedrick Andree, who last did so in January 2019.
An 18-year-old from Elora, Ont., MacKenzie is 14-2-3-0 on the season with a 1.90 goals-against average, .928 save percentage and one shutout over 22 games. MacKenzie won his first 10 consecutive OHL decisions after going 4-0-0-0 in an abbreviated campaign with Ottawa last season. He penciled himself into the OHL record books on Oct. 21st in Sault Ste. Marie, making 15 consecutive shootout saves in a 2-1 victory over the Greyhounds. Ottawa’s eighth round (160th overall) pick in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection, MacKenzie is a graduate of the Waterloo Wolves U16 and U18 programs.
OHL Rookie of the Month –Nate Krawchuk (Sudbury Wolves): Sudbury Wolves netminder Nate Krawchuk is the OHL Rookie of the Month for February, playing to a 5-1-1-0 record with a 2.50 goals-against average and .912 save percentage with one shutout. Krawchuk made 197 saves in February, winning five of his eight outings for the Wolves. He stopped all 21 shots that came his way on Feb. 3rd to earn his first OHL career shutout as the Wolves blanked the Mississauga Steelheads 4-0. He turned aside 28 of the 30 shots he faced on Feb. 5th to earn first star honours as the Wolves came up short in overtime against the Barrie Colts. Krawchuk closed out February with back-to-back road wins, making 26 saves in a 5-2 triumph over the Niagara IceDogs on Feb. 24th before blocking 38 of the 42 shots he faced in a 5-4 win over the Erie Otters on Feb. 25th.
A 17-year-old from Thunder Bay, Ont., Krawchuk owns a 10-6-1-0 record with a 3.13 goals-against average and .897 save percentage in his first 20 games with the Wolves this season. The 6-foot-1, 153Ib. netminder was Sudbury’s first round (3rd overall) pick in the 2022 OHL Under-18 Priority Selection from the Thunder Bay Kings U18 program.
2022-23 OHL Performers of the Month:
Player of the Month: 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: 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: 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: 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.
Ryan Abraham of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images
Because COVID cancelled the entire 2020-2021 season meaning a large number of Ontario Hockey League players were about to go into the 2022 National Hockey League Entry Draft as draft re-entries, we did things a little differently here at OHL Writers.
In years past, we always name our Draft Eligible Player of the Month. But because of the sheer number of players eligible last season, we decided that would name a draft eligible forward, defencemen and goaltender. Many of you had written to us to let us know you preferred it that way and asking us to keep it the same going forward. So, here we are doing just that!
Of course, this is the first full month of the season, so this is our first list of the season. Here we go:
Draft Eligible Forward of the Month: Ryan Abraham – Windsor Spitfires
Windsor Spitfires center Ryan Abraham is a draft re-entry who had a phenomenal month of October. His 18 points in 12 games (6 goals, 12 helpers) led all draft eligible players and third best in the OHL. The 5’8”, 168-pound pivot had 6 multi point games, including 5-consecutive to close out the month. His 58.2% in the faceoff circle was second among draft eligible players.
Also considered was Saginaw Spirit forward Calem Mongone. Through 13 games, Mongone has 4 goals and 12 assists. His 16 points ranks him third among Spirit players in scoring and second among draft eligible players.
Draft Eligible Defenceman of the Month: Hunter Brzustewicz – Kitchener Rangers
On defence we chose none other than Hunter Brzustewicz of the Kitchener Rangers. Despite not scoring a goal, his prowess with setting up his teammates set him apart with 13 points (all assists of course) in just 11 games. That’s tops for draft eligible defencemen and third in the entire league among all defencemen. The 6-foot 188-pound blueliner is second in scoring on his squad as well.
Also considered was Chas Sharpe of the Mississauga Steelheads. Sharpe had 2 goals and 9 assists in 12 games in October and trails only Brzustewicz in points among draft eligible defencemen.
