HE, COSTANZO AND EDWARDS NAMED OHL TOP PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Week for the week of regular season games ending Sunday, October 6, 2024.



IceDogs’ Kevin He Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week

Winnipeg Jets prospect Kevin He of the Niagara IceDogs is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording three goals along with four assist for seven points over two games played.

He registered an assist on Friday night, contributing to the IceDogs’ 5-3 triumph over the Oshawa Generals. On Sunday, the 6-foot, 180lb. forward delivered a career-best performance, racking up three goals and three assists for an impressive six-point night. The six points tie a Niagara IceDogs single game franchise record. Securing a perfect weekend for the IceDogs, He’s standout showing earned him first-star honours in a 7-3 victory over the Brampton Steelheads.

An 18-year-old from Nobleton, Ont., He ranks fourth among OHL point-producers so far this season, tallying six goals, five assists and 11 points in four games played. Selected in the fourth round (109th overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft by the Winnipeg Jets, He has recorded 98 points (58-40–98) in 134 career OHL regular season games with the IceDogs after being chosen in the second round, 25th overall by the club in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection.

Also considered for the award this week, 2025 NHL Draft-eligible prospect Porter Martone of the Brampton Steelheads found the scoresheet, totaling seven points (4-3-7) in three games played. Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Luca Pinelli was a standout for the Ottawa 67’s, registering four goals, an assist and five points in a pair of victories.

2024-25 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Sept. 30 – Oct. 6: Kevin He (Niagara IceDogs)
Sep. 25 – Sept. 29: Michael Misa (Saginaw Spirit)



Spitfires’ Joey Costanzo Named OHL Goaltender of the Week

Joey Costanzo of the Windsor Spitfires is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, going 2-0 with a shutout, along with a 0.50 goals-against average and .981 save percentage.

Stopping 53 of the 54 shots he faced last week, Costanzo turned aside all 27 shots that came his way to earn second star honours in a 5-0 victory over the Soo Greyhounds on Thursday night. The 6-foot-1, 174lb. netminder was back in the crease on Saturday, stopping 26 of the 27 shots he faced as the Spitfires closed out a perfect weekend with a 5-1 road win over the Brantford Bulldogs.

A 19-year-old from Toronto, Ont., Costanzo currently leads all OHL goaltenders with a league-best .943 save percentage this season across four games played. Originally drafted by the Niagara IceDogs in the second round (23rd overall) of the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, Costanzo has played to a 45-39-2-3 record including two shutouts over 100 regular season games split between the IceDogs and the Spitfires, with a career save percentage of .880 and a 4.09 goals-against average.

Also considered or the award this week, Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Nolan Lalonde of the Kingston Frontenacs went 1-0-0-1, including a shutout. Edmonton Oilers prospect Nathan Day of the Flint Firebirds was also a standout, making 55 saves in a two-win weekend.

2024-25 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Sept. 30 – Oct. 6: Joey Costanzo (Windsor Spitfires)
Sept. 25 – Sept. 29: Jack Ivankovic (Brampton Steelheads)



Sting’s Beckham Edwards Named OHL Rookie of the Week

Beckham Edwards of the Sarnia Sting is the OHL Rookie of the Week, registering three goals, an assist, and four points in three games played.

Edwards opened the week with a goal on Friday night as the Sting came up short in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Saginaw Spirit. The 6-foot-1, 170lb. centreman earned second star honours on Saturday, tallying a pair of goals in a 3-2 overtime loss against the Flint Firebirds. Edwards closed out the weekend with an assist on Sunday as the Sting earned two points in a 2-1 win over the Soo Greyhounds.

Selected in the third round (46th overall) by the Sting in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection from the Detroit Little Caesars U15 AAA program, Edwards ranks second among all OHL rookies in points this season, registering five (4-1-5) points in as many games played.

Also considered for the award this week, a pair of Niagara IceDogs teammates in Braidy Wassilyn (2-2-4) and Max Crete (2-1-3) were productive on the ice, contributing to a two-win weekend for the club.

2024-25 OHL Rookies of the Week – Regular Season:
Sept. 30 – Oct. 6: Beckham Edwards (Sarnia Sting)
Sept. 25 – Sept. 29: Ethan Belchetz (Windsor Spitfires)


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.

Kevin He – Niagara IceDogs – Player Profile

Kevin He of the Niagara IceDogs. Photo by OHL Images.
HTWTDOBPOSSHOHL DRAFTNHLCSNAT
6’182Apr 30, 2006LWL25th, 202278th N.A.CAN
SEASONLEAGUETEAMGPGAPTS
2021-2022GTHL U16North York U1616131225
2022-2023OHLNiagara IceDogs66211334
2023-2024OHLNiagara IceDogs64312253

Kevin He is the lone Niagara IceDogs player on NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings, but that doesn’t imply a talent deficiency on the team. The IceDogs have several promising young players, yet the constant roster turnover and turmoil in Niagara likely make it challenging for budding talent to gain stability and develop.

Primarily a goal scorer, he boasts an excellent shot that allows him to beat goaltenders with precision and skill. However, questions remain about his decision-making in the offensive zone – does he lack hockey IQ, or is the dearth of talented teammates limiting his ability to find them with passes? At times he either skates into defensive coverage or struggles to distribute the puck effectively.

Despite his average frame that needs more filling out, his relentless energy, physical play, and ability to frustrate opponents will impress. He excels on the forecheck, accelerating to deliver hits. Willing to absorb contact, he sacrifices his body to make plays.

Ranking He is so challenging because it is hard to determine how much of his performance depends on his own abilities versus the conditions under which he competes.