Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Week for the week of regular season games ending Sunday, December 31, 2023.
Knights’ Sam Dickinson Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week
2024 NHL Draft prospect Sam Dickinson of the London Knights is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording three goals, five assists and eight points over three games as the Knights went a perfect 3-0.
A 6-foot-3, 195Ib. left-shot defender, Dickinson put together the first of three straight multi-point outings on Thursday in Sarnia, recording a pair of assists in London’s 6-2 win over the Sting. Dickinson set a new career-high on Friday, posting two goals and two assists for four points as the Knights defeated the Sting 5-1. Dickinson was the game’s first star as he finished with six shots on goal and a plus/minus rating of plus-3. Dickinson closed out the week with a goal and an assist in Sunday’s 5-3 triumph over the Flint Firebirds, extending London’s winning streak to six games as the Knights enter 2024 sitting second in the Midwest Division. Dickinson was second among all OHL skaters with 18 shots on goal last week.
A 17-year-old from Toronto, Ont., Dickinson sits fourth among OHL blueliners with 34 points (11-23–34) over 35 games this season. His 118 shots on goal are the third-highest total among OHL rearguards. The former fourth overall pick of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection was voted to the OHL’s first all-rookie team last season after putting up 23 points (9-14–23) in 62 games. He was a big part of London’s success in the playoffs, helping them win a Western Conference title with eight points (4-4–8) in 21 playoff outings. Dickinson is currently an A-rated skater by NHL Central Scouting for the 2024 NHL Draft. He’s been selected to compete in the 2024 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game set to take place in Moncton, NB on Wednesday, January 24th.
Also considered for the award this week, Owen Sound Attack overage forward Deni Goure set a new single game franchise record in Thursday’s 10-2 win over the Niagara IceDogs, with his eight points (3-5–8) in that game contributing to a total of 10 over three contests this week as the Attack went 1-2-0-0. Draft eligible Kingston Frontenacs forward Jacob Battaglia was also productive, recording seven points (2-5–7) in just two games last week.
2023-24 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
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)
Storm’s Brayden Gillespie Named OHL Goaltender of the Week
Guelph Storm netminder Brayden Gillespie has been named the OHL Goaltender of the Week for the second time this season after he went 2-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average and .947 save percentage in a pair of starts last week.
Gillespie came out of the holiday break with a first star effort on Thursday against Erie, stopping 28-of-29 in a 3-1 Storm win over the Otters. Gillespie backstopped Guelph to a fifth-straight win on Saturday, making 26 saves as the Storm defeated the Flint Firebirds 3-2 at the Dort Financial Center.
An 18-year-old from Oakville, Ont., Gillespie currently leads the OHL with a 2.69 goals-against average to go with a record of 17-9-1-1 with a .909 save percentage and one shutout over 29 games. The 5-foot-11, 173Ib. Gillespie was Guelph’s 11th round (207th overall) pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection. He split the 2022-23 season between the Storm, where he went 13-6-2-1 with a 3.40 goals-against average and .879 save percentage, and the GOJHL’s Ayr Centennials, where he played in 23 contests. Gillespie previously won the award this season during the week of Oct. 16-22.
Also considered for the award this week, London Knights goaltender Michael Simpson played to a 3-0 record with a 2.00 goals-against average and .910 save percentage as he earned wins over Sarnia and Flint. Also receiving consideration was Liam Sztuska of the Peterborough Petes, who registered a 52-save shutout victory on Sunday. He’d finish the week with a 2.86 goals-against average, .930 save percentage and record of 1-2-0-0.
2023-24 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
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.
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