FIREBIRDS’ TY DELLANDREA AWARDED MICKEY RENAUD CAPTAIN’S TROPHY

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Ty Dellandrea

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Dallas Stars prospect Ty Dellandrea of the Flint Firebirds is the 2019-20 recipient of the Mickey Renaud Captain’s Trophy.

Dellandrea was chosen for the award by a media selection committee as the OHL team captain that best exemplifies leadership on and off the ice, with a passion and dedication to the game of hockey and community that Mickey demonstrated.

“This is an award very near and dear to our family’s hearts,” said Mickey’s father Mark Renaud. “Ty had an outstanding year on the ice for the Firebirds. He was also an important presence in his community and helped lead Team Canada to a gold medal at the World Juniors. We’ll be watching Ty play in the NHL for many years to come and we extend our congratulations and wish him the very best of luck in the future.”

Dellandrea modelled leadership both on the ice and in the Flint community, continually stepping up as the first player to put his name down for community events on the Firebirds’ dressing room cork board. Throughout his four-year tenure, he has shown a genuine interest in the lives of others, initiating spontaneous acts of kindness such as a hospital visit to a sick fan that included him bringing along a signed stick and Firebirds pennant unannounced. His positive attitude, accommodating relationship with local media and willingness to go the extra mile at community events to ensure no fan is left without an autograph or photo opportunity were all things that made him a fan favourite in Flint. Coming in as a 16-year-old rookie following a 2015-16 season that had its share of challenges, Dellandrea proved to be a leader through thick and thin during each of his four seasons with the franchise.

“This is truly an honour to receive the Mickey Renaud Captain’s Trophy,” said Dellandrea. “This is not an individual award. We have a great leadership group in our dressing room and every one of those guys played a role in this. To hear so much about Mickey to this day speaks a lot of who he was as a captain and as a person. On behalf of the entire Flint Firebirds organization, I’d like to thank the Renaud family and give my respect to Mickey and what he has done for our game.”

On the ice, the 19 year-old from Port Perry’s resume is a lengthy one. After being selected fifth overall by Flint in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection and developing through a pair of seasons outside of the Western Conference playoff picture, Dellandrea served as a key piece of the Firebirds’ best season yet as they won 40 of their 63 games. Dellandrea recorded 70 points (32-38–70) over 47 contests, wrapping up his fourth season as the Firebirds’ all-time leader in career goals (94), assists (122) and points (216). The 6-foot-1, 190Ib. centre won gold as part of Canada’s National Junior Team in January and finished tied for first as the Western Conference’s top face-off man in the 2019-20 OHL Coaches Poll. Dellandrea, who was chosen as Flint’s most valuable player in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons, was selected by Dallas with the 13th overall pick of the 2018 NHL Draft.

“Ty has been a leader from the first day he arrived in Flint,” said Flint Firebirds Vice President of Hockey Operations & General Manager Barclay Branch. “He embodies everything that Mickey represented both on and off the ice. We could not be more proud of Ty’s leadership skills and his commitment to the game. As the second Firebird to earn this award in just four years, it is a great example of the type of character level and culture we have inside our dressing room in Flint.”

Dellandrea follows 2016-17 award winner Alex Peters as the second Firebirds player to earn the award. Past recipients also include Isaac Ratcliffe (Guelph 2019), Justin Lemcke (Hamilton 2018), Michael Webster (Barrie 2016), Max Domi (London 2015), Matt Finn (Guelph 2014), Colin Miller (Sault Ste. Marie 2013), Andrew Agozzino (Niagara 2012), Ryan Ellis (Windsor 2011), John Kurtz (Sudbury 2010) and Chris Terry (Plymouth 2009).

Nomination forms are submitted annually by OHL General Managers on behalf of their individual team captains. The selection committee consists of a panel of four, representing media from each OHL division.

2020 OHL Awards announcements continue on Wednesday when the OHL recognizes its All-Star and All-Rookie Teams for the 2019-20 season.

For full coverage of the 2020 OHL Awards, be sure to visit ontariohockeyleague.com or follow along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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. For more information visit http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/.

Vaughn CHL Team of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

The Canadian Hockey League today announced the 18th edition of the Vaughn CHL Team of the Week for the 2019-20 season based on individual performances from Jan. 20-26.

Leading the way is Flint Firebirds captain and Dallas Stars first-round pick Ty Dellandrea who wrapped up the week with 10 points counting six goals and four assists over three games. Dellandrea began the week on a high note putting up two goals and two assists for four points in Wednesday’s 7-4 road win over the Soo Greyhounds in which he also claimed second-star honours. For his efforts, Dellandrea was recognized as the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week.

Also up front is Portland Winterhawks centre and 2020 NHL Draft prospect Seth Jarvis who recorded four goals and five assists for nine points over a pair of appearances. Against the Tri-City Americans on Friday, Jarvis matched a season-high of five points as he finished with two goals and three assists to help his club to an 8-2 victory in which he was also recognized as the game’s first star. Given his successful showing, Jarvis was honoured as the WHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week.

Rounding out the forward ranks is Sherbrooke Phoenix captain and Pittsburgh Penguins first-round pick Samuel Poulin who registered eight points counting five goals and three assists over a pair of contests. Poulin’s best showing came against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan on Friday as he put up five points and tied a franchise-record with four goals while adding one assist to help claim a 10-1 victory and first-star honours. For his efforts, Poulin was recognized as the Ultramar QMJHL Player of the Week.

Leading the blue line is Lethbridge Hurricanes defenceman and Penguins prospect Calen Addison who impressed with nine assists over a trio of appearances. Addison’s top showing came against the Regina Pats on Friday as he finished with a season-high of five points – all coming as helpers – en route to a 7-2 road victory and first-star recognition.

Partnering on the back end is Addison’s teammate in Hurricanes blue liner Alex Cotton who wrapped up the week with two goals and five assists for seven points over three games. The stretch included back-to-back three-point efforts versus the Moose Jaw Warriors and Regina Pats with the former counting a trio of assists in a 7-1 road victory in which Cotton was recognized as the game’s third star.

