Vaughn CHL Team of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

The Canadian Hockey League today announced the 23rd edition of the Vaughn CHL Team of the Week for the 2019-20 season based on individual performances from February 24 to March 1.

Headlining the forward ranks is Edmonton Oilers prospect Raphael Lavoie of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens who wrapped up the week with nine points counting four goals and five assists through four appearances. Currently riding a 13-game point streak, Lavoie’s top showing of the week came Tuesday against the Gatineau Olympiques as he posted one goal and a trio of assists to match a season high of four points en route to a 7-4 victory and second-star recognition.

Also up front is Erie Otters veteran centre Chad Yetman who impressed with three goals and five assists for eight points over three games. The stretch included Yetman’s most recent outing coming Sunday versus the London Knights in a 6-3 final that saw him factor in on each of his team’s goals in tallying twice and adding one assist to help him earn second-star honours.

Rounding out the forward ranks is Columbus Blue Jackets prospect and London Knights co-captain Liam Foudy who recorded two goals and five assists for seven points over three games. Picking up at least one point in 14 consecutive contests, that stretch included Sunday’s contest versus the Erie Otters that saw him finish with one goal and two assists to help his club to a 6-3 road win in which he was recognized as the game’s third star. For his efforts, Foudy was honoured as the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week.

On the blue line, New Jersey Devils first-round pick Ty Smith of the Spokane Chiefs shined with 10 points counting five goals and five assists over two games. Against the Seattle Thunderbirds on Friday, Smith set a franchise high-water mark in finishing with an astounding eight points counting three goals and five assists en route to a 9-2 victory and first-star honours. In recognition of his success, Smith was named the WHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week.

Also on the back end is fellow Devils prospect Xavier Bernard of the Sherbrooke Phoenix who came up with six points counting one goal and five assists over three appearances. Against the Val-d’Or Foreurs on Saturday, Bernard tied a franchise single game record with one goal and four assists for five points to help his team to a 9-4 road victory in which he was also recognized as the game’s first star. For his efforts, Bernard was named the Ultramar QMJHL Player of the Week.

Between the pipes, Oilers second-round draft pick and Moncton Wildcats netminder Olivier Rodrigue dazzled across two appearances in coming away with a pair of victories and a combined 55 saves for a .948 save percentage and a 1.50 goals-against average. Surrendering a lone regulation loss in his past 16 appearances, that stretch includes Sunday’s 3-1 road win over the Rimouski Oceanic in which Rodrigue turned aside 28 to pick up his 29th victory of 2019-20 and extend the Wildcats record win-streak to 15.

OHL ANNOUNCES TOP PERFORMERS OF THE MONTH FOR FEBRUARY

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the Top OHL Performers of the Month for regular season games played in February 2020, including Kingston Frontenacs forward Shane Wright and London Knights teammates Alec Regula and Brett Brochu.

OHL Player & Rookie of the Month – Shane Wright (Kingston Frontenacs):
First overall OHL Priority Selection choice and exceptional status forward Shane Wright of the Kingston Frontenacs has been recognized as both the OHL Player of the Month and Rookie of the Month for February. The 16-year-old led the League with 14 goals while adding 10 assists for 24 points over 13 contests as his Frontenacs got back into the playoff hunt with five victories to pull into a tie for eighth in the Eastern Conference. Wright lit the lamp in 10 of his 13 February outings, netting three multi-goal efforts along the way. He opened the month with two goals and an assist in a 5-3 road loss to the Barrie Colts on Feb. 1st before registering another multi-goal showing with a pair in a 4-3 win over the Peterborough Petes on Feb. 5th. Wright went on to string together three straight three-point performances on Feb. 9th, 12th and 14th, tallying a goal and two assists in each game. He stepped up with the overtime winner as the Frontenacs defeated the Oshawa Generals on Feb. 21st. Wright saved his biggest performance of the month for last, surpassing Bernie Nicholls for the Frontenacs’ all-time franchise rookie goal-scoring mark with his 39th of the season as part of his first career OHL hat-trick in a 6-1 road win over the Flint Firebirds. Wright received star of the game recognition five times over the course of the month.

