Carson Woodall of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by OHL Images.
FORWARD OF THE MONTH: Tristan Delisle – Owen Sound Attack
Delisle has been a model of consistency to start the season, registering at least one point in every game to date. October was particularly productive, as the forward racked up 19 points—7 goals and 12 assists—across the month, including six multi-point outings. His standout performance came on October 29, when he netted a hat trick against the Sarnia Sting. The OHL took notice, naming him a finalist for Player of the Month honors.
Also considered was his teammate Pierce Mbuyi who had 7 goals and 9 assists and Nikita Klepov of the Saginaw Spirit with 6 goals and 9 assists in 11 games.
DEFENSEMAN OF THE MONTH: Carson Woodall – Windsor Spitfires
Carson Woodall has earned back-to-back honors as our Draft-Eligible Defenseman of the Month, continuing his standout campaign with another impressive stretch in October. Over 11 games, the blueliner tallied two goals and 13 assists, leading all draft-eligible defensemen in scoring for the month. That brings his season totals to 3 goals and 20 assists through 17 games—an early statement from a rising prospect.
Woodall recorded four multi-assist performances and registering points in all but one outing—October 4 against the Brantford Bulldogs. His consistent production and playmaking prowess earned him OHL Defenseman of the Month honors, further cementing his status as one of the league’s top draft-eligible blueliners.
Also earning consideration was Soo Greyhounds blueliner Chase Reid, who quietly put together a strong October. Over 12 games, Reid notched two goals and added 12 assists, anchoring the Greyhounds’ transition game with steady production from the back end.
GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH: Vladislav Yermolenko – Niagara IceDogs
Named a runner-up for OHL Goaltender of the Month, Yermolenko earns our nod as the Draft-Eligible Goaltender of the Month after a standout October. The netminder posted a 5-1-0-1 record across seven appearances, closing the month on a five-game winning streak. He faced a heavy workload—234 shots in total—and turned aside 215 of them. While others may boast flashier numbers, few matched Yermolenko’s volume or consistency between the pipes.
Also earning recognition were North Bay’s Jack Lisson and Ottawa’s Jaeden Nelson, both of whom turned in strong October performances. Lisson posted a stellar .942 save percentage, stopping 81 of 86 shots across three outings for the Battalion. Nelson, meanwhile, faced a heavier workload with five appearances for the 67’s, turning aside 173 of 189 shots to keep his club competitive.
TORONTO (Saturday, November 1, 2025) – The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) today announced Top Performers of the Month for October, with additional totals from September’s opening weeks of the regular season also recognized.
Player of the Month – Jake O’Brien (Brantford Bulldogs) – 12 GP, 7G, 19A, 26 PTS., +15 Seattle Kraken prospect Jake O’Brien of the Brantford Bulldogs is the OHL Player of the Month for October, starting his season with a league-leading 26 points (7-19–26) through just 12 games. O’Brien’s start featured seven different multi-point outings highlighted by five points (3-2–5) on Oct. 12th in an 8-5 win over the Ottawa 67’s. He tallied four points (1-3–4) in a game on Oct. 26th as the Bulldogs defeated the host Oshawa Generals 4-1. Behind O’Brien’s leadership, Brantford remains the lone OHL team that is undefeated in regulation (11-0-2-1) entering the month of November.
Named Bulldogs captain to start the season, the 18-year-old O’Brien leads the OHL with 26 points in his third OHL season. The former OHL Rookie of the Year in 2023-24 has 188 career points (52-136–188) over 139 regular season games as a Bulldog. Brantford selected O’Brien with the eighth overall pick in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection. He was Seattle’s first round (8th overall) pick last summer, signing an entry-level NHL contract with the Kraken on July 3, 2025.
Also considered for the award this month, Owen Sound Attack forward Tristan Delisle rides a 16-game point streak, producing 24 points (9-15–24) in that span. Bulldogs teammate Adam Benak, a Minnesota Wild prospect, was also productive with 24 points (7-17–24) over 12 games.
Defenceman of the Month – Carson Woodall (Windsor Spitfires) – 16 GP, 2G, 20A, 22 PTS., +4 Windsor Spitfires blueliner Carson Woodall is the OHL Defenceman of the Month for October, leading OHL rearguards with 22 points (2-20–22) over 16 contests. The third year veteran has recorded a point in all but two of his outings this season, scoring his two goals in a 2-0 win over the Ottawa 67’s on Oct. 23rd. Woodall’s offensive productivity has helped the Spitfires put together the league’s third-ranked power play at 32.8 percent, with him leading all OHL players in power play points with 14 (1-13–14).
