Zach Gallant – Peterborough Petes – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height: 6’1”

Weight: 184 pounds

Date of birth: March 6, 1999

Hometown: Oakville, Ontario

Position: Center

Shoots: Left

OHL Draft: Round 1, 5th overall, 2015 Priority Selection

Playing his midget hockey for the Mississauga Rebels Minor Midget AAA squad, Zachary Gallant scored twenty-four goals and thirty-four assists in sixty-two games while amassing ninety-five minutes in penalties. Upon completion of his season, he got a three-game stint with the Oakville Blades of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.

Last season Gallant took the Ontario Hockey League route and appeared in fifty-one games for the Peterborough Petes. He registered just four assists on the season as it appeared he was having difficulty adjusting to the league. He also represented Canada Red at the World Hockey Challenge Under-17, and in six games for Canada, had two assists.

Zach Gallant of the Peterborough Petes. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Zach Gallant of the Peterborough Petes. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

The Petes have been one of the OHL’s hottest teams of late going 16-3-0 and Gallant has been a large part of that run scoring nine goals and adding ten assists raising his season totals to fourteen goals and nineteen assists in forty-one games.

At 6’1” and 184 pounds, Gallant has good size. He’s not afraid of the physical game and does not hesitate to initiate the physicality. He lacks an explosive first step to his skating and doesn’t possess a separation gear which in turn reflects on his offense. I’m a firm believer that skating can be improved through hard work and commitment and have no doubt Gallant has the will to do just that.

Gallant’s strength however, is his ability to play an excellent two-way game while providing some offense. How his skating improves will dictate how his offensive abilities translate to the NHL. He’s excellent in the face-off circle, winning 59.9% of his draws. Defensively, Gallant can read and react instantly and has a strong ability to create turnovers. He has a willingness to block shots and is adept at it. His work ethic and commitment to the defensive zone will be his ticket to the NHL.

Offensively, Gallant is not afraid of the dirty areas. He’s hard to knock off the puck and is excellent at keeping possession. He cycles with confidence and sometimes with ease. He has an average shot, firing at a rate of 12.8% while an average playmaker.

There are no statistics to measure heart and determination to win. But Gallant is all heart with a willingness to do whatever it takes to win, and with him, the team always comes first.

Gallant was ranked 24th among OHL players , 71st among North American skaters on the NHL Central Scouting mid-term rankings.

OHL Announces Top Performers of the Month for December

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON –  The Ontario Hockey League today announced the Top OHL Performers of the Month for regular season games played in December 2016, including Peterborough Petes forward Zach Gallant, Kingston Frontenacs blueliner Stephen Desrocher, Guelph Storm rookie Ryan Merkley and Windsor Spitfires goaltender Michael DiPietro. 

OHL Player of the Month – Zach Gallant (Peterborough Petes):
2017 NHL Draft prospect Zach Gallant of the Peterborough Petes is the OHL Player of the Month for December after collecting seven goals, eight assists and 15 points over 10 contests along with a plus/minus rating of plus-13. Gallant was also 56 percent in the faceoff circle to help the Petes to a perfect 10-0-0-0 month of December as they climbed to second place in the East Division. The 6-foot-1, 184Ib. centre had points in eight games including five multi-point outings. Gallant earned first star honours on four separate occasions, doing so on December 3rd when he had a goal and an assist in a 5-2 win over the visiting Guelph Storm. His two goals and an assist on December 11th led the Petes over the Ottawa 67’s 6-2 on the road. Gallant was named first star once again on December 15th when had a goal and an assist to help the Petes defeat the London Knights 3-1 on Sportsnet. Gallant rounded out his first star selections on December 29th with two goals and an assist in a 7-5 win over visiting Ottawa.

A 17-year-old native of Oakville, Ont., Gallant is currently in his sophomore season with the Petes after being the club’s first round (5th overall) pick in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection. He’s currently tied for fifth in team scoring with 12 goals, 17 assists and 29 points over 36 games to go with a plus/minus rating of plus-9 and a 59.4 percent success rate in the faceoff circle.

OHL Defenceman of the Month – Stephen Desrocher (Kingston Frontenacs):
Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Stephen Desrocher of the Kingston Frontenacs has been named the OHL Defenceman of the Month for December. Desrocher led all defencemen with 15 points including two goals and 13 assists over 10 games as the Frontenacs played to a 5-1-4-0 record. The 6-foot-4, 206Ib. rearguard recorded points in all 10 of his December contests, registering four multi-point outputs. Desrocher earned first star honours four times as he helped the Fronts defeat the visiting Kitchener Rangers with a goal and an assist on December 2nd. A night later he pitched in with two assists in a 3-2 shootout win in Hamilton. Desrocher recorded a pair of helpers to earn first star recognition in a 3-2 home ice win over Oshawa on December 17th. He rounded out his first star performances on December 30th with three assists in a 4-3 overtime loss to Peterborough.

A 20-year-old native of Toronto, Ont., Desrocher is in his fourth OHL season and second with the Frontenacs after spending parts of three seasons with the Oshawa Generals where he won an OHL title and Mastercard Memorial Cup championship in 2014-15.  He leads Kingston defencemen in scoring with five goals, 20 assists and 25 points over 33 contests and has recorded 13 of his 25 points on the power play. He was Toronto’s sixth round (155th overall) pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.


