VIERLING AND GAUDREAU 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 playoff games ending Sunday, April 16th.



Colts’ Evan Vierling Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week

Barrie Colts forward Evan Vierling is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording seven assists in three games.

Vierling played a big part in Barrie’s Game 6 win over the Hamilton Bulldogs on Monday night, recording four assists in the 5-4 road win. He picked up a primary assist on Ethan Cardwell’s series-clincher, a goal that came with just 10 seconds remaining in the third period, marking the final OHL game at Hamilton’s FirstOntario Centre for at least three seasons. Vierling was back producing to open Barrie’s second round matchup against the North Bay Battalion on Friday, picking up two assists in a 3-2 overtime win. He had the primary assist on Josh Kavanagh’s deciding goal. Vierling left Sunday’s Game 2 against North Bay with an injury, but managed to pick-up an assist in the 5-2 loss.

A 20-year-old overage forward from Aurora, Ont., Vierling led the Colts with 95 points including 35 goals and 60 assists over 60 games this past season. He finished tied for the team lead with 10 power play goals, had a plus-18 rating and seven game-winners in his fourth OHL season, wrapping-up his career with 213 points (75-138–213) over 218 regular season games. Vierling has 13 points (1-12–13) through seven playoff outings. A former first round (2nd overall) pick of the Flint Firebirds in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection, Vierling attended training camp with the Columbus Blue Jackets last October.

Also considered for the award this week, Barrie Colts teammate Ethan Cardwell, a recent signing by the San Jose Sharks, recording three goals, three assists and six points in three games last week. London Knights centreman Sean McGurn was also productive with six points (2-4–6) in three games.

2022-23 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Playoffs:
Apr. 10 – Apr. 16: Evan Vierling (Barrie Colts)
Apr. 3 – Apr. 9: Luca Pinelli (Ottawa 67’s)
Mar. 27 – Apr. 2: Matyas Sapovaliv (Saginaw Spirit)

2022-23 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Mar. 20 – Mar. 26: Ethan Miedema (Kingston Frontenacs)
Mar. 13 – Mar. 19: Brandt Clarke (Barrie Colts)
Mar. 6– Mar. 12: Sahil Panwar (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Feb. 27 – Mar. 5: Christian Kyrou (Sarnia Sting)
Feb. 20 – Feb. 26: Braeden Bowman (Guelph Storm)
Feb. 13 – Feb. 19: Nolan Burke (Sarnia Sting)
Feb. 6 – Feb. 12: Sean McGurn (London Knights)
Jan. 30 – Feb. 5: Matthew Maggio (Windsor Spitfires)
Jan. 23 – Jan. 29: Sahil Panwar (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Jan. 16 – Jan. 22: James Hardie (Mississauga Steelheads)
Jan. 9 – Jan. 15: Colby Barlow (Owen Sound Attack)
Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Bryce McConnell-Barker (Soo Greyhounds)
Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Connor Lockhart (Peterborough Petes)
Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Evan Vierling (Barrie Colts)
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)
 



Sting’s Ben Gaudreau Named OHL Goaltender of the Week

San Jose Sharks prospect Ben Gaudreau of the Sarnia Sting is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, playing to a mark of 2-0 with a 0.47 goals-against average, .983 save percentage and one shutout.

Gaudreau helped the Sting take a 2-0 series lead over the Saginaw Spirit in their Western Conference Semi-Final series. Gaudreau’s week started with a 26-save shutout against Saginaw in Game 1, earning first star honours as the Sting prevailed by a score of 3-0 on home ice. The shutout set a new Sting franchise mark, making him the first Sarnia netminder to ever record two playoff shutouts. Gaudreau turned-in another first star showing in Game 2 on Sunday, turning aside 33 shots as the Sting outlasted the Spirit 2-1 in overtime.

A 20-year-old native of Corbeil, Ont., Gaudreau went 24-12-3-3 with a 3.07 goals-against average and .889 save percentage over 44 games in his third OHL season. The 6-foot-2, 172Ib. puck stopper owns a career mark of 53-43-8-5 with a 3.60 goals-against average, .890 save percentage and three shutouts over 116 regular season games since being selected in the first round (7th overall) by the Sting in 2019. So far in these playoffs, Gaudreau is 6-1 with a 2.24 goals-against average and .909 save percentage. Gaudreau, who won gold with Canada’s National Junior Team this past January, was selected by San Jose in the third round (81st overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft.