A product of Burlington, Ont., Wright leads OHL rookies with 39 goals and 66 points over 55 games this season. His 66 points are equal to Connor McDavid‘s total over 63 games as an exceptional status rookie with the Erie Otters in 2012-13. The 2004-born talent captained Team Canada Black at the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, recording seven points (4-3–7) over five games. He was selected first overall by the Frontenacs last spring after being named GTHL Player of the Year with 150 points (66-84–150) over 72 games as a member of the OHL Cup champion Don Mills Flyers.

OHL Defenceman of the Month – Alec Regula (London Knights):
Chicago Blackhawks prospect Alec Regula of the London Knights is the OHL Defenceman of the Month for February, leading all blueliners with 11 goals while adding seven assists for 18 points over 11 contests with a plus/minus rating of plus-10. Regula recorded points in 10 of his 11 February outings, starting the month with a two-goal showing on Feb. 1st in Sarnia. He matched a season-high with three points including a goal and two helpers in a 6-3 win over the Kitchener Rangers on Feb. 14th, chipping in with a pair of assists a night later as London defeated Kingston 7-5. After recording a goal and an assist in a win over the Windsor Spitfires on Feb. 20th, Regula became the first Knights defenceman to score a hat-trick since March 2009 when he netted three on Feb. 21st against Guelph. Regula finished February on a high note, picking up a goal and an assist in a 4-2 win over the Soo Greyhounds on Feb. 28th.

A 19-year-old native of West Bloomfield, Mich., Regula leads OHL defenders with 26 goals while adding 31 assists for 57 points over 53 games this season. The 6-foot-4, 207Ib. third-year veteran sits owns a team co-leading plus-34 rating and his 26 goals are the most by a Knights rearguard since Dennis Wideman potted 27 during the 2001-02 season. Regula has accumulated 121 points (44-77–121) over 186 career regular season games with the Knights dating back to 2017 after he was selected in the fourth round (74th overall) of the 2016 OHL Priority Selection. He was a third round (67th overall) pick of the Detroit Red Wings in the 2018 NHL Draft before being dealt to the Chicago Blackhawks in an October 2019 move that saw OHL graduate Brendan Perlini go the other way. The Blackhawks signed Regula to a three-year entry level contract in November.

OHL Goaltender of the Month – Brett Brochu (London Knights):
For the second straight month, London Knights rookie Brett Brochu has been recognized with OHL Top Goaltender honours. Brochu led all netminders with a 2.36 goals-against average to go with a 7-1-0-0 record and .926 save percentage over eight games. He put together a season-high 43 saves on Feb. 17th in Ottawa as the Knights defeated the CHL’s top-ranked 67’s 4-2, with the rookie earning second star honours. Brochu built off that, stopping 36 of 38 on Feb. 20th in Windsor as the Knights defeated the Spitfires 4-2. He rounded out the month with a record-setting 29th win on Feb. 28th, making 26 saves against the Soo Greyhounds to pass Ryan MacDonald on the Knights’ all-time list for wins by a rookie goaltender.

A 17-year-old native of Tilbury, Ont., Brochu has won 19 of his last 20 outings for an overall record of 29-6-0-0 with the league’s third-best 2.50 goals-against average, a .918 save percentage and two shutouts over 39 games. His 29 wins are the most by an OHL 17-year-old rookie since Niagara’s Andrew Loverock won 31 during the 2006-07 campaign. The 5-foot-11, 156Ib. puckstopper was London’s sixth round pick in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection. He spent last season with the Dresden Kings Jr. C club, earning PJHL Stobbs Division Rookie of the Year honours.

2019-20 OHL Performers of the Month:

Player of the Month:
February – Shane Wright (Kingston Frontenacs)
January – Philip Tomasino (Oshawa Generals)
December – Cole Schwindt (Mississauga Steelheads)
November – Jan Jenik (Hamilton Bulldogs)
October – Arthur Kaliyev (Hamilton Bulldogs)

Defenceman of the Month:
February – Alec Regula (London Knights)
January – Noel Hoefenmayer (Ottawa 67’s)
December – Noel Hoefenmayer (Ottawa 67’s)
November – Connor Corcoran (Windsor Spitfires)
October – Noel Hoefenmayer (Ottawa 67’s)

Rookie of the Month:
February – Shane Wright (Kingston Frontenacs)
January – Brett Brochu (London Knights)
December – Mason McTavish (Peterborough Petes)
November – Shane Wright (Kingston Frontenacs)
October – Mason McTavish (Peterborough Petes)

Goaltender of the Month:
February – Brett Brochu (London Knights)
January – Brett Brochu (London Knights)
December – Jacob Ingham (Kitchener Rangers)
November – Nico Daws (Guelph Storm)
October – Hunter Jones (Peterborough Petes)

KNIGHTS’ LIAM FOUDY NAMED OHL ‘ON THE RUN’ PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Foudy

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Liam Foudy of the London Knights is the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week with seven points in three games including two goals and five assists along with a plus/minus rating of plus-4.

