BECK AND VONDRAS 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, March 31, 2024.



Spirit’s Owen Beck Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week

Montreal Canadiens prospect Owen Beck of the Saginaw Spirit is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording a goal and five assists in a pair of playoff contests.

Helping the Spirit take a 2-0 first round series lead over the Owen Sound Attack, Beck started the week with a trio of assists in a 6-4 Game 1 victory on Thursday night, earning second star honours. He proceeded to pick-up first star honours on Saturday, scoring a goal and two assists as the Spirit defeated the Attack 5-2 at home. Beck wrapped-up Saturday’s game with points in 22 consecutive outings dating back to Feb. 9th.

A 20-year-old centreman from Port Hope, Ont., Beck ranked first among all Spirit goal-scorers this season, registering 34, along with 47 assists for 81 points in 57 regular season games played. The 6-foot, 190lb. forward has tallied 198 points (79-119-198) over 185 games in three seasons spent between the Mississauga Steelheads, Peterborough Petes and Spirit. Beck has demonstrated great playoff success, tallying 16 points (8-8-16) in 22 playoff contests last season to be crowned a 2023 OHL Champion with Peterborough. The lone returning member of the 2023 World Junior team, Beck represented Team Canada at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden. this past January. Originally Mississauga’s second round (29th overall) pick in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection, Beck was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft.

Also considered for the award this week, Montreal Canadiens prospect Filip Mesar of the Kitchener Rangers tallied six helpers in two games played, while Dalyn Wakely of the North Bay Battalion registered three goals and two assists, fueling the Battalion to a 2-0 series lead.

2023-24 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Playoffs:
Mar. 28 – Mar. 31: Owen Beck (Saginaw Spirit)

2023-24 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Mar. 11 – Mar. 17: David Goyette (Sudbury Wolves)
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)
 



Wolves’ Jakub Vondras Named OHL Goaltender of the Week

Carolina Hurricanes prospect Jakub Vondras of the Sudbury Wolves is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, going 2-0 with a 2.46 goals-against average, .923 save percentage and a shutout in two outings last week.

Vondras helped the Wolves climb out to a 2-0 first round series lead against the Mississauga Steelheads. He earned first star honours on Thursday night, turning aside all 32 shots he faced as Sudbury blanked the Steelheads 3-0. The Wolves returned to the Paramount Fine Foods Centre on Saturday as Vondras stopped 28 of the 33 shots that came his way, defeating the Steelheads in a 6-5 overtime win.

A 19-year-old native of Plzen, Czechia, Vondras played to a regular season mark of 20-10-2-1 with a 3.79 goals-against average and .861 save percentage over 37 games in his first OHL season. A first round (22nd overall) pick by the Wolves in the 2023 CHL Import Draft, the 6-foot-4, 190Ib. netminder was selected in the sixth round (171st overall) by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2022 NHL Draft. Vondras represented Team Czechia at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden this past January, backstopping his country to a bronze medal.

Also considered for the award this week, Michael Simpson of the London Knights went 2-0 along with a 2.00 goals-against average, .911 save percentage and one shutout to take a two-game first round series lead over the Flint Firebirds.

2023-24 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Playoffs:
Mar. 28 – Mar. 31: Jakub Vondras (Sudbury Wolves)

2023-24 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Mar. 18 – Mar. 24: Nick Surzycia (Sarnia Sting)
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)

OHL ANNOUNCES TOP PERFORMERS OF THE MONTH FOR NOVEMBER

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced top performers for the month of November including Kitchener Rangers teammates Filip Mesar and Jackson Parsons, Saginaw Spirit blueliner Zayne Parekh and Windsor Spitfires forward Cole Davis.

Player of the Month – Filip Mesar (Kitchener Rangers)

Montreal Canadiens prospect Filip Mesar of the Kitchener Rangers is the OHL Player of the Month for November, producing points in nine of his 13 outings, including six goals in his last five games played. He recorded 10 goals, 12 assists, and 24 points this month, helping the Western Conference-leading Rangers play to an 11-3 record. The 5-foot-10, 168lb. forward registered consecutive three-point showings on Nov. 12 and 17., along with a four-point performance on Nov. 21., scoring his first OHL career hat trick in the Rangers’ 10-3 win over the Erie Otters. Mesar gives the Rangers consecutive OHL Player of the Month recipients after teammate Carson Rehkopf earned October’s honours.

Selected ninth overall in the 2021 CHL Import Draft, the 19-year-old from Spisska Bela, Slovakia comes-off a solid first season in the OHL, registering 51 points (17-34-51) in 52 regular season matchups. Montreal’s first round (26th overall) pick in the 2022 NHL Draft has recorded 26 points (11-15–26) through 15 games with the Rangers this season.

