OHL ANNOUNCES TOP PERFORMERS OF THE MONTH FOR DECEMBER

TORONTO (Thursday, January 1, 2026) – The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) today announced Top Performers of the Month for December.

Player of the Month – Riley Patterson (Niagara IceDogs) – 11 GP, 9G, 10A, 19 PTS., +7
Leading the OHL with 19 points (9-10–19) over 11 games during the month of December, Vancouver Canucks prospect Riley Patterson of the Niagara IceDogs is the OHL Player of the Month. Patterson’s month featured seven different multi-point efforts, including a pair of overtime game-winners. He started things off with three points (1-2–3) on Dec. 5th at Brampton, scored 1:31 into overtime on Dec. 7th vs. North Bay, and registered his first of two two-goal efforts on Dec. 18th at Peterborough. His second included another overtime game-winner on Dec. 20th at home to the Sarnia Sting. Patterson put together another three-point outing (1-2–3) on Dec. 29th at Brampton as the IceDogs won by a score of 4-3.

A 19-year-old from Burlington, ON, Patterson sits fifth in OHL scoring with 45 points (21-24–45) over 33 games in this, his fourth OHL season. Acquired from the Barrie Colts last summer, Patterson has produced 166 points (75-91–166) over 165 career regular season games after entering the league as Flint’s third round (57th overall) pick in 2022. He was selected by Vancouver in the fourth round (125th overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft, and signed a three-year entry-level NHL contract with Vancouver on Sept. 21, 2025. Patterson is a former OHL Cup champion, winning as a member of the GTHL’s Mississauga Senators in 2022. Patterson also holds the distinction of being a former OJHL and CJHL Rookie of the Year, producing 73 points (30-43–73) over 52 games during the 2022-23 season with the North York Rangers.

Defenceman of the Month – Anthony Cristoforo (Windsor Spitfires) – 8 GP, 6G, 6A, 12 PTS., +8
Anthony Cristoforo of the Windsor Spitfires is the OHL Defenceman of the Month, producing 12 points (6-6–12) over eight games accompanied by a plus-8 rating. The fourth-year veteran had a point in all eight of his December outings, highlighted by a four-point effort (3-1–4) on Dec. 18th vs. Sault Ste. Marie, a game he happened to see some assignments up on the Spitfires’ forward ranks. He also put together a two-goal performance on Dec. 11th at Peterborough as the Spitfires won 6-3.

A 19-year-old from Woodbridge, ON, Cristoforo has produced at over a point-per-game in 2025-26, recording 33 points (10-23–33) over 30 contests with a plus-14 rating. The 6-foot, 180Ib. right-shot blueliner sits fifth in all-time points by a Spitfires defenceman with 172 (35-137–172) over 224 career regular season contests. Cristoforo was a first round (22nd overall) pick by Windsor in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection.

Goaltender of the Month – Ben Hrebik (Barrie Colts) – 7 GP, 5-2-0-0, 1.86 GAA, .950 SV%, 246 SV
Kept busy during the month of December, Ben Hrebik of the Barrie Colts is the OHL Goaltender of the Month for a second straight month, going 5-2 with a 1.86 goals-against average and .950 save percentage while making 246 saves. Hrebik faced 40 or more shots four different times in December, winning in three of those four instances. He turned aside 39-of-40 shots on Dec. 6th in a 2-1 win at Kingston, made 42 saves on Dec. 13th as the Colts defeated the visiting Niagara IceDogs 2-1, and made an additional 45 saves on Dec. 28th as Barrie beat the North Bay Battalion 3-1 on the road.

A 19-year-old from Milton, ON, Hrebik has been the OHL’s busiest goaltender, making a league-leading 881 saves, resulting in an impressive .930 save percentage to go with a 2.61 goals-against average and 14-7-1-3 record over 25 games. The 6-foot-3, 204Ib. goaltender is in his second full OHL season after going 21-9-2-0 with a 2.87 goals-against average and .920 save percentage over 34 games in 2024-25. The Colts selected Hrebik in the ninth round (173rd overall) of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection.

Rookie of the Month – Caleb Malhotra (Brantford Bulldogs) – 10 GP, 7G, 9A, 16 PTS., +6
Brantford Bulldogs centreman Caleb Malhotra is the OHL Rookie of the Month, producing 16 points (7-9–16) over 10 games accompanied by a plus/minus rating of plus-6. With the absence of teammates Jett Luchanko (Canada) and Adam Benak (Czechia) at the World Juniors, Malhotra was thrust into an elevated role and excelled, helping Brantford continue its strong first half, playing to a record of 25-6-4-1. The 6-foot-2, 182Ib. pivot recorded points in nine of his 10 December outings, headlined by three points (1-2–3) on Dec. 6th in a 7-2 win vs. North Bay. Malhotra scored twice on Dec. 19th in Kingston, netting the game-winner in a 4-2 triumph over the Frontenacs. He earned first star honours in Wednesday’s 5-2 win over the Erie Otters, recording a goal and an assist.

