Week Recap: Ekberg makes an impact in return, 67’s split the weekend
The Ottawa 67’s split their two games this weekend, taking Saturday night’s contest 6-3 in Peterborough and dropping this afternoon’s home opener 10-3 to the Sarnia Sting.
In Peterborough, the 67’s were led by Spencer Bowes, who tallied his first two goals of the season, and the encore act of Andrew Laurin and Theo Avila, each tallied their second goals of the campaign after both forwards recorded their first career goals in the season opener in Kingston. Stouffville native Jack Johnson notched his first career goal on Saturday night while newcomer Jaiden Newton got his first with the Barber poles rounding out the scoring in the victory.
Some familiar faces made their return to the Ottawa lineup over the weekend, with imports Filip Ekberg and Ondrej Ruml making their season debuts in Peterborough.
As for the home opener, it didn’t go as planned on the ice at TD Place Arena. Sarnia opened the scoring just 30 seconds into the contest, and despite some pushback from Ottawa through the first two periods, the Sting were able to open the floodgates and ride six third-period goals to the victory.
Ekberg did make his mark on the contest, recording his first career OHL hat trick, including a spectacular goal in the second period where he shook off the Sarnia defender and ripped a shot just under the bar to pull Ottawa within one early in the second period. He also had what would ultimately have been a fourth goal called back after the zone entry on his first-period power-play marker was ruled to be offside following a Sarnia challenge.
This was always going to be a tough back-to-back situation for the 67’s, coming off the game in Peterborough the night before, with the Sting waiting for them back in Ottawa following their Friday night season opener, but after the game, the club was unwilling to make any excuses for the result.
“I mean we’re definitely tired, but everyone has those games. You just have to do what you can to try and play good,” Ekberg said post-game. “It’s tough, but we can’t do anything but try and get the best out of it.”
The Swedish winger was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the seventh round of the 2025 NHL Draft, and after spending camp with the club this offseason, he says he’s using the experience with the reigning Stanley Cup champions to elevate his play for this OHL season.
“Yeah, it was really cool. You know, that could be the best team I’m ever going to be around, so it was cool, and now I know what kind of level I need to get to.” Says Ekberg, who suited up in a preseason game against the Florida Panthers five days ago.
“Just to play against Barkov and the Tkachuks… They’re so good. It was fun, cool and hard. But we won.” He said with a chuckle.
Since returning, Ekberg appears to have some extra jump to his step, standing out every time he gets the puck with some space. He credits this to his offseason workouts with his agent Michael Nylander and fellow Swedish players who he worked out with in the offseason.
Ottawa is back on the ice on Friday evening in Oshawa to take on the Generals before returning home the following evening to host the Erie Otters at 3 p.m. at TD Place.
All of the action can be seen on Flo Hockey and heard on TSN 1200.