A 19-year-old from nearby Belle River, ON, Woodall is a former 10th round (202nd overall) pick by the Spitfires in 2022 who has developed into a reliable contributor on the blueline. The 5-foot-11, 183Ib. defenceman has accrued 89 points (11-78–89) over his 142 career regular season games with the Spitfires.
Also considered for the award this month, New York Islanders prospect Kashawn Aitcheson of the Barrie Colts leads OHL defencemen with nine goals, including a pair of recent overtime winners. The 18-year-old Aitcheson has 15 points (9-6–15) in as many games.
Goaltender of the Month – Joey Costanzo (Windsor Spitfires) – 11 GP, 9-1-0-0, 1.66 GAA, .923 SV%, 2 SO Joey Costanzo of the Windsor Spitfires is the OHL Goaltender of the Month for October, compiling an impressive record of 9-1 with a 1.66 goals-against average and .923 save percentage over 11 contests. Costanzo’s success featured a pair of shutouts, with the first in a 4-0 win over the Sudbury Wolves on Sept. 25th followed by another in a 6-0 triumph over the Niagara IceDogs on Oct. 2nd.
A 20-year-old from Toronto, Costanzo owns a career OHL record of 84-50-5-4 with a 3.61 goals-against average and .884 save percentage with seven shutouts over 158 regular season games between Windsor and Niagara. He was originally. Niagara’s second round (23rd overall) pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection.
Also considered for the award this week, Mason Vaccari of the Flint Firebirds was very good in October, going 7-2-1-0 with a 2.66 goals-against average and .923 save percentage and two shutouts over 10 games. Niagara IceDogs newcomer Vladislav Yermolenko also made a strong impression, going 6-1-0-1 with a 2.63 goals-against average, a .925 save percentage and one shutout over nine games. Additionally, San Jose Sharks prospect Christian Kirsch of the Kitchener Rangers played to an 8-2-0-0 mark with a 1.99 goals-against average, .920 save percentage and one shutout.
Rookie of the Month – Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit) – 15 GP, 10G, 13A, 23 PTS., +2 First-year Saginaw Spirit forward Nikita Klepov is the OHL Rookie of the Month for October, pacing OHL newcomers with 23 points (10-13–23) over 15 games. Klepov’s introduction to the OHL has been headlined by a five-point effort (2-3–5) on Oct. 4th as the Spirit skated to a 7-5 road win over the Owen Sound Attack. He’s proceeded to post a goal and an assist on Oct. 18th at Flint and Oct. 24th vs. Erie. Klepov currently leads all OHL skaters with 71 shots on goal.
A 17-year-old from Deerfield Beach, Florida, Klepov comes to the OHL from the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers where he posted 31 points (12-19–31) over 59 games in 2024-25. Selected 35th overall by the Spirit in the 2025 CHL Import Draft, Klepov is an A-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary players to watch list, indicating a potential first round NHL Draft pick. The 6-foot, 180Ib. right-wing won gold with the United States at this past summer’s Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. Klepov is committed to Michigan State (NCAA).
Also considered for the award this week, fellow NHL Draft prospect Caleb Malhotra of the Brantford Bulldogs piled up 19 points (6-13–19) over 14 games. Spirit teammate Levi Harper was a productive force on the blueline, recording 15 points (5-10–15) over 15 contests. In the crease, Ryder Fetterolf of the Ottawa 67’s went 5-2-1-0 with a 2.10 goals-against average and .919 save percentage.
Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced Academic Players of the Month for January, proudly presented by Hockley Valley Resort.
East Division – Carson Cameron (Peterborough Petes) Peterborough Petes defenceman Carson Cameron is the East Division Academic Player of the Month for January. The 17-year-old from Bobcaygeon, Ont., is currently excelling academically at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School. Cameron has achieved an 86% average in Grade 12 Advanced Functions, an 81% average in Physics, and is maintaining excellent grades in Interdisciplinary Studies, Healthy Active Living, and Physical Education.
“Carson is a leader both on and off of the ice. He participates in all team community events while maintaining a high academic average. He was taking academic overload as he was finishing up courses online while attending school,” said Petes academic advisor Shannon Fife.
Peterborough’s first-round (13th overall) pick in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection, Cameron has appeared in 43 games this season, recording seven goals, 13 assists and 20 points. Over 102 regular season contests with the Petes, the 6-foot-2, 193lb. blueliner has registered 46 points (11-35-46). NHL Central Scouting listed Cameron as the 87th-ranked North American skater eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft in their recently released midterms.
