OHL Writers Draft Eligible Player of the Month for March

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

It wasn’t exactly a barn burner of a March for the skaters when it comes to the players eligible for the National Hockey League Entry Draft. But it was probably the best month of the season for the goaltenders. Here’s our choices for draft eligible forward, defenceman and goaltender of the month.

Draft Eligible Forward of the Month – Max Namestnikov – Guelph Storm

We all know about the explosion of offence Namestnikov had once he was traded from the Sarnia Sting to the Guelph Storm. Max had just two assists in the month of March but tallied 12 goals in 11 games that raised his season total to 39. And 35 of those goals came after the trade, in just 47 games. He had goals in all but 3 of those 11 games and included 4 multi point games.

Also considered were Coulson Pitre of the Flint Firebirds with 4 goals and 7 assists in 9 games, Joey Willis of the Saginaw Spirit had 5 goals and 8 assists in 11 games and Brady Stonehouse of the Ottawa 67’s who had 7 goals and 4 assists in 10 games.

Draft Eligible Defenceman of the Month – Matthew Mania – Sudbury Wolves

Mania quietly put together a solid season for the Sudbury Wolves and the month of March was a very good one for him. He appeared in 12 games scoring 3 goals and adding 6 assists and a plus-7 to finish the season with 10 goals and 28 assists and a plus-21 while playing in 67 games.

Also considered was Hunter Brzustewicz who had 8 assists in 12 games for the Rangers.

Draft Eligible Goaltender of the Month – Charlie Robertson – North Bay Battalion

Robertson had a great start to the month of March posting consecutive shutouts beginning with a 20 save blanking of the Niagara IceDogs on March and 5 days later blanking the Oshawa Generals with a 28 save performance. Robertson went 5-0-0-0 in the month of March stopping 145 of 154 shots for a save-percentage of .942.

Also considered was Liam Sztuska of the Peterborough Petes who went 4-0-0-0 in 5 appearances and stopped 128 of 134 shots for a save-percentage of .955 and 1 shutout. Collin MacKenzie of the Ottawa 67’s was also considered as he posted a 7-0-0-0 record in 8 appearances with a .930 save-percentage.

We have to give a special shout out to Owen Flores of the Niagara IceDogs. He appeared in 10 games with two of those being in relief. Here are the shots he faced in his 8 full games: 66, 44, 46, 45, 48, 50, 58 and 36. In total, he stopped 399 of 440 shots he faced for a .907 save-percentage.

Forwards

Max Namestnikov – Guelph Storm – March

Nick Lardis – Hamilton Bulldogs – February

Colby Barlow – Owen Sound Attack – January

Quentin Musty – Sudbury Wolves – December

Quentin Musty – Sudbury Wolves – November

Ryan Abraham – Windsor Spitfires – October

Defencemen

Matthew Mania – Sudbury Wolves – March

Rodwin Dionicio – Windsor Spitfires – February

Rodwin Dionicio – Windsor Spitfires – January

Beau Akey – Sudbury Wolves – December

Brody Crane – London Knights – November

Hunter Brzustewicz – Kitchener Rangers – October

Goaltenders

Charlie Robertson – North Bay Battalion – March

Tristan Malboeuf – Hamilton Bulldogs – February

Jacob Oster – Oshawa Generals – January

Joey Costanzo – Windsor Spitfires – December

Andrew Oke – Saginaw Spirit – November

Collin MacKenzie – Ottawa 67’s – October

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POITRAS AND SIMPSON NAMEDOHL 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, November 20, 2022



Storm’s Matthew Poitras Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week

Boston Bruins prospect Matthew Poitras of the Guelph Storm is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week after recording two goals, six assists and eight points in a pair of Storm victories.

Poitras helped the Storm come from behind to defeat the Niagara IceDogs 6-4 on Thursday night, recording four primary assists, with three of them coming in the third period. After earning third star recognition on Friday, Poitras was named the game’s first star on Saturday, scoring twice while adding two assists as Guelph defeated the visiting Kitchener Rangers 5-3. Poitras opened the scoring in Saturday’s win and scored the eventual game winning goal early in the second period.

An 18-year-old from Brooklin, Ont., Poitras leads the Storm with 23 points (6-17–23) in 16 games this season while also owning a club-high plus-4 rating. He’s won 54.3 percent of his faceoffs on the campaign and is in the midst of a six-game point streak that dates back to Oct. 30th. The 5-foot-11, 170Ib. centreman was selected by the Boston Bruins in the second round (54th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft. Poitras was Guelph’s first round (12th overall) pick in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection from the Whitby Wildcats U16 program.

Also considered for the award this week, Seattle Kraken prospect Ty Nelson put up six points (2-4–6) in three games on the North Bay Battalion blue line. Poitras’ new Guelph Storm teammate Max Namestnikov got off to a great start in his new surroundings, recording six points (3-3–6) last week.

2022-23 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
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)



Petes’ Michael Simpson Named OHL Goaltender of the Week

Michael Simpson of the Peterborough Petes is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, posting a 2-0 record with a 1.50 goals-against average, .950 save percentage and one shutout.

October’s OHL Goaltender of the Month, Simpson went a perfect 26-for-26 on Thursday night against the Oshawa Generals as the Petes defeated their long-time rival by a score of 4-0. Simpson returned to the crease on Saturday in Mississauga, making 31 saves for second star honours as Peterborough defeated the host Steelheads 7-3.

A 19-year-old from London, Ont., Simpson leads the OHL with a 2.28 goals-against average, .925 save percentage and two shutouts through 16 games, posting a record of 9-4-1-2. The second-year netminder played to a 20-18-3-1 mark in 2021-22, registering a 3.56 goals-against average and .891 save percentage. Simpson was a 10th round (193rd overall) pick of the Petes in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection from the London Jr. Knights U16 program.

Also in the running for the award this week, Barrie Colts netminder Ben West turned aside 82 shots, going 1-1 with a 2.53 goals-against average and .943 save percentage. Ottawa’s Max Donoso helped the 67’s continue their current winning streak, going 2-0 with a 3.00 goals-against average and .900 save percentage.

2022-23 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
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.