LARDIS, GEORGE AND CLOUTIER 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, October 13, 2024.



Bulldogs’ Nick Lardis Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week

Chicago Blackhawks prospect Nick Lardis of the Brantford Bulldogs is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, registering seven goals, two assists and nine points in three road wins last week.

Lardis opened the week with a goal on Thursday in a 3-2 win over the North Bay Battalion. He followed up with a two-goal, one-assist performance in 6-4 victory over the Soo Greyhounds on Friday. The 5-foot-11, 185lb. right-winger closed out the week with a career-high five-point performance on Sunday, registering four goals and an assist to earn first star honours in a 9-3 win against the Sudbury Wolves.

The 19-year-old from Oakville, Ont., leads all OHL skaters in goals and ranks second in points this season with 48 goals, 33 assists, and 81 points in 47 games. Selected in the third round (67th overall) by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2023 NHL Draft, Lardis has recorded 132 goals, 101 assists, and 233 points in 216 regular season games over four seasons spent between the Bulldogs and Peterborough Petes after being drafted sixth overall by Peterborough in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection. He has also found success on the international stage, winning bronze with Team Canada at the 2023 IIHF U18 World Championship.

Also considered for the award this week, Calgary Flames prospect Zayne Parekh of the Saginaw Spirit tallied three goals and five assists over three games. Fellow Flames prospect Jacob Battaglia of the Kingston Frontenacs also impressed, notching eight points (3-5-8) in three contests.

2024-25 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Jan. 27 – Feb. 2: Nick Lardis (Brantford Bulldogs)
Jan. 20 – Jan. 26: Zayne Parekh (Saginaw Spirit)
Jan. 13 – Jan. 19: Tuomas Uronen (Kingston Frontenacs)
Jan. 6 – Jan. 12: Kocha Delic (Sudbury Wolves)
Dec. 30 – Jan. 5: Liam Greentree (Windsor Spitfires)
Dec. 28 – Dec. 29: Cole Davis (Windsor Spitfires)
Dec. 16 – Dec. 22: Marco Mignosa (Soo Greyhounds)
Dec. 9 – Dec. 15: Ryan Roobroeck (Niagara IceDogs)
Dec. 2 – Dec. 8: Beckett Sennecke (Oshawa Generals)
Nov. 25 – Dec. 1: Blake Montgomery (London Knights)
Nov. 18 – Nov. 24: Joey Willis (Saginaw Spirit)
Nov. 11 – Nov. 17: Joey Willis (Saginaw Spirit)
Nov. 4 – Nov. 10: Sam Dickinson (London Knights)
Oct. 28 – Nov. 3: Marco Mignosa (Soo Greyhounds)
Oct. 21 – Oct. 27: Sam Dickinson (London Knights)
Oct. 14 – Oct. 20: Liam Greentree (Windsor Spitfires)
Oct. 7 – Oct. 13: Calvin Crombie (Brantford Bulldogs)
Sept. 30 – Oct. 6: Kevin He (Niagara IceDogs)
Sep. 25 – Sept. 29: Michael Misa (Saginaw Spirit)



Attack’s Carter George Named OHL Goaltender of the Week

Los Angeles Kings prospect Carter George of the Owen Sound Attack is the OHL Goaltender of the Week for the second time this season, going 2-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage.

Turning aside 59 shots last week, George stopped 30 of the 31 shots that came his way on Saturday in a 3-1 victory against the Ottawa 67’s. The 6-foot-1, 190lb. netminder returned between the pipes on Sunday, making 29 saves on 31 shots to earn second star honours in a 5-3 win over the Brampton Steelheads.

An 18-year-old from Thunder Bay, Ont, George holds an 8-17-2-3 record this season with a 3.53 goals-against average and .902 save percentage over 31 games. Drafted in the third round (53rd overall) by Owen Sound in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, George is in his third OHL season, with a career record of 38-41-8-6, a 3.28 goals-against average, .907 save percentage, and four shutouts in 97 regular season games played. Selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round (57th overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft, George earned recognition as the OHL’s Top Academic High School Player and Scholastic Player of the Year in 2023-24. He was also voted to the League’s Third All-Star Team and the First All-Rookie Team. On the international stage, he claimed gold with Team Canada at both the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the Under-18 World Championship last season.

Also considered for the award this week, Edmonton Oilers prospect Nathan Day of the Flint Firebirds was excellent, going 1-0-0-1 with a 1.44 goals-against average and .953 save percentage, while Buffalo Sabres prospect Ryerson Leenders of the Brantford Bulldogs played to a 2-0 record, along with a 2.50 goals-against average and .924 save percentage.