Defenceman of the Month – Zayne Parekh (Saginaw Spirit)

2024 NHL Draft eligible defenceman Zayne Parekh of the Saginaw Spirit is the OHL Defenceman of the Month, registering seven goals, 12 assists, and 19 points over 12 November outings, including nine points in his last five games. Helping Saginaw win 10 of a possible 12 games last month, Parekh currently ranks second among all defensive point-getters, recording 31 points (9-22-31) over 23 games played this season. Tallying seven multi-point showings last month, he registered three different three-point performances on Nov. 2 and Nov. 29, as well as his first career OHL hat-trick on Nov. 8 as the Spirit defeated the Flint Firebirds 6-3.

A 17-year-old from Nobleton, Ont., Parekh is in his second OHL season after registering 37 points (21-16–37) over 50 games last season, setting a new OHL record for goals by a 16-year-old blueliner with 21. The 6-foot, 180Ib. right-shot defender earned a gold medal for Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup this past summer, and was recently awarded an A-rating on NHL Central Scouting’s October ‘Players to Watch’ List for the 2024 NHL Draft. Parekh was Saginaw’s first round (19th overall) pick in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection from the Markham Majors U16 program.

Goaltender of the Month – Jackson Parsons (Kitchener Rangers)

Jackson Parsons of the Kitchener Rangers is the OHL Goaltender of the Month for November, playing to a 9-1 record with a 2.05 goals-against average and .937 save percentage along with two shutouts. Helping lead his team to the top of the Western Conference standings, Parsons posted back-to-back shutouts on Nov. 8 and Nov. 10, including a 30-save performance against the Owen Sound Attack, followed by a 39-save performance against the Peterborough Petes. Parson closed out the month with a 40-save performance on Nov. 29 as the Rangers bested the Erie Otters 5-4 in overtime.

A recently turned 19-year-old from Embrun, Ont., Parsons has come back strong from missing much of 2022-23 to injury, playing to a 14-5 record along with a league-leading 2.43 goals-against average, .921 save percentage and four shutouts so far this season. Selected in the third round (53rd overall) by Kitchener in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection, Parsons has appeared in 47 career regular season contests, recording a 24-19-2-0 record, 3.30 goals-against average and .902 save percentage over three seasons.

Rookie of the Month – Cole Davis (Windsor Spitfires)

Windsor Spitfires forward Cole Davis is the OHL Rookie of the Month, recording 12 points, including seven goals and five assists over 13 appearances in November. Davis registered four multi-point showings over the course of the month, tallying six points in his last five games. Davis tallied back-to-back two-point showings, recording a pair of goals on Nov. 18 against the Kitchener Rangers, followed by a goal and an assist in a 5-2 win over the Peterborough Petes on Nov. 23. Davis now leads all rookie skaters in points, registering 18 (10-8-18) through 25 games this season.

A 17-year-old from Sutton, Ont., Davis spent the 2022-23 season with the Lasalle Vipers of the GOJHL, recording 46 points (24-22-46) in 47 games played while also appearing in five games with the Spitfires. The 5-foot-10, 175Ib. forward was the Windsor’s fourth round (65th overall) pick in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection.

2023-24 OHL Performers of the Month:

Player of the Month:
November – Filip Mesar (Kitchener Rangers)
October – Carson Rehkopf (Kitchener Rangers)

Defenceman of the Month:
November – Zayne Parekh (Saginaw Spirit)
October – Hunter Brzustewicz (Kitchener Rangers)

Goaltender of the Month:
November – Jackson Parsons (Kitchener Rangers)
October – Brayden Gillespie (Guelph Storm)

Rookie of the Month:
November – Cole Davis (Windsor Spitfires)
October – Carter George (Owen Sound Attack)


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.

BECK AND MACKENZIE NAMEDOHL 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, 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.

2022-23 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
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 CLUBS SELECT 27 PLAYERS IN 2021 CHL IMPORT DRAFT

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, Ont. – Ontario Hockey League member teams selected 27 players from across 12 different countries in the 30th annual CHL Import Draft held Wednesday online at CHL.ca.

Eighteen OHL clubs made selections with the Hamilton Bulldogs and Mississauga Steelheads passing on both of their picks. The Barrie Colts, Erie Otters, Guelph Storm, Kitchener Rangers, Niagara IceDogs, Oshawa Generals, Sarnia Sting, Soo Greyhounds and Sudbury Wolves each made two selections.

The two-round draft took place online with the order of selection rotating through each of the CHL’s three regional leagues. The OHL’s order of selection was determined through a draft lottery process held back in May. OHL clubs selected in inverse order of their positioning for the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, and conducted the 2021 CHL Import Draft in a serpentine format.