A 17-year-old from Toronto, Malhotra leads OHL rookies with 48 points (18-30–48) over 35 games. The son of former OHL and NHL forward Manny Malhotra was originally selected by the Kingston Frontenacs in the first round (8th overall) of the 2024 OHL Priority Selection, and was acquired by the Bulldogs on Sept. 12, 2024. He captained Team CHL in this year’s CHL/USA Prospects Challenge, and will represent the Western Conference in the 2026 Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game on Jan. 14th. Malhotra is an A-rated prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft. He is committed to Boston University (NCAA).

2025-26 OHL Performers of the Month:

Player of the Month:
December – Riley Patterson (Niagara IceDogs)
November – Nathan Aspinall (Flint Firebirds)
October – Jake O’Brien (Brantford Bulldogs)

Defenceman of the Month:
December – Anthony Cristoforo (Windsor Spitfires)
November – Adam Jiricek (Brantford Bulldogs)
October – Carson Woodall (Windsor Spitfires)

Goaltender of the Month:
December – Ben Hrebik (Barrie Colts)
November – Ben Hrebik (Barrie Colts)
October – Joey Costanzo (Windsor Spitfires)

Rookie of the Month:
December – Caleb Malhotra (Brantford Bulldogs)
November – Ryder Fetterolf (Ottawa 67’s)
October – Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit)

BARKEY, HILLEBRANDT AND ROBINSON NAMED OHL TOP PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Week for the week of playoff games ending Sunday, April 13.



Knights’ Denver Barkey Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week

Philadelphia Flyers prospect Denver Barkey of the London Knights is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, registering four goals, three assists and seven points in a pair of victories.

The Knights captain played a pivotal role in securing a 2-0 second round series lead over the Erie Otters last week. He recorded a hat trick and was named first star in Thursday’s 6-3 win, before adding a goal and three assists to earn first star honours once again in Saturday’s 7-2 victory.

Selected 16th overall by the London Knights in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, the soon-to-be 20-year-old from Newmarket, Ont. recorded 82 points (25-57-82) in 50 regular season games, and currently ranks second in playoff scoring with 19 points (9-10-19) through six contests in the 2024-25 postseason. Now in his fourth season with the Knights, Barkey has amassed 258 points (89-169-258) over 228 career regular season games, along with 72 points (27-45-72) in 49 playoff appearances. The 5-foot-10, 171-pound forward was a key part of the Knights’ OHL championship run last season. He was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the third round (95th overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft.

Also considered for this week’s award, Toronto Maple Leafs prospect and Knights forward Easton Cowan registered seven points (2-5-7) across the two victories. Vancouver Canucks prospect Riley Patterson contributed three goals and three assists to help the Barrie Colts take a 2-0 series lead, while Chicago Blackhawks prospect Nick Lardis of the Brantford Bulldogs stood out with six points (4-2-6) in a pair of wins.

2024-25 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Playoffs:
Apr. 7 – Apr. 13: Denver Barkey (London Knights)
Mar. 31 – Apr. 6: Owen Griffin (Oshawa Generals)
Mar. 24 – Mar. 30: Pano Fimis (Erie Otters)

2024-25 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Mar. 17 – Mar. 23: Konnor Smith (Brampton Steelheads)
Mar. 10 – Mar. 16: Ilya Protas (Windsor Spitfires)
Mar. 3 – Mar. 9: Quentin Musty (Sudbury Wolves)
Feb. 24 – Mar. 2: Brady Martin (Soo Greyhounds)
Feb. 17 – Feb. 23: Ilya Protas (Windsor Spitfires)
Feb. 10 – Feb. 16: Cole Brown (Brantford Bulldogs)
Feb. 3 – Feb. 9: Igor Chernyshov (Saginaw Spirit)
Jan. 27 – Feb. 2: Nick Lardis (Brantford Bulldogs)
Jan. 20 – Jan. 26: Zayne Parekh (Saginaw Spirit)
Jan. 13 – Jan. 19: Tuomas Uronen (Kingston Frontenacs)
Jan. 6 – Jan. 12: Kocha Delic (Sudbury Wolves)
Dec. 30 – Jan. 5: Liam Greentree (Windsor Spitfires)
Dec. 28 – Dec. 29: Cole Davis (Windsor Spitfires)
Dec. 16 – Dec. 22: Marco Mignosa (Soo Greyhounds)
Dec. 9 – Dec. 15: Ryan Roobroeck (Niagara IceDogs)
Dec. 2 – Dec. 8: Beckett Sennecke (Oshawa Generals)
Nov. 25 – Dec. 1: Blake Montgomery (London Knights)
Nov. 18 – Nov. 24: Joey Willis (Saginaw Spirit)
Nov. 11 – Nov. 17: Joey Willis (Saginaw Spirit)
Nov. 4 – Nov. 10: Sam Dickinson (London Knights)
Oct. 28 – Nov. 3: Marco Mignosa (Soo Greyhounds)
Oct. 21 – Oct. 27: Sam Dickinson (London Knights)
Oct. 14 – Oct. 20: Liam Greentree (Windsor Spitfires)
Oct. 7 – Oct. 13: Calvin Crombie (Brantford Bulldogs)
Sept. 30 – Oct. 6: Kevin He (Niagara IceDogs)
Sep. 25 – Sept. 29: Michael Misa (Saginaw Spirit)



