Spitfires’ Aaron Luchuk named OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that forward Aaron Luchuk of the Windsor Spitfires is the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week for the week ending October 29 with nine points in three games including four goals and five assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-2.

Aaron Luchuk of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Aaron Luchuk of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Luchuk recorded a pair of multi-point performances last week elevating him into a tie atop the OHL’s overall scoring race while taking over the league lead in goals and helping the Spitfires earn a pair of road victories.  After a tough 4-0 loss to the North Bay Battalion on Thursday, Luchuk and the Spitfires rebounded Friday in Sudbury where the team produced a season-high seven goals including three from the captain in the 7-2 win over the Wolves.  This marked the first career hat-trick for Luchuk who also contributed two assists for a career-high five-points earning first star honours.  Luchuk was also named first star of Sunday’s contest finding the back of the net for the 15th time this season while adding three assists in a 5-4 triumph over the Owen Sound Attack.

A 20-year-old from Kingston, Ont., Luchuk is playing in his fourth full season with the Spitfires who chose him in the fourth round of the 2013 OHL Priority Selection.  The overage forward was named team captain to start the 2017-18 campaign after helping the club capture their third Mastercard Memorial Cup title scoring the game-winning goal on home ice last May.  His 28 points in 15 games so far this season bring his offensive totals to 163 points in 221 career games and are currently tied with last week’s award recipient Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting for the league lead.  Luchuk is the second member of the Spitfires to earn the weekly honour following goaltender Michael DiPietro who was recognized for his opening week play

Watch video highlights of Luchuk and the Spitfires against the Wolves and Attack

Kyrou was also considered for the award again this week after scoring four goals and two assists for six points in two games helping the Sting extend their winning-streak to 13.  Fellow St. Louis Blues prospect Robert Thomas of the London Knights finished the week right behind Luchuk in points with seven including four goals and three assists in three games as another candidate for recognition.  In goal, 2018 NHL Draft prospect Jacob Ingham backstopped the Mississauga Steelheads to three straight wins stopping 78 shots and posting a goals-against-average of 1.32 and save percentage of .951.

2017-18 OHL ‘On the Run’ Players of the Week:

Oct. 23 – Oct. 29: Aaron Luchuk (Windsor Spitfires)
Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia Sting)
Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Brady Hinz (Sarnia Sting)
Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Nick Suzuki (Owen Sound Attack)
Sept. 25 – Oct. 1: Jonathan Ang (Peterborough Petes)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 24: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)

CHL Announces Weekly Award Winners

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Screaming Eagles’ Drake Batherson named CHL Player of the Wee

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Ottawa Senators prospect Drake Batherson of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending October 22 after recording 10 points in three games including seven goals and three assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-2.

Batherson recorded a trio of multi-point performances last week extending his personal point-streak to 13 games and helping the Screaming Eagles earn five of a possible six points.  The QMJHL’s leading scorer began his week on Wednesday with two goals including the overtime winner earning first star honours in a 4-3 victory over the Chicoutimi Sagueneens.  His week continued Thursday by recording a career-high two goals and two assists where he was named third star despite a 7-6 overtime loss to the Shawinigan Cataractes.  Batherson’s week wrapped up with a second straight four-point effort on Sunday tallying his first career hat-trick which included another overtime winner as first star of a 6-5 triumph over the Saint John Sea Dogs.

A 19-year-old from Fort Wayne, Indiana, Batherson is playing in his third season with Cape Breton after being selected in the sixth round of the 2015 QMJHL Entry Draft.  He currently leads the QMJHL with 24 points including 15 goals and nine assists in 13 games and is quickly approaching his 2016-17 marks of 22 goals and 36 assists for 58 points in 61 games.  Batherson was a fourth round pick by the Senators in the 2017 NHL Draft and recently signed his entry-level contract with the club in October.

Also considered for the award this week was Arizona Coyotes prospect Tyler Steenbergen of the Swift Current Broncos who scored five goals with three assists for eight points in two games, and St. Louis Blues prospect Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting who scored four goals with four assists for eight points in three games

2017-18 CHL Players of the Week:

Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: Drake Batherson (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles)

Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Tyler Soy (Victoria Royals)

Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Kale Clague (Brandon Wheat Kings)

Sept. 25 – Oct. 1: Tyler Steenbergen (Swift Current Broncos)

Sept. 21 – Sept. 24: Kole Lind (Kelowna Rockets)

Huskies’ Samuel Harvey named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Samuel Harvey of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending October 22 after posting a 3-0-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 1.33 and save percentage of .962.

Harvey stopped an impressive 100 shots last week between-the-pipes for the Huskies who collected a trio of victories and moved into a first place in the QMJHL standings in winning percentage with a mark of .792 powered by a 8-1-1-2 record.  On Tuesday night his 35-save performance earned second star honours and preserved a 5-2 victory over the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.  His strong play continued into the weekend including a Friday night win over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan making 31 saves as first star of the 4-1 win, and Saturday against the Gatineau Olympiques with 34 saves as second star of the 3-1 victory.