Central Division – Troy Patton (Brampton Steelheads) Brampton Steelheads first-year forward Troy Patton is the Central Division Academic Player of the Month for January. Patton has achieved high standing in Grade 11 studies at Philip Pocock Catholic Secondary School, engaged in Financial Accounting, Functions and Business Leadership Management courses.
“Troy has demonstrated exceptional dedication to both their studies and athletic performance, consistently balancing academics with athletic excellence. This month, Troy achieved outstanding grades while maintaining a positive attitude and strong work ethic. Troy’s ability to manage time effectively, set personal goals, and support peers has set a great example for others,” said Steelheads Assistant Coach and Academic Advisor, Matt Chiarantano. “We are proud of his achievements and look forward to seeing Troy’s continued success both in the classroom and on the field. Keep up the great work,” he added.
Selected in the second round (34th overall) by Brampton in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection from the Barrie Colts U16 AAA program, the 5-foot-10, 178lb. centreman has tallied two goals and two assists in 24 games played with the Steelheads this season.
Midwest Division – Tristan Delisle (Owen Sound Attack) Owen Sound Attack forward Tristan Delisle is the Midwest Division Academic Player of the Month for January. Delisle has excelled in his Grade 12 studies at Owen Sound District Secondary School, achieving a 92 percent average in Co-op, an 88 percentage average in International Business, a 90 percent average in English and a 70 percent average in Interdisciplinary Studies.
“Tristan has an excellent work ethic and the ability to tune out distractions and focus on the task at hand. He is usually the first to finish his assignments and is more than happy to help his teammates. As a result, he is an amazing asset in the classroom,” said Attack Academic Advisor Sarah Rowe.
A 17-year-old centreman from St. Andrews West, Ont., Delisle has registered 22 points (6-16-22) in 40 games played with the Attack this season. Traded to Owen Sound at the start of the 2024-25 campaign, Delisle has appeared in 106 regular-season OHL games with both the Attack and the Oshawa Generals, recording 14 goals, 27 assists, and 41 points. Delisle was selected by the Generals in the third round of the 2023 OHL Priority Selection.
West Division – Conor Walton (Windsor Spitfires) Windsor Spitfires blueliner Conor Walton is the West Division Academic Player of the Month. The 18-year-old from Toronto, Ont., achieved a 90% average across three university-level courses at Laurentian University in the first semester, including high marks in Microeconomics, Geology, and History.
“Conor is an outstanding young man and an exceptional representative of a student athlete in the Ontario Hockey League. He is committed to his education and being the best person that he can be on and off the ice. Conor was able to balance his rigorous hockey schedule with his education,” said Spitfires Academic Advisor, Danielle Chevalier.
Originally selected by the Sudbury Wolves in the fourth round of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, the 6-foot-5, 204lb. defenceman appeared in four games with the Wolves during his rookie season before joining the Spitfires for the past two seasons. In 113 OHL regular-season contests, Walton has recorded 25 points (3-22-25). This season, he has tallied two goals, eight assists, and 10 points in 45 games played with the Spitfires.
2024-25 OHL Academic Players of the Month:
East Division: January – Carson Cameron (Peterborough Petes) December – Kohyn Eshkawkogan (Ottawa 67’s) November – Brooks Rogowski (Oshawa Generals) October – Mason Vaccari (Kingston Frontenacs)
Central Division: January – Troy Patton (Brampton Steelheads) December – Ethan Dean (Sudbury Wolves) November – Braidy Wassilyn (Niagara IceDogs) October – Kent Greer (North Bay Battalion)
Midwest Division: January – Tristan Delisle (Owen Sound Attack) December – Aleksei Medvedev (London Knights) November – Andrew MacNiel (Kitchener Rangers) October – Jimmy Sutherland (Guelph Storm)
West Division: January – Conor Walton (Windsor Spitfires) December – Keegan Gillen (Soo Greyhounds) November – Hughston Hurt (Sarnia Sting) October – Kaden Sienko (Saginaw Spirit)
The OHL continues to produce student-athletes that move on to both professional and U SPORTS men’s hockey endeavors.
A total of 331 graduates utilized their OHL Scholarship at post-secondary institutions across North America during the 2023-24 academic year, with a total contribution by teams of over $3.9 million. Over the past 10 seasons, OHL Scholarship payments have totaled more than $25 million.
A total of 194 OHL Alumni were included on U SPORTS men’s hockey rosters to open the 2024-25 season.
OHL Writers 