Draft Eligible Goaltender of the Month: Collin MacKenzie – Ottawa 67’s
This was not an easy choice, but we chose Collin MacKenzie because he has a perfect 4-0-0 record and led all draft eligible goaltenders with a 1.36 goals-against-average and .942 save percentage. I will agree playing on an Ottawa team that looks unbeatable for now has helped in terms of number of pucks he has faced and the quality of shots, he has also looked the part.
Also considered was Mason Vaccari of the Kingston Frontenacs who posted a 3-0-0 record to go along with a 2.00 goals-against-average and .935 save percentage.
Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Week for the week of regular season games ending Sunday, October 23, 2022.
Steelheads’ Owen Beck Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week
Montreal Canadiens prospect Owen Beck of the Mississauga Steelheads is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording three goals, six assists and nine points in two games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-2.
Beck tied a Steelheads record for most points in a single game on Friday, recording one goal and five assists in an 8-2 win over the Hamilton Bulldogs while also going 13-for-17 in the faceoff circle. His five assists equaled an all-time franchise record, marking the first time a Steelheads player has hit that mark since Nathan Bastian on Oct. 12, 2016 against Guelph. Beck continued his strong play on Saturday in Barrie, registering two goals and an assist as the Steelheads fell to the Colts in a narrow 6-5 defeat.
A 19-year-old native of Port Hope, Ont., Beck has produced six goals, six assists and 12 points in his seven games this season. He was a second round (33rd overall) pick of the Montreal Canadiens this past summer following 21 goals, 30 assists and 51 points in 68 games last season. Last year’s OHL and CHL Scholastic Player of the Year was originally Mississauga’s second round (29th overall) pick in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection from the Quinte Red Devils U16 program.
Also given consideration for the award this week were fellow Montreal Canadiens prospect Filip Mesar of the Kitchener Rangers, who recorded three goals and three assists including an overtime winner in his first two OHL contests. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Ty Voit of the Sarnia Sting was also a standout, recording one goal and seven helpers (1-7-8) over three games to rise to the top of the OHL scoring race.
2022-23 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season: Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Owen Beck (Mississauga Steelheads) Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Matthew Maggio (Windsor Spitfires) Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Pavel Mintyukov (Saginaw Spirit) Sept. 29 – Oct. 2: Tucker Robertson (Peterborough Petes)
67’s’ Collin MacKenzie Named OHL Goaltender of the Week
Collin MacKenzie of the Ottawa 67’s is the OHL Goaltender of the Week with two victories, a 0.60 goals-against average and a .976 save percentage, helping Ottawa continue its run of undefeated hockey to begin the 2022-23 season.
After the 67’s took a Thursday night win in North Bay, MacKenzie took the crease on Friday in Sault Ste. Marie, stopping 21 of the 22 shots that came his way before turning aside a new OHL record 15 consecutive Greyhounds shootout attempts. Gavin Ewles would end the second-longest shootout in OHL history in the 15th round as Ottawa improved to 8-0 with a 2-1 victory. The 67’s fell behind the Sudbury Wolves 3-0 on Sunday afternoon, prompting Ottawa coach Dave Cameron to put MacKenzie into the game 4:58 into the second period. He proceeded to stop all 14 shots he faced as the 67’s scored five unanswered goals to win 5-3 and extend their winning streak to nine games.
A 17-year-old from Elora, Ont., MacKenzie owns a 3-0-0-0 record with a 1.50 goals-against average and .937 save percentage in three games this season. The former eighth round (160th overall) pick in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection is a perfect 7-0-0-0 in his OHL career.
A pair of other candidates were given consideration for the award this week, including Owen Sound Attack netminder Nick Chenard who went 2-0-0-0 last week, posting a 1.50 goals-against average and .954 save percentage. Soo Greyhounds goaltender Charlie Schenkel was MacKenzie’s counterpart in Friday’s shootout marathon, stopping 33 shots through 65 minutes before turning away 14 of the 15 Ottawa shooters he faced in the shootout.
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 