Also considered for the award this week, Michael Simpson of the Peterborough Petes went 1-1 with a 2.01 goals-against average and .934 save percentage as the Petes drew even with the Ottawa 67’s in their second round series. Gaudreau’s series counterpart Tristan Lennox of the Saginaw Spirit was also solid, going 1-2 with a 2.26 goals-against average and .925 save percentage over three games.

2022-23 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Playoffs:
Apr. 10 – Apr. 16: Ben Gaudreau (Sarnia Sting)
Apr. 3 – Apr. 9: Brett Brochu (London Knights)
Mar. 27 – Apr. 2: Marco Costantini (Kitchener Rangers)

2022-23 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Mar. 20 – Mar. 26: Collin MacKenzie (Ottawa 67’s)
Mar. 13 – Mar. 19: Liam Sztuska (Peterborough Petes)
Mar. 6 – Mar. 12: Dom DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion)
Feb. 27 – Mar. 5: Dom DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion)
Feb. 20 – Feb. 26: Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes)
Feb. 13 – Feb. 19: Tristan Lennox (Saginaw Spirit)
Feb. 6 – Feb. 12: Zach Bowen (London Knights)
Jan 30 – Feb. 5: Nate Krawchuk (Sudbury Wolves)
Jan 23 – Jan. 29: Jacob Oster (Oshawa Generals)
Jan 16 – Jan. 22: Mason Vaccari (Kingston Frontenacs)
Jan 9 – Jan. 15: Matteo Drobac (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Max Donoso (Ottawa 67’s)
Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes)
Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Marco Costantini (Kitchener Rangers)
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.

MCGURN AND BOWEN 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, February 12, 2023.



Knights’ Sean McGurn Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week

London Knights forward Sean McGurn is the OHL Player of the Week, leading all players with 13 points including five goals and eight assists in four games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-8.

McGurn helped the Knights extend their current winning streak to eight games, producing four consecutive multi-point outings last week. McGurn helped London rack up nine goals on Monday, recording three goals and three assists for a career-high six points in a 9-5 win over visiting Flint. McGurn was back on the scoresheet Wednesday night, recording a goal and an assist as the Knights came back to edge the Kitchener Rangers 5-4 at home. He replicated that stat line Friday, scoring once and adding an assist as the Knights bested the visiting Erie Otters 8-1. McGurn rounded-out the week with three assists in Saturday’s 5-1 road win over the Guelph Storm, giving him a club-leading 68 points (24-44–68) in 50 games.

A 20-year-old from Ottawa, Ont., McGurn is in his third season with the Knights after recording 20 goals, 53 assists and 73 points last season. The 5-foot-11, 182Ib. co-captain has accumulated 45 goals, 99 assists and 144 points in 154 career regular season games after being selected by London in the third round (53rd overall) of the 2018 OHL Priority Selection. McGurn attended rookie camp with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent invite this past September.

Also considered for the award this week, Knights teammate Ruslan Gazizov produced a goal and nine assists in four games, including a career-best seven points (1-6–7) on Monday against Flint. Firebirds forward and Detroit Red Wings prospect Amadeus Lombardi was also excellent, producing 10 points (4-6–10) in four games last week.

2022-23 Cogeco OHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Feb. 6 – Feb. 12: Sean McGurn (London Knights)
Jan. 30 – Feb. 5: Matthew Maggio (Windsor Spitfires)
Jan. 23 – Jan. 29: Sahil Panwar (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Jan. 16 – Jan. 22: James Hardie (Mississauga Steelheads)
Jan. 9 – Jan. 15: Colby Barlow (Owen Sound Attack)
Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Bryce McConnell-Barker (Soo Greyhounds)
Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Connor Lockhart (Peterborough Petes)
Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Evan Vierling (Barrie Colts)
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)



Knights’ Zach Bowen Named OHL Goaltender of the Week

London Knights rookie netminder Zach Bowen is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, playing to a 3-0 record with a 2.70 goals-against average and .920 save percentage.

Following an abbreviated start in a game the Knights would go on to win on Monday at home to Flint, Bowen strung together three straight victories to extend his current run of consecutive wins to 13. He turned aside 31 shots on Wednesday as London staged a late comeback to defeat the Kitchener Rangers 5-4. With Brett Brochu out with an injury, Bowen returned to the crease on Friday, stopping 32 of 33 to earn first star honours in an 8-1 win over the Erie Otters. He was solid again on Saturday in Guelph, making 25 saves as the Knights defeated the Storm 5-1.