Between the pipes, Barrie Colts netminder and Vancouver Canucks draft pick Arturs Silovs shined over a pair of appearances and 123 minutes of ice time in which he came away with a pair of victories. Against the Oshawa Generals on Thursday, Silovs turned aside 19 shots en route to a 5-0 victory and his first career shutout to earn second-star honours. In all, Silovs wrapped up the week with a miniscule 0.98 goals-against average coupled with an outstanding .964 save percentage.

 

FIREBIRDS’ TY DELLANDREA NAMED OHL ‘ON THE RUN’ PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Dellandrea

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Dallas Stars prospect Ty Dellandrea of the Flint Firebirds is the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week with 10 points including six goals and four assists over three games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-7.

Dellandrea claims the honour for the second time this season, helping the Firebirds skate to a perfect 3-0 week with wins over Sault Ste. Marie and Guelph. The fourth-year captain scored twice and added two assists in Wednesday’s 7-4 road win over the Greyhounds, netting the third period game winner while earning second star honours. He picked up where he left off on Friday, recording two goals and an assist to register his 200th career OHL point in a 7-5 road win over the Storm. Friday’s first star performance paved the way for another strong outing back on home ice Saturday night as Dellandrea once again scored twice and tallied an assist in a 4-1 win over the visiting Storm to garner second star recognition. The dependable centreman went 37-for-69 (53.6%) in the faceoff circle as the Firebirds extended their winning streak to four games, securing a four-point cushion on fifth place in the Western Conference.

A 19-year-old native of Port Perry, Ont., Dellandrea leads the Firebirds with 57 points (26-31–57) over 35 games this season. He’s registered four consecutive two-goal outings and racked up 15 points (8-7–15) over his last four games. The recent Canadian National Junior Team gold medalist boasts a franchise-leading 203 points (88-115–203) over his 219-game OHL regular season career. Dellandrea was originally Flint’s first round (5th overall) pick in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection. The Dallas Stars selected him in the first round (13th overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft.

Also considered for the award this week were Oshawa Generals forward Philip Tomasino who put up 10 points (4-6–10) over four games as well as Barrie Colts netminder Arturs Silovs, who went 2-0 with a 0.98 goals-against average, .964 save percentage and his first career OHL shutout.

HIGHLIGHTS: Dellandrea’s four-point night in the Soo
HIGHLIGHTS: Dellandrea comes up big in Guelph
HIGHLIGHTS: Dellandrea nets three points in win over Storm

OTR_2017_Logo

2019-20 OHL ‘On the Run’ Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Jan. 20 – Jan. 26: Ty Dellandrea (Flint Firebirds)
Jan. 15 – Jan. 19: Mitchell Hoelscher (Ottawa 67’s)
Jan. 8 – Jan. 12: Philip Tomasino (Oshawa Generals)
Dec. 30 – Jan. 5: Jacob Ingham (Kitchener Rangers)
Dec. 18 – Dec. 29: Joseph Garreffa (Ottawa 67’s)
Dec. 10 – Dec. 15: Jacob Ingham (Kitchener Rangers)
Dec. 4 – Dec. 8: Ty Dellandrea (Flint Firebirds)
Nov. 27 – Dec. 1: Marco Rossi (Ottawa 67’s)
Nov. 19 – Nov. 24: Riley McCourt (Flint Firebirds)
Nov. 13 – Nov. 17: Jan Jenik (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Nov. 5 – Nov. 10: Cam Hillis (Guelph Storm)
Oct. 30 – Nov. 3: Connor McMichael (London Knights)
Oct. 23 – Oct. 27: Nico Daws (Guelph Storm)
Oct. 14 – Oct. 20: Hunter Jones (Peterborough Petes)
Oct. 9 – Oct. 13: Mack Guzda (Owen Sound Attack)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 6: Philip Tomasino (Niagara IceDogs)
Sept. 26 – Sept. 29: Connor McMichael (London Knights)
Sept. 19 – Sept. 22: Semyon Der-Arguchintsev (Peterborough Petes)

Vaughn CHL Team of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

The Canadian Hockey League today announced the 12th edition of the Vaughn CHL Team of the Week for the 2019-20 season based on individual performances from Dec. 2-8.

Leading the way is Flint Firebirds captain and Dallas Stars first-round pick Ty Dellandrea who collected six goals and five assists for 11 points across three appearances. That stretch counted a pair of four-point efforts including a three-goal, one-assist showing against the Barrie Colts on Thursday in which Dellandrea notched his second hat-trick of the season to power his club to a 5-2 road victory and earn first-star recognition. For his efforts, Dellandrea was named the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week.

Also up front is Rimouski Oceanic captain and 2020 NHL Draft favourite Alexis Lafreniere who capped the week with seven goals and four assists for 11 points in four outings. Against the Val-d’Or Foreurs on Friday, Lafreniere recorded his second five-point night of the season as he finished with his fifth career hat-trick plus two assists en route to a 10-8 road win in addition to first star honours. Lafreniere, who stands atop the CHL with 70 points on the season, wrapped up the week with Ultramar QMJHL Player of the Week recognition.

Rounding out the forward ranks is Sherbrooke Phoenix centre Felix Robert who collected nine points counting two goals and seven assists over a trio of appearances. Currently riding a three-game point streak, that stretch included Friday’s four-point effort against the Moncton Wildcats in which Robert finished with two goals and two assists to help guide his team to a 6-3 victory in addition to earning second-star recognition.

On the back end, Everett Silvertips blue-liner Jake Christiansen, who began the season with the AHL’s Stockton Heat, made a phenomenal return to the lineup in recording eight points counting five goals and three assists over three games. After making an immediate impact with a three-point debut, Christiansen then matched that total in his most recent outing in netting two goals including the eventual game winner plus one assist in a 6-3 road victory versus the Calgary Hitmen that earned him first-star honours and later helped him claim WHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week recognition.

