Frankie Marrelli of the Ottawa 67’s. Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images
HT
WT
DOB
POS
SH
OHL DRAFT
NHLCS
NAT
5’11”
187
Feb 16, 2006
D
L
21st 2022
135th N.A.
CAN
SEASON
LEAGUE
TEAM
GP
G
A
PTS
2021-2022
ETAHL U16
Markham Waxers
26
12
23
35
2022-2023
WHC U17
Canada White
6
0
3
3
2022-2023
OHL
Ottawa 67’s
50
4
12
16
2023-2024
WJC U18
Canada
7
1
1
2
2023-2024
Hlinka Gretzky
Canada
5
0
3
3
2023-2024
OHL
Ottawa 67’s
60
9
16
25
Although Marrelli may be smaller than the average defenseman, he excels in defense and exhibits intelligence in handling the puck. He shines in one-on-one situations, excels in shot-blocking, performs well in front of the net and during board battles, positions himself effectively, and demonstrates minimal errors in his defensive zone. Coaches have entrusted him to preserve leads due to his dependable performance.
Questions about his performance arise on the offensive end. While he is a proficient skater, he falls short of excellence, a quality expected from a defender of his stature. Improvement is necessary for him to enhance his speed and technique. Although he can maneuver the puck, he tends to pass it to a teammate when faced with opposition rather than engaging in individual battles.
The issue at hand is whether he can succeed as a defense-oriented defenseman without the offensive advantages. Alternatively, is there belief in his potential and an ability to nurture it?
Ollie Josephson, Maxim Massé, Frankie Marrelli, and Henry Mews are no strangers to wearing the Maple Leaf, having been a part of Canada’s gold-medal winning squad at the 2023 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup last summer. All four players were also recently listed among the Top-50 ranked North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting led by Massé (30th), who was then followed by Mews (37th), Josephson (40th), and Marrelli (46th). Massé, who led the QMJHL’s Chicoutimi Saguenéens with 75 points this season, was recently awarded the 2023-24 Michael-Bossy Trophy as the QMJHL’s Top Professional Prospect.
16-year-old netminder Jack Ivankovic has also previously won gold representing Canada on the world stage, having been a part of Canada White’s first-place finish at the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in November. Ivankovic registered a 14-5-4-0 record playing for the OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads this season, finishing with a 2.72 goals-against average (GAA) and a .915 save percentage. His 2.72 GAA was the lowest by an OHL rookie during the 2023-24 campaign, earning him the F.W. “Dinty” Moore Trophy.
Canada will play its final pre-tournament game against Norway on Tuesday. Canada’s quest for a gold medal at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship begins April 25 at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT against Sweden. Canada will play Czechia on April 26, Switzerland on April 28, and Kazakhstan on April 30 to close out preliminary-round action. The semifinals are set for May 4 before the tournament concludes with the medal games on May 5.
TSN and RDS, Hockey Canada’s official broadcast partners will broadcast select tournament games, including all Team Canada games and all playoff-round games. Check your local listings for details. Since 2002, Canada has won four gold medals at the IIHF U18 World Championship (2003, 2008, 2013, 2021), in addition to one silver (2005) and four bronze (2012, 2014, 2015, 2023).
For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
24 CHL PLAYERS NAMED TO CANADA’S 2024 IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROSTER
Berkly Catton (Spokane Chiefs / WHL) and Cayden Lindstrom (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL) were invited, but unable to participate
Staff Head Coach – Gardiner MacDougall (former Saint John Sea Dogs head coach) Assistant Coach – Travis Crickard (Saint John Sea Dogs / QMJHL) Assistant Coach – Ryan Smith (Spokane Chiefs / WHL) Goaltending Coach – Dan De Palma (Kamloops Blazers / WHL) Program of Excellence management group representative – Dave Brown (Erie Otters / OHL) Athletic Therapist – Jimmy McKnight (Edmonton Oil Kings / WHL) Team Physician – Dr. Michael Conrad (Victoria Royals / WHL)
Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League is pleased to congratulate 13 OHL players on being selected to represent Canada at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup to be held from July 31st through August 5th in Trencin, Slovakia and Breclav, Czechia.
The 13 OHL players are part of a Canadian roster consisting of 24 names that was assembled by Alan Millar (Tottenham, Ont.), director of player personnel, and Cam Russell (Halifax Mooseheads), the U18 lead for the Program of Excellence management group, with support from Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of hockey operations, Benoit Roy (Sudbury, Ont.), senior manager of hockey operations, and Byron Bonora (Brooks, Alta.), manager of hockey operations and U17 head scout. Head coach Alan Letang (Sarnia Sting) and assistant coaches Kris Mallette (Kelowna Rockets) and Sylvain Favreau (Drummondville Voltigeurs) also provided input.
OHL Rookie of the Year Michael Misa headlines the 13 OHL players named to the roster, being joined by Saginaw Spirit teammate Zayne Parekh on the blue line. Misa and Parekh are accompanied by fellow OHL first all-rookie team members Sam Dickinson of the London Knights and Liam Greentree of the Windsor Spitfires while second team voting recipient Anthony Cristoforo of the Windsor Spitfires is also included.
The Ottawa 67’s feature a pair of teammates on the blueline in Henry Mews and Frankie Marrelli while the Mississauga Steelheads joined the 67’s, Saginaw Spirit and Windsor Spitfires in also producing two players named to the squad in forward Porter Martone and goaltender Ryerson Leenders.
OHL Players Named to Canada’s National Summer Under-18 Team:
Prior to the start of the tournament, the team will practice at the Ice Palace in Budapest, Hungary from July 23-27, and will face off against Hungary’s national under-20 team on July 27 at 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT. It will also take on Czechia on July 29 at 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT at Fosfa Arena in Breclav as a part of its pre-tournament schedule.
Canada will open the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup against Finland on July 31 at 9:30 a.m. ET/6:30 a.m. PT. It will also face co-host Slovakia and Switzerland in the preliminary round before the tournament concludes with the medal games on Aug. 5.
TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast all Team Canada games and select elimination and medal games; please check local listings for more details.
Canada has won 23 gold medals in 31 years of summer under-18 competition, along with three silver medals and one bronze.
For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team, please visit HockeyCanada.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.
OHL Writers 