Tristan Bertucci of the Flint Firebirds. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images
They year-over-year offensive improvement for Flint Firebirds defenceman Tristan Bertucci has elevated his stock. But it was the continued development and improvement throughout the season that has seen his draft stock rise. Ranked 51st on NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings, he improved to 32nd on their final rankings among North America skaters.
Not only is that a 19-spot jump for Bertucci, but Central Scouting has him third among OHL defencemen on their list, overtaking some noticeable defencemen ranked ahead of him coming into the season and even on their mid-term rankings.
Bertuzzi has good size and his skating is one of his best skills. He has quick first steps and very good top speed. He can be elusive and hard to read with his feet. Has excellent edge work with great lateral mobility and is one of the better backwards skaters in this class. He also has a strong hockey IQ with an ability to process the game quickly. That ability allows him to conserve energy and to play big minutes.
Beginning in his defensive zone, Bertucci is quick to pucks. He can lead the breakout with an excellent first pass and is very good with long stretch passes. He can also break the forecheck by skating the puck out of his zone. In this area, he fits the mold of the new age defenceman perfectly.
Bertucci also plays physically in his own zone. He is capable of taking his man out, fighting for pucks on the wall and in front of the blue paint and he will only get better as he gets stronger. His skating allows him to keep gaps tight where he uses an excellent stick, reach and anticipation to break up plays. There is always room for improvement but he is on track.
His offensive game may be a question mark. While he has shown to be offensively capable at the OHL level, it may not translate to the next level. While he can quarterback the powerplay for Flint with his ability to walk the line and make plays, a lack of a good shot from the point may prevent him from doing it at the AHL or NHL level.
Bertucci certainly has some of the skills scouts like and he is sure to be taken in the upper half of the draft in June.
Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Top Performers of the Week for the week of regular season games ending Sunday, February 5, 2023.
Spitfires’ Matthew Maggio Named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week
New York Islanders prospect Matthew Maggio of the Windsor Spitfires is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week for the second time this season, recording five goals, six assists and 11 points in three games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-10.
Leading the Spitfires to a perfect 3-0 showing last week, Maggio got things started with a pair of goals and an assist as Windsor defeated the Soo Greyhounds 7-4 on Thursday. Maggio’s success continued on Saturday with another three-point showing (2-1–3) in a 6-3 win over the Hamilton Bulldogs. Maggio extended his point streak to 12 games on Sunday, recording a goal and four assists as the Spitfires closed out the weekend with a high-scoring 8-1 win over the Owen Sound Attack. His performance on Sunday saw him reach the 100 career assist plateau, giving him 185 points (85-100–185) in 192 regular season games.
A 20-year-old native of Tecumseh, Ont., Maggio leads the OHL with 40 goals, 39 assists and 79 points (40-39–79) in 46 games this season. Helping Windsor win a Western Conference title, Maggio was a fifth round (142nd overall) pick of the New York Islanders this past summer following 38 goals, 47 assists and 85 points in 66 regular season games in 2021-22. The 6-foot, 185lb. forward was originally Ottawa’s fifth round (86th overall) pick in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection from the Sun County Panthers U16 program.
Also given consideration for the award this week were Anaheim Ducks prospect Sasha Pastujov of the Sarnia Sting, who recorded two goals and seven assists in three games. Draft eligible defenceman Tristan Bertucci of the Flint Firebirds was also a standout, recording three goals and four helpers (3-4–7) over three games.
Wolves’ Nate Krawchuk Named OHL Goaltender of the Week
Nate Krawchuk of the Sudbury Wolves is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, earning his first career shutout while posting a goals-against average of 0.97 and a save percentage of .961.
Earning first star honours in back-to-back games, Krawchuk stopped 49 of the 51 shots that came his way last week, helping the Wolves earn three of a possible four points. He turned aside all 21 shots he faced to earn his first career OHL shutout on Friday as the Wolves took a 4-0 win over the Mississauga Steelheads. Krawchuk was back between the pipes on Sunday to make his first set of consecutive starts this season, blocking 28 of the 30 shots that came his way as Sudbury fell to the Barrie Colts 2-1 in overtime.
A 17-year-old from Thunder Bay, Ont., Krawchuk owns a 6-5-1-0 record with a 3.16 goals-against average and .896 save percentage in his first 14 games with the Wolves this season. The 6-foot-1, 153Ib. netminder was Sudbury’s first round (3rd overall) pick in the 2022 OHL Under-18 Priority Selection from the Thunder Bay Kings U18 program.
