OHL ANNOUNCES TOP PERFORMERS OF THE MONTH FOR DECEMBER

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Month for regular season games played in December 2023.

Player of the Month – Ruslan Gazizov (London Knights)

London Knights forward Ruslan Gazizov is the OHL Player of the Month for December, leading the league with 24 points including six goals and 18 assists over 11 games as the Knights played to a mark of 8-3-0-0. The 5-foot-11, 185lb. Gazizov registered points in nine of his 11 outings, headlined by a four-point showing on Dec. 14th, followed by a season-high five-point performance on Dec. 15th., scoring a goal and four assists in London’s 8-2 win over the Owen Sound Attack. He proceeded to score twice on Dec. 17th at home to Sudbury, closing out the first half with an overtime game-winner. Gazizov racked up eight different multi-point performances in the month of December, helping the Knights enter the new year on a six-game winning streak.

Selected by the Knights in the first round, 12th overall of the 2021 CHL Import Draft, the 19-year-old comes-off a a solid first half of the season, registering 42 points (15-27-42) in 35 games. Gazizov continues his third-year campaign in London, tallying 48 goals, 70 assists, and 118 points over 145 career OHL regular season contests.

Also considered for the award this month, North Bay Battalion forward Anthony Romani registered eight goals, 13 assists, and 21 points (8-13-21) in 11 games played throughout December. He enters January on a 12-game point streak.

Defenceman of the Month – Nick DeAngelis (Sudbury Wolves)

Sudbury Wolves blueliner Nick DeAngelis is the OHL Defenceman of the Month, riding an OHL season-high 17-game point streak into the month of January. DeAngelis recorded two goals, 13 assists, and 15 points over 11 December outings as the Wolves closed-out 2023 in first place in the Central Division. DeAngelis started the month with a career-high four assist performance as the Wolves beat the Barrie Colts 9-6 on Dec. 1st. He’s recorded at least a point in every game since Nov. 15th., the longest point streak by a Wolves blueliner in the last 25 years of OHL history. DeAngelis becomes the first Wolves blueliner to earn OHL Defenceman of the Month honours since Jack Thompson in October 2021.

A 19-year-old from King City, Ont., DeAngelis leads the Wolves offensively from the back end with 29 points (2-27–29) over 33 games this season along with a plus/minus rating of plus-13. The third-year veteran has registered a total of eight goals, 60 assists, and 68 points over 163 regular season contests spent between the Wolves and the Windsor Spitfires. The 6-foot-2, 195Ib. left-shot defenceman was originally selected in the second round (36th overall) by the Spitfires in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection before joining the Wolves this season. He attended training camp with the Columbus Blue Jackets in September.

Also considered for the award, Vancouver Canucks prospect and OHL scoring leader Hunter Brzustewicz (1-14–15) of the Kitchener Rangers and 2024 NHL Draft prospect Sam Dickinson (6-9–15) of the London Knights each registered 15 points in the month of December.

Goaltender of the Month – Marcus Vandenberg (Sudbury Wolves)

Marcus Vandenberg of the Sudbury Wolves is the OHL Goaltender of the Month for December, playing to a 6-2-1-1 record with a 3.07 goals-against average and .901 save percentage over 10 games spent between Sudbury and the Niagara IceDogs. Vandenberg, who was acquired by Sudbury on Dec. 8th after backstopping Niagara to wins over Kitchener and Peterborough to begin the month, proceeded to win his first two starts with Sudbury in wins over Kingston and Flint. He ended December with consecutive wins, making 22 saves in a victory over North Bay on Dec. 29th and 33 stops in Sault Ste. Marie as the Wolves defeated the West Division-leading Greyhounds 5-1 on Dec. 30th. Vandenberg is the first Wolves goaltender to claim the honour since Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in December 2018.

A 19-year-old from Dorchester, Ont., Vandenberg has played to a season mark of 7-8-3-1 with a 3.61 goals-against average and .888 save percentage between Sudbury and Niagara. Selected by the Kitchener Rangers in the ninth round (177th overall) of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection, Vandenberg has appeared in 49 career regular season contests, tallying a 16-20-5-1 record, 3.71 goals-against average and .889 save percentage over three seasons.

Also considered for the award this month, Oshawa Generals netminder Jacob Oster played to a 5-2-1-0 record with a 2.76 goals-against-average and .898 save percentage. Brayden Gillespie of the Guelph Storm also remained solid between the pipes, recording a 5-3-1-0 record with a 2.83 goals-against-average and .900 save percentage.