Colts’ Sam Hillebrandt Named OHL Goaltender of the Week

Sam Hillebrandt of the Barrie Colts is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, following a pair of wins with a 3.00 goals-against average and .928 save percentage.

Stopping a total of 77 shots last week, Hillebrandt backstopped the Colts to a 2-0 series lead over the Kingston Frontenacs. He turned aside 38 of 40 shots on Thursday, earning first star honours in Barrie’s 6-2 win. The 6-foot-1, 170lb. netminder returned to the crease on Saturday with a 39-save performance as the Colts skated to a 7-4 victory.

A 20-year-old from Riverview, Florida, Hillebrandt posted a 21-13-0-2 record during the regular season, along with a 3.16 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage. He’s appeared in five playoff contests so far in 2024-25, maintaining an undefeated 5-0 record with a 3.20 goals-against average and .905 save percentage. Originally from Michigan, Hillebrandt played in the Detroit Little Caesars AAA program before relocating to Florida. He captured gold with the U.S. National Junior Team at both the 2024 and 2025 World Juniors. The Colts signed Hillebrandt as a free agent ahead of the 2022-23 season following his time with the Florida Alliance North 16U program in 2021-22. Across 76 career regular season OHL appearances, he holds a 38-29-2-2 record with one shutout, a 3.41 goals-against average, and a .900 save percentage.

Also considered for the award this week, Joey Costanzo of the Windsor Spitfires played to a 2-0 record along with a 1.00 goals-against average and .947 save percentage, while Austin Elliott of the London Knights was also a standout, going 2-0 with a 2.50 goals-against average and .902 save percentage.

2024-25 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Playoffs:
Apr. 7 – Apr. 13: Sam Hillebrandt (Barrie Colts)
Mar. 31 – Apr. 6: Jackson Parsons (Kitchener Rangers)
Mar. 24 – Mar. 30: Ryerson Leenders (Brantford Bulldogs)

2024-25 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Mar. 17 – Mar. 23: Mike McIvor (North Bay Battalion)
Mar. 10 – Mar. 16: Ryerson Leenders (Brantford Bulldogs)
Mar. 3 – Mar. 9: Austin Elliott (London Knights)
Feb. 14 – Mar. 2: Nathan Day (Flint Firebirds)
Feb. 17 – Feb. 23: Mike McIvor (North Bay Battalion)
Feb. 10 – Feb. 16: Collin MacKenzie (Ottawa 67’s)
Feb. 3 – Feb. 9: Ryerson Leenders (Brantford Bulldogs)
Jan. 27 – Feb. 2: Carter George (Owen Sound Attack)
Jan. 20 – Jan. 26: Austin Elliott (London Knights)
Jan. 13 – Jan. 19: Nolan Lalonde (Soo Greyhounds)
Jan. 6 – Jan. 12: Easton Rye (Peterborough Petes)
Dec. 30 – Jan. 5: Jackson Parsons (Kitchener Rangers)
Dec. 28 – Dec. 29: Ben Hrebik (Barrie Colts)
Dec. 16 – Dec. 22: Nathan Day (Flint Firebirds)
Dec. 9 – Dec. 15: Ryerson Leenders (Brantford Bulldogs)
Dec. 2 – Dec. 8: Jackson Parsons (Kitchener Rangers)
Nov. 25 – Dec. 1: Aleksei Medvedev (London Knights)
Nov. 18 – Nov. 24: Jackson Parsons (Kitchener Rangers)
Nov. 11 – Nov. 17: Carter George (Owen Sound Attack)
Nov. 4 – Nov. 10: Andrew Oke (Saginaw Spirit)
Oct. 28 – Nov. 3: Jackson Parsons (Kitchener Rangers)
Oct. 21 – Oct. 27: Nathan Day (Flint Firebirds)
Oct. 14 – Oct. 20: Joey Costanzo (Windsor Spitfires)
Oct. 7 – Oct. 13: Finn Marshall (Sudbury Wolves)
Sept. 30 – Oct. 6: Joey Costanzo (Windsor Spitfires)
Sept. 25 – Sept. 29: Jack Ivankovic (Brampton Steelheads)