A 17-year-old from Kanata, Ont., Bowen owns a record of 14-1-0-0 in his first OHL season, posting a 2.58 goals-against average and .915 save percentage with one shutout over 18 games. The 6-foot-2, 180Ib. puck stopper hasn’t lost a game since Oct. 22nd in Saginaw. Bowen was selected by the Knights in the fourth round (77th overall) from the Embrun Panthers of the EOJHL last spring. He was listed as the 29th-ranked North American goaltender on NHL Central Scouting’s midseason rankings released on Jan. 13th.

Also considered for the award this week, Mississauga Steelheads rookie Ryerson Leenders went 2-0 with a 2.17 goals-against average and .923 save percentage in victories over Owen Sound and Sudbury. Joey Costanzo also played to a 2-0 mark with a 2.50 goals-against average and .921 save percentage for the West Division-leading Windsor Spitfires.

2022-23 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Feb. 6 – Feb. 12: Zach Bowen (London Knights)
Jan 30 – Feb. 5: Nate Krawchuk (Sudbury Wolves)
Jan 23 – Jan. 29: Jacob Oster (Oshawa Generals)
Jan 16 – Jan. 22: Mason Vaccari (Kingston Frontenacs)
Jan 9 – Jan. 15: Matteo Drobac (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Max Donoso (Ottawa 67’s)
Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes)
Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Marco Costantini (Kitchener Rangers)
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.

OHL ANNOUNCES TOP PERFORMERS OF THE MONTH FOR NOVEMBER

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the Top OHL Performers of the Month for regular season games played in November 2022 including London Knights teammates Sean McGurn and Oliver Bonk along with Saginaw Spirit teammates Pavel Mintyukov and Tristan Lennox.
 

OHL Player of the Month – Sean McGurn (London Knights):
London Knights forward Sean McGurn is the OHL Player of the Month for November, leading all players with 20 points including six goals, 14 assists and a plus/minus rating of plus-7 in 12 contests last month. The overage centreman helped the Knights turn around a slow start to their season, registering points in 10 of his 12 outings as London played to a November mark of 10-2-0-0. McGurn logged seven multi-point performances, including three straight capped by a goal and two helpers on Nov. 12th in Windsor as the Knights defeated the Spitfires 6-1. McGurn scored in four consecutive contests as part of a 12-game point streak. He posted another goal and two assist showing on Nov. 19th in Flint as the Knights defeated the Firebirds 7-4. He did so again on Nov. 27th in Oshawa as London skated to a 4-2 win. McGurn becomes the first Knights player to earn OHL Player of the Month honours since Mitch Marner last received the title in February 2016.

A 20-year-old native of Ottawa, Ont., McGurn is in his third season with the Knights and sits fourth in OHL scoring with 32 points (10-22–32) in 23 games. He’s won 57.4 percent of his faceoffs this season while taking just two minutes in penalties thus far. He’s accumulated 108 points (31-77–108) over 127 regular season games since being selected by London in the third round (53rd overall) of the 2018 OHL Priority Selection. McGurn attended rookie camp with the Toronto Maple Leafs in September.
 

OHL Defenceman of the Month – Pavel Mintyukov (Saginaw Spirit):
For the second straight month, Anaheim Ducks prospect Pavel Mintyukov of the Saginaw Spirit is the OHL Defenceman of the Month, leading all defenders with 17 points including six goals, 11 assists and a plus/minus rating of plus-12 in 11 games. Mintyukov’s continued excellence on the blue line helped the Spirit play to a November record of 10-1-0-0 as they roll into the month of December as the hottest team in the OHL. His month included six different multi-point showings, starting with a goal and an assist on Nov. 3rd as the Spirit came back to defeat the Kingston Frontenacs 3-2. He tacked on three points (1-2–3) on Nov. 6th in Oshawa as the Spirit took a 5-0 road win. Mintyukov registered his second multi-goal showing of the campaign on Nov. 12th against Sault Ste. Marie, tying the game with 16 seconds to spare in an eventual 4-3 overtime win over the Greyhounds. He rounded-out November with back-to-back multi-point totals, picking up a goal and an assist in a 4-1 win over Sarnia on Nov. 25th before scoring and adding two helpers in a Nov. 26th 7-2 win over the Windsor Spitfires. This marks Mintyukov’s third OHL Defenceman of the Month honour following previous titles in October 2022 and March 2021. He’s the first player to be named OHL Defenceman of the Month in each of the first two months of a season since Dougie Hamilton of the Niagara IceDogs in October and November 2011.