Foudy’s recognition marks the fourth time a Knights player has received the honour this season after he registered multi-point outcomes in all three of London’s wins last week. The fleet-footed winger picked up a pair of assists in Wednesday’s 4-3 overtime win over the Guelph Storm before he earned first star honours with a goal and a helper in Friday’s 4-2 victory over the Soo Greyhounds. Foudy was the third star of Sunday’s 6-3 road win over the Erie Otters, notching a goal and two assists as the Knights improved to 41-15-1-1 for first place in the Western Conference.

A 20-year-old native of Scarborough, Ont., Foudy is riding a 14-game point streak that dates back to Jan. 26th, a span in which he also suited up in two NHL contests with the Columbus Blue Jackets, recording his first career NHL point with an assist on Feb. 13th in Buffalo. The 6-foot-1, 182Ib. left-winger sits fourth in London scoring with 62 points (26-36–62) over 41 games including a team-leading plus-34 rating. The former first round (18th overall) pick by the Knights in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection has accumulated 185 points (95-90–185) over 226 career regular season games. He won gold as a member of Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in January. Foudy was Columbus’ first round (18th overall) pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.

A pair of other candidates were also given consideration for the award, ones that performed well despite their clubs going winless over the course of the week. Erie Otters forward Chad Yetman registered eight points (3-5–8) over three contests to reach the 70-point mark on the season. Hamilton’s Arthur Kaliyev tied the Bulldogs’ franchise points mark, coming within three points of 100 on the campaign with eight points (1-7–8) over three outings.

OTR_2017_Logo

2019-20 OHL ‘On the Run’ Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Feb. 24 – Mar. 1: Liam Foudy (London Knights)
Feb. 17 – Feb. 23: Tyler Tucker (Flint Firebirds)
Feb. 10 – Feb. 16: Cole Perfetti (Saginaw Spirit)
Feb. 3 – Feb. 9: Evgeniy Oksentyuk (Flint Firebirds)
Jan. 27 – Feb. 2: Connor McMichael (London Knights)
Jan. 20 – Jan. 26: Ty Dellandrea (Flint Firebirds)
Jan. 13 – Jan. 19: Mitchell Hoelscher (Ottawa 67’s)
Jan. 6 – Jan. 12: Philip Tomasino (Oshawa Generals)
Dec. 30 – Jan. 5: Jacob Ingham (Kitchener Rangers)
Dec. 16 – Dec. 29: Joseph Garreffa (Ottawa 67’s)
Dec. 9 – Dec. 15: Jacob Ingham (Kitchener Rangers)
Dec. 2 – Dec. 8: Ty Dellandrea (Flint Firebirds)
Nov. 25 – Dec. 1: Marco Rossi (Ottawa 67’s)
Nov. 18 – Nov. 24: Riley McCourt (Flint Firebirds)
Nov. 11 – Nov. 17: Jan Jenik (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Nov. 4 – Nov. 10: Cam Hillis (Guelph Storm)
Oct. 28 – Nov. 3: Connor McMichael (London Knights)
Oct. 21 – Oct. 27: Nico Daws (Guelph Storm)
Oct. 14 – Oct. 20: Hunter Jones (Peterborough Petes)
Oct. 7 – Oct. 13: Mack Guzda (Owen Sound Attack)
Sept. 24 – Oct. 6: Philip Tomasino (Niagara IceDogs)
Sept. 23 – Sept. 29: Connor McMichael (London Knights)
Sept. 19 – Sept. 22: Semyon Der-Arguchintsev (Peterborough Petes)

Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings – Week 23

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the week twenty-three edition of the Kia CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2019-20 season.  The weekly rankings of the CHL’s Top-10 teams are selected by a panel of National Hockey League scouts.

Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings – Week 23

Rank: Team: Last Week Ranked: Total Weeks Ranked:
1 Sherbrooke Phoenix (46-8-3-1) 2 23
2 Ottawa 67’s (44-11-0-1) 1 21
3 Moncton Wildcats (44-12-1-0) 4 17
4 Portland Winterhawks (40-10-3-4) 3 13
5 Edmonton Oil Kings (40-10-6-3) 5 20
6 Everett Silvertips (40-12-3-1) 7 17
7 Chicoutimi Sagueneens (39-11-5-1) 6 23
8 London Knights (38-15-1-1) 8 9
9 Kitchener Rangers (36-14-5-2) – 4
10 Flint Firebirds (37-18-1-1) 10 3
Honourable Mention:
Cape Breton Eagles (37-17-2-1) – 6
Lethbridge Hurricanes (35-15-2-5) – 1
Saginaw Spirit (36-16-3-2) – 2

Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings – Week 22

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the week twenty-two edition of the Kia CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2019-20 season.  The weekly rankings of the CHL’s Top-10 teams are selected by a panel of National Hockey League scouts.

Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings – Week 22

Rank: Team: Last Week Ranked: Total Weeks Ranked:
1 Ottawa 67’s (42-9-0-1) 1 20
2 Sherbrooke Phoenix (43-8-3-1) 2 22
3 Portland Winterhawks (39-8-3-4) 3 12
4 Moncton Wildcats (41-12-1-0) 5 16
5 Edmonton Oil Kings (37-9-6-3) 4 19
6 Chicoutimi Sagueneens (37-11-4-1) 6 22
7 Everett Silvertips (36-12-3-1) 7 16
8 London Knights (37-14-1-1) 9 8
9 Rimouski Oceanic (35-14-3-4) – 2
10 Flint Firebirds (35-17-1-1) – 2
Honourable Mention:
Kitchener Rangers (34-14-5-2) 8 3
Lethbridge Hurricanes (34-14-2-5) 10 1
Saginaw Spirit (34-16-2-2) – 2

Vaughn CHL Team of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

The Canadian Hockey League today announced the 21st edition of the Vaughn CHL Team of the Week for the 2019-20 season based on individual performances from Feb. 10-16.

Headlining the group is Rimouski Oceanic captain and 2020 NHL Draft favourite Alexis Lafreniere who amassed 10 points counting two goals and eight assists across a pair of appearances. Against the Quebec Remparts on Sunday, Lafreniere pushed his point streak to five games as he put up a dominant, career-best performance of seven points including one goal and six assists en route to an 11-2 victory and first-star honours. For his efforts, Lafreniere was recognized as the Ultramar QMJHL Player of the Week.

Also up front is fellow 2020 NHL Draft hopeful Cole Perfetti of the Saginaw Spirit who wrapped up the week with 10 points counting four goals and six assists over a trio of contests. Registering at least one point in 10 of his past 11 appearances, Perfetti matched a season high of five points – all coming as helpers – in Wednesday’s 7-5 road win over the Soo Greyhounds, helping him earn recognition as the game’s first star in addition to OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week honours.

Rounding out the forward ranks is another top NHL Draft prospect in Portland Winterhawks centre Seth Jarvis whose week counted three goals and six assists for nine points over three games. A projected early selection come June, Jarvis put his offensive skills on display in Sunday’s 11-2 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors in which he finished with one goal and four assists for five points to match a season high and wrap up the night with second-star recognition. The successful showing also helped Jarvis garner WHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week honours.

On the blue line, Spirit veteran rearguard D.J. Busdeker continues to build on an incredible season as he tallied six points counting two goals and four assists through three appearances. Facing the Soo Greyhounds on Wednesday, Busdeker put up a pair of tallies plus an assist to match a season high of three points en route to a 7-5 victory.

Also on the back end is San Jose Sharks first-round pick Ryan Merkley of the London Knights who earns a spot on the Vaughn CHL Team of the Week for the fourth time this season after collecting six assists through three contests. Riding a nine-game point streak, the stretch saw Merkley register a season high of four points in Friday’s 6-3 win over the rival Kitchener Rangers in which he took home first-star honours.

Between the pipes, top-ranked North American netminder Nico Daws of the Guelph Storm continued his dominant play in coming away with a pair of victories in which he combined for 77 saves to finish with a 0.50 goals-against average and .987 save percentage. Versus the Owen Sound Attack on Friday, Daws turned aside 40 shots to help guide his club to a 2-0 win that saw him record his fifth shutout of the season.