Partnering on the blue line is Drummondville Voltigeurs rookie rearguard Jacob Dion who wrapped up the week with two goals and six assists for eight points in three games. Against the Wildcats on Saturday, Dion finished with a career-high four points – all coming as helpers – en route to a 6-3 victory that saw him recognized as the game’s first star.

Between the pipes, Ottawa 67’s netminder Cedrick Andree was nearly unbeatable across two appearances as he turned aside a combined 53 of 54 shots in the home-and-home Battle of the Ottawa River versus the Gatineau Olympiques to finish the week with a perfect 2-0-0-0 showing. Andree’s top performance came Friday in Gatineau as he stopped all 32 shots to record his sixth career shutout en route to a 4-0 victory and first-star recognition. In all, Andree wrapped up the week with an incredible 0.50 goals-against average and an equally impressive .981 save percentage.

FIREBIRDS’ TY DELLANDREA NAMED OHL ‘ON THE RUN’ PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Dyllandrea

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Dallas Stars prospect Ty Dellandrea of the Flint Firebirds is the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week with 11 points including six goals and five assists over three contests.

Dellandrea helped the Firebirds take four of a possible six points on a three game weekend road trip with stops in Barrie, Sudbury and North Bay, recording a pair of four-point performances along with a three-point effort. The fourth-year centreman recorded his second hat-trick of the season, tacking on an assist for four points in Flint’s 5-2 win over the Barrie Colts on Thursday. He chipped in with a goal and two assists, earning third star honours as the Firebirds fell 8-5 to the Sudbury Wolves on Friday, a game that saw him take an incredible 46 faceoffs while winning 29 of them. Dellandrea scored twice and added two assists in Sunday’s 5-3 win over the North Bay Battalion, scoring the game winner 5:50 into the third period. He won 62.7 percent of his faceoffs over the course of the three games, earning star of the game recognition in each.

A 19-year-old from Port Perry, Ont., Dellandrea recently became the all-time leading scorer in Flint Firebirds history. The 6-foot-1, 190Ib. pivot has 37 points (17-20–37) over 27 games this season and will attend Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp this week in Oakville, Ont. Originally a first round (5th overall) pick of the Firebirds in 2016, Dellandrea was selected by the Dallas Stars with the 13th overall pick of the 2018 NHL Draft. He made his pro debut last spring, recording three points (2-1–3) over 11 games with the AHL’s Texas Stars.

A pair of goaltenders were also considered for the award this week including Cedrick Andree of the Ottawa 67’s who played to a 2-0 record, registering a shutout along with a 0.50 goals-against average and .981 save percentage. Peterborough Petes netminder Hunter Jones was also solid, going 2-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average and a .951 save percentage.

• HIGHLIGHTS: Dellandrea’s four-point night in Barrie
• HIGHLIGHTS: Dellandrea records three points against Wolves
• HIGHLIGHTS: Dellandrea scores twice, adds two assists in North Bay

OTR_2017_Logo

2019-20 OHL ‘On the Run’ Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Dec. 4 – Dec. 8: Ty Dellandrea (Flint Firebirds)
Nov. 27 – Dec. 1: Marco Rossi (Ottawa 67’s)
Nov. 19 – Nov. 24: Riley McCourt (Flint Firebirds)
Nov. 13 – Nov. 17: Jan Jenik (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Nov. 5 – Nov. 10: Cam Hillis (Guelph Storm)
Oct. 30 – Nov. 3: Connor McMichael (London Knights)
Oct. 23 – Oct. 27: Nico Daws (Guelph Storm)
Oct. 14 – Oct. 20: Hunter Jones (Peterborough Petes)
Oct. 9 – Oct. 13: Mack Guzda (Owen Sound Attack)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 6: Philip Tomasino (Niagara IceDogs)
Sept. 26 – Sept. 29: Connor McMichael (London Knights)
Sept. 19 – Sept. 22: Semyon Der-Arguchintsev (Peterborough Petes)

TEAM OHL LEADERSHIP GROUP ANNOUNCED FOR 2019 CIBC CANADA RUSSIA SERIES

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Captains

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League, in collaboration with the Canadian Hockey League and Hockey Canada, today announced the leadership group for Team OHL ahead of the 2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series.

Owen Sound Attack forward Aidan Dudas will lead Team OHL, wearing the ‘C’ for both Games 3 and 4 set for Thursday November 7 in Kitchener and Monday November 11 in London. He’ll be joined by assistant captains Kevin Bahl of the Ottawa 67’s and Ty Dellandrea of the Flint Firebirds.

A 19-year-old from Parry Sound, Ont., Dudas leads the Attack in scoring with 18 points (4-14–18) through 12 games this season. The Owen Sound captain is in the midst of his fourth OHL season after being the club’s first round (10th overall) pick in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection. The 5-foot-8, 168Ib. centre was a fourth round (113th overall) pick of the Los Angeles Kings in 2018 and has amassed 166 points (69-97–166) over 204 career OHL regular season contests, tacking on an additional 15 career (9-6–15) postseason points over 33 contests. Known across the league as a fierce competitor, Dudas was voted the Western Conference’s hardest worker in the 2018-19 OHL Coaches Poll.

Dudas has represented Hockey Canada on the world stage three different times, winning silver with Canada Black at the 2016 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge where he recorded five points (1-4–5) over six contests. He then won gold at the 2017 Hlinka Gretzky Cup before representing Canada at the 2018 IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship in Chelyabinsk and Magnitogorsk, Russia.

Ottawa 67’s fourth-year defenceman Kevin Bahl will join Dudas as an assistant as he suits up for Team OHL in his third CIBC Canada Russia Series. The 6-foot-7, 240Ib. native of Mississauga, Ont. has four points (2-2–4) through 13 games this season after helping the 67’s win an Eastern Conference title last spring. Bahl has registered 60 points (10-50–60) over 196 career OHL regular season contests and was a second round (55th overall) pick of the Arizona Coyotes in 2018. The former second round (31st overall) OHL Priority Selection choice back in 2016 has appeared in 26 career OHL playoff contests, recording 11 points (1-10–11) along the way.

