Petes’ Dylan Wells named Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Edmonton Oilers prospect Dylan Wells of the Peterborough Petes is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending December 18 after posting a 3-0-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 1.95 and save percentage of .945.

Wells made 103 saves in three games last week backstopping the Petes to a trio of victories to extend their winning-streak to eight-straight entering the league’s holiday break.  His week began Thursday night taking advantage of Sportsnet’s national broadcast spotlight turning aside 30 shots as second star of a 3-1 victory against the London Knights.  On Friday night Wells earned first star honours with 40 saves as part of a 4-3 overtime win against the Kingston Frontenacs, then finished his week Sunday with a 33-save performance as second star of a 5-2 win over the North Bay Battalion.  The eight-game winning streak is the Petes’ longest since the club won 15-straight in 2005-06 and brings their first half record to 18-11-1-3 where they stand second in the East Division.

Dylan Wells of the Peterborough Petes. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Dylan Wells of the Peterborough Petes. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

An 18-year-old from St. Catharines, ON, Wells is playing in his third career season with the Petes who chose him in the second round of the 2014 OHL Priority Selection.  Wells ranks second in the OHL with 903 saves while carrying a record of 16-8-1-2 with a goals-against-average of 2.97 and the league’s fifth best save percentage at .920.  The fifth round pick of the Oilers in the 2016 NHL Draft is the fourth goaltender to earn the weekly honour this season.

Watch video highlights of Wells and the Petes against the Knights, Frontenacs, and Battalion.

Also considered for the award this week were a pair of Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds including Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Boris Katchouk with three goals and three assists and New York Rangers prospect Tim Gettinger who scored four goals and two assists in three games.  Additionally, Florida Panthers prospect Adam Mascherin of the Kitchener Rangers had two goals and four assists for six points in two games.

2016-17 Pioneer Energy OHL Players of the Week:

Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Dylan Wells (Peterborough Petes)
Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)
Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Boris Katchouk (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Jeremy Bracco (Kitchener Rangers)
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Jonathan Ang (Peterborough Petes)
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Troy Timpano (Erie Otters)
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Max Jones (London Knights)
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Jeremy Bracco (Kitchener Rangers)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Logan Brown (Windsor Spitfires)
Sept. 26 – Oct. 2: Joseph Raaymakers (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 25: Matt Luff (Hamilton Bulldogs)

Tim Gettinger – Player Profile – Soo Greyhounds

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height:  6’6”

Weight:  200 Pounds

Date of birth: April 14, 1998. North Olmstead, OH

Position:  Left Wing

Shoots:  Left

OHL Draft: Round 3, 49th overall, 2014 OHL Priority Selection.

Gettinger played for the Cleveland Barons Under-16 during the 2013-2014 season and in 34 games scored 24 goals and added 8 assists.  His characterization as a goal scorer was cemented.

Last season was Gettinger’s rookie season in the Ontario Hockey League and much like teammate (and first round pick) Zachary Senyshyn, was relegated to a bottom six role while being a healthy scratch on occasion simply because of the depth and a very strong Greyhounds squad.  In 54 games, he scored 10 goals and 15 assists and 1 goal and 1 assist while getting into the lineup for a half dozen games.

Gettinger also put in a very strong performance at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial in August. He scored twice and added two assists in four games. In September, Gettinger competed in the CCM/USA Hockey 2015 All-American Prospects Game in Buffalo, NY. He scored once for Team Roenick as they lost 6-4 to Team Plante in the annual exhibition of the top American prospects available for the draft.

Tim Gettinger of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Tim Gettinger of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

But it’s been a mixed bag so far this season for Gettinger.

First and foremost, one must understand that the Greyhounds are on a sort of a mini rebuild after the team dominated last season before bowing out to the Erie Otters in the Eastern Conference Finals. They are a young team on a quick turnaround that could be right back in the mix next season with all their young talent.

Last season he showed an ability to use his size to intimidate, drive the net, control the walls and was a solid net front presence. This season however, Gettinger looks to be kind of confused as to what type of player he should be, often trying to play a skilled game instead of using his strengths.

That said Gettinger isn’t without talent. He has great speed especially for a guy who is 6’6”. He’s shown to have the smarts and ability to get open and has a good shot that he can get off. Learning to mix that in with a dump and chase, battle for pucks, get to the front of the net, use his speed and size to retrieve pucks, and then use that size to maintain possession is key for Gettinger. If he can combine it all instead of trying to be one or the other, he should have a productive NHL career. He’s still a raw talent, and it would be hard to bet against him.

On September’s NHL Central Scouting list of players to watch, and their updated November list, Gettinger was listed as a B prospect – typically a second or third round prospect. On their January mid-term rankings, Gettinger was ranked 28th among North American skaters – 12th among OHL players (not including goaltenders). When you include goaltenders and European skaters, you are probably looking at a late second round pick.