 

Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the week twenty edition of the Kia CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2019-20 season.  The weekly rankings of the CHL’s Top-10 teams are selected by a panel of National Hockey League scouts.

Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings – Week 20

Rank: Team: Last Week Ranked: Total Weeks Ranked:
1 Ottawa 67’s (39-7-0-0) 1 18
2 Sherbrooke Phoenix (38-8-3-1) 3 20
3 Portland Winterhawks (35-7-3-4) 2 10
4 Chicoutimi Sagueneens (34-9-4-1) 4 20
5 Edmonton Oil Kings (34-8-6-3) 5 17
6 Moncton Wildcats (34-12-1-0) 6 14
7 Everett Silvertips (32-11-3-1) 7 14
8 London Knights (33-13-1-1) – 6
9 Cape Breton Eagles (31-14-2-1) – 6
10 Kamloops Blazers (32-13-3-1) 8 5
Honourable Mention:
Kitchener Rangers (29-12-5-2) 10 2
Lethbridge Hurricanes (30-12-2-5) – 0
Rimouski Oceanic (30-14-3-4) – 1

Vaughn CHL Team of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

The Canadian Hockey League today announced the 19th edition of the Vaughn CHL Team of the Week for the 2019-20 season based on individual performances from Jan. 27 – Feb. 2.

Headlining the group is Sherbrooke Phoenix captain and Pittsburgh Penguins first-round pick Samuel Poulin whose 11-point performance counting five goals and six assists over three games sees him make the Vaughn CHL Team of the Week for the second consecutive week. Currently riding a five-game point streak, that stretch included a five-point night versus the Drummondville Voltigeurs on Tuesday in which Poulin netted his third hat-trick this season before adding a pair of assists en route to a 6-4 victory and first-star honours. For his efforts, Poulin was recognized as the Ultramar QMJHL Player of the Week.

Joining Poulin up front is his Phoenix teammate Felix Robert who wrapped up the week with four goals and five assists for nine points over a trio of appearances. Robert’s top performance of the week also came versus the Voltigeurs as he ended the night with two goals and two assists, helping him earn second-star honours and tying his best single-game total during his current 11-game point streak.

Rounding out the forward ranks is Washington Capitals first-round pick Connor McMichael of the London Knights who tallied three goals and four assists for seven points over two contests, bringing his current point streak to 12 games. Against the Windsor Spitfires on Friday, McMichael notched his sixth hat-trick of the season plus one assist to help his squad to 7-4 victory in which he was recognized as the game’s first star. For his efforts, McMichael was named the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week.

On the blue line, Knights defenceman and San Jose Sharks first-round pick Ryan Merkley shined with a six-point showing and hit the 250 career point plateau with one goal and five assists through two appearances. Facing the Sarnia Sting on Saturday, Merkley decorated the scoresheet with three points including the eventual game-winning goal plus two assists to guide London to a 5-2 road victory in which he was named the game’s first star.

Also on the back end is Moncton Wildcats rearguard and Los Angeles Kings prospect Jordan Spence whose week counted two goals and four assists for six points through three appearances. Against the Charlottetown Islanders on Saturday, Spence matched a season-high of three points as he put up a trio of assists to guide the Wildcats to a 5-1 victory in which he earned third-star recognition.

In the blue paint, Prince Albert Raiders netminder Max Paddock impressed over two appearances as he came away with a pair of victories coupled with a 0.50 goals-against average and .972 save percentage. Paddock’s top showing came against the Victoria Royals on Wednesday as he turned aside all 17 shots en route to a 3-0 victory that marked his third shutout of 2019-20. In all, Paddock wrapped up the week in turning aside a combined 35 of 36 shots, helping him earn recognition as the WHL Eli Wilson Goaltending Goaltender of the Week.

OHL ANNOUNCES TOP PERFORMERS OF THE MONTH FOR JANUARY

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Top Performers January

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the Top OHL Performers of the Month for regular season games played in January 2020, including Oshawa Generals forward Philip Tomasino, Ottawa 67’s defenceman Noel Hoefenmayer and London Knights goaltender Brett Brochu.