Bahl has represented Canada internationally three different times, competing for Canada Red at the 2016 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge before winning gold at the 2017 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He also represented Canada at the 2018 IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship, putting up three points (1-2–3) over five games.

Nineteen-year-old Ty Dellandrea has tallied 14 points (6-8–14) over 10 games for the 9-3-0-0 Flint Firebirds who are off to their best start in club history. The Firebirds captain is in the midst of his fourth OHL season after being the club’s first round (5th overall) pick in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection. Dellandrea has amassed 160 points (68-92–160) over 194 career OHL regular season games and was a first round (13th overall) pick of the Dallas Stars in the 2018 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-1, 190Ib. native of Port Perry, Ont. made his professional debut following the end of last season, recording three points (2-1–3) over 11 games with the AHL’s Texas Stars. Dellandrea fared well in the 2018-19 OHL Coaches Poll, being voted the Western Conference’s best faceoff man as well as the conference’s second-best playmaker.

Dellandrea is a four-time representative of Hockey Canada, suiting up for Canada Red at the 2016 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge before winning a gold medal at the 2017 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He competed in both the 2017 and 2018 IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championships, registering five points (2-3–5) over a combined total of 10 games.

All three players were invited to Hockey Canada’s National Junior Team Summer Showcase.

In 16 years of competition against the Russian National Junior Team, the OHL has played to a record of 25-6-1 following a 3-1 win in Sarnia and a 4-0 loss in Oshawa last season.

2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series Schedule:
Game 1 – Monday November 4 at Saint John, NB
Game 2 – Tuesday November 5 at Moncton, NB
Game 3 – Thursday November 7 at Kitchener, ON
Game 4 – Monday November 11 at London, ON
Game 5 – Wednesday November 13 at Saskatoon, SK
Game 6 – Thursday November 14 at Prince Albert, SK

The 2019 CIBC Canada Russia series is proudly supported by title partner CIBC, and associate sponsors Kia Canada, Cooper Tires, and Kubota Canada.  All games will be broadcast nationally on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.

For event information including how to purchase tickets please visit http://chlcanadarussia.ca.

OHL Announces Academic Player of the Year Award Winners for 2017-18

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Greyhounds’ Barrett Hayton, Steelheads’ Stephen Gibson, Attack’s Mack Guzda earn Academic Honours

OHL Logo

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the recipients of the league’s three Academic Player of the Year awards for the 2017-18 season.

Barrett Hayton of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds is the recipient of the Bobby Smith Trophy as Scholastic Player of the Year, with Stephen Gibson of the Mississauga Steelheads earning the Roger Neilson Memorial Award as the Top Post-Secondary School Student, and Mack Guzda of the Owen Sound Attack named the Ivan Tennant Memorial Award recipient for Top High School Student.

All three players will be formally presented with their awards at the annual OHL Awards Ceremony on Wednesday June 6.  Hayton will be the OHL’s nominee for CHL Scholastic Player of the Year which will be announced on Saturday May 26 as part of the events at the 2018 Mastercard Memorial Cup in Regina.

Bobby Smith Trophy (OHL Scholastic Player of the Year) – Barrett Hayton, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds:

Barrett Hayton earns OHL Scholastic Player of the Year honours for his achievements as a Grade 12 student at Superior Heights combined with his on-ice excellence for the Greyhounds.  This season he obtained an overall average of 87% studying University level courses in Math – Advanced Functions, Math – Data Management, Biology, Chemistry, English, and Recreation & Healthy Active Living Leadership, while producing 60 points in 63 regular season games.

“It is an incredible honour to win this award,” said Hayton. “It would not have been possible without the support of the Soo Greyhounds organization and Superior Heights School. I take pride both on and off the ice to develop not only as a player but also as a person.”

The 17-year-old from Peterborough, Ont., scored 21 goals and 39 assists this season contributing to a banner season in Sault Ste. Marie where the club finished atop the OHL’s regular season standings with a record 55 wins and 116 points.  The first round pick in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection won gold with Canada at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup and is now a projected first round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft and was listed ninth among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings.

“We wish to congratulate Barrett on being awarded the Bobby Smith Trophy,” said Greyhounds General Manager Kyle Raftis. “As an organization, we couldn’t be more proud of Barrett. He embodies all of the qualities you wish for in a Greyhound. Known for his dedicated and disciplined personality, Barrett’s academic work ethic is synonymous with his devotion to the game. Barrett demonstrates that you can have tremendous success on the ice, and still maximize your academic potential.”

Each year the Bobby Smith Trophy is presented to the OHL Scholastic Player of the year who best combines high standards of play and academic excellence.  The trophy is in honour of Bobby Smith, a former Ottawa 67’s star who exhibited a standard of excellence in both of these areas.  First presented in 1980, Hayton is the third member of the Greyhounds to receive the award following Darnell Nurse (2013) and Jake McCracken (1997).  Past recipients include three-time winner Dustin Brown (Guelph 2001-03), Steven Stamkos (Sarnia 2007), Matt Duchene (Brampton 2009), Dougie Hamilton (Niagara 2011), back-to-back winner Connor McDavid (Erie 2014-15), Nicolas Hague (Mississauga 2016), and Sasha Chmelevski (Ottawa 2017).

Runner-up for the award this season was fellow 2018 NHL Draft prospect Ty Dellandrea of the Flint Firebirds, with finalists that include top prospects Kevin Bahl of the Ottawa 67’s and Aidan Dudas of the Owen Sound Attack.

