CHL Announces Weekly Award Winners

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Burzan the best from Brandon, Richardson represents Rangers

Wheat Kings’ Luka Burzan named CHL Player of the Week

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that 2019 NHL Draft prospect Luka Burzan of the Brandon Wheat Kings is the CHL Player of the Week for the regular season week ending September 30 scoring five goals and one assist for six points in just one game played with a plus-minus rating of plus-3.

Burzan’s single game performance last week was one to remember leading the Wheat Kings to an 8-4 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Saturday night.  The five goal output by the game’s first star shattered his previous career-high of two, while his six points doubled his previous high of three.  This marks the best single game performance in the CHL this season while Burzan equals former Wheat King Jayce Hawryluk who produced the same totals on March 2, 2016.

An 18-year-old from Surrey, BC, Burzan is playing in his third WHL season after being chosen sixth overall by the Moose Jaw Warriors in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft.  He joined Brandon midway through the 2017-18 campaign and tallied 21 points in his final 30 games.  So far this season his eight points in three games are tied for third overall in league scoring.  He was recently listed as a ‘C’ rated prospect by NHL Central Scouting in their Preliminary edition of ‘Players to Watch’ for the 2019 NHL Draft.

Also considered for the award this week was San Jose Sharks prospect Ivan Chekhovich of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar who scored four goals and four assists for eight points in three games, and overage forward Lucas Chiodo of the Barrie Colts who scored three goals and four assists for seven points in two games.

2018-19 CHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:

Sept. 24 – Sept. 30: Luka Burzan (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Sept. 19 – Sept. 23: Kirby Dach (Saskatoon Blades)

Rangers’ Luke Richardson named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Luke Richardson of the Kitchener Rangers is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the regular season week ending September 30 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .970.

Richardson turned aside 64 shots last week in a pair of victories to keep the Rangers undefeated at 3-0-0-0 to start the 2018-19 season.  He earned back-to-back first star honours including Friday night following a 31-save performance and 5-1 victory over the Ottawa 67’s, then Saturday in Windsor after making 33 saves in a 4-1 triumph over the Spitfires.

A 19-year-old from Barrie, Ont., Richardson has now played parts of four seasons with the Rangers who chose him in the fourth round of the 2015 OHL Priority Selection.  He currently carries a league-best goals-against-average of 1.33 and save percentage of .956 after finishing last season with marks of 3.22 and .898 across 39 appearances.

Also considered for the award this week was Tristan Côté-Cazenave of the Victoriaville Tigres who posted a 2-0-0-1 record with 89 saves for a goals-against-average of 0.97 and save percentage of .967.  In the WHL, Ian Scott of the undefeated Prince Albert Raiders went 2-0-0-0 making 63 saves for a goals-against-average of 2.00 and save percentage of .940

2018-19 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:

Sept. 24 – Sept. 30: Luke Richardson (Kitchener Rangers)
Sept. 19 – Sept. 23: Hunter Jones (Peterborough Petes)

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Colts’ Lucas Chiodo named OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Lucas Chiodo of the Barrie Colts is the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week for the regular season week ending September 30 after recording seven points in two games including three goals and four assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-6.

Chiodo produced a pair of multi-point performances for the Colts who earned three of a possible four points last week in a home-and-home series against the Sudbury Wolves.  He tallied his first career hat-trick and added two assists to match a career-high five points on Thursday night earning first star honours in a 10-3 victory.  He also contributed assists on both Colts goals on Sunday afternoon despite a 3-2 overtime loss in Sudbury.  The chemistry between Chiodo and teammate Ryan Suzuki was on point in both games as the pair combined for six goals and eight assists.  All three of Chiodo’s assists were on Suzuki tallies helping the 2019 NHL Draft prospect overtake the OHL’s scoring lead with 11 points in four games.

A soon-to-be 20-year-old from Churchill, Ont., Chiodo is playing in his fourth full season with the Colts after being chosen in the 15th round of the 2014 OHL Priority Selection.  The overage forward has eight points through four games this season bringing his career total to 150 points including 57 goals and 150 assists in 192 games.

Watch video highlights of Chiodo and the Colts against the Wolves.