OHL Player of the Month – Philip Tomasino (Oshawa Generals):
Nashville Predators prospect Philip Tomasino of the Oshawa Generals is the OHL Player of the Month for January, posting a league-leading 34 points including 15 goals and 19 assists over just 13 games.  Tomasino recorded three points or more on seven different occasions and earned star of the game recognition in nine of his 13 outings, 10 of which came as a member of the Oshawa Generals following a trade from the Niagara IceDogs. He wrapped up his tenure in Niagara with 10 points over his final three contests including a five-point showing (1-4–5) in a 9-8 win over North Bay on Jan. 2nd. He followed that up two nights later with four points (2-2–4), setting up the OT winner as the IceDogs defeated the Kitchener Rangers 7-6 on Jan. 4th. Tomasino started his time as an Oshawa General with a bang on Jan. 9th in Windsor, registering five points (2-3–5) in a 6-3 triumph over the Spitfires. That performance was followed by back-to-back two-goal outings on Jan. 10th in Sarnia and Jan. 12th back on home ice against the Peterborough Petes, helping Tomasino earn OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week honours. Other outstanding January performances included another four-point effort (2-2–4) on Jan. 20th in Owen Sound as he set up the winning goal in a 5-4 victory over the Attack. He wrapped up January with three consecutive multi-point outings headlined by a goal and three assists on Jan. 25th in a 7-4 win over the Kingston Frontenacs on Sportsnet.

An 18-year-old native of Mississauga, Ont., Tomasino leads the Generals in scoring this season with 83 points (34-49–83) over 48 games, good for the league’s fourth-highest total. Now in his third OHL season, the former fifth overall pick in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection has amassed 179 points (73-106–179) over 176 career regular season games. He was the highest-drafted OHL forward at last summer’s 2019 NHL Draft, going 24th overall to the Nashville Predators who signed him to a three-year entry level NHL contract on October 21st.

OHL Defenceman of the Month – Noel Hoefenmayer (Ottawa 67’s):
Ottawa 67’s overage defenceman Noel Hoefenmayer has been named OHL Defenceman of the Month for the third time this season. The fifth-year veteran led all rearguards with 18 points including three goals and 15 assists over 13 games to go with a plus/minus rating of plus-13. Hoefenmayer recorded points in 11 of his 13 January outings including three assists on Jan. 18th against the Hamilton Bulldogs, a two-goal showing on Jan. 25th against the Niagara IceDogs and a goal and one helper on Jan. 30th on the road against the same IceDogs. Hoefenmayer helped the 67’s rise to the top of the Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings with wins in 13 of 14 January contests. He wrapped up the month on an eight-game point streak.

A 21-year-old native of North York, Ont., Hoefenmayer leads OHL defenders with 67 points including 19 goals and 48 assists along with a plus/minus rating of plus-44 over 46 games. The 6-foot-1 rearguard has been a big contributor on Ottawa’s top-ranked 30.6% power play this season, registering 32 points on the man advantage. A fifth-year veteran, Hoefenmayer is currently inside the franchise top-8 for both career points by a defenceman (207) and career games played (286). His 19 goals from the back end are the most in a single season by a 67’s defenceman since Jon Zion in 2000-01. Hoefenmayer was a fourth round pick of the Arizona Coyotes in the 2017 NHL Draft before going unsigned and attended rookie camp with the Carolina Hurricanes in September. Hoefenmayer was a second round pick of the 67’s in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection.

OHL Goaltender & Rookie of the Month – Brett Brochu (London Knights):
London Knights netminder Brett Brochu is both the OHL Goaltender and OHL Rookie of the Month for January after posting an impressive 9-0-0-0 record along with a 1.89 goals-against average and .940 save percentage in nine games. Brochu made at least 30 saves on four different occasions highlighted by a 40-save effort on Jan. 3rd as the Knights defeated the Mississauga Steelheads 3-1. He surrendered just one goal in back-to-back games on Jan. 12th in Sault Ste. Marie and Jan. 17th at home to the Sudbury Wolves before turning in another fine performance with 35 saves in a 4-1 defeat of the Hamilton Bulldogs on Jan. 24th. Brochu closed out January on an 11-game winning streak.