Roger Neilson Memorial Award (Top Post-Secondary Student) – Stephen Gibson, Mississauga Steelheads:

Stephen Gibson earns his second straight academic honour for his post-secondary studies at Ryerson University excelling once again in his Business courses that include Business Information Systems, Business Law, Business Statistics, Intro to Global Management, Intro to Professional Communication, and Public Relations Principles.  This also marks the third straight season the award has been earned by a Steelheads player with Damian Bourne receiving the honour in 2016.

“I am very honoured to once again be the recipient of the Roger Neilson Memorial Award,” said Gibson. “I would like to thank Elliott Kerr, James Richmond, and the entire Mississauga Steelheads organization for allowing me to pursue my hockey goals while supporting my academic endeavours. I would also like to thank the Ontario Hockey League for creating an environment that allows players to further their education while they are playing in the league. The OHL is the best developmental hockey league in the world, while providing players every resource needed to be successful off the ice.”

The 21-year-old from Kitchener, Ont., finished his five-year OHL tenure with the Steelheads as the club’s leader in career games played with 263 after being chosen in the seventh round of the 2013 OHL Priority Selection.  The overage defenceman recorded one goal and nine assists for 10 points playing in all 68 regular season games in 2017-18.

“Our Steelheads family are very proud of Stephen and this prestigious accomplishment,” said Steelheads General Manager and Head Coach James Richmond. “He is a super person both on and off the ice and we’re happy that he is once again being recognized for his dedication to not only his athletic performance but also for his academic achievements. Congratulations Stephen and we wish you continued success!”

The Roger Neilson Memorial Award is named in honour of the Hall of Fame Coach who served behind the Peterborough Petes bench in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.  Neilson, a former high school teacher, was a pioneer in stressing the importance of education to all of his players.  First presented in 2005, fellow two-time winners include Danny Battochio (Ottawa 2005-06) and Derek Lanoue (Windsor 2010-11).

Finalists for the award include William Sirman of the Windsor Spitfires and Jonathan Yantsis of the Kitchener Rangers.

Ivan Tennant Memorial Award (Top Academic High School Student) – Mack Guzda, Owen Sound Attack:

Owen Sound rookie goaltender Mack Guzda achieved a 94% average during the 2017-18 academic season studying Algebra, Chemistry, English, Law and Order, Sport Marketing, and U.S. History through online programs with the K12 International Academy.

“It is a great honour to be the recipient of this year’s Ivan Tennant Award,” said Guzda. “I’m extremely thankful for our education consultant, coaches, management, and for the ownership group that supply any extra help we might need to grow academically. I feel extremely fortunate to be able to excel in the classroom while competing in the Ontario Hockey League.”

The 17-year-old from Knoxville, Tennessee, played 30 games between-the-pipes for the Attack this season after being chosen by the club in the second round of the 2017 OHL Priority Selection.  Named to the First All-Rookie Team, Guzda carried an overall record of 14-6-2-2 with one shutout along with a goals-against-average of 3.20 and save percentage of .879.  His 14 victories set a new Attack mark for 16-year-old netminders.

“Mack’s worth ethic in the classroom this year was second to none and we couldn’t be prouder that he’s being honoured for his academic excellence,” said Attack General Manager Dale DeGray. “The Attack have always placed a premium on education, and this is a testament to Mack, our education consultant Sarah Rowe, and the fantastic team of tutors that we have to help our players become well rounded student athletes.”

The Ivan Tennant Memorial Award is given to the Top Academic High School Player and is named in honour of Ivan Tennant, who spent a lifetime combining hockey and education.  He was the Kitchener Rangers’ Education Consultant for 20 years and a key figure on the OHL’s Education Consultant’s Committee.  First presented in 2005, Guzda is the second member of the Attack to receive the award following Andrew Shorkey in 2007.  Past recipients also include brothers Matt and Adam Pelech (Sarnia 2005 and Erie 2012), Freddie and Dougie Hamilton (Niagara 2009 and 2010), and recent winners Stephen Dhillon (Niagara 2015), Kyle Keyser (Flint 2016), and Quinn Hanna (Guelph 2017).

Finalists for the award include Billy Moskal of the London Knights and Isaac Walker of the Mississauga Steelheads.

All 20 of the OHL’s member clubs provide nominees for each award with the Bobby Smith Trophy nominees representing the 2017-18 OHL Scholastic Team:

2017-18 OHL Scholastic Team:
Barrie Colts – Nathan Allensen
Erie Otters – Maxim Golod
Flint Firebirds – Ty Dellandrea*
Guelph Storm – Owen Lalonde*
Hamilton Bulldogs – Jake Murray
Kingston Frontenacs – Ted Nichol
Kitchener Rangers – Riley Damiani*
London Knights – Billy Moskal
Mississauga Steelheads – Jacob Ingham
Niagara IceDogs – Ben Jones*
North Bay Battalion – Travis Mailhot
Oshawa Generals – Allan McShane
Ottawa 67’s – Kevin Bahl
Owen Sound Attack – Aidan Dudas
Peterborough Petes – Zach Gallant**
Saginaw Spirit – Damien Giroux*
Sarnia Sting – Colton Kammerer
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds – Barrett Hayton
Sudbury Wolves – Peter Stratis
Windsor Spitfires – Curtis Douglas


*member of 2016-17 OHL Scholastic Team
**member of 2015-16 OHL Scholastic Team

Ty Dellandrea – Flint Firebirds – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height: 6’0”

Weight: 190 pounds

Date of birth: July 21, 2000

Hometown: Port Perry, Ontario

Position: Center

Shoots: Right

OHL Draft: Round 1, 5th overall, 2016 Priority Selection

NHL Central Scouting pre-season: B Prospect

NHL Central Scouting mid-term: 76th overall, North American Skaters

NHL Central Scouting final rank: Not available at this time

It’s quite possible there isn’t a bigger enigma then the Flint Firebirds’ Ty Dellandrea when it comes to rankings for the 2018 National Hockey League Draft. After the top two, the list of Ontario Hockey League players could go any which way, and Dellandrea’s name is all over the map.