A pair of other candidates were given consideration for the award as Arizona Coyotes prospect Anson Thornton of the Barrie Colts went 2-0-1-0, posting a 1.77 goals-against average and .939 save percentage. Reigning OHL Goaltender of the Week Jacob Oster of the Oshawa Generals was also a standout, recording a 2.04 goals-against average and .944 save percentage along with his third shutout of the season.
2022-23 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season: 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.
Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Academic Players of the Month for December including Callum Cheynowski of the Hamilton Bulldogs, Grayson Tiller of the Barrie Colts, Nathan Sauder of the Erie Otters and Tristan Bertucci of the Flint Firebirds.
East Division: Hamilton Bulldogs rookie defenceman Callum Cheynowski is the OHL East Division Academic Player of the Month for December.
Cheynowski is achieving a 93 percent average in grade 12 university-level French, a 98 percent average in Accounting and a 96 percent average in university-level Functions at Ancaster High School.
“Callum has demonstrated impressive academic achievement across a breadth of specialties,” said Bulldogs academic advisor Sean Nicholson. “Callum’s teachers regularly note the diligent attention he pays to his studies, and how he’s always on time with his assignments, even after a long road trip. Callum is a role model for other students and has managed to achieve the perfect balance between academic and on-ice commitments.”
The 16-year-old from Welland, Ont. has played nine games this season, recording one assist for the Bulldogs. He’s recorded an additional six points (4-2–6) in 10 games with the Thorold Blackhawks of the GOJHL. The 6-foot, 187Ib. blueliner was selected in the third round (63rd overall) by Hamilton in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection.
Central Division: Barrie Colts defenceman Grayson Tiller is the OHL Central Division Academic Player of the Month for December.
Tiller is currently achieving academic excellence in grade 12 university-level Chemistry, university-level Advanced Functions and is currently enrolled in the High Performance Athlete Co-op Program at Innisdale Secondary School.
“Grayson is a straight-A student,” said Colts academic advisor Chris Cudmore. “Just like his on-ice preparation, he his very dedicated, responsible and teachable in the classroom.”
The 17-year-old from St. Catharines, Ont. has played 28 games this season, recording five assists for the Colts. The 5-foot-10, 189Ib. blueliner was selected in the third round (44th overall) by Barrie in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection.
Midwest Division: Erie Otters defenceman Nathan Sauder is the OHL Midwest Division Academic Player of the Month for December.
Sauder has recently completed Kinesiology with a 93 percent average at Blyth Academy and is currently achieving a 96 percent average in Art History, a 74 percent average in Functions and an 87 percent average in English at Fairview High School.
“All his current and former teachers, both in person and online report that Nathan is an excellent student dedicated to his studies,” said Otters academic advisor Leigh Kostis. “He works well independently and maintains high academic standards with a very demanding on and off-ice schedule.”
The Mississauga, Ont. native has played 30 games this season, recording one goal and four assists for the Otters. Erie selected Sauder in the third round (54th overall) of the 2021 OHL Priority Selection.
West Division: Flint Firebirds blueliner Tristan Bertucci is the OHL West Division Academic Player of the Month for December.
Bertucci is currently achieving academic excellence in grade 12 Nutrition, Leadership, Modern Business, Physical Education, English and Chemistry.
“Tristan works hard on and off the ice and is a valuable player,” said Firebirds academic advisor Elizabeth Hoffman. “He has been working with the Business team at Dort Financial to help organize activities in his Leadership course. On top of managing his own academic and on-ice balance, Tristan also helps get players to school daily as well as to the rink for practice.”
The 17-year-old from Vaughan, Ont. has appeared in 30 games this season, recording three goals and 16 assists. Bertucci was selected in the first round (7th overall) by the Firebirds in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection. NHL Central Scouting listed Bertucci as a ‘C’ rated skater for the 2023 NHL Draft on their Players to Watch List issued earlier this season.
2022-23 OHL Academic Players of the Month:
East Division: December – Callum Cheynowski (Hamilton Bulldogs) November – James Guo (Peterborough Petes) October – Brad Gardiner (Ottawa 67’s)
Central Division: December – Grayson Tiller (Barrie Colts) November – Finn Harding (Mississauga Steelheads) October – Kieron Walton (Sudbury Wolves)
Midwest Division: December – Nathan Sauder (Erie Otters) November – Braedyn Rogers (Owen Sound Attack) October – Denver Barkey (London Knights)
West Division: December – Tristan Bertucci (Flint Firebirds) November – Bronson Ride (Windsor Spitfires) October – Alex Kostov (Soo Greyhounds)
The OHL continues to produce student-athletes that move on to both professional and U SPORTS men’s hockey endeavours.