A 17-year-old native of Tilbury, Ont., Brochu leads OHL rookie goaltenders with a 2.52 goals-against average, a .916 save percentage and a record of 21-5-0-0, becoming the first Knights rookie to win 20 games in a season since Ryan MacDonald back in 2003-04. The 5-foot-11, 156Ib. puckstopper was London’s sixth round pick in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection. He spent last season with the Dresden Kings Jr. C club, earning PJHL Stobbs Division Rookie of the Year honours.

2019-20 OHL Performers of the Month:

Player of the Month:
January – Philip Tomasino (Oshawa Generals)
December – Cole Schwindt (Mississauga Steelheads)
November – Jan Jenik (Hamilton Bulldogs)
October – Arthur Kaliyev (Hamilton Bulldogs)

Defenceman of the Month:
January – Noel Hoefenmayer (Ottawa 67’s)
December – Noel Hoefenmayer (Ottawa 67’s)
November – Connor Corcoran (Windsor Spitfires)
October – Noel Hoefenmayer (Ottawa 67’s)

Rookie of the Month:
January – Brett Brochu (London Knights)
December – Mason McTavish (Peterborough Petes)
November – Shane Wright (Kingston Frontenacs)
October – Mason McTavish (Peterborough Petes)

Goaltender of the Month:
January – Brett Brochu (London Knights)
December – Jacob Ingham (Kitchener Rangers)
November – Nico Daws (Guelph Storm)
October – Hunter Jones (Peterborough Petes)

KNIGHTS’ CONNOR McMICHAEL NAMED OHL ‘ON THE RUN’ PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

McMichael

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Washington Capitals prospect Connor McMichael of the London Knights is the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week with seven points including three goals and four assists over two games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-4.

McMichael claims the honour for the third time this season, helping the Knights stretch their current winning streak to eight with multi-point efforts in a pair of victories. He opened up the weekend on Friday with his league-leading sixth hat-trick of the campaign, tacking on an assist for four points in a 7-4 win over the CHL’s ninth-ranked Windsor Spitfires. McMichael collected three assists in Saturday’s 5-2 road win over the Sarnia Sting as the Knights climbed into first place in the Midwest Division with a 32-13-1-1 record with 66 points.

A 19-year-old native of Ajax, Ont., McMichael sits third in OHL scoring with 83 points including 37 goals and 46 assists over 37 games, good for the league’s highest rate of 2.24 points-per-game. He continues to ride a 12-game point streak as the Knights have surged up the Western Conference standings. McMichael was a first round (25th overall) pick of the Washington Capitals last summer and was originally a first round (11th overall) pick of the Hamilton Bulldogs in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection. He recently won gold with Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

Also considered for the award this week were Mississauga Steelheads teammates Cole Schwindt (1-6–7) and Keean Washkurak (2-5–7) who each recorded seven points in a pair of victories this past weekend.

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2019-20 OHL ‘On the Run’ Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Jan. 27 – Feb. 2: Connor McMichael (London Knights)
Jan. 20 – Jan. 26: Ty Dellandrea (Flint Firebirds)
Jan. 13 – Jan. 19: Mitchell Hoelscher (Ottawa 67’s)
Jan. 6 – Jan. 12: Philip Tomasino (Oshawa Generals)
Dec. 30 – Jan. 5: Jacob Ingham (Kitchener Rangers)
Dec. 16 – Dec. 29: Joseph Garreffa (Ottawa 67’s)
Dec. 9 – Dec. 15: Jacob Ingham (Kitchener Rangers)
Dec. 2 – Dec. 8: Ty Dellandrea (Flint Firebirds)
Nov. 25 – Dec. 1: Marco Rossi (Ottawa 67’s)
Nov. 18 – Nov. 24: Riley McCourt (Flint Firebirds)
Nov. 11 – Nov. 17: Jan Jenik (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Nov. 4 – Nov. 10: Cam Hillis (Guelph Storm)
Oct. 28 – Nov. 3: Connor McMichael (London Knights)
Oct. 21 – Oct. 27: Nico Daws (Guelph Storm)
Oct. 14 – Oct. 20: Hunter Jones (Peterborough Petes)
Oct. 7 – Oct. 13: Mack Guzda (Owen Sound Attack)
Sept. 24 – Oct. 6: Philip Tomasino (Niagara IceDogs)
Sept. 23 – Sept. 29: Connor McMichael (London Knights)
Sept. 19 – Sept. 22: Semyon Der-Arguchintsev (Peterborough Petes)