NHL Central Scouting ranks him 76th among North American skaters. When you factor in Europeans and goaltenders, that puts Dellandrea in the fourth round. TSN’s Bob McKenzie, whose list is based on surveying NHL scouts, ranks him 10th among OHL players and 41st overall. His list includes goaltenders and Europeans and that ranks him as a solid mid-second round pick.

There aren’t many better then Brock Otten when it comes to covering the OHL and on his excellent blog, Otten ranks Dellandrea twelfth among OHL players on his mid-term rankings, which puts Dellandrea in line with McKenzie’s list.

Normally at this time of year I would ridicule Central Scouting and while they have him lower then any of the public lists available, there isn’t a real consensus on Dellandrea.

Dellandrea played his minor midget hockey during the 2015-2016 season with the Central Ontario Wolves where he compiled 36 goals, tops in the Eastern Triple A Minor Midget Hockey League, and 21 assists in 36 games.  He would represent Team OMHA at the OHL Gold Cup and score once while adding two assists in five games.

Ty Dellandrea of the Flint Firebirds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Ty Dellandrea of the Flint Firebirds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

The Firebirds would select Dellandrea with the fifth overall pick at the 2016 Priority Selection. Here’s what OHL Central Scouting had to say about him prior to his draft:

Ty is one of the most improved players in the draft since the start of the season. His skating is noticeably better, he is quicker in every area and has become very hard to handle off the rush. He is also playing with way more confidence and is trying things he never would have at the beginning of the season. Ty has the puck on his stick a lot and creates chances for himself and his teammates. He has a very hard and accurate shot off the wing and surprises goalies with his release. 

Dellandrea broke onto the OHL scene a season ago and competed in 57 games while putting up 13 goals and 11 assists in those contests. He twice represented Canada internationally, first at the World Hockey Challenge Under-17 (5 GP, 1G, 1A) and at the World Junior Championship Under 18 (pointless in 5 games).

This season began with a gold medal at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial for Dellandrea. He returned to Flint and had an A sewn on his jersey which speaks to his leadership qualities. He finished the season with 27 goals and 32 assists in 67 games, one of the rare occasions where his helpers have outnumbered his own goal production.

Among draft eligible players, Dellandrea finished the regular season in ninth spot in points and fifth in goals. He finished eighth in faceoff percentage, winning 750 of 1481 draws or 50.6 percent. He was also tied for top spot with Cam Hillis and Evan Bouchard in powerplay goals with ten and finished second to only Bouchard in shots on goal with 239.

When looking at Dellandrea, you surely must take into consideration that he played on a poor, non-playoff team in Flint. How much consideration is put into that is the subject of great debate.

Dellandrea has decent size, some very intriguing skill sets and is a very good skater with good speed and an explosiveness to his first few strides. He protects the puck extremely well and controls it on his stick while flying up the ice. He can beat defenders wide with no fear of taking the disk to the net.

Dellandrea’s skating allows him to get in on the forecheck quickly and cause havoc for defenders. He’s not afraid to lay the body on the forecheck and create turnovers. When he has control of the puck in the offensive zone, he sees the ice extremely well and can dish it very well. He usually looks for and finds the safe play. I would like to see him “force” a play periodically. If he doesn’t see the opportunity to make a play, he’s not shy about taking his own shot – which is a very good shot with one of the quickest releases.

Defensively, Dellandrea has made some huge strides and is one of the better two-way centers available in the draft class. Once again, his quick first steps allow him to get into lanes quickly and with an active stick causes turnover, especially in the neutral zone. He can anticipate extremely well which makes him an very effective penalty killer as well. 

OHL’s Draft Eligible Statistical Leaders: January

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

January 31 brings us within a hair of the three-quarter mark of the Ontario Hockey League season and there are many interesting individual races in a variety of statistical categories. As always, we look at players eligible for the National Hockey League Draft in June in Dallas Texas, for the first time. That is not meant to take away from players re-entering the draft. While I believe some of them will get drafted the second time around, history has shown that they are usually passed over the second time.

It’s hard to imagine, or maybe it is not, where Andrei Svechnikov of the Barrie Colts would be had he not missed almost two months with a wrist injury. Despite missing seven weeks and playing in twenty fewer games, Svechnikov leads all draft eligible players with 23 goals in 27 games. That’s two more then Aidan Dudas of the Owen Sound Attack and three more then Ty Dellandria of the Flint Firebirds, who both have played 47 games.

Andrei Svechnikovof the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Andrei Svechnikov of the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Thanks in part to Svechnikov’s absence, a pair of highly touted defensemen lead all players in points. Evan Bouchard of the London Knights leads the pack with 60 points in 47 games. He is followed closely by Ryan Merkley of the Guelph Storm who has 57 points in 47 games. Akil Thomas of the Niagara IceDogs comes in third with 56 points in 47 games.

Of course, it goes without saying that Bouchard and Merkley lead all defensemen in the point scoring race. Rasmus Sandin of the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds sits in the next tier by himself with 30 points in 34 games. Yours truly has made it no secret that Sandin would be my choice as the second defenseman taken from the OHL. Giovanni Vallati of the Kitchener Rangers comes in fourth with 20 points in 47 games.

Over the years, there has been a great debate over the value of the plus-minus stat. Whether you agree or not, there is some value to the stat. And Sandin leads the way with a plus-28. That’s a comfortable plus-10 more than teammate Barrett Hayton and Nathan Dunkley of the London Knights.

Serron Noel of the Oshawa Generals led the entire OHL for most of the season in shooting percentage. As of January 31, he drops to second, but still leads all draft eligible players at 25%. Svechnikov comes in second, scoring on 22.3% of his shots, while Cam Hillis of the Guelph Storm comes in third at 21.8%.

Bouchard leads all shooters in shots on goal with 211, which is good enough for second overall in the OHL. He has a comfortable lead over Dellandria (173) and Dudas (172).