A total of 349 graduates utilized their OHL Scholarship at post-secondary institutions across North America during the 2021-22 academic year, with a total contribution by teams of over $3.5 million. Over the past 10 seasons, OHL Scholarship payments have totalled more than $25 million.
A total of 217 OHL Alumni were included on U SPORTS men’s hockey rosters to open the 2022-23 season.
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.
Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League is pleased to congratulate 24 OHL players named by Hockey Canada to the Under-17 roster set to participate at the inaugural Capital City Challenge, a four-team tournament featuring three men’s under-17 teams and Canada’s National Women’s Team to take place November 26 to December 1 at TD Place in Ottawa.
The 66 players named to compete in the event will be divided into three teams – Team Canada Black, Team Canada Red and Team Canada White – and will compete against Canada’s National Women’s Team as part of its centralization schedule. The rosters for Team Canada Black, Team Canada Red and Team Canada White will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
The under-17 roster was selected by Scott Salmond (Creston, B.C.), senior vice-president of hockey operations, Alan Millar (Tottenham, Ont.), director of player personnel, and Byron Bonora (Brooks, Alta.), head scout for the U17 program. U17 Program of Excellence management group lead Philippe Boucher (Saint-Apollinaire, Que./Drummondville, QMJHL) and manager of hockey operations Benoit Roy (Sudbury, Ont.), as well as regional scouts Pierre Cholette (Quebec), Rob Simpson (Ontario), Darren Sutherland (Atlantic) and Darrell Woodley (Ontario), also provided input with support from Hockey Canada’s 13 Members.
“We are excited to unveil the 66 players that will suit up for our three men’s under-17 teams at the Capital City Challenge and have the unique opportunity to compete against Canada’s National Women’s Team in Ottawa,” said Salmond. “Although this has not been a traditional year for our Program of Excellence and the under-17 group, we are excited to introduce these athletes to an event that replicates short-term, international competition.”
In addition to the 24 OHL players selected, a total of nine OHL hockey operations personnel have been named to the staffs of the three Canadian squads including Team Red director of operations Kyle Raftis (Soo Greyhounds), Team White head coach Rob Wilson (Peterborough Petes), assistant Chad Wiseman (Guelph Storm) and Team Black assistant coach Jordan Smith (Soo Greyhounds).
24 OHL Players Named to 2021 Capital City Challenge:
*player committed to Ontario Hockey League club
Goaltenders (3): Joseph Costanzo (Niagara IceDogs) Nathaniel Day (Flint Firebirds) Mason Vaccari (Kingston Frontenacs)*
Forwards (15): Denver Barkey (London Knights) Chris Barlas (Ottawa 67’s) Colby Barlow (Owen Sound Attack) Easton Cowan (London Knights)* Nick Lardis (Peterborough Petes) Luke McNamara (Saginaw Spirit) Ethan Miedema (Windsor Spitfires) Luke Misa (Mississauga Steelheads) Owen Outwater (North Bay Battalion) Alex Pharand (Hamilton Bulldogs) Luca Pinelli (Ottawa 67’s) Carson Rehkopf (Kitchener Rangers) Calum Ritchie (Oshawa Generals) Matthew Soto (Kingston Frontenacs) Carey Terrance (Erie Otters)
Team Staff (Canada Black): Assistant Coach – Jordan Smith (Soo Greyhounds) Athletic Therapist – Marie-Pierre Néron (Ottawa 67’s)
Team Staff (Canada Red): Director of Operations – Kyle Raftis (Soo Greyhounds) Goaltending Coach – Franky Palazzese (Sarnia Sting) Video Coach – Nick Biamonte (Guelph Storm) Equipment Manager – Spencer Stehouwer (Sarnia Sting) Team Physician – Dr. Wanda Millard (London Knights)
Team Staff (Canada White): Head Coach – Rob Wilson (Peterborough Petes) Assistant Coach – Chad Wiseman (Guelph Storm)
The Capital City Challenge opens on Nov. 26 at TD Place Arena, home of the Ottawa 67’s. Canada’s centralization roster will face Team Canada White in the tournament opener at 12 p.m. ET, followed by Team Canada Black taking on Team Canada Red at 7 p.m. ET.
Full-event ticket packages can be purchased for $80 (plus applicable fees) starting Monday, Nov. 8, while single-game tickets will be available starting as low as $5 at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets.
For more information on Hockey Canada and the Capital City Challenge, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and by using #OurGameIsBack.
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 Writers 