CLICK HERE TO SEE COMPLETE 2021 CHL IMPORT DRAFT RESULTS

The Barrie Colts led the way for the OHL, selecting Ukrainian-born 18-year-old defenceman Artur Cholach with the third overall pick. Cholach, who spent the 2020-21 season with Sokol Kiev of Ukraine’s top circuit, is the highest-chosen Colt in the CHL Import Draft since Barrie selected eventual OHL Rookie of the Year Andrei Svechnikov with the top choice in 2017. The last OHL player to be chosen third was 2020 Red Tilson Trophy recipient and OHL Goaltender of the Year Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen of the Sudbury Wolves who was the OHL’s top pick in 2018.

The Soo Greyhounds followed at sixth overall, adding Russian defender Kirill Kudryavtsev with their highest pick since 2002. The 6-foot, 176Ib. rearguard spent the 2020-21 season with Loko Yaroslavl of Russia’s top junior circuit, posting seven points (2-5–7) in 20 games. Kudryavtsev isn’t NHL Draft eligible until 2022.

The Kitchener Rangers rounded out the OHL’s top ten selections with the addition of Slovakian winger Filip Mesar at ninth overall. The 17-year-old played in Slovakia’s pro circuit in 2020-21, posting 14 points (4-10–14) in 36 games with HK Poprad before adding four more points (2-2–4) in 15 playoff games. Mesar is a 2022 NHL Draft prospect.

Other picks of intrigue included the Niagara IceDogs going to Switzerland for the third time in the past four years to select defenceman Rodwin Dionicio with the 18th overall selection. He follows countrymen Giancarlo Chanton (2019) and Kyen Sopa (2018) as an IceDogs first round Import Draft selection. The Ottawa 67’s also went to familiar territory, going back to the country they found reigning Red Tilson Trophy recipient Marco Rossi in 2018 with the addition of forward Vinzenz Rohrer from Austria at 27th overall. The North Bay Battalion followed the first overall choice of Matvei Petrov last year with another Russian addition in 6-foot-1 defender Aleksander Lukin at 30th overall. The Kingston Frontenacs nabbed the lone goaltender and NHL prospect selected by OHL teams, taking recently signed Ottawa Senators 2020 third round pick Leevi Merilainen out of Finland at 48th overall. The 18-year-old Merilainen comes off a tremendous season with Karpat of Finland’s top junior league.

In the second round, the Guelph Storm charted new territory with the selection of Belgian-born defender Leo Hafenrichter, making him the first Belgian selected in the CHL Import Draft since the Val-d’Or Foreurs took Mitch Morgan 71st overall in 2008. The Niagara IceDogs picked up British talent Alex Graham with the 105th overall choice. He follows in the footsteps of fellow Brit and Sheffield Steelers forward Liam Kirk who recently signed an entry-level NHL contract with the Arizona Coyotes following a two-year stint with the Peterborough Petes from 2018-20.

OHL member teams selected a total of seven players in their first year of eligibility for the upcoming 2021 NHL Draft in addition to 19 eligible for next year’s 2022 NHL Draft.

Each CHL team is permitted to dress a maximum of two import players each season who are selected annually through the CHL Import Draft.

OHL at the 2021 CHL Import Draft Summary:

Draft Picks by Position:
Forwards – 15
Defencemen – 11
Goaltenders – 1

Draft Picks by Country:
Russia – 6 (SOO, LDN, SAR, NB, WSR, GUE)
Czech Republic – 5 (SAG, ER, OS, FLNT, SBY)
Germany – 3 (PBO, OSH, SOO)
Sweden – 3 (SAR, KIT, BAR)
Finland – 2 (KGN, SBY)
Slovakia – 2 (KIT, ER)
Austria – 1 (OTT)
Belarus – 1 (OSH)
Belgium – 1 (GUE)
Great Britain – 1 (NIAG)
Switzerland – 1 (NIAG)
Ukraine – 1 (BAR)

Draft Picks by Birthdate and NHL Status:
2004-born late and 2023 NHL Draft eligible – 2
2004-born early and 2022 NHL Draft eligible – 16
2003-born late and 2022 NHL Draft eligible – 1
2003-born early and 2021 NHL Draft eligible – 6
2002-born late and 2021 NHL Draft eligible – 1
2002-born early and 2020 NHL Drafted – 1

NHL Draft picks by OHL teams in the CHL Import Draft:
48. Leevi Merilainen (G) (Kingston – 3rd round to Ottawa in 2020)

2021 NHL Draft Prospects Ranked by NHL Central Scouting:
33. Jiri Tichacek (Erie – 104th ranked European skater)
118. Oskar Olausson (Barrie – 13th ranked European skater)

Last summer OHL teams selected a total of 23 players from 10 different countries led by seven players from Russia consisting of 12 forwards, nine defencemen and two goaltenders.

For full coverage of the 2021 CHL Import Draft, visit chl.ca.

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.