CHL Today: Belchetz dazzles with four goals for Spits

Headlines

• Ethan Belchetz, the first overall pick in the 2024 OHL Draft, dazzled for Windsor Saturday as he scored not just his first OHL goal, but four. Belchetz concluded the night with six points, the most by an OHL rookie since Peterborough’s Matt Puempel who had six on March 13, 2010 vs. Oshawa. Full story
• The Soo Greyhounds held its Indigenous Heritage Night Saturday where they wore Indigenous-inspired jerseys designed by Anishinaabe-Irish artist Lucia Laford. Sault Ste. Marie fell 6-3 against Sudbury. Full story

CHL Top 10

• The Medicine Hat Tigers (1) suffered its second straight loss after a narrow 4-3 defeat to Red Deer.
• The Brampton Steelheads (2) made it back-to-back wins to start the campaign after a 5-2 win over Erie. Brampton’s 12 goals are the most in the Eastern Conference through Opening Weekend.
• The London Knights (3) collected its first win of 2024-25 after they won the second game of a home-and-home with Flint 5-2. The night prior, the Firebirds had claimed a 7-4 decision.
• In Gardiner MacDougall’s home-opener as coach, the Moncton Wildcats (4) collected a point in a 3-2 loss to Acadie-Bathurst. The Wildcats are 2-0-1 through three games this year.
• A four-goal third period powered the Rimouski Oceanic (5) to a 7-4 road win over Gatineau. Saturday’s win was the first of the season for the 2025 Memorial Cup hosts.
• In a battle between a pair of OHL Top 10 teams, the Brantford Bulldogs (9) bested the Oshawa Generals (8) 6-2. Both teams sit 1-1-0 early on this year.

NHL Prospect Watch

• Nick Lardis (CHI) and Patrick Thomas (WSH) were the difference-makers for Brantford in his first game of the season. Thomas had five points (1G, 4A) while Lardis scored twice and added a helper in their win over Oshawa.
• In his season debut, Tarin Smith (ANA) posted four points (1G, 3A) as part of Everett’s 8-2 victory over Portland.

Nightly notes

• Saginaw’s Michael Misa continued his torrid start to 2024-25 with another two-goal outing in the Spirit’s 6-1 win over Sarnia. In three games, the 2025 NHL Draft prospect has seven goals while his eight points are tied for the league lead alongside Belchetz.
• Maxime Coursol dominated for the Oceanic with a five-point (1G, 4A) effort while captain Jacob Mathieu had a hat-trick in his season debut in their 7-4 victory against Gatineau. Coursol currently leads the Oceanic in scoring with six points (two goals).
• Mathieu St-Onge had the overtime winner for the Titan as they moved to 3-0-0 after their 3-2 win against Moncton.
• Life continues to be good for Shea Van Olm in Spokane as he tallied three points (2G, 1A) in a win against Tri-City 4-1. Van Olm’s six points leads the Chiefs this year.
• Roger McQueen (2025) scored his sixth goal in just his fourth game of the season in Brandon’s 4-3 loss to Saskatoon. McQueen’s six goals and eight points are both tied for the WHL lead.
• Cole Reschny (2025) had three points (2G, 1A) to lead Victoria to a 5-2 decision over Kamloops. The Royals seven points are the most in the WHL early on.

OHL results (Sept. 28, 2024)

Brantford 6-2 Oshawa
Brampton 5-2 Erie
London 5-2 Flint
Guelph 2-1 Owen Sound
Saginaw 6-1 Sarnia
Windsor 12-2 Kitchener
Sudbury 6-3 Soo
North Bay 4-1 Barrie

QMJHL results (Sept. 28, 2024)

Rimouski 7-4 Gatineau
Shawinigan 2-1 Baie-Comeau
Acadie-Bathurst 3-2 Moncton (OT)
Val-d’Or 5-4 Blainville-Boisbriand
Sherbrooke 3-2 Rouyn-Noranda (SO)

WHL results (Sept. 28, 2024)

Edmonton 4-1 Calgary
Everett 8-2 Portland
Red Deer 4-3 Medicine Hat
Victoria 5-2 Kamloops
Saskatoon 4-3 Brandon
Seattle 5-4 Wenatchee
Swift Current 5-4 Prince Albert
Spokane 4-1 Tri-City