A recently-turned 19-year-old standing 6-foot-3 and 195Ibs., Mintyukov sits second in OHL scoring with 35 points (12-23–35) in 24 games this season, paired with the League’s third-best plus/minus rating of plus-19. He became the first defenceman to ever lead the Spirit in scoring last season, recording 62 points (17-45–62) in 67 games before being selected 10th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2022 NHL Draft. The Spirit selected Mintyukov with the 52nd overall pick of the 2020 CHL Import Draft. He was voted to the OHL’s third all-star team last season.
 

OHL Goaltender of the Month – Tristan Lennox (Saginaw Spirit):
New York Islanders prospect Tristan Lennox of the Saginaw Spirit is the OHL Goaltender of the Month for November, helping the Spirit ascend to first place in the West Division standings with a record of 6-1-0-0, goals-against average of 1.86 and save percentage of .931 in seven appearances. After his lone loss to start the month, Lennox posted his first shutout of the campaign on Nov. 6th in Oshawa, making 26 saves as the Spirit defeated the Generals 5-0. He turned aside 28 shots a week later in Sarnia as the Spirit defeated the Sting by a score of 4-3 in overtime on Nov. 11th. Lennox registered 36 saves in a 4-3 overtime road win over the Flint Firebirds on Nov. 23rd, earning second star recognition for his efforts. He closed out November with a sixth straight win on Nov. 26th, making 27 saves as the Spirit defeated visiting Windsor 7-2 to match a franchise record with their ninth consecutive victory. Lennox is the first Spirit goaltender to earn OHL Goaltender of the Month honours since Ivan Prosvetov who last did so in March 2019.

A 20-year-old from Cambridge, Ont., Lennox owns a 12-3-0-0 record with a 2.95 goals-against average and .891 save percentage through 16 games in this, his fourth OHL season. The overage goaltender has played to a career mark of 46-33-3-2 with a 3.25 goals-against average and .887 save percentage in 92 regular season games, all with the Spirit who selected him in the second round (26th overall) of the 2018 OHL Priority Selection. Lennox was drafted by the New York Islanders in the third round (93rd overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft.
 

OHL Rookie of the Month – Oliver Bonk (London Knights):
Draft eligible London Knights blueliner Oliver Bonk is the OHL Rookie of the Month for November, leading all rookies with 14 points including three goals, 11 assists and a plus/minus rating of plus-5 in 12 games. Bonk’s presence and increased responsibility on the Knights blue line helped the green and gold surge to a 10-2-0-0 record in the month of November, pushing them to the top of the Midwest Division standings. Bonk recorded points in 10 of his 12 November contests, opening the month by matching his October total in a single game with three points (1-2–3) in a 6-3 loss to the Erie Otters on Nov. 4th. Bonk registered points in eight consecutive games, capped by a goal and an assist on Nov. 19th in Flint as the Knights defeated the Firebirds 7-4. He lit the lamp again on Nov. 25th in Kitchener as the Knights defeated the rival Rangers 4-0. Bonk becomes the first Knights defenceman to earn OHL Rookie of the Month recognition since John Carlson last did so in December 2008.

A 17-year-old from Ottawa, Ont., Bonk leads the Knights offensively from the blue line with 18 point (5-13–18) in 23 games. The 6-foot-2, 179Ib. right-shot appeared in 10 games with London last season, recording three assists while also excelling with the St. Thomas Stars of the GOJHL where he posted 32 points (5-27–32) in as many games to earn GOJHL West Top Rookie Defenceman honours, also being voted to the GOJHL West Rookie All-Star Team. The son of former long-time NHL forward Radek Bonk, Oliver was London’s second round (26th overall) pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection. He won gold with Canada in this past summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup Tournament. Bonk was listed as a ‘B’ rated skater on NHL Central Scouting’s latest Players to Watch list released on Oct. 25th.
 

2022-23 OHL Performers of the Month:

Player of the Month:
November – Sean McGurn (London Knights)
October – Brennan Othmann (Flint Firebirds)

Defenceman of the Month:
November – Pavel Mintyukov (Saginaw Spirit)
October – Pavel Mintyukov (Saginaw Spirit)

Goaltender of the Month:
November – Tristan Lennox (Saginaw Spirit)
October – Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes)

Rookie of the Month:
November – Oliver Bonk (London Knights)
October – Michael Misa (Saginaw Spirit)


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.