2024-25 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Jan. 27 – Feb. 2: Carter George (Owen Sound Attack)
Jan. 20 – Jan. 26: Austin Elliott (London Knights)
Jan. 13 – Jan. 19: Nolan Lalonde (Soo Greyhounds)
Jan. 6 – Jan. 12: Easton Rye (Peterborough Petes)
Dec. 30 – Jan. 5: Jackson Parsons (Kitchener Rangers)
Dec. 28 – Dec. 29: Ben Hrebik (Barrie Colts)
Dec. 16 – Dec. 22: Nathan Day (Flint Firebirds)
Dec. 9 – Dec. 15: Ryerson Leenders (Brantford Bulldogs)
Dec. 2 – Dec. 8: Jackson Parsons (Kitchener Rangers)
Nov. 25 – Dec. 1: Aleksei Medvedev (London Knights)
Nov. 18 – Nov. 24: Jackson Parsons (Kitchener Rangers)
Nov. 11 – Nov. 17: Carter George (Owen Sound Attack)
Nov. 4 – Nov. 10: Andrew Oke (Saginaw Spirit)
Oct. 28 – Nov. 3: Jackson Parsons (Kitchener Rangers)
Oct. 21 – Oct. 27: Nathan Day (Flint Firebirds)
Oct. 14 – Oct. 20: Joey Costanzo (Windsor Spitfires)
Oct. 7 – Oct. 13: Finn Marshall (Sudbury Wolves)
Sept. 30 – Oct. 6: Joey Costanzo (Windsor Spitfires)
Sept. 25 – Sept. 29: Jack Ivankovic (Brampton Steelheads)



Spirit’s Jacob Cloutier Named OHL Rookie of the Week

Saginaw Spirit forward Jacob Cloutier is the OHL Rookie of the Week, recording three goals in three games played.

Cloutier opened the week with a goal on Thursday in a 9-5 loss to the Saginaw Spirit. After a 5-4 win over the Kitchener Rangers on Saturday, the 5-foot-10, 170lb. right-winger registered a pair of goals on Sunday, helping the Spirit skate past the Soo Greyhounds 5-2.

Selected in the second round (35th overall) by Saginaw in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection, the Ottawa, Ont., native has tallied 18 goals, 20 assists, and a league-leading 38 points among rookies in 47 games this season. Appearing in four games with the Spirit during the 2023-24 campaign, Cloutier spent the majority of last season with Saginaw’s GOJHL affiliate, the Chatham Maroons, where he recorded 31 points (11-20-31) in 29 contests.

Also considered for the award this week, Beckham Edwards of the Sarnia Sting recorded four points (2-2–4), while Niagara IceDogs netminder Matthew Humphries went 0-0-0-1 with a 2.77 goals-against average and .927 save percentage.

2024-25 OHL Rookies of the Week – Regular Season:
Jan. 27 – Feb. 2: Jacob Cloutier (Saginaw Spirit)
Jan. 20 – Jan. 26: Dimian Zhilkin (Saginaw Spirit)
Jan. 13 – Jan. 19: Chase Reid (Soo Greyhounds)
Jan. 6 – Jan. 12: Lev Katzin (Guelph Storm)
Dec. 30 – Jan. 5: Ethan Belchetz (Windsor Spitfires)
Dec. 28 – Dec. 29: Carson Harmer (Saginaw Spirit)
Dec. 16 – Dec. 22: Logan Hawery (London Knights)
Dec. 9 – Dec. 15: Liam Beamish (Sarnia Sting)
Dec. 2 – Dec. 8: Lev Katzin (Guelph Storm)
Nov. 25 – Dec. 1: Aleksei Medvedev (London Knights)
Nov. 18 – Nov. 24: Gavin Betts (Kingston Frontenacs)
Nov. 11 – Nov. 17: Beckham Edwards (Sarnia Sting)
Nov. 4 – Nov. 10: Carter Stevens (Guelph Storm)
Oct. 28 – Nov. 3: Aleksei Medvedev (London Knights)
Oct. 21 – Oct. 27: Cole Zurawski (Flint Firebirds)
Oct. 14 – Oct. 20: Alessandro Di Iorio (Sarnia Sting)
Oct. 7 – Oct. 13: Pierce Mbuyi (Owen Sound Attack)
Sept. 30 – Oct. 6: Beckham Edwards (Sarnia Sting)
Sept. 25 – Sept. 29: Ethan Belchetz (Windsor Spitfires)

MISA, IVANKOVIC AND BELCHETZ 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, September 29, 2024.



Spirit’s Michael Misa Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week

Michael Misa of the Saginaw Spirit is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording seven goals along with an assist for eight points over three games played.

Misa led the 2024 Memorial Cup champions to a five point weekend, launching the 2024-25 season on a high note. Misa recorded a pair of goals on Wednesday’s Opening Night in Saginaw, falling 5-4 to the Windsor Spitfires in overtime. The 6-foot-1, 185lb. forward found the scoresheet again in a 6-4 win over the Soo Greyhounds on Friday, registering a natural hat trick and an assist to earn first star honours. The hat trick by #77 was the 77th in Saginaw Spirit history. Misa was productive once again with a two-goal night on Saturday, earning first star honours in a 6-1 victory over the Sarnia Sting. His seven goals places him atop the OHL’s list of goal-scoring-leaders entering the second week of the season. He becomes the first player in Saginaw Spirit history to score seven goals over his first three games of a season.

