OHL This Week: October 18 to 21, 2018
A look at what’s happening across the Ontario Hockey League this week.
31 PLAYERS TO REPRESENT TEAM OHL IN 2018 CIBC CANADA RUSSIA SERIES:
The Ontario Hockey League, in collaboration with the Canadian Hockey League and Hockey Canada, has announced the Team OHL rosters for the 2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series. Team OHL will compete against the Russian National Junior Team in Game 3 of the six-game cross Canada series in Sarnia on Thursday November 8 and in Game 4 in Oshawa on Monday November 12. The series will begin with two games in the Western Hockey League and will wrap up with two games played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Full Roster
HEAD COACHES HATCHER AND WALTERS TO LEAD TEAM OHL IN CIBC CANADA RUSSIA SERIES:
Derian Hatcher of the host Sarnia Sting and Greg Walters of the host Oshawa Generals have been appointed Team OHL head coaches for the 2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series. Hatcher, now in his fourth season with the Sting, will work alongside his assistants David Legwand and Brad Staubitz. Walters, in his first OHL season with the Generals, will be joined by his assistants Nathan McIver and Greg Nemisz. Read more
27 OHL PLAYERS TO REPRESENT CANADA AT 2018 WORLD UNDER-17 HOCKEY CHALLENGE:
A total of 27 OHL players will be divided into three teams – Team Canada Black, Team Canada Red, and Team Canada White – to compete at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge from Nov. 3-10 in Saint John and Quispamsis, NB. Canada will compete against the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden and the United States in their quest for a gold medal. Read more
PETES, 67’s, SPIRIT AND STORM IN KIA CHL TOP 10 RANKINGS:
The Peterborough Petes make their season debut in the Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings, settling in at fifth on the list while the Ottawa 67’s (8), Saginaw Spirit (9) and Guelph Storm (10) also make an appearance. The Mississauga Steelheads received an honourable mention. Full Rankings
SPIRIT’S DAMIEN GIROUX NAMED CHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK & OHL ‘ON THE RUN’ PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Minnesota Wild prospect and Saginaw Spirit captain Damien Giroux is both the CHL Player of the Week as well as the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week with seven points in two games. Giroux produced a pair of multi-point performances that helped the West Division leading Spirit extend their winning-streak to five games bringing their first place record to 6-2-1-0. Giroux had a hand in seven of the team’s eight goals last week highlighted by a career-high five points on Saturday earning first star honours in a 6-2 home ice win over the North Bay Battalion. Read more
BRAZEAU REPRESENTS OHL IN CIBC SHOWDOWN:
North Bay Battalion forward Justin Brazeau is this week’s OHL representative in CIBC Showdown, a weekly feature that allows fans across the CHL to vote for their favourite play across all three leagues. Watch & Vote
SIX MORE OHL NEWCOMERS ENJOY MILESTONE MOMENTS:
A total of six more new OHL faces have enjoyed career milestones in the past week. See first goals from Daniel Bukac, Mason Howard, Kaleb Pearson, Nolan Seed, Erik Cermak and Peter Fleming. Watch
WAWANESA OHL PLAYS OF THE WEEK:
The fourth edition of the Wawanesa OHL Plays of the Week for the 2018-19 season feature a collection of the league’s Top-5 goals during the week ending October 14. This week’s highlights include a brilliant solo rush by Marco Rossi of the Ottawa 67’s that finishes with some flight time like Bobby Orr, followed by Lucas Chiodo of the Barrie Colts who scores a one-handed shorthanded breakaway deke. The top-three are all overtime markers including Arthur Kaliyev of the Hamilton Bulldogs who shows poise and patience with his toe-drag tally, Liam Foudy of the London Knights who goes coast-to-coast, and Justin Brazeau of the North Bay Battalion who dangles his way through the defence before roofing the backhand winner. Watch
GOALTENDERS COOL AS AN AUTUMN BREEZE ON JANES SAVES OF THE WEEK:
OHL goaltenders stay cool as an autumn breeze in the latest edition of #JanesSaves. Featured this week is Joseph Raaymakers of the London Knights, Stephen Dhillon of the Niagara IceDogs, Christian Purboo and Christian Propp of the North Bay Battalion, Jacob Ingham of the Mississauga Steelheads, Hunter Jones of the Peterborough Petes, Cedrick Andree of the Ottawa 67’s, Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires, and Matthew Villalta of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Watch
BULLDOGS’ ENTWISTLE SIGNS WITH BLACKHAWKS:
The Chicago Blackhawks have signed Hamilton Bulldogs captain MacKenzie Entwistle to a three-year entry level NHL contract. The 19-year-old from Georgetown, Ont. helped lead the Bulldogs to an OHL Championship last spring, following up a 38-point (13-25–38) regular season over 49 games with 17 points (10-7–17) over 21 playoff games. The Hawks acquired the rights to Entwistle over the summer in a trade that saw veteran winger Marian Hossa dealt to the Arizona Coyotes, who originally selected Entwistle in the third round (69th overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft. Read more
COLTS’ PEKAR SIGNS WITH SABRES:
The Buffalo Sabres have signed Barrie Colts first-year forward Matej Pekar to a three-year entry level NHL contract. The 18-year-old native of Turnov, Czech Republic is off to a strong start in his first OHL season, recording 11 points (6-5–11) through 10 games in Barrie. The 6-foot, 170Ib. centreman was Buffalo’s fourth round (94th overall) pick this past summer after earning USHL Rookie of the Year honours with the Muskegon Lumberjacks, putting up 54 points (14-40–54) in 56 games. Read more
PETES WELCOME PAST CHAMPIONS ON ALUMNI HOMECOMING WEEKEND:
The Peterborough Petes welcomed more than 65 alumni on Saturday including several members of the 1979 Memorial Cup Championship team that took to centre ice with the prestigious trophy prior to puck drop. Hockey Hall of Fame defenceman Larry Murphy and former head coach and general manager Gary Green were in attendance for the 40th anniversary celebration of the national championship that saw a much younger Petes team skate to its fourth straight win. Peterborough defeated the Windsor Spitfires 4-2 in alumni themed jerseys to be auctioned off in support of Muscular Dystrophy Canada. Read more
DEVOTED FAN NATHAN CATLING HONOURED IN SAULT STE. MARIE:
The Ontario Hockey League recognized a special fan in Sault Ste. Marie on Friday. Nathan Catling, a 26-year-old long-time fan and friend of OHL officials at games in Sault Ste. Marie, was presented with a customized officiating jersey on Friday prior to the Hounds’ 4-1 win over the Kitchener Rangers. Catling, who has gracefully dealt with Muscular Dystrophy for his entire life, had been a a Greyhounds season ticket holder with his grandfather Lynn up until this season. For the first time in over 20 years the two are unable to attend games regularly due to the combination of Lynn’s rising age and Nathan’s deteriorating health. Read more
SEASON PREMIERE OF JUNIOR HOCKEY MAGAZINE WITH GINO REDA:
The first edition in the 28th season of Junior Hockey Magazine with Gino Reda features CHL President and OHL Commissioner David Branch as he provides his outlook another season of CHL action. In the CHL Leaders portion of the show, Gino chats with the captain of the 1997 OHL Champion Oshawa Generals Ryan Lindsay and how he used the CHL Scholarship program to get his degree at the University of New Brunswick. Listen
ROGERS HOMETOWN HOCKEY TOUR TOUCHES DOWN IN LONDON:
The 100th episode of the Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour will be in London this coming weekend, going back to the place where it all started. This weekend’s coverage features stories covering the London Knights and homegrown talent in OHL graduates Brandon Trust and Hall of Famer Eric Lindros. Don’t miss this weekend’s festivities, visit hometownhockey.com for full details.
COMMUNITY CORNER:
Knights jersey auction raises money for London hospitals: The London Knights are auctioning off their specially-themed game worn jerseys from Friday’s 7-6 overtime win over the Sarnia Sting. All proceeds will go to benefit London hospitals through the London Dream Lottery. A wide range of jerseys are available at auction.chl.ca.