While we take great care in compiling stats, always refer to the OHL website for official stats.

Points Leaders
Player Team GP G A Pts
Evan Bouchard London Knights 47 16 44 60
Ryan Merkley Guelph Storm 47 12 45 57
Akil Thomas Niagara Ice Dogs 47 13 43 56
Ryan McLeod Mississauga Steelheads 47 17 36 53
Aidan Dudas Owen Sound Attack 47 21 25 46
Cam Hillis Guelph Storm 47 18 28 46
Barrett Hayton Soo Greyhounds 47 17 27 44
Ty Dellandrea Flint Firebirds 47 20 21 41
Nathan Dunkley London Knights 40 15 24 39
Andrei Svechnikov Barrie Colts 27 23 15 38
Goal Scoring Leaders
Player Team GP G GPG
Andrei Svechnikov Barrie Colts 27 23 0.85
Aidan Dudas Owen Sound Attack 47 21 0.45
Ty Dellandrea Flint Firebirds 47 20 0.43
Cam Hillis Guelph Storm 47 18 0.38
Serron Noel Oshawa Generals 42 18 0.43
Pavel Gogolev Peterborough Petes 43 18 0.42
Ryan McLeod Mississauga Steelheads 47 17 0.36
Barrett Hayton Soo Greyhounds 47 17 0.36
Evan Bouchard London Knights 47 16 0.34
Kody Clark Ottawa 67’s 38 16 0.42
Assist Leaders
Player Team GP A APG
Ryan Merkley Guelph Storm 47 45 0.96
Evan Bouchard London Knights 47 44 0.94
Akil Thomas Niagara Ice Dogs 47 43 0.91
Ryan McLeod Mississauga Steelheads 47 36 0.77
Cam Hillis Guelph Storm 47 28 0.60
Barrett Hayton Soo Greyhounds 47 27 0.57
Allan McShane Oshawa Generals 47 27 0.57
Aidan Dudas Owen Sound Attack 47 25 0.53
Rasmus Sandin Soo Greyhounds 34 24 0.71
Nathan Dunkley London Knights 40 24 0.60
Defencemen Point Leaders
Player Team GP G A Pts
Evan Bouchard London Knights 47 16 44 60
Ryan Merkley Guelph Storm 47 12 45 57
Rasmus Sandin Soo Greyhounds 34 6 24 30
Giovanni Vallati Kitchener Rangers 46 3 17 20
Merrick Rippon Ottawa 67’s 48 2 16 18
Peter Stratis Sudbury Wolves 49 5 12 17
Caleb Everett Saginaw Spirit 39 4 13 17
Kevin Bahl Ottawa 67’s 48 1 16 17
Plus/Minus Leaders
Player Team GP +/-
Rasmus Sandin Soo Greyhounds 34 +28
Nathan Dunkley London Knights 40 +18
Barrett Hayton Soo Greyhounds 47 +18
Evan Bouchard London Knights 47 +17
Tyler Tucker Barrie Colts 40 +16
Adam Liska Kitchener Rangers 44 +12
Andrei Svechnikov Barrie Colts 27 +11
Alec Regula London Knights 47 +11
William Sirman Windsor Spitfires 46 +10
Ryan Roth Soo Greyhounds 49 +10
Penalty Minutes Leaders
Player Team GP PIM M/G
Tyler Tucker Barrie Colts 40 67 1.68
Kevin Bahl Ottawa 67’s 48 67 1.40
Daylon Groulx Owen Sound Attack 39 60 1.54
Merrick Rippon Ottawa 67’s 48 57 1.19
Curtis Douglas Windsor Spitfires 46 55 1.20
Ryan Merkley Guelph Storm 47 50 1.06
Max Grondin Saginaw Spirit 46 47 1.02
Faceoff Leaders  (Minimum 200 faceoffs)
Player Team GP FOA FOW %
Billy Moskal London Knights 46 445 266 59.8
Allan McShane Oshawa Generals 47 695 382 55.0
Nathan Dunkley London Knights 40 484 263 54.3
David Levin Sudbury Wolves 32 232 125 53.9
Ryan McLeod Mississauga Steelheads 48 1043 556 53.3
Akil Thomas Niagara Ice Dogs 47 761 405 53.2
Ty Dellandrea Flint Firebirds 47 985 500 50.8
Aidan Dudas Owen Sound Attack 47 662 326 49.2
Barret Kirwin Guelph Storm 48 659 324 49.2
Cam Hillis Guelph Storm 48 776 379 48.8
Longest Goal Scoring Streak
Player Team From To Gms Goals
Brady Hinz Sarnia Sting 10/9 10/19 5 7
Kody Clark Ottawa 67’s 10/12 10/21 5 6
Nathan Dunkley Kingston Frontenacs 11/26 12/3 4 5
Blade Jenkins Saginaw Spirit 10/29 11/4 4 6
Ryan McLeod Mississauga Steelheads 1/19 1/26 3 6
Longest Assist Streak
Player Team From To Gms Assts
Ryan Merkley Guelph Storm 10/22 11/16 9 13
Akil Thomas Niagara Ice Dogs 9/30 10/19 8 10
Ryan Merkley Guelph Storm 1/11 1/28 8 10
Ryan McLeod Mississauga Steelheads 10/27 11/9 6 9
Akil Thomas Niagara Ice Dogs 12/7 12/31 6 6
Longest Point Streak
Player Team From To Gms Pts
Ryan McLeod Mississauga Steelheads 10/6 11/10 14 20
Akil Thomas Niagara Ice Dogs 12/9 1/13 12 18
Ryan Merkley Guelph Storm 11/19 12/15 10 16
Ryan Merkley Guelph Storm 10/22 11/16 9 17
Akil Thomas Niagara Ice Dogs 9/29 10/19 9 15
Shooting Percentage
Player Team GP G S %
Serron Noel Oshawa Generals 42 18 72 25.0
Andrei Svechnikov Barrie Colts 27 23 103 22.3
Cam Hillis Guelph Storm 48 19 87 21.8
Nathan Dunkley London Knights 40 15 74 20.3
Brady Hinz Peterborough Petes 49 14 73 19.2
Shots On Goal Leaders
Player Team GP SOG
Evan Bouchard London Knights 47 211
Ty Dellandrea Flint Firebirds 47 173
Aidan Dudas Owen Sound Attack 47 172
Riley Damiani Kitchener Rangers 49 133
Barrett Hayton Soo Greyhounds 47 131
Goaltenders Leaders – Goals Against Average (Min 10 games)
Player Team GP Min GA Avg
Jordon Kooy London Knights 17 827 40 2.90
Nick Donofrio Hamilton Bulldogs 11 581 30 3.10
Kai Edmonds Barrie Colts 12 569 32 3.37
Jacob Ingham Mississauga Steelheads 33 1865 117 3.76
Cameron Lamour Saginaw Spirit 12 522 37 4.25
Goaltending Leaders – Save Percentage (Min 10 games)
Player Team GP SH  SVS SV%
Jordon Kooy London Knights 17 442 402 0.910
Nick Donofrio Hamilton Bulldogs 11 270 240 0.889
Kai Edmonds Barrie Colts 12 278 246 0.885
Jacob Ingham Mississauga Steelheads 33 959 842 0.878
Marshall Frappier Sudbury Wolves 13 376 329 0.875
Goaltending Leaders – Wins
Player Team GP W L OL
Jacob Ingham Mississauga Steelheads 17 13 16 1
Nick Donofrio Hamilton Bulldogs 11 7 1 1
Jordon Kooy London Knights 17 6 6 1
Kai Edmonds Barrie Colts 12 5 4 0
Cameron Lamour Saginaw Spirit 12 5 4 0
Goaltending Leaders – Shutouts
Player Team GP SO
Nick Donofrio Hamilton Bulldogs 11 1
Mario Peccia Oshawa Generals 8 1

