BROCHU AND DONOVAN 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, November 27, 2022.



Bulldogs’ Jorian Donovan Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week

Ottawa Senators prospect Jorian Donovan of the Hamilton Bulldogs is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording three goals, three assists and six points in two games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-9.

Helping guide the Bulldogs to a perfect 2-0 showing last week, Donovan recorded a pair of assists on Friday as Hamilton overcame the North Bay Battalion 4-1 at home. He registered a career-high four points on Sunday, scoring a hat trick while adding an assist as the Bulldogs defeated the visiting Soo Greyhounds in a high-scoring 10-6 victory. Donovan’s hat trick was just the third by a defenceman in Bulldogs history following prior efforts by Nathan Staios (Feb. 26, 2022 vs. Ottawa) and Ben Gleason (Nov. 24, 2017 at Oshawa).

An 18-year-old native of Richmond, Ont., Donovan leads Hamilton blueliners with 17 points (7-10–17) in 18 games this season, and is riding a current eight-game point streak that dates back to Nov. 10th. He was a fifth round (136rd overall) pick of the Ottawa Senators this past summer following three goals, 19 assists and 22 points in 64 games for the OHL champion Bulldogs. The son of former Ottawa 67’s graduate and long-time NHL forward Shean Donovan, Jorian was originally selected by Hamilton in the first round (6th overall) of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection.

Also considered for the award this week, Bulldogs’ captain Logan Morrison put up seven points (3-4–7) in two wins. Saginaw rookie Michael Misa continued his success recording two goals, five assists and seven points as the Spirit tacked three more wins onto their run of success.

2022-23 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Jorian Donovan (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Matthew Poitras (Guelph Storm)
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Brody Crane (London Knights)
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Matvey Petrov (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Deni Goure (Owen Sound Attack)
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)



Knights’ Brett Brochu Named OHL Goaltender of the Week

Brett Brochu of the London Knights is the OHL Goaltender of the Week with two victories including a shutout, a 1.00 goals-against average and a .969 save percentage.

Defending the crease in back-to-back wins, Brochu turned aside all 28 shots that came his way to earn first star honours as the Knights opened up the weekend with a 4-0 shutout victory over the Kitchener Rangers on Friday. Brochu returned to the crease on Sunday night in Oshawa, stopping 34 of the 36 shots he faced as the Knights defeated the Generals 4-2. Brochu’s two victories gave him 71 on his OHL career, pushing him ahead of Steve Mason for the fifth-most in franchise history.

A 20-year-old from Belle River, Ont., Brochu owns a 10-6-1-0 record with a 3.07 goals-against average and .892 save percentage in 17 games this season, winning six of his last seven starts. The reigning Jim Rutherford OHL Goaltender of the Year Award recipient owns a 71-23-3-0 record, 2.67 goals-against average, .911 save percentage and five shutouts in 102 regular season contests. Brochu was London’s sixth round (114th overall) pick in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection. He attended training camp with the Vancouver Canucks this past September.

Also in the running for the award this week, New York Islanders prospect Tristan Lennox of the Saginaw Spirit went 2-0 with a 2.49 goals-against average and .926 save percentage. Erie’s Kyle Downey was also outstanding in the crease, going 1-1 with a 1.85 goals-against average and .938 save percentage in three appearances.

2022-23 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Brett Brochu (London Knights)
Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes)
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Joe Ranger (Sudbury Wolves)
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Tristan Lennox (Saginaw Spirit)
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Carter George (Owen Sound Attack)
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.

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Jorian Donovan – Hamilton Bulldogs – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano
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#75 Jorian Donovan of the Hamilton Bulldogs / Brandon Taylor/ OHL Images

When you search the independent scouting services available, you will find Hamilton Bulldogs defenceman Jorian Donovan ranked anywhere from a late first round pick to the middle of the second round in their 2022 NHL Entry Draft rankings. NHL Central Scouting has him as a B-prospect in their November Players to Watch List – typically meaning a second or third round pick.

Donovan won’t be the top defenceman selected from the OHL at the draft. But the sixth overall pick at the 2020 OHL Priority Selection is certainly going to draw a lot of attention to be the first one chosen “in the next group”.

Donovan is the son of former NHL’er Shean Donovan, who spent 15 seasons in the NHL and played 951 career games.

