David Goyette of the Sudbury Wolves. Photo by OHL Images.
HT
WT
DOB
POS
SHOOTS
OHL DRAFT
NHLCS
COUNTRY
5’11
174
3-27-2004
C
L
11th 2020
35 N/A
CANADA
SEASON
LEAGUE
TEAM
GP
G
A
PTS
2018-19
HEO U-15
Eastern Ontario Wild
30
43
51
94
2019-20
Under-15
Selects Academy
65
49
104
153
2020-21
NCDC
P.A.L. Junior Islanders
4
3
3
6
When it comes to David Goyette of the Sudbury Wolves, the consensus is (at this point) that he will hear his name called very early in the second round at the 2022 National Hockey League Draft. Smaht Scouting has him the highest at 31st.
Goyette has done nothing but produce at every level he has played at. Even in the Ontario Hockey League, he has 19 goals and 23 assists through 43 games to date. What makes those stats even more remarkable is that he’s doing it on a young Wolves team that consists of no less then 10 draft eligible players on the ice on any given night. He easily leads his team in goals and points and has a slim lead in assists.
Goyette is truly an electrifying skater and if he’s not the best skater in the draft class, he has to be top-2. His speed, first steps, edgework, starts-and-stops are a treat to watch. More importantly, he is an elite skater with the disc.
I’m not going to dive to deep about his offensive abilities because it speaks for itself. That said, he has the willingness to take on defenders one-on-one but he also has the ability to beat them. But this is where size comes into question. At 5’11” and just 174 pounds, if you can catch him, you can knock him off the puck and create turnovers. Obviously at this stage, he’s not finished developing physically and adding some bulk to his frame will certainly help him in this area.
Attacking the offensive zone, he can put defenders on their heels with his skating and that allows him to gain the zone with relative ease. Without the puck, he always seems to find open areas of the ice and make himself an option. With the puck, he can find lanes to set up linemates, but he’s also willing to go to the net with the puck. He can sometimes skate into trouble but he has the ability to elude defenders with his stickhandling. He has shown he has excellent playmaking abilities and vision, but he doesn’t always make the right decision. If he can improve on that aspect, it will only make him a more dangerous offensive threat.
Goyette has a decent shot and is currently firing at a 16.9% shooting percentage. He plays in all situations and is a threat on the PK. He will need to work on his faceoffs which is currently at 49.3%. He appears to be a coachable player and is learning the defensive game on the fly. There’s a ways to go there, but the effort is showing through.
Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the Top OHL Performers of the Month for regular season games played in January 2022, including Windsor Spitfires forward Wyatt Johnston, Barrie Colts defenceman Brandt Clarke, Barrie Colts goaltender Mack Guzda and Sudbury Wolves forward David Goyette.
OHL Player of the Month – Wyatt Johnston (Windsor Spitfires): For the second straight month, Dallas Stars prospect Wyatt Johnston of the Windsor Spitfires is the OHL Player of the Month. Johnston equalled his December output of 19 points in eight games, recording five goals, 14 assists as the Spitfires played to a 6-2-0-0 record. Johnston strung together four consecutive performances of at least three points to begin the month, finding the scoresheet in seven of his eight outings. He posted eight points across back-to-back games in Sault Ste. Marie on Jan. 8th and 9th before consecutive three-assist efforts on Jan. 14th in Sarnia and Jan. 16th against Flint. Johnston closed out the month by lighting the lamp twice in Windsor’s 3-2 win over the Guelph Storm on Jan. 28th. He earned Three Star honours on four separate occasions, contributing to his League-leading total of 16 for the 2021-22 season. Johnston is the first OHL player to earn back-to-back Player of the Month honours since Sarnia’s Jordan Kyrou last did so in October and November 2017.
An 18-year-old native of Toronto, Ont., Johnston sits third in OHL scoring with 65 points (23-42–65) in 35 games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-19. 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 – Brandt Clarke (Barrie Colts): Los Angeles Kings prospect Brandt Clarke of the Barrie Colts is the OHL Defenceman of the Month for January, leading all blueliners with 17 points including three goals and 14 assists over 11 games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-10. Clarke strung together six different multi-point performances for the Colts, who played to a January record of 6-3-2-0. He put up three assists in Barrie’s 7-3 road win over Owen Sound on Jan. 9th before a season-high four point performance (1-3–4) on Jan. 16th as Barrie defeated North Bay 8-2. Clarke ended the month on a five-game point streak, notably scoring the last second game-tying goal in Sault Ste. Marie on Jan. 29th as the Colts earned a point in an overtime loss. He racked up three assists on Sunday in Sudbury, securing OHL Player of the Week honours with nine points (2-7–9) over four contests last week. Clarke is the first Colts defender to earn Defenceman of the Month recognition since Rasmus Andersson in January 2016.
An 18-year-old product of Nepean, Ont., Clarke leads OHL defenders with 42 points including eight goals, 34 assists and a plus-19 rating across 32 games. The 6-foot-2 rearguard leads the Colts in scoring this season and is riding a current five-game point streak. Clarke was a first round (8th overall) pick of the Los Angeles Kings last summer, and signed an entry-level NHL contract with the club in August. Clarke won a gold medal as a member of Canada’s National Under-18 Team in May 2021 and is a former 2019 OHL Cup champion as a member of the Don Mills Flyers. The Colts selected Clarke fourth overall in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection.