Offence connects as Team Cherry triumphs 7-4 in Guelph

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Guelph, ON – For the second straight year, Team Cherry’s offensive instincts rose to the surface as gorgeous goals and a few additions to the event record book paved the way to a 7-4 win at the Sleeman Centre in Guelph.

Team Cherry’s Jim Gregory Player of the Game Award recipient Evan Bouchard (London Knights) tied a pair of event records with four assists and four points from the back end while forward Ty Dellandrea made a record-breaking contribution of his own with two goals just 20 seconds apart.

“They came at us hard to start the game but we bounced back and once we scored a goal or two we gained momentum and that really carried us,” said Bouchard, who tied Daniel Briere’s event record of four assists set back in 1996. “It’s easy to generate chemistry when you have the chance to play with great players like this.”

Dellandrea’s pair of bang-bang goals late in the first period surpassed a long-standing record set by JP Dumont back in 1996.

“The guys all played great and I was just fortunate to be able to finish on those great plays by my teammates,” said Dellandrea who is just the second Flint Firebirds player to ever suit up at the event.

“Our team grew close over these past three days and we all had a lot of fun out there tonight.”

Six different Team Cherry players had multi-point outputs as second-ranked North American skater Filip Zadina (Halifax Mooseheads), late addition Aidan Dudas (Owen Sound Attack) and Dellandrea each finished the night with a pair of markers.

After a back-and-forth opening half of the first period, Don Cherry’s squad took over with four goals in a span of 2:32.

Russian winger Egor Sokolov (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles) got things started, finishing off a broken play in the slot with a quick release through the legs of Team Orr netminder Alexis Gravel (Halifax Mooseheads) at 14:10.

Dudas snuck in behind the Team Orr defence just over a minute later, taking a Bouchard up-ice feed to go in alone and beat Gravel through the legs.

Dellandrea would proceed to set a pair of new Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game records, making the score 4-0 when he tallied 20 seconds apart to smash JP Dumont’s 1996 mark of two goals in 3:22.

Dellandrea’s second marker came on a deflection off a Nico Gross (Oshawa Generals) point release, giving Team Cherry three goals in a span of 1:07 to set another new event mark.

Team Cherry picked up where it left off 4:12 into the second frame as Barrett Hayton (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) found NHL Central Scouting’s second-ranked North American skater Filip Zadina (Halifax Mooseheads) waiting in the slot for a one-time finish past his Halifax teammate Gravel.

After a number of quality power play scoring chances, Team Orr broke its offensive silence just shy of the midway mark of the second as big blueliner Kevin Bahl (Ottawa 67’s) sent a shot toward the goal that was deflected enroute by Serron Noel (Oshawa Generals).

Both clubs changed goaltenders at the midway point with Team Cherry in the lead 5-1, outshooting Team Orr 21-14 as Jacob Ingham (Mississauga Steelheads) and Kevin Mandolese (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles) took over in the crease.

Though the 6-foot-6 defenceman has just one goal in Ottawa this season, Bahl jumped into the rush to cut Team Orr’s deficit to three with 6:12 left in the second frame, coming in late as the trailer to rip a quick wrister past Ingham.

Dudas would put away his second of the night 1:12 later, putting Team Cherry up 6-2 with a beautiful toe-drag through the slot before depositing a shot over the shoulder of Kevin Mandolese (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles) at the 15-minute mark.

Zadina would bury his second of the night on a rebound with 1:52 left in the third, grabbing the second effort off a Bouchard perimeter shot to send Team Cherry into the intermission leading 7-2.

Team Orr made things interesting in the third, getting goals from Cole Fonstad (Prince Albert Raiders) and Dmitry Zavgorodniy (Rimouski Océanic) to cut the deficit to three before the sound of the final buzzer.

Bouchard (4A) and Team Orr’s Kevin Bahl (1G, 1A) claimed Jim Gregory Player of the Game recognition as Team Cherry improved to 7-13 at the Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

Team Cherry outshot Team Orr 41-26 on the night, going 1-for-3 on the power play.