OHL Weekend Notebook: Dec. 12, 2023
The OHL Weekend Notebook recaps the weekend that was with news, information and interesting facts from both on and off the ice.
Schenkel stands tall, Hounds extend winning streak to four
The Soo Greyhounds climbed to the top of this week’s OHL Power Rankings, rounding-out the weekend with their fourth straight win on Sunday. Goaltender Charlie Schenkel has been a big reason for the club’s success as he provided some tremendous saves in Wednesday’s 3-2 overtime win in Sudbury. Schenkel entered Friday’s game at home to the Kingston Frontenacs midway through the first period, backstopping the Hounds to a 7-5 comeback win before making 22 saves in a 5-4 victory over the London Knights on Sunday. Jack Beck (3-4–7) and Canadian World Junior Selection Camp invitee Owen Allard (2-4–6) both had big weeks offensively for the Greyhounds, who sit atop the West Division standings with a 20-8-2-0 record.
You're tuned in to the Charlie Schenkel show 📺
We had a hard time picking one of these, so we just included all three as Wednesday's @RealCdnSS #SaveoftheNight as @OHLHoundPower held off Sudbury 🎥 pic.twitter.com/VHCFE4jlm2
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) December 7, 2023
Rangers, Bulldogs trade comebacks
It was about as thrilling of a home-and-home you’ll see in the OHL as the Kitchener Rangers and Brantford Bulldogs locked horns in a pair of thrilling matchups. Brantford led 5-1 entering the third period of Friday’s game at the Aud before Kitchener stormed back with four in the third to tie the score, setting the stage for Carson Rehkopf’s 31st goal of the season in overtime. The Bulldogs rebounded from a 6-5 loss with a comeback of their own at the Civic Centre on Saturday. Trailing Kitchener 4-1 after 40 minutes of play, Brantford responded with three third period goals to draw even before Chicago Blackhawks prospect Nick Lardis completed his first OHL hat-trick with one minute remaining in overtime, giving the Bulldogs a 5-4 win. Kitchener leads the OHL standings with a record of 23-7-2-0 while Brantford has points in eight of their last 10 games, sitting second in the East Division with a record of 14-9-5-1.
Nick Lardis: Goal-Scoring Machine 🤖#Blackhawks prospect completed his first #OHL hat-trick with a beautiful overtime winner as the @BulldogsOHL turned the tables on Kitchener 🎥 pic.twitter.com/cLJUAA6yRg
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) December 10, 2023
Generals take wins in Windsor, Sarnia
The Oshawa Generals are finally making their way back to full health, and reaped some positive results this past week, getting a point in an overtime loss to Ottawa before skating to back-to-back road wins over Windsor and Sarnia. Connor Lockhart potted his fourth career OHL hat-trick in Saturday’s 6-3 win over Windsor while Matthew Buckley scored in all three games last week. First-year goaltender Noah Bender earned his first career win on Sunday in Sarnia. Minnesota Wild prospect Rasmus Kumpulainen paces Oshawa with 27 points (14-13–27) in as many games this season.
Our favourite part of this interview is Noah trying to answer the questions through his ear-to-ear smile 😁
Hear for today's winning netminder, celebrating his first career OHL victory!#GensNation | @OHLHockey pic.twitter.com/Sk2QryyW6l
— Oshawa Generals (@Oshawa_Generals) December 10, 2023
Donoso delivers for East-leading 67’s
OHL Goaltender of the Week Max Donoso was at his best, going 2-0 to help the Ottawa 67’s maintain their standing atop the East Division. The Windsor, Ont. native made 88 saves across three appearances, headlined by a 39-save, first star effort in Sunday’s 2-1 road win over the Peterborough Petes. Donoso became the 10th goaltender in 67’s franchise history to earn 50 career wins, joining such names as Craig Hillier, Seamus Kotyk, Jim Ralph, Petr Mrazek and Cedrick Andree.
50 wins for @maxdonoso_‼️ #CapitalTerritory pic.twitter.com/Q87ZnmhD9G
— Ottawa 67’s (@Ottawa67sHockey) December 10, 2023
Dvorsky filling the net for Wolves, DeAngelis continues point streak
St. Louis Blues first round NHL Draft pick Dalibor Dvorsky extended his goal-scoring streak to five games on Sunday, lighting the lamp twice in Sudbury’s 8-4 win over the Kingston Frontenacs. Dvorsky has scored eight goals over the span of his five-game run, and leads the OHL with a 29% shooting percentage. He’s put together a total of 34 points (18-16–34) in just 20 games. Additionally, overage blueliner Nick DeAngelis continued his point streak, stretching it to 11 games with an assist on Sunday. Sudbury is among the highest-scoring teams in the OHL, sitting three points back of first place Mississauga in the Central Division with a record of 15-10-2-1.