Spitfires’ Andrew Robinson Named OHL Rookie of the Week

Andrew Robinson of the Windsor Spitfires is the OHL Rookie of the Week, registered a goal in a pair of victories last week.

Helping the Spitfires take a 2-0 series lead over the Kitchener Rangers, the 6-foot, 185lb. defenceman scored his first career OHL goal on Thursday and earned second star honours in a 5-1 win.

Selected by Windsor in the third round (58th overall) of the 2024 OHL Priority Selection from the Vaughan Kings U16 AAA program, the 17-year-old from Oakville, Ont. native appeared in four regular season games with the Spitfires this season. He spent the majority of 2024-25 with the OJHL’s Georgetown Raiders, tallying three goals, 31 assists and 34 points in 53 games played.

2024-25 OHL Rookies of the Week – Playoffs:
Apr. 7 – Apr. 13: Andrew Robinson (Windsor Spitfires)
March. 31 – Apr. 6: Noah Read (London Knights)
March. 24 – March. 30: Ethan Garden (Windsor Spitfires)

2024-25 OHL Rookies of the Week – Regular Season:
March. 17 – March. 23: Zachary Jovanovski (Guelph Storm)
March. 10 – March. 16: Aidan Lane (Brampton Steelheads)
March. 3 – March. 9: Liam Beamish (Sarnia Sting)
Feb. 24 – March. 2: Filip Ekberg (Ottawa 67’s)
Feb. 17 – Feb. 23: Cole Zurawski (Owen Sound Attack)
Feb. 10 – Feb. 16: Pierce Mbuyi (Owen Sound Attack)
Feb. 3 – Feb. 9: Pierce Mbuyi (Owen Sound Attack)
Jan. 27 – Feb. 2: Jacob Cloutier (Saginaw Spirit)
Jan. 20 – Jan. 26: Dimian Zhilkin (Saginaw Spirit)
Jan. 13 – Jan. 19: Chase Reid (Soo Greyhounds)
Jan. 6 – Jan. 12: Lev Katzin (Guelph Storm)
Dec. 30 – Jan. 5: Ethan Belchetz (Windsor Spitfires)
Dec. 28 – Dec. 29: Carson Harmer (Saginaw Spirit)
Dec. 16 – Dec. 22: Logan Hawery (London Knights)
Dec. 9 – Dec. 15: Liam Beamish (Sarnia Sting)
Dec. 2 – Dec. 8: Lev Katzin (Guelph Storm)
Nov. 25 – Dec. 1: Aleksei Medvedev (London Knights)
Nov. 18 – Nov. 24: Gavin Betts (Kingston Frontenacs)
Nov. 11 – Nov. 17: Beckham Edwards (Sarnia Sting)
Nov. 4 – Nov. 10: Carter Stevens (Guelph Storm)
Oct. 28 – Nov. 3: Aleksei Medvedev (London Knights)
Oct. 21 – Oct. 27: Cole Zurawski (Flint Firebirds)
Oct. 14 – Oct. 20: Alessandro Di Iorio (Sarnia Sting)
Oct. 7 – Oct. 13: Pierce Mbuyi (Owen Sound Attack)
Sept. 30 – Oct. 6: Beckham Edwards (Sarnia Sting)
Sept. 25 – Sept. 29: Ethan Belchetz (Windsor Spitfires)
 

About the Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) has long been regarded as the number one development league in the world, continuing to serve as a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League. The OHL consists of 20 teams, with 17 located in Ontario, two in the state of Michigan and one in the state of Pennsylvania. A proud member of the Canadian Hockey League, the OHL is also a leading provider of hockey scholarships, with over 329 graduates receiving OHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice in 2024-25, resulting in a collective investment of over $42 million by OHL member teams over the past 15 years.