Donovan is a very good skater with some explosiveness and speed in his strides. Offensively, he uses those abilities to create space, quarterback the powerplay and create lanes. Defensively, he uses the abilities to get back and defend.

Donovan is very patient and understands that his first priority is to defend his own zone. He recognizes when his opportunities arise to jump up into the play and how to be the late man coming in the attack. He retrieves pucks in his own zone quickly and is even quicker to transition to offense with a good first pass or to skate it on his own- something he is more than capable of doing.

Donovan is an excellent puck handler and once he reaches top speed is difficult to contain and separate the puck and is excellent at using his body to protect the puck. While he can create space for himself, he has the vision, hockey sense and passing abilities to recognize where the next play is and usually makes the right decision. He has an excellent shot from the point that almost always finds the target and he shoots with a purpose – not always trying to beat the goaltender.

Defensively, his skating helps him with keeping gaps tight and forcing players to the outside. However, there are times you question whether he has made the right decision. That’s not a knock-on Donovan, because you can say that about any defenceman at this level. When you possess the hockey sense and the skating Donovan does, I believe everything else is coachable.

Donovan projects to be a solid two-way, second pairing defenceman at the next level if he reaches his potential.

HOCKEY CANADA RECOGNIZES 13 OHL PLAYERS INVITED TO 2021 NATIONAL SUMMER UNDER-18 TEAM DEVELOPMENT CAMP

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has recognized 13 Ontario Hockey League players as part of a group of 45 players invited to attend Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team Development Camp at Seven Chiefs Sportsplex on the Tsuut’ina Nation near Calgary from July 25th to Aug 4th. Sarnia Sting head coach Alan Letang, Ottawa 67’s goaltending coach Charles McTavish and Kingston Frontenacs equipment manager Chris Cook have also been recognized, along with Owen Sound Attack therapist Andy Brown, North Bay Battalion therapist Andrew Sachkiw and Guelph Storm mental performance consultant Dr. Ashwin Patel.

One OHL goaltender, four defencemen and eight forwards were recognized as invitees to the 11-day camp. Players will be split into two teams, Red and White, and participate in practices and intrasquad games, including combined practices and intrasquad games with Canada’s National Junior Team on Aug. 2nd and 3rd.

“This stage of our Summer Showcase is about bringing together the top under-18 players in Canada to work and learn from an elite-level coaching staff, giving them the necessary skills for their hockey development to grow and succeed,” said Alan Millar, director of player personnel for Hockey Canada. “We have an opportunity to connect with the players through on- and off-ice sessions to give them the tools that will only enhance their skill set as they advance through our program and prepare for the upcoming season.”

Letang, who was appointed head coach of the Sting late last month after serving behind the Attack bench, will return to Canada’s coaching staff. Letang won a gold medal as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship and, as a player, helped Canada’s National Men’s Team to a 1998 Spengler Cup championship and won a bronze medal at the 2006 Deutschland Cup.

The camp is typically a stepping stone in evaluating and selecting Canada’s roster for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, but Canada will not participate this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The focus will now turn to the 2022 IIHF U18 World Championship next spring, where Canada will look to defend their gold medal after claiming the top prize at this year’s tournament in Texas.

OHL Players Invited to Canada’s National Summer Under-18 Team Development Camp

Goaltenders:
Domenic DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion)

Defencemen:
Jorian Donovan (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Donovan McCoy (Sudbury Wolves)
Ty Nelson (North Bay Battalion)
Spencer Sova (Erie Otters)

Forwards:
Sam Alfano (Peterborough Petes)
Pano Fimis (Niagara IceDogs)
David Goyette (Sudbury Wolves)
Cedrick Guindon (Owen Sound Attack)
Hunter Haight (Barrie Colts)
Paul Ludwinski (Kingston Frontenacs)
Bryce McConnell-Barker (Soo Greyhounds)
Matthew Poitras (Guelph Storm)

Coaches:
Assistant Coach – Alan Letang (Sarnia Sting)
Goaltending Coach – Charles McTavish (Ottawa 67’s)
Equipment Manager – Chris Cook (Kingston Frontenacs)
Therapist – Andy Brown (Owen Sound Attack)
Therapist – Andrew Sachkiw (North Bay Battalion)
Mental Performance Consultant – Dr. Ashwin Patel (Guelph Storm)

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.