Battalion host Pink in the Rink Night on Thursday: The North Bay Battalion will be decked out in pink this Thursday when the Mississauga Steelheads visit the Memorial Gardens. The Troops are holding Breast Cancer Awareness Night and invite fans to wear pink on Thursday. For more details visit battalionhockey.com.
Spitfires celebrate 10 years at the WFCU Centre on Thursday: The City of Windsor is hosting a celebration marking 10 years since the WFCU Centre’s Community Side opened its doors back in 2008. To mark the occasion, the Spits are offering a limited number of $10 Red Zone tickets and there will be special $10 offers at the facility’s concessions for Thursday’s game against the Barrie Colts. For more details visit windsorspitfires.com.
Country Night in Saginaw on Friday: The Saginaw Spirit host Country Night at The Dow Event Center on Friday. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for pre-game festivities starting at 5:30pm. Don’t miss out on the mechanical bull! Full details at saginawspirit.com.
IceDogs suit up as Superheroes on Friday: The Niagara IceDogs are dressing up as superheroes on Friday, hosting Superhero Night at home to the Windsor Spitfires. The Dogs are playing in support of Family and Children’s Services Niagara, auctioning off their specially themed jerseys post-game with proceeds going to the charity. For more details on Friday’s initiative, visit niagaraicedogs.net.
First Responders Night in Sarnia on Friday: The Sarnia Sting pay tribute to first responders on Friday when they play host to the Owen Sound Attack. The Sting will be honouring the Sarnia Fire Department, Lambton EMS, Sarnia Police Services as well as Canadian Border Security.
Storm host annual Food Drive on Sunday: The Guelph Storm will be collecting non-perishable food items on Sunday when they play host to the Kitchener Rangers. Last year with all that was collected, along with some cash donations over 1,700 meals were provided for the Guelph Food Bank. More information at guelphstorm.com.
ALUMNI NOTES:
Senators remember Ray Emery: The Ottawa Senators paid tribute to the late Ray Emery on Monday night, bringing former teammate and fellow OHL grad Jason Spezza of the Dallas Stars to tears on the bench. Fans and players alike were moved by the tribute video, which highlighted Emery’s 11 seasons in the NHL, including helping lead the Senators to the 2007 Stanley Cup Final. Emery, who passed away this past July at the age of 35, played three OHL seasons with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds from 1999-2002. Canadian singer and Emery’s former fiancée Keshia Chante performed the anthems wearing his jersey.
Svechnikov has been everything Canes hoped for: 2018 OHL Rookie of the Year Andrei Svechnikov is making a smooth transition into the NHL. The Barrie Colts graduate has two goals, both game winners, along with two assists thus far, pitching in on the Carolina attack. Playing alongside WHL grad Jordan Martinook and Swedish forward Lucas Wallmark, Svechnikov is getting accustomed to life in the NHL. NHL.com’s Mike Morreale has the story.
SCHEDULE:
Thursday October 18:
Ottawa at Niagara – 7:00pm
Mississauga at North Bay – 7:00pm
Oshawa at Peterborough – 7:05pm
Barrie at Windsor – 7:05pm
Friday October 19:
Peterborough at Mississauga – 7:00pm
Windsor at Niagara – 7:00pm
Barrie at Saginaw – 7:05pm
Owen Sound at Sarnia – 7:05pm
Hamilton at Sudbury – 7:05pm
Kingston at Sault Ste. Marie – 7:07pm
Guelph at Kitchener – 7:30pm
Oshawa at London – 7:30pm
Saturday October 20:
Kitchener at London – 3:30pm
Ottawa at Erie – 7:00pm
Flint at Saginaw – 7:05pm
Kingston at Sudbury – 7:05pm
Hamilton at Sault Ste. Marie – 7:07pm
Guelph at Owen Sound – 7:30pm
Sunday October 21:
Barrie at Flint – 2:00pm
Kitchener at Guelph – 2:00pm
Ottawa at Mississauga – 2:00pm
Kingston at North Bay – 2:00pm
London at Sarnia – 2:05pm
Windsor at Erie – 4:00pm
Peterborough at Oshawa – 6:05pm
Be sure to catch all of this weekend’s action at ohllive.com.