Riley Patterson – Barrie Colts – Player Profile

Riley Patterson of the Barrie Colts. Photo by OHL Images.
HTWTDOBPOSSHOHL DRAFTNHLCSNAT
6’194Mar 22, 2006CR57th 202261st N.A.CAN
SEASONLEAGUETEAMGPGAPTS
2019-2020SCTA U14Burlington Eagles32351348
2021-2022GTHL U16Mississauga Senators28181230
2022-2023OJHLNorth York Rangers52304373
2023-2024OHLBarrie Colts68293362

Riley Patterson has consistently produced at a high level throughout his career. Though he started slowly in his first OHL season, Patterson improved significantly halfway through the year, finishing with nearly a point-per-game.

Patterson is an adept skater with decent speed, but he needs to build more strength on his skates, as opponents can too easily knock him off the puck. His agility allows him to weave through traffic and elude defenses to find open ice. He has the ability to navigate through the neutral zone and gain the blue line on the rush.

Defensively, Patterson is solid but can still grow. He has demonstrated an aptitude for disrupting plays in the neutral zone and grasping his responsibilities in his own end. However, like the Colts as a whole, Patterson’s performance was uneven at times this season, so he must focus on playing more consistently.

Patterson may be better utilized as a winger since he profiles more as a complementary player on a line that can provide strong defense and secondary scoring, rather than as the primary play driver.

OHL ANNOUNCES TOP PERFORMERS OF THE MONTH FOR FEBRUARY

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Month for games played in February 2024.

Player of the Month – David Goyette (Sudbury Wolves)

Seattle Kraken prospect David Goyette of the Sudbury Wolves is the OHL Player of the Month, leading the League with 25 points including eight goals and 17 assists over 13 games played in February. Increasing his point streak to 15 consecutive games, Goyette registered points in all 13 showings this month including a trio of three-point performances on Feb. 9 against the Niagara IceDogs, Feb. 19 against the Guelph Storm, and Feb. 25 against the Mississauga Steelheads. Goyette tallied his sixth four-point showing of the season on Feb. 11, tallying a goal and three assists in an 8-7 overtime win against the Steelheads. He helped the Wolves climb to second in the Eastern Conference standings with a February record of 8-4-0-1, clinching a spot in the OHL Playoffs. He’s the first Wolves player to earn OHL Player of the Month honours since Michael Sgarbossa in February 2012.

A soon-to-be 20-year-old, Goyette leads all OHL point-getters with 95 points (36-59-95) through 57 games played this season. The Hawkesbury, Ont. native ranks fifth in goal-scoring and second in assists, registering a plus/minus rating of plus-15. A 5-foot-11, 181Ib. right-winger, Goyette is in his third season with the Wolves, having recorded 110 goals, 150 assists and 260 points over 186 career regular season games since being selected by Sudbury with the 11th overall pick of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection. Goyette was drafted by the Seattle Kraken with their second round (61st overall) pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, signing a three-year entry-level contract with the club on Apr. 10, 2023. Goyette won a gold medal with Canada at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Defenceman of the Month – Sam Dickinson (London Knights)

Top 2024 NHL Draft-eligible prospect Sam Dickinson of the London Knights is the OHL Defenceman of the Month, recording 20 points including four goals and 16 assists along with a plus/minus rating of plus-9 over 12 games. Dickinson helped the League-leading Knights play to a February mark of 10-2 as they clinched a spot in the OHL Playoffs for a 23rd straight season. Recording points in 11 of his 12 outings, Dickinson recorded a three-point showing on Feb. 7, registering three assists in a 9-2 win over Flint. He helped lead the Knights to an overtime victory over the Generals on Feb.11, tallying a pair of assists including one on the game-winner. Dickinson registered a goal and an assist on Feb. 24, helping the Knights earn a 4-3 shootout win over the Ottawa 67’s. Dickinson follows teammate Oliver Bonk in being named OHL Defenceman of the Month. They’re the first set of teammates to claim the honour in the same season since Knights rearguards Evan Bouchard and Adam Boqvist last did so in 2018-19.

A 17-year-old from Toronto, Ont., Dickinson sits third among OHL defencemen with 63 points (17-46–63) over 58 games while his plus/minus rating of plus-45 ranks second among all OHL skaters. Selected fourth overall by the Niagara IceDogs in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, the 6-foot-3, 195Ib. defenceman has registered 26 goals, 60 assists, and 86 points in 120 played over two seasons with the Knights. He helped the Knights reach the OHL Championship Series last spring after being voted to the OHL’s first all-rookie team, recording four goals and four assists during their 21-game playoff run. Dickinson won gold with Canada at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer and was the seventh ranked North American skater on NHL Central Scouting’s Midseason NHL Draft Rankings released on Jan. 12.