OHL Goaltender of the Month – Mack Guzda (Barrie Colts): For the second straight month, overage netminder Mack Guzda of the Barrie Colts is the OHL Goaltender of the Month. Guzda played to a 5-1-1-0 record with a 1.86 goals-against average, .939 save percentage and one shutout over seven contests, helping the Colts climb to within two points of North Bay for second place in the Central Division with seven games in hand. His top performances included a 31-save effort on Jan. 18th as the Colts defeated the Sudbury Wolves 4-1. He followed that up with 34 saves on Jan. 22nd as Barrie toppled North Bay 3-2 in overtime. He registered his second shutout of the season on Jan. 27th, making 24 saves as the Colts bested Owen Sound 8-0. Guzda joins London’s Brett Brochu (January & February 2020) as an active netminder to have earned back-to-back OHL Goaltender of the Month honours.
A 21-year-old native of Knoxville, Tenn., Guzda’s .924 save percentage is the second-highest in the OHL as he’s played to an overall record of 16-6-1-1 with a 2.50 goals-against average over 24 games between Barrie and Owen Sound. Now 11-2-1-0 since joining the Colts in mid-November, Guzda was originally Owen Sound’s second round (31st overall) pick in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection, and has played to career mark of 74-51-11-7.
OHL Rookie of the Month – David Goyette (Sudbury Wolves): Draft eligible Sudbury Wolves forward David Goyette is the OHL Rookie of the Month for January, registering 16 points including a League-leading 10 goals and six assists over 15 games. Goyette joined rookie linemate Kocha Delic with 16 points in January as the Wolves played to a record of 5-8-1-1 to find themselves in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Goyette recorded points in 10 of his 15 contests, scoring in three consecutive matchups on Jan. 7th against Mississauga, Jan. 8th in Niagara and Jan. 9th in Oshawa. He produced the OHL’s first four-goal performance of the season before a national audience on TSN on Jan. 14th in Kingston as the Wolves won 8-4. Goyette put up three points (1-2–3) on Jan. 23rd in North Bay, going 16-for-21 in the faceoff circle as the Wolves defeated the Battalion 6-4. He’s the first Wolves player to earn OHL Rookie of the Month honours since John McFarland back in October 2008.
A 17-year-old from Hawkesbury, Ont., Goyette sits second in OHL rookie scoring with 34 points including 14 goals and 20 assists over 38 games. The 5-foot-11, 174Ib. centreman was Sudbury’s first round (11th overall) pick in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection. He was listed as the 35th-ranked North American skater on NHL Central Scouting’s Midterm Rankings for the 2022 NHL Draft.
2021-22 OHL Performers of the Month:
Player of the Month: 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: 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: January – David Goyette (Sudbury Wolves) December – Coulson Pitre (Flint Firebirds) November – Owen Beck (Mississauga Steelheads) October – Calum Ritchie (Oshawa Generals)
Goaltender of the Month: 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.
Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Week for the week of regular season games ending Sunday, January 16, 2022.
Wolves’ David Goyette Named OHL Player of the Week
2022 NHL Draft prospect David Goyette of the Sudbury Wolves is the OHL Player of the Week, helping his club claim five of a possible six points with five goals, two assists and seven points in three games with a plus/minus rating of plus-6.
Goyette picked up an assist in Sudbury’s 3-1 road win over the Peterborough Petes on Thursday before exploding for the OHL’s first four-goal showing of the 2021-22 season on Friday in Kingston. He had his best single game performance to date before a national audience on TSN, lighting the lamp four times in an 8-4 victory. He joins a list of other prominent Wolves four-goal scorers that includes Adam Ruzicka (Mar. 15, 2019), Benoit Pouliot (Feb. 17, 2006), Norm Milley (Nov. 14, 1999) and Mike Fisher (Dec. 18, 1998) among others. Goyette finished off the weekend with a goal and an assist in Saturday’s 5-4 shootout loss to the Ottawa 67’s.
A 17-year-old from Hawkesbury, Ont., Goyette climbed into a tie for the OHL’s rookie scoring lead over the weekend, drawing even with Mississauga’s Owen Beck with 29 points (12-17–29) over 31 games. The 5-foot-11, 174Ib. centreman was Sudbury’s first round (11th overall) pick in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection. He was listed as the 35th-ranked North American skater on NHL Central Scouting’s Midterm Rankings for the 2022 NHL Draft.
Also considered for the award this week, Seattle Kraken prospect Ryan Winterton of the Hamilton Bulldogs returned from injury to make his season debut, exploding for six points (1-5–6) in a pair of victories. Goyette’s Wolves teammate Kocha Delic was also in the running, registering seven points (2-5–7) across three games.
Wolves’ Mitchell Weeks Named OHL Goaltender of the Week
Mitchell Weeks of the Sudbury Wolves is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, playing to a 2-0-0-1 record with a 2.92 goals-against average and .924 save percentage.
Weeks made 109 saves over three outings, helping the Wolves collect five of a possible six points on a three-in-three road trip with stops in Peterborough, Kingston and Ottawa. He provided 31 saves in Thursday’s 3-1 victory in Peterborough, claiming third star honours as the Wolves snapped an eight-game slide, earning their first win since Nov. 26th. Weeks was back in the crease on Friday in Kingston, backstopping the Wolves to an 8-4 win in front of a national audience on TSN. Weeks made 44 saves as Sudbury was outshot 48-28 in the high-scoring win. He helped the Wolves pick up a point on Saturday in Ottawa, making 34 saves in a 5-4 shootout loss as Sudbury was outshot 38-20.
A 20-year-old native of Barrie, Ont., Weeks owns a 10-11-3-1 record this season with a 3.71 goals-against average and .901 save percentage. The former first overall pick in the 2018 OHL Under-18 Priority Selection has appeared in 60 career contests with Sudbury, going 23-26-3-2 with a 3.88 goals-against average and .887 save percentage.
Also considered for the award this week, Flint Firebirds goaltender Luke Cavallin played to a 2-1-0-0 mark, posting a 3.00 goals-against average and .915 save percentage with one shutout.
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.
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 Writers 