A 19-year-old from Alma, QC, Harvey is playing in his fourth season in Rouyn-Noranda after being chosen by the Huskies in the second round of the 2014 QMJHL Entry Draft.  So far in 2017-18 his personal record stands at 8-0-1-1 with a goals-against-average of 1.88 and league-best save percentage of .938.  Harvey will represent Team QMJHL at the 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series November 14 in Charlottetown and November 16 in Moncton.

Also considered for the award this week was Dawson Weatherill of the Spokane Chiefs who posted a 2-0-0-1 record including one shutout stopping 72 shots for a goals-against-average of 0.97 and save percentage of .960.  In the OHL, Justin Fazio of the Sarnia Sting made 78 saves in two wins posting a goals-against-average of 2.03 and save percentage of .951 while setting a new franchise record for career wins with 64.

2017-18 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week:

Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: Samuel Harvey (Rouyn-Noranada Huskies)

Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Logan Flodell (Swift Current Broncos)

Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Cole Kehler (Portland Winterhawks)

Sept. 25 – Oct. 1: Dereck Baribeau (Quebec Remparts)

Sept. 21 – Sept. 24: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)

CHL Leagues

Sting’s Jordan Kyrou named OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that St. Louis Blues prospect Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting is the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week for the week ending October 22 with eight points including four goals and four assists in three games with a plus-minus rating of plus-6.

Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Kyrou led the league in scoring as the Sting extended their franchise record winning-streak to 11 games following a trio of road victories last week to improve their first overall standing to 12-1-0-0.  He began the week with his top performance of the season scoring his first career hat-trick while adding an assist as first star of an 8-2 win over the North Bay Battalion.  The next night he scored the game-winning goal in a 5-2 win over the Sudbury Wolves, then wrapped up the road trip Saturday in Barrie with three assists as part of a 7-2 victory over the Colts.  Kyrou is the second straight member of the Sting to earn Player of the Week honours following NHL Draft prospect Brady Hinz.

A 19-year-old from Toronto, Ont., Kyrou is playing in his fourth OHL season in Sarnia after being chosen by the Sting in the second round of the 2014 OHL Priority Selection.  He is currently second in league scoring with eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points in 11 games after finishing the 2016-17 campaign sixth overall with 94 points in 66 games powered by 30 goals and 64 assists.  The second round pick of the Blues in the 2016 NHL Draft has now surpassed two OHL milestones in recent weeks with his career games played mark now at 205 and career points at 203.  He will compete for Team OHL in the 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series on Thursday November 9 in Owen Sound.

Watch video highlights of Kyrou and the Sting against the Battalion, Wolves, and Colts.Battalion

Also considered for the award this week was Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Taylor Raddysh of the Erie Otters with a goal and four assists for five points in two games, and Anaheim Ducks prospect Max Jones of the London Knights with four goals in two games.  In goal, Justin Fazio was solid between-the-pipes for the Sting making 78 saves in two games posting a goals-against-average of 2.03 and save percentage of .951 while setting a new franchise record for career wins with 64.

2017-18 OHL ‘On the Run’ Players of the Week:

Oct. 16 – Oct .22: Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia Sting)

Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Brady Hinz (Sarnia Sting)

Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Nick Suzuki (Owen Sound Attack)

Sept. 25 – Oct. 1: Jonathan Ang (Peterborough Petes)

Sept. 21 – Sept. 24: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)

Jordan Kyrou – Player Profile – Sarnia Sting

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height:  6’

Weight:  175 Pounds

Date of birth: May 5, 1998, Toronto, Ontario

Position:  Right Wing

Shoots:  Right

OHL Draft: Round 2, 38th overall, 2014 Priority Selection

Kyrou played his Minor Midget hockey for the Mississauga Senators. In 33 games, Kyrou scored 19 goals and added 21 assists for 40 points.  Kyrou and the Senators appeared in 4 OHL Cup games. Previously, Kyrou had also played in the OHL Gold Cup – capturing a Silver Medal.

Kyrou had four assists in five games for Canada at the World Hockey Challenge Under-17. He won a gold medal with Team Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial. He scored a goal in Canada’s deciding game against Russia in the Canada – Russia Series. He also played in the NHL/CHL Top Prospects game. Kyrou is no stranger to high level hockey within his age group.

Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

In the OHL, Kyrou got an opportunity last season and he didn’t disappoint, finishing the year 8th in OHL rookie scoring with 13 goals and 23 assists in 63 games. But his sophomore season didn’t start where it left off. While he was still setting up plays and goals, he didn’t notch his first goal until game 16 of the season, which was a bit of a disappointment. It took 49 games to surpass his totals from last season.

However, since December he has gotten into a grove and has had some consistency in his production.

Kyrou is a very good skater with soft hands and an ability to keep possession of the puck while moving in and out of traffic. He has very good vision and can wait out defenders and then find his teammates with a very good pass. Early on he tried to do too much and now is playing to his strengths: possession, patience and playmaking.

Kyrou is not just a playmaker. He has a very good shot and has proven that he can beat goaltenders with it. But it is his playmaking and vision in the O-zone that make him an offensive threat. His competitive spirit has also risen as the season has gone on. He plays with energy without the puck, getting in on fore checks and disrupting opposition breakouts. He’s also one of the OHL’s most adept players in causing turnovers.

Kyrou was ranked 45th on NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings in January.

Jordan Kyrou Tip Top plays of the week

Jordon Kyrou Canada – Russia Series