Goaltender of the Month – Dom DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion)

Winnipeg Jets prospect Dom DiVincentiis of the North Bay Battalion is the OHL Goaltender of the Month for February, playing to a 7-1 record with a 2.39 goals-against average and .916 save percentage along with a shutout. Helping the Battalion clinch a spot in the OHL Playoffs, DiVincentiis opened the month with his first shutout of the season on Feb. 1 with a 22-save performance against the Mississauga Steelheads. DiVincentiis had a pair of 30+ save performances, earning wins on Feb. 16 against Ottawa and Feb. 23 against Saginaw as the Battalion now sit third in the Eastern Conference standings. This marks DiVincentiis’ third OHL Goaltender of the Month honour, following previous recognition in January and March 2023.

A soon-to-be 20-year-old from Bolton, Ont., DiVincentiis has played to a season record of 21-9-3-1 including a shutout, along with a 3.22 goals-against average and .891 save percentage. Selected in the sixth round (116th overall) by North Bay in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection, the 6-foot-3, 200lb. netminder has appeared in 110 career regular season contests, recording a 71-26-5-2 record, 2.68 goals-against average and .907 save percentage over three seasons. Backstopping the Battalion to back-to-back Eastern Conference Championship Series appearances, the reigning OHL Goaltender of the Year has had great success in the playoffs, making 26 appearances while accruing a record of 13-9-4-0 with a 2.76 goals-against average and .914 save percentage.  A former seventh round pick of the Winnipeg Jets in the 2022 NHL Draft, DiVincentiis signed a three-year entry-level contract with the club on July 5, 2023.

Rookie of the Month – Riley Patterson (Barrie Colts)

Barrie Colts forward Riley Patterson is the OHL Rookie of the Month for the second month in a row, leading all first-year talents with 18 points including 10 goals and eight assists over 12 games. Patterson put together six multi-point performances in the month of February, including a a three-point effort with a pair of goals and an assist on Feb. 17. Patterson tallied five points in his final two games of the month, closing out February with a second three-point performance on Feb. 28, scoring two goals and an assist to help the Colts defeat the Sudbury Wolves. Patterson becomes the first player to earn two OHL Rookie of the Month honours in the same season since Shane Wright (Kingston) and Mason McTavish (Peterborough) did so in 2019-20.

A soon-to-be 18-year-old from Burlington, Ont., Patterson currently leads OHL rookies with 26 goals, adding 30 assists for 56 points over 56 games. The 6-foot, 194Ib. centreman joined the Colts last summer, coming over in a trade from the Flint Firebirds who selected him in the third round (57th overall) of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection. A former OHL Cup champion with the Mississauga Senators U16 program, Patterson was the OJHL Rookie of the Year in 2022-23, recording 73 points (30-43–73) over 52 games with the North York Rangers Jr. A program. Patterson was the 116th ranked North American skater on NHL Central Scouting’s Midseason NHL Draft Rankings released on Jan. 12.

2023-24 OHL Performers of the Month:

Player of the Month:
February – David Goyette (Sudbury Wolves)
January – Calum Ritchie (Oshawa Generals)
December – Ruslan Gazizov (London Knights)
November – Filip Mesar (Kitchener Rangers)
October – Carson Rehkopf (Kitchener Rangers)

Defenceman of the Month:
February – Sam Dickinson (London Knights)
January – Oliver Bonk (London Knights)
December – Nick DeAngelis (Sudbury Wolves)
November – Zayne Parekh (Saginaw Spirit)
October – Hunter Brzustewicz (Kitchener Rangers)

Goaltender of the Month:
February – Dom DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion)
January – Michael Simpson (London Knights)
December – Marcus Vandenberg (Sudbury Wolves)
November – Jackson Parsons (Kitchener Rangers)
October – Brayden Gillespie (Guelph Storm)

Rookie of the Month:
February – Riley Patterson (Barrie Colts)
January – Riley Patterson (Barrie Colts)
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.

BRYANT AND WILLMORE NAMED OHL TOP PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Week for the week of regular season games ending Sunday, February 4, 2024.



IceDogs’ Gavin Bryant Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week

Gavin Bryant of the Niagara IceDogs is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, contributing two goals, five assists and seven points while registering a plus-3 rating in three games.

Bryant found the score sheet on Thursday, registering a goal in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Sudbury Wolves. Bouncing back on Saturday, the 5-foot-11, 192lb. forward tallied a pair of assists including one on the game-winner to help Niagara defeat the Peterborough Petes 5-4 in extra time. Bryant closed out the weekend tying his career-high single-game high of four points with a goal and three primary assists in a 6-4 win over the North Bay Battalion on Sunday.