The sixth player to ever be granted exceptional status into the OHL as a 15-year-old skater, the 17-year-old from Oakville, Ont. was selected first overall by the Spirit in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection. The 2025 NHL Draft-eligible prospect and former OHL Rookie of the Year has recorded 58 goals, 81 assists and 139 points over 115 OHL regular season career games.

Also considered for the award this week, 2024 OHL Priority Selection first overall pick Ethan Belchetz of the Windsor Spitfires made a strong impression in his weekend debut, totaling eight points (4-4-8) in three games played. Calgary Flames prospect Jacob Battaglia was a standout for the Kingston Frontenacs, registering three goals, four assists and seven points in three contests.
 



Steelheads’ Jack Ivankovic Named OHL Goaltender of the Week

Jack Ivankovic of the Brampton Steelheads is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, going 2-0 with a shutout, along with a 1.00 goals-against average and .964 save percentage.

Stopping 54 of the 56 shots he faced last week, Ivankovic put on a show for the CAA Centre in the Steelheads’ Friday night season opener, blocking all 21 shots that came his way to earn second star honours in a 7-0 victory over the Brantford Bulldogs. The 5-foot-11, 178lb. netminder was back in the crease on Saturday, turning aside 33 of the 35 shots he faced to earn first star honours as the Steelheads closed out Opening Week with a 5-2 road win over the Erie Otters.

A 17-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., Ivankovic was the Steelheads’ first round (seventh overall) pick in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection. He won a gold medal as a member of Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team this past summer at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Ivankovic, who claimed the OHL’s F.W. Dinty Moore Trophy last season with a goals-against average of 2.72, is eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft.

Also considered or the award this week, Owen Flores of the Niagara IceDogs went 2-0, stopping 83 of the 87 shots he faced. Mike McIvor of the North Bay Battalion was also a standout, turning aside all 36 shots he faced in a 4-0 win over the Peterborough Petes.
 



Spitfires’ Ethan Belchetz Named OHL Rookie of the Week

Ethan Belchetz of the Windsor Spitfires is the OHL Rookie of the Week following an outstanding debut weekend, recording four goals, four assists, and eight points in three games played.

Belchetz came out hot in Wednesday’s Opening Night, tallying a pair of assists in his OHL debut to help Windsor clinch a 5-4 overtime win over the 2024 Memorial Cup champion Saginaw Spirit. Following a 5-4 overtime loss to the Sarnia Sting on Friday, the 6-foot-5, 226lb. forward found the scoresheet again on Saturday, registering four goals and two assists to earn first star honours in a dominating 12-2 victory over the Kitchener Rangers. Belchetz’s four goals are the most by a Spitfires 16-year-old rookie since Taylor Hall on Mar. 6, 2008. His six points were the most in a single game by an OHL 16-year-old newcomer since Matt Puempel on Mar. 13, 2010.

Selected first overall by the Windsor Spitfires in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection from the Oakville Rangers U16 AAA program, the 2024 OHL Cup champion and MVP’s impressive eight-point weekend ties him for first among all OHL point-getters as week two action approaches.

Also considered for the award this week, Spitfires teammate Jean-Christoph Lemieux scored twice and added three assists over three games played. Carson Harmer of the Saginaw Spirit was also productive, contributing a total of four points (1-3-4) to a five-point weekend.


About the Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) has long been regarded as the number one development league in the world, continuing to serve as a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League. The OHL consists of 20 teams, with 17 located in Ontario, two in the state of Michigan and one in the state of Pennsylvania. A proud member of the Canadian Hockey League, the OHL is also a leading provider of hockey scholarships, with over 330 graduates receiving OHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice in 2023-24, resulting in a collective investment of over $3.9 million by OHL member teams.

Jacob Battaglia – Kingston Frontenacs – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano
Jacob Battaglia of the Kingston Frontenacs. Photo by Tim Cornett, OHL Images.
HTWTDOBPOSSHOHL DRAFTNHLCSNAT
6’203Mar 17, 2006RWL27th, 202242nd, N.A.CAN
SEASONLEAGUETEAMGPGAPTS
2021-2022GTHL U16Toronto Jr Canadiens57375592
2022-2023OHLKingston6672027
2023-2023OHLKingston67313465

The eventual draft position of Jacob Battaglia in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft remains a mystery, with many unanswered questions but plenty of intrigue surrounding this prospect.

Battaglia is a versatile winger with both playmaking and scoring abilities. His hockey intelligence allows him to survey the ice and create smart plays. Equally skilled at finishing or setting up goals, Battaglia leverages his size and strength to maintain possession. While driving the net, he also finds open ice to get into scoring position. He is equally adept at ding the same to find teammates.

Battaglia’s skating, specifically his speed in both first steps and top-end acceleration, is an area of concern that could cause him to drop in the draft. However, he demonstrates strength and balance on his skates, making it hard to knock him off the puck.

While Battaglia shows flashes of physicality and toughness along the boards, he does not consistently play the body and engage in physical battles, an area we’d like to see more consistency.

Battaglia has the talent to be one of the top 10-12 players drafted from the OHL, but questions remain about how his skating ability may impact his draft position.

DICKINSON AND GILLESPIE 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, 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.