OHL Announces Top Performers of the Month for October
Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced top performers of the month for October, including a small number of games played in September to begin the 2023-24 regular season.
Player of the Month – Carson Rehkopf (Kitchener Rangers)
Seattle Kraken prospect Carson Rehkopf of the KItchener Rangers is the OHL Player of the Month for October, leading the league with 14 goals over 13 games to go with nine assists for 23 points along with a plus/minus rating of plus-10. Rehkopf led the OHL with 62 shots on goal and three game-winning goals. He produced points in 11 of his 13 outings, including consecutive four-point showings on Oct. 13th and 15th. He lit the lamp for a third period natural hat trick in the Rangers’ 8-0 win over the Barrie Colts.
An 18-year-old from Vaughan, Ont., Rehkopf comes-off a 30-goal season in 2022-23 and has produced 62 goals, 53 assists and 115 points in 146 career regular season games with Kitchener since being the Rangers’ first round (17th overall) pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection. The 6-foot-1, 195Ib. forward was Seattle’s second round (50th overall) pick last summer.
Defenceman of the Month – Hunter Brzustewicz (Kitchener Rangers)
Vancouver Canucks prospect Hunter Brzustewicz of the Kitchener Rangers is the OHL Defenceman of the Month, leading the league with 25 points including five goals and 20 assists over 13 games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-11. Brzustewicz rides a current 12-game point streak into the month of November, registering a four-assist showing on Sept. 30th in Flint along with a total of five three-point efforts in the opening month of the season. Brzustewicz becomes the first Rangers blueliner to be named OHL Defenceman of the Month since Ryan Murphy in January 2012.
Turning 19 on November 29th, Brzustewicz, who hails from Washington, Michigan, is in his second OHL season after registering 57 points (6-51–57) over 68 games last season. The 6-foot, 188Ib. right-shot defender was Vancouver’s third round (75th overall) pick this past summer. The Rangers acquired Brzustewicz from the Barrie Colts on Jan. 9, 2022 after he was originally Barrie’s fourth round (69th overall) pick in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection.
Goaltender of the Month – Brayden Gillespie (Guelph Storm)
Brayden Gillespie of the Guelph Storm is the OHL Goaltender of the Month for October, playing to a 7-3 record with a league-leading 2.02 goals-against average and .932 save percentage along with one shutout. Gillespie posted a 33-save shutout on Oct. 6th against Erie and also factored prominently in victories on Oct. 26th with 34 saves in North Bay and Oct. 29th with 30 saves against Ottawa.
An 18-year-old from Oakville, Ont., Gillespie went 13-6-2-1 with Guelph over 25 games last season after starting the year with the GOJHL’s Ayr Centennials. The 5-foot-11, 170Ib. netminder was the Storm’s 11th round (207th overall) pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection.
Also considered for the award this month, draft eligible netminder Ryerson Leenders went 8-2 with a 2.72 goals-against average and .920 save percentage over 10 games, posting a pair of shutouts for the first place Mississauga Steelheads.
Rookie of the Month – Carter George (Owen Sound Attack)
Draft eligible Owen Sound Attack netminder Carter George is the OHL Rookie of the Month for October, playing to a 5-2-1-0 record with a 2.18 goals-against average, .929 save percentage and one shutout. George posted his first career OHL clean sheet on Oct. 14th in Sault Ste. Marie, making 34 saves as the Attack defeated the Greyhounds 4-0. All five of George’s October victories featured at least 29 saves, headlined by a pair of first star performances.
A 17-year-old from Thunder Bay, Ont., George maintains designated rookie status in the OHL this season as a result of playing in just 10 games last year when he went 7-3 with a 2.41 goals-against average with a .924 save percentage, splitting time between the Bears and the GOJHL’s St. Marys Lincolns. George backstopped Canada’s national men’s under-18 team to gold at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup this past summer. He was recently listed as a ‘B’ rated goaltender on NHL Central Scouting’s October players to watch list. He was Owen Sound’s third round (53rd overall) pick in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection.
Also considered for recognition this month, draft eligible Mississauga Steelheads defender Jakub Fibigr led OHL rookies with 11 points (2-9–11) in 13 games from the blueline.
For inquiries, contact:
Lindsay Eastwood
Manager of Communications and Team Services
Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club
613-793-0168
[email protected]