A 19-year-old from Ingersoll, Ont., Bryant has recorded 36 points (13-23–36) through 42 outings this season. Originally selected in the second round (37th overall) by the Owen Sound Attack in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection from the Brantford 99ers AAA U16 program, Bryant has tallied 32 goals, 68 assists, and 100 points over 135 regular season games between the Attack and the IceDogs.

Also considered for the award this week, Colorado Avalanche prospect and January OHL Player of the Month Calum Ritchie of the Oshawa Generals scored two times and added five assists to help the Generals earn nine points. OHL Rookie of the Month Riley Patterson of the Barrie Colts was also productive, contributing a total of four goals and three helpers on the road last week.

2023-24 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Jan. 29 – Feb. 4: Gavin Bryant (Niagara IceDogs)
Jan. 22 – Jan. 28: Liam Greentree (Windsor Spitfires)
Jan. 15 – Jan. 21: Quentin Musty (Sudbury Wolves)
Jan. 8 – Jan. 14: Oliver Bonk (London Knights)
Jan. 1 – Jan. 7: Anthony Romani (North Bay Battalion)
Dec. 28 – Dec. 31: Sam Dickinson (London Knights)
Dec. 11 – Dec. 18: Ruslan Gazizov (London Knights)
Dec. 4 – Dec. 10: Nick Lardis (Brantford Bulldogs)
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)



Knights’ Owen Willmore Named OHL Goaltender of the Week

Owen Willmore of the London Knights is the OHL Goaltender of the Week following three wins including a shutout, with a 1.96 goals-against average and .918 save percentage.

Stopping a total of 67 shots last week, Willmore turned aside all 24 attempts he faced on Tuesday to earn his first career OHL shutout and first star honours as the Knights blanked the Kitchener Rangers 4-0. The 6-foot-3, 180lb. netminder was back in the crease with a 22-save performance on Friday to help the Knights defeat the Erie Otters 5-3. Willmore closed out his week stopping 24 of the 27 shots that came his way along with four shootout attempts in a 4-3 win road over the Owen Sound Attack on Saturday.

A 19-year-old hometown product, Willmore owns a season mark of 11-4-0-2, posting a 3.12 goals-against average and .895 save percentage. Selected in the 14th round (279th overall) by the Knights in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection, Willmore has appeared in 23 games over two season, registering a 3.32 goals-against average and .886 save percentage. He appeared in three games in last year’s OHL Championship Series, going 1-1 with a 1.44 goals-against average and .958 save percentage.

Also in the running for the award this week, Winnipeg Jets prospect Dom DiVincentiis of the North Bay Battalion played to a 2-0 record including a shutout, with a 2.00 goals-against average, and .918 save percentage. Nick Surzycia of the Sarnia Sting was also solid in the crease, playing to a 2-0 mark with a 2.40 goals-against average and .922 save percentage.

2023-24 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Jan. 29 – Feb. 4: Owen Willmore (London Knights)
Jan. 22 – Jan. 28: Sam Hillebrandt (Barrie Colts)
Jan. 15 – Jan. 21: Matteo Drobac (Brantford Bulldogs)
Jan. 8 – Jan. 14: Michael Simpson (London Knights)
Jan. 1 – Jan. 7: Jacob Oster (Oshawa Generals)
Dec. 28 – Dec. 31: Brayden Gillespie (Guelph Storm)
Dec. 11 – Dec. 18: Jacob Oster (Oshawa Generals)
Dec. 4 – Dec. 10: Max Donoso (Ottawa 67’s)
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.

OHL ANNOUNCES TOP PERFORMERS OF THE MONTH FOR JANUARY

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Month for games played in January 2024.

Player of the Month – Calum Ritchie (Oshawa Generals)

Colorado Avalanche prospect Calum Ritchie of the Oshawa Generals is the OHL Player of the Month, leading the league with 26 points including nine goals and 17 assists along with a plus/minus rating of plus-19 over 13 games. Ritchie’s month of January featured five different performances with at least three points, including two five-point showings that came on Jan. 6th at Flint and Jan. 19th vs. Peterborough. He helped the Generals climb the Eastern Conference standings with a January record of 8-3-1-1, earning three star recognition six different times throughout the course of the month.

A recently-turned 19-year-old from Oakville, Ont., Ritchie leads the Generals in regular season scoring despite having played in just 28 games. His 1.68 points-per-game resulting from 16 goals and 31 assists are the fourth-highest rate in the OHL this season while he’s also registered a plus/minus rating of plus-28. A 6-foot-2, 179Ib. centreman, Ritchie is in his third season with the Generals, having recorded 59 goals, 92 assists and 151 points over 152 career regular season games since being selected by Oshawa with the second overall pick of the 2021 OHL Priority Selection. Ritchie was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche with their first round (27th overall) pick last summer. A former OHL first all-rookie team member in 2021-22, Ritchie won a gold medal with Canada at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, leading the tournament in scoring before capturing bronze at the 2023 IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship.