Dalibor Dvorský is having FUN in Sudbury. 😎@Sudbury_Wolves | @StLouisBlues pic.twitter.com/IFjXcy8DO8
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) December 10, 2023
Peer red hot for Spitfires
The Windsor Spitfires are trying to recover from a forgettable start to the season, and Oliver Peer is picking up the pace offensively. The overage winger put together a career-high five point performance in Sunday’s 6-3 win over the Flint Firebirds, scoring a natural hat-trick in the first period. The Burlington, Ont. native has 16 points over his last nine games as Windsor has scored wins over some capable opponents of late, winning in Peterborough and Ottawa while taking three of their last four contests. Draft eligible teammate Liam Greentree leads the Spitfires in scoring and posted three points (2-1–3) of his own on Sunday.
Oliver Peer netted a natural hat-trick in the first period en route to five points for victorious @SpitsHockey on a seven-game Sunday in the #OHL.
RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS 📰🎥: https://t.co/74Vcgf9E5x pic.twitter.com/uMRrPEBVMU
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) December 11, 2023
Knights torch Spirit, come up short in the Soo
After scuffling through the past couple of weeks, the London Knights came out strong, defeating the Sarnia Sting 4-1 in their teddy bear toss game last week before following-up with a 7-3 win over the Saginaw Spirit. The Knights avenged a pair of losses to Saginaw earlier in the schedule as the dynamic duo of Denver Barkey and Easton Cowan combined for five points and San Jose Sharks draft pick Kasper Halttunen extended his point streak to 14 games with his 20th goal of the season. The Knights were short some bodies on Sunday in Sault Ste. Marie, with potential World Junior duty sidelining Cowan, Barkey, Halttunen and Oliver Bonk as London fell 5-4 to the surging Greyhounds. The Knights sit second in the Midwest Division with a record of 17-11-0-1.
BARKEY COWAN SHORTHANDED THAT'S A SCARY SIGHT#LetsGoFlyers | #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/PbTR7JUbI1
— London Knights (@LondonKnights) December 9, 2023
Mangone makes OHL history for Spirit
With an assist in Saturday’s 7-1 triumph in Flint, Calem Mangone became the highest-scoring Under-18 Priority Selection choice in OHL history. The 19-year-old from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. who was taken second overall by the Spirit in 2021 has 111 points (40-71–111) in 141 regular season games. Over 400 players have been selected in the OHL U18 Priority Selection since its inception in 2017. Mangone surpasses the prior mark held by former Erie Otters captain Daniel D’Amato.
Calem Mangone goes down in #OHL history with 111 career #OHL points. The most points scored by a U18 drafted player 👏
FULL STORY: https://t.co/TM8EDHzOTV pic.twitter.com/yohW3l9FVn
— Saginaw Spirit (@SpiritHockey) December 10, 2023
Banged-up Storm have tough week on the ice
The Guelph Storm came out of a four-game set with one point to show for their efforts. The Storm dropped a pair of decisions against Kitchener, lost to Owen Sound 3-2 in overtime on Friday and fell 4-1 in Erie on Saturday. Guelph enlisted the help of 19-year-old defenceman Adam Shillinglaw, called-up from the NOJHL’s Hearst Lumberjacks, who recorded two assists in his first three games. Tenth-round 2023 selection Grant Spada was also up playing last week as the Storm missed Michael Buchinger on the back half of the weekend as he went to attend Canada’s National Junior Team Development Camp. Injuries to Quinn Beauchesne and Zackary Sandhu have also forced the Stormers to shuffle things around on the blueline of late. Guelph comes out of the weekend sitting fifth in the Western Conference with a record of 16-12-1-1, looking to close out the first half against Owen Sound, Peterborough and Sault Ste. Marie this week.
With injuries on defence the Storm have brought in 19 year old Adam Shillinglaw, actually it’s his birthday today, from the Hearst Lumberjacks in the NOJHL. He was at Storm camp in August/September.
— Larry Mellott (@stormradioguy) December 8, 2023
Silver linings for IceDogs in winless week of action
The Niagara IceDogs dropped three decisions last week, but on a positive note the club seems to be returning to health after a bout of illness in recent weeks. The Dogs saw the return of Mathieu Paris this past week while also recalling Charlie Burns from the GOJHL’s Fort Erie Meteors following the trade of Marcus Vandenberg to the Sudbury Wolves. Ryan Roobroeck tried playing down the middle on Saturday in Sudbury, taking 18 draws on the night. He logged a season-high 11 shots on goal in Sunday’s 5-3 road loss to the Mississauga Steelheads. Draft eligible forward Kevin He has scored in three straight games, giving him a club-leading 14 goals on the season. The Dogs enter their final week before the break with a three-in-three set, hosting Ottawa and North Bay with a Friday trip to Kingston also in store.
A team leading 14 goals for Kevin He😎 pic.twitter.com/GztlH73AIb
— Niagara IceDogs (@OHLIceDogs) December 10, 2023
