RANGERS’ MATTHEW SOP AWARDED LEO LALONDE MEMORIAL TROPHY AS OVERAGE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Kitchener Rangers forward Matthew Sop is the 2023-24 recipient of the Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy awarded to the League’s Overage Player of the Year as voted by OHL General Managers.

A 21-year-old from Kitchener, Sop racked up 43 goals and 90 points over 67 games in his third season. He finished tied with teammate Carson Rehkopf for the league-lead in game-winning goals with 10, and was knotted with Sudbury’s Quentin Musty for the most overtime goals with five. He also led Kitchener in shorthanded goals with three.

“This recognition from the league means a lot to me,” said Sop of the honour. “I am really honoured to receive it, but I definitely could not have gotten it without all of my teammates and coaches around me!”

Sop’s production climbed over each of his three OHL seasons, starting with 22 points (10-12—22) as a rookie in 2021-22, climbing to 56 points (23-33—56) in 2022-23 to 90 (43-47—90) this past season, giving the former seventh-round pick in 2019 a total of 169 points (76-93—169) over 203 regular season games with his hometown Rangers.

“We are so excited and proud of Matthew on this individual accomplishment,” said Rangers General Manager Mike McKenzie. “It has been tremendous to see the growth in his game throughout his career with the Rangers and this is well-earned recognition for a great season.

“Also, as a seventh-round pick, it is fitting this award will be handed out on OHL Draft weekend,” McKenzie added. “Matthew is another example that development looks different for everyone and players that aren’t top picks can still make a big impact.”

Sop becomes the fourth player in Kitchener Rangers history to earn Overage Player of the Year recognition, following Jason Akeson (2010-11), Andre Benoit (2004-05) and Joey St. Aubin (1990-91).

Owen Sound Attack forward Deni Goure finished as runner-up in award voting.

The Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the Top Overage Player of the Year as selected by OHL General Managers. Teams were asked to submit a nominee for the award and were not permitted to vote for players from their own hockey club.

First presented in 1984, the Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy was donated by the trainers of the Ontario Hockey League, in memory of the late Leo Lalonde, former Chief Scout of OHL Central Scouting. Leo Lalonde was also former the Chief Scout for the Belleville Bulls as well as a scout for the Peterborough Petes.

Sop joins a list of other accomplished recent recipients in last year’s winner Matthew Maggio of the Windsor Spitfires, North Bay Battalion graduate Brandon Coe (2021-22) and former Ottawa 67’s forward Austen Keating (2019-20).

REHKOPF AND MACKENZIE 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, October 15, 2023.



Rangers’ Carson Rehkopf Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week

Seattle Kraken prospect Carson Rehkopf of the Kitchener Rangers is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording five goals, three assists, and eight points over two contests as the Rangers collected four points over the weekend.

Rehkopf had a strong start on Friday, registering a hat trick and an assist to earn first star honours as the Rangers blanked the visiting Barrie Colts 8-0. The 6-foot-1, 196lb. centreman found the scoresheet again on Sunday, tallying a pair of goals and assists as Kitchener defeated the Windsor Spitfires in a high-scoring 11-2 victory to close out the weekend.

An 18-year-old from Vaughan, Ont., Rehkopf ranks third among OHL point-producers, recording seven goals, six assists, and 13 points over seven games played this season. Seattle’s second round (50th overall) pick in the 2023 NHL Draft has recorded 105 points (55-50–105) in 140 career OHL regular season games with the Rangers after being chosen 17th overall by the club in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection.

Also considered for the award this week, draft-eligible forward Luke Misa of the Mississauga Steelheads scored three times and added five assists in three wins. Rehkopf’s Rangers teammate Matthew Sop was also productive, contributing a total of three goals and four helpers to Kitchener’s perfect weekend.

2023-24 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
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)
 



67’s’ Collin MacKenzie Named OHL Goaltender of the Week

Ottawa 67’s goaltender Collin MacKenzie is the OHL Goaltender of the Week. He played to a 2-0 record with a 1.50 goals-against average, and .948 save percentage as the 67’s played their way to the top of the OHL Power Rankings.

Stopping a total of 55 shots last week, MacKenzie turned aside 23 of the 25 attempts that came his way on Thursday as Ottawa defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2. The 6-foot, 175lb. netminder was back in the crease on Friday, stopping 32 of the 33 shots he faced to earn first star honours as the 67’s built on their perfect weekend with a 2-1 win over the Soo Greyhounds.

An 18-year-old from Elora, Ont., MacKenzie joined teammate Max Donoso in receiving the 2023-24 Dave Pinkney Trophy presented to the goaltenders of the team that surrenders the fewest goals-against during the regular season. MacKenzie owns a career OHL regular season mark of 27-3-3-0, posting a 2.25 goals-against average and .914 save percentage over 41 games. He was Ottawa’s eighth round (160th overall) pick in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection from the Waterloo Wolves U16 program.

Also in the running for the award this week, Carter George of the Owen Sound Attack played to a 1-1-1-0 record, with a 1.68 goals-against average, and .944 save percentage along with his first OHL shutout. Winnipeg Jets prospect and returning OHL Goaltender of the Year Dom DiVincentiis of the North Bay Battalion played to a 2-1-0-0 mark with a 2.01 goals-against average and .926 save percentage.

2023-24 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
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.