Also considered for the award this month, London Knights forward Easton Cowan finished January with 21 points (8-13–21) over 10 games.

Defenceman of the Month – Oliver Bonk (London Knights)

Philadelphia Flyers prospect Oliver Bonk of the London Knights is the OHL Defenceman of the Month, recording 21 points including 10 goals and 11 assists along with a plus/minus rating of plus-14 over 10 games. Bonk helped the Knights play to a January mark of 9-0-0-2 as they climbed into first place in the OHL standings, recording points in nine of his 10 outings. He recorded three different two-goal outings along with five multi-point contests to begin the 2024 calendar year, headlined by five points (2-3–5) in a 9-2 road win over the Sarnia Sting on Jan. 10th. Three of Bonk’s January goals were game-winners while six of his 10 tallies came on the man advantage.

A newly-turned 19-year-old from Ottawa, Ont., Bonk sits third among OHL defencemen with 51 points (16-35–51) over 38 games while his 12 power play markers are tied for the league-lead among rearguards. The 6-foot-2, 179Ib. defender has played parts of three seasons in London, recording 26 goals, 68 assists and 94 points over 115 regular season games. He helped the Knights reach the OHL Championship Series last spring, recording 11 assists during their 21-game playoff run. Bonk was voted to the OHL’s second all-rookie team in 2022-23 before being selected by Philadelphia with their first round (22nd overall) pick last summer. Bonk won gold with Canada at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and represented Canada at this past month’s 2024 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Sweden. The Knights selected Bonk in the second round (26th overall) of the 2021 OHL Priority Selection.

Also considered for the award this month, Saginaw Spirit defender Zayne Parekh registered 21 points (9-12–21) over 11 games.

Goaltender of the Month – Michael Simpson (London Knights)

London Knights netminder Michael Simpson is the OHL Goaltender of the Month, playing to a record of 5-0-0-1 with a 1.32 goals-against average, .950 save percentage and one shutout over six outings. Simpson carried a five-game winning streak into the month of January, stretching that to 10 games while still remaining undefeated in regulation since Dec. 10th to close-out the month. He backstopped the Knights to his second shutout of the season on Jan. 14th vs. Owen Sound.

A 20-year-old London native, Simpson leads the OHL in both goals-against average (2.54) and wins (23) while also posting a .909 save percentage and two shutouts over 33 games. Now in his third OHL season, last year’s OHL Playoff MVP has played to a career mark of 67-47-5-4 with a 2.96 goals-against average, .905 save percentage and eight shutouts over 129 regular season games between London and Peterborough. The 6-foot-1, 198Ib. goaltender was originally Peterborough’s 10th round (193rd overall) pick in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection. Simpson, who was voted to the OHL’s third all-star team last season, attended training camp with the Pittsburgh Penguins prior to the start of the 2023-24 campaign.

Also considered for the award this month, Jacob Oster of the Oshawa Generals played to a record of 7-3-0-1 in January, posting a 2.00 goals-against average and .929 save percentage with one shutout over 11 outings.

Rookie of the Month – Riley Patterson (Barrie Colts)

Barrie Colts forward Riley Patterson is the OHL Rookie of the Month, leading all first-year talents with 15 points including five goals and 10 assists over 12 games. Patterson put together a trio of multi-point performances, helping the Colts score wins over the Soo Greyhounds and Niagara IceDogs with three-point efforts on Jan. 6th and Jan. 20th. He closed out January with a career-high four points, scoring twice while adding two assist in a 7-6 overtime loss to the Owen Sound Attack on Jan. 31st.

A 17-year-old from Burlington, Ont., Patterson currently leads OHL rookies with 16 goals, adding 22 assists for 38 points over 44 games. The 6-foot, 194Ib. centreman joined the Colts last summer, coming over in a trade from the Flint Firebirds who selected him in the third round (57th overall) of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection. A former OHL Cup champion with the Mississauga Senators U16 program, Patterson was the OJHL Rookie of the Year in 2022-23, recording 73 points (30-43–73) over 52 games with the North York Rangers Jr. A program. Patterson was the 116th ranked North American skater on NHL Central Scouting’s Midseason NHL Draft Rankings released on Jan. 12th.

Also considered for the award this month, December Rookie of the Month award recipient Jake O’Brien of the Brantford Bulldogs put up 13 points (2-11–13) over 11 contests.

2023-24 OHL Performers of the Month:

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

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

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

Rookie of the Month:
January – Riley Patterson (Barrie Colts)
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.