Rookie of the Month – Jake O’Brien (Brantford Bulldogs)

Brantford Bulldogs forward Jake O’Brien is the OHL Rookie of the Month, recording 15 points, including three goals and 12 assists over 10 appearances in December. O’Brien registered five multi-point showings over the course of the month, tallying 10 points in his last four games. He recorded a career-high three-point showing on Dec. 28th in a 5-4 win over the Oshawa Generals, followed by another three-point showing on Dec. 31st. O’Brien now ranks second among all OHL rookie skaters in points, registering 28 (5-23-28) through 27 games this season. O’Brien becomes the first Bulldogs player to be named OHL Rookie of the Month since Matthew Strome in March 2016.

A 16-year-old from Toronto, Ont., O’Brien currently ranks second in OHL rookie scoring with 28 points (5-23–28) through 27 games this season. The Toronto, Ont. native was selected eighth overall by the Bulldogs in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection from the Toronto Jr. Canadiens U16 AAA program. Crowned a 2023 OHL Cup champion, the 6-foot-1, 165Ib. forward was awarded the tournament’s Most Valuable Player Award, registering 17 points (7-10-17) through seven games played last spring.

Also considered for the award, 2024 NHL Draft prospect Sam O’Reilly of the London Knights was also a front-runner, collecting 15 points (3-12–15) over 11 games in December.

2023-24 OHL Performers of the Month:

Player of the Month:
December – Ruslan Gazizov (London Knights)
November – Filip Mesar (Kitchener Rangers)
October – Carson Rehkopf (Kitchener Rangers)

Defenceman of the Month:
December – Nick DeAngelis (Sudbury Wolves)
November – Zayne Parekh (Saginaw Spirit)
October – Hunter Brzustewicz (Kitchener Rangers)

Goaltender of the Month:
December – Marcus Vandenberg (Sudbury Wolves)
November – Jackson Parsons (Kitchener Rangers)
October – Brayden Gillespie (Guelph Storm)

Rookie of the Month:
December – Jake O’Brien (Brantford Bulldogs)
November – Cole Davis (Windsor Spitfires)
October – Carter George (Owen Sound Attack)


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.

FIMIS AND VANDENBERG NAMED OHL 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, December 3, 2023.



Otters’ Pano Fimis Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week

Pano Fimis of the Erie Otters is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording four goals, three assists, and seven points over three contests.

Fimis started the week with a goal on Wednesday as the Otters earned a point in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Kitchener Rangers. He found the scoresheet again on Saturday, recording a pair of goals along with an assist as the Otters fell to the Owen Sound Attack 7-4. Bouncing back on Sunday, the 5-foot-11, 183lb. centreman closed out the weekend with a penalty shot goal and two helpers as the Otters defeated the Attack 8-5 at the Bayshore. Currently leading the OHL with a 64.5% success rate in the faceoff circle, Fimis was 52.8% at the dot last week.

A 19-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., Fimis has recorded 10 goals, 19 assists, and 29 points over 26 games played so far this season. Originally selected second overall by the Niagara IceDogs in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection, Fimis has registered 120 points (40-80–120) over 135 regular season games between the IceDogs and Otters. Fimis attended rookie camp with the Pittsburgh Penguins this past September.

Also considered for the award this week, Seattle Kraken prospect David Goyette of the Sudbury Wolves scored three times and added five assists to help Sudbury earn three of a possible six points. Draft-eligible blueliner Zayne Parekh of the Saginaw Spirit was also productive, contributing a total of two goals and six helpers to a two-win weekend.

2023-24 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Nov. 27 – Dec. 3: Pano Fimis (Erie Otters)
Nov. 20 – Nov. 26: Matyas Sapovaliv (Saginaw Spirit)
Nov. 13 – Nov. 19: Donovan McCoy (Peterborough Petes)
Nov. 6 – Nov. 12: Denver Barkey (London Knights)
Oct. 30 – Nov. 5: Braeden Kressler (Flint Firebirds)
Oct. 23 – Oct. 29: Kirill Kudryavtsev (Soo Greyhounds)
Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: Anthony Romani (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Carson Rehkopf (Kitchener Rangers)
Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Jordan D’Intino (Soo Greyhounds)
Sep. 28 – Oct. 1: Jax Dubois (Peterborough Petes)
 



IceDogs’ Marcus Vandenberg Named OHL Goaltender of the Week

Marcus Vandenberg of the Niagara IceDogs is the OHL Goaltender of the Week following a pair of wins where he posted a 1.96 goals-against average and .951 save percentage.

Stopping a total of 77 shots last week, Vandenberg stopped 44 of the 47 that came his way against his former club on Friday, earning first star honours as the IceDogs defeated the first place Kitchener Rangers 4-3 in overtime. He returned to the crease at home on Sunday, turning aside 33 of the 34 shots he faced in another first star performance as the IceDogs defeated the Peterborough Petes 2-1.