OHL Rookie of the Month – Ryan Merkley (Guelph Storm):
For the second time this season, 2016 OHL Priority Selection first overall pick Ryan Merkley of the Guelph Storm is the OHL Rookie of the Month. Merkley led all rookies with 13 points including four goals and nine assists over 10 games. His December included the first two multi-goal games of his OHL career including a pair on December 7th in a 5-4 road loss against the Sarnia Sting. Merkley’s overtime winner on December 11th was his second of the game and along with an assist, he recorded three points to earn first star recognition in a 4-3 win over the Kingston Frontenacs. The rookie had a three assist effort, setting up the overtime winner on December 28th when the Storm defeated the visiting Sarnia Sting 4-3.

A 16-year-old native of Mississauga, Ont., Merkley leads all OHL rookies with 28 points including six goals and 22 assists over 30 games. He is third in Storm scoring this season after being the club’s first round (1st overall) pick this past April. He will be eligible for the 2018 NHL Draft.

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Vaughn OHL Goaltender of the Month – Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires):
2017 NHL Draft prospect Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires is the Vaughn OHL Goaltender of the Month for December. DiPietro played to a 6-2-0-0 record with a 1.48 goals-against-average, a .940 save percentage and three shutouts over his eight December starts. He started the month with a 36-save performance on December 3rd as the Spitfires claimed a 2-1 win over the Flint Firebirds. His month was headlined by a string of three straight road shutouts from December 8-11, earning him Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week honours as he blanked the Barrie Colts, Sudbury Wolves and North Bay Battalion in succession. DiPietro put together a shutout streak that spanned parts of five games for an overall length of 209:23.

A 17-year-old native of Amherstburg, Ont., DiPietro comes off a tremendous rookie season in the OHL, one that earned him the F.W. Dinty Moore Trophy with a 2.45 goals-against-average. This season, DiPietro has played to a 16-5-4-0 record with a 2.21 goals-against-average, .918 save percentage and four shutouts over 26 games. He was Windsor’s second round (23rd overall) pick in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection. DiPietro will represent Team Orr in the upcoming 2017 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Quebec City on January 30th.

2016-17 OHL Performers of the Month:

Player of the Month:
December – Zach Gallant (Peterborough Petes)
November – Alex DeBrincat/Taylor Raddysh (Erie Otters)
October – Taylor Raddysh (Erie Otters)

Defenceman of the Month:
December – Stephen Desrocher (Kingston Frontenacs)
November – Darren Raddysh (Erie Otters)
October – Mathieu Henderson (Flint Firebirds)

Rookie of the Month:
December – Ryan Merkley (Guelph Storm)
November – Linus Nyman (Kingston Frontenacs)
October – Ryan Merkley (Guelph Storm)

Vaughn Goaltender of the Month:
December – Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires
November – Tyler Parsons (London Knights)
October – Troy Timpano (Erie Otters)

OHL Announces Academic Players of the Month for October

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the OHL Academic Players of the Month for October, 2016, including forwards Zach Gallant of the Peterborough Petes, Nick Suzuki of the Owen Sound Attack, Cole Purboo of the Windsor Spitfires and goaltender Jacob Ingham of the Mississauga Steelheads.

Best of Both Worlds

East Division: Peterborough Petes sophomore forward Zach Gallant is the OHL East Division Academic Player of the Month for October. The Oakville, ON, native claims his second Academic Player of the Month award after earning the distinction in February, 2016. The grade 12 student is currently excelling in his schoolwork, striving for success both in the classroom and on the ice. Gallant is achieving high grades in University level English, Biology and Physics courses at St. Peter’s Secondary School. On the ice, Gallant has a goal and six assists over 14 games and is among the league’s top faceoff-men with a 60% success rate (138/228). He scored his first career OHL goal on September 28th against Oshawa.

Central Division: Mississauga Steelheads rookie goaltender Jacob Ingham has been named the OHL Central Division Academic Player of the Month for October. A 16-year-old grade 11 student at Philip Pocock Catholic Secondary School, Ingham is excelling in University level courses this semester and has earned praise from his teachers and academic advisors. The Barrie, ON, native is 2-2-1-1 over seven games this season and is currently representing Team Canada Black at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Sault Ste. Marie. He was Mississauga’s second round (26th overall) pick in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection.

Midwest Division: Owen Sound Attack sophomore forward Nick Suzuki is the OHL Midwest Division Academic Player of the Month for October. Suzuki is described as a “self-motivated learner who takes full responsibility for his own learning,” by Attack academic advisor Sarah Rowe. “He is the first to offer help to our younger players who are taking Math and Science. He makes balancing the demands of school and sport look easy.” Suzuki is currently taking University level Advanced Functions, English and Organizational Business along with two Co-op periods. The grade 12 student at Owen Sound District Secondary School has six goals, eight assists and 14 points in 15 games this season and is eligible for the 2017 NHL Draft.

West Division: Windsor Spitfires rookie forward Cole Purboo is the OHL West Division Academic Player of the Month for October. The 17-year-old grade 12 student at St. Anne’s Catholic High School is described as “intelligent and intuitive” by Spitfires academic advisor Danielle Chevalier. “His teachers comment on how he frequently participates in class and respects those offering different points of view,” she continued. Purboo is currently taking University level Chemistry, Law and English courses. On the ice, he has five goals and an assist over 14 games this season.

2016-17 OHL Academic Players of the Month:

East Division:

October – Zach Gallant (Peterborough Petes)

Central Division:

October – Jacob Ingham (Mississauga Steelheads)

Midwest Division:

October – Nick Suzuki (Owen Sound Attack)

West Division:

October – Cole Purboo (Windsor Spitfires)

During the 2015-16 season, the OHL centrally administered Scholarship Program facilitated scholarships for 315 OHL graduates attending 57 different academic institutions with a total scholarship payment in excess of $2.9 million.  Click here for more information about ‘OHL Players First’ programs.