In addition to Suzuki, other award consideration went to a pair of Florida Panthers prospects including Serron Noel of the Oshawa Generals and Owen Tippett of the Mississauga Steelheads.  Noel scored five goals and one assist for six points in three games while Tippett made the most of his return to the league with a hat-trick and two assists across his two game debut.  In goal, Luke Richardson of the undefeated Kitchener Rangers posted a 2-0-0-0 record making 64 saves for a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .970.

2018-19 OHL ‘On the Run’ Players of the Week – Regular Season:

Sept. 24 – Sept. 30: Lucas Chiodo (Barrie Colts)
Sept. 19 – Sept. 23: Akil Thomas (Niagara IceDogs)

Attack’s Nick Suzuki named OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Vegas Golden Knights prospect Nick Suzuki of the Owen Sound Attack is the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week for the final week of regular season action ending March 18 after scoring six goals and one assist for seven points in three games with a plus-minus rating of plus-5. 

Nick Suzuki of the Owen Sound Attack. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Nick Suzuki of the Owen Sound Attack. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Suzuki extended his point-streak to eight and reached the century mark in season points while helping the Attack win three games last week securing fourth overall in the Western Conference standings with a 38-22-3-5 record.  On Wednesday night Suzuki picked up an assist in a 7-1 road win over the Flint Firebirds, then earned first star honours on Thursday with his third hat-trick of the season contributing to a 9-2 road win over the Windsor Spitfires.  Back home on Saturday, Suzuki wrapped up his season in style with two goals and one assist in a 9-4 victory against the Sarnia Sting becoming the Attack’s first 100-point scorer since Bobby Ryan in 2006-07.  The week included an impressive 25 goals scored by the Attack who are among the league’s hottest teams with six wins and an overtime loss in their last seven as they prepare for a first round playoff series matchup with the London Knights beginning Friday at home.

An 18-year-old from London, Ont., Suzuki is playing in his third season in Owen Sound since he was a first round choice by the Attack in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection.  His 100 points in 64 games were fourth best in the league this season and represent a new career-high.  This marks the second straight season Suzuki has hit the 40-goal plateau finishing with 42 after scoring 45 in 2016-17.  After three full seasons with the Attack, Suzuki has 107 career goals and 127 assists for 234 points in 192 games.  The first round pick of the Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Draft also earned the league’s weekly honour for his play to start October. 

Watch video highlights of Suzuki and the Attack against the Firebirds, Spitfires, and Sting. 

Also considered for the award this week were Tye Felhaber of the Ottawa 67’s with three goals and five assists for eight points in three games, and Lucas Chiodo of the Barrie Colts with two goals and six assists for eight points in three games.  In goal, Stephen Dhillon helped the Niagara IceDogs finish the season with seven straight wins posting a 2-0-0-0 record while making 72 saves for a goals-against-average of 2.45 and save percentage of .935.

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

Mar. 12 – Mar. 18: Nick Suzuki (Owen Sound Attack)
Mar. 5 – Mar. 11: Dmitry Sokolov (Barrie Colts)
Feb. 26 – Mar. 4: Robert Thomas (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Feb. 19 – Feb. 25: Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia Sting)
Feb. 12 – Feb. 18: Aaron Luchuk (Barrie Colts)
Feb. 5 – Feb. 11: Liam Foudy (London Knights)
Jan. 29 – Feb. 4: Kenny Huether (Oshawa Generals)
Jan. 22 – Jan. 28: Jeremy Helvig (Kingston Frontenacs)
Jan. 15 – Jan. 21: Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia Sting)
Jan. 8 – Jan. 14: Taylor Raddysh (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Jan. 1 – Jan. 7: Owen Tippett (Mississauga Steelheads)
Dec. 25 – Dec. 31: Ben Jones (Niagara IceDogs)
Dec. 11 – Dec. 17: Morgan Frost (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Dec. 4 – Dec. 10: Justin Brazeau (North Bay Battalion)
Nov. 27 – Dec. 3: Joseph Garreffa (Kitchener Rangers)
Nov. 20 – Nov. 26: Serron Noel (Oshawa Generals)
Nov. 13 – Nov. 19: Cliff Pu (London Knights)
Nov. 6 – Nov. 12: Ryan Merkley (Guelph Storm)
Oct. 30 – Nov. 5: Albert Michnac (Mississauga Steelheads)
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)