Vandenberg has appeared in 12 games for the IceDogs this season, playing to a 3-6-2-0 record while logging a 3.95 goals-against-average and .891 save percentage. The 5-foot-11, 172lb. Dorchester, Ont. native was originally selected in the ninth round (177th overall) by the Kitchener Rangers in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection from the Elgin-Middlesex U16 program. Defending the crease in his third OHL season, the 19-year-old has played to a career record of 12-18-4-0, posting a 3.79 goals-against-average and .890 save percentage.

Also considered for the award this week, Edmonton Oilers prospect Nathan Day of the Flint Firebirds went 2-0 with a 1.93 goals-against average, and .932 save percentage in wins over Peterborough and Ottawa.

2023-24 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Nov. 27 – Dec. 3: Marcus Vandenberg (Niagara IceDogs)
Nov. 20 – Nov. 26: Jack Ivankovic (Mississauga Steelheads)
Nov. 13 – Nov. 19: Carter George (Owen Sound Attack)
Nov. 8 – Nov. 12: Jackson Parsons (Kitchener Rangers)
Oct. 30 – Nov. 7: Jacob Oster (Oshawa Generals)
Oct. 23 – Oct. 29: Sam Hillebrandt (Barrie Colts)
Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: Brayden Gillespie (Guelph Storm)
Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Collin MacKenzie (Ottawa 67’s)
Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Ryerson Leenders (Mississauga Steelheads)
Sep. 28 – Oct. 1: Ryerson Leenders (Mississauga Steelheads)


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.

FLORES AND GAGNIER NAMED OHL 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, December 11, 2022.



Generals’ Ryan Gagnier Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week

Ryan Gagnier of the Oshawa Generals is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording two goals, six assists and eight points in three games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-6.

Helping the Generals extend their winning streak to five with three more victories this week, Gagnier got things started with a goal and three assists on Tuesday as Oshawa defeated the London Knights 5-3 at Budweiser Gardens on Tuesday. He picked up an assist on Friday as the Generals defeated the visiting Soo Greyhounds 7-2. Gagnier contributed another goal, two helpers and the shootout winner in Oshawa’s annual Teddy Bear Toss game on Sunday, fueling a 4-3 victory over the Barrie Colts.

A 20-year-old native of Tecumseh, Ont., Gagnier has produced nine goals, 19 assists and 28 points in 29 games this season, winning 57 percent of his 516 faceoff attempts in the process. The former third round (50th overall) pick by the Generals in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection has registered 31 goals, 41 assists and 72 points in 150 career regular season games as he continues his fourth season in Oshawa.

Also given consideration for the award this week were New York Islanders prospect Matthew Maggio of the Windsor Spitfires who recorded four goals and four assists (4-4-8) over three games, along with a plus/minus rating of plus-5. Minnesota Wild prospect Hunter Haight of the Saginaw Spirit was also a standout, registering three goal and five helpers (3-5-8) in four games.

2022-23 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Ryan Gagnier (Oshawa Generals)
Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Quentin Musty (Sudbury Wolves)
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)



IceDogs’ Owen Flores Named OHL Goaltender of the Week

Owen Flores of the Niagara IceDogs is the OHL Goaltender of the Week with one win and a shootout loss, a goals-against average of 1.44 and save percentage of .963.

Flores stopped 77 of the 81 shots that came his way last week, helping the IceDogs earn three of a possible four points. He turned aside 35 shots on top of two of the three shootout attempts he faced on Thursday as the IceDogs fell to the Kingston Frontenacs 3-2. Flores was back between the pipes on Saturday, backstopping the IceDogs to a 2-1 win over the Mississauga Steelheads where he made 43 saves to earn first star honours.

An 18-year-old from Antioch, Ill., Flores owns a 5-7-2-1 record with a 4.64 goals-against average and .879 save percentage in 18 games with the IceDogs this season. The 6-foot-2, 176Ib. netminder was acquired from the London Knights in September after going 6-8-2-2 with a 3.67 goals-against average and .875 save percentage with the Knights in his rookie season. He was also named to the GOJHL’s Rookie All-Star Team in 2021-22 after playing to a 12-2-0 record with a 2.20 goals-against average and .928 save percentage in 16 games with the London Nationals. Flores was London’s sixth round (114th overall) pick in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection.

A pair of other candidates were given consideration for the award as Kitchener Rangers netminder Marcus Vandenberg went 2-0, recording a 2.00 goals-against average and .953 save percentage in wins over Guelph and Peterborough. Colorado Avalanche prospect Ivan Zhigalov of the Kingston Frontenacs also went 2-0, posting a 1.44 goals-against average and .955 save percentage in road victories over Niagara and Hamilton.

2022-23 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Owen Flores (Niagara IceDogs)
Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Dom DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion)
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.