OHL Announces Top Performers of the Month for January

TORONTO – The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) today announced Top Performers of the Month for January.

Rookie of the Month – Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit) – 12 GP, 8G, 11A, 19 PTS., +3
Saginaw Spirit forward Nikita Klepov has been named OHL Rookie of the Month for January after leading all rookies with 19 points (8-11–19) over 12 games. Klepov finished the month six points clear of the next closest rookie scorer, recording five multi-point performances and points in nine of his 12 outings.

The 17-year-old posted two four-point games during the month, doing so on Jan. 4th and again on Jan. 17th as the Spirit continued to gain traction in the Western Conference.

A native of Deerfield Beach, FL, Klepov is playing his first OHL season after being selected by Saginaw as a first-round import pick in 2025. He is a top prospect eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo and earns Rookie of the Month honours for the second time this season, having also received the award in October.

Defenceman of the Month – Kashawn Aitcheson (Barrie Colts) –-11 GP, 3G, 11A, 14 PTS., +13
Barrie Colts defenceman Kashawn Aitcheson has been named OHL Defenceman of the Month after producing 14 points (3-11–14) over 11 games in January while posting a plus-13 rating. He recorded four multi-point performances during the month and continues to rank among the league’s most productive blueliners.

Through 38 games this season, Aitcheson ranks third among OHL defencemen in scoring with 46 points, while his 22 goals lead all defenders across the league. He is also tied for third in team scoring for the Colts.

A 19-year-old from Toronto, ON, Aitcheson was selected 17th overall by the New York Islanders in the first round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles.

Goaltender of the Month – Carter George (Soo Greyhounds) – 7 GP, 5-1-0-1, 1.71 GAA, .925 SV%, 2 SO, 147 SV
Carter George of the Soo Greyhounds has been named OHL Goaltender of the Month after posting a 5-1-0-1 record in January, accompanied by a league-best 1.71 goals-against average and .925 save percentage over more than 400 minutes of action. He was the only OHL goaltender to record two shutouts during the month and the only netminder to play over 400 minutes with a save percentage above .925.

George also made history on Jan. 21st, scoring his second career goal in the Ontario Hockey League. With the tally, he became the first goaltender in OHL history to score two goals, and just the second goaltender in CHL history to accomplish the feat, joining François Brassard of the QMJHL. The goal also marked the second by a goaltender in Soo Greyhounds franchise history.

Acquired from the Owen Sound Attack on Jan. 7th, George began his Greyhounds tenure with five straight wins, two shutouts, and a goal in his first five games with the club. A 19-year-old from Thunder Bay, ON, George was selected in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft by the Los Angeles Kings.

Player of the Month – Jack Pridham (Kitchener Rangers) – 11 GP, 8G, 12A, 20 PTS., +14
Leading the OHL in scoring during the month of January, Jack Pridham of the Kitchener Rangers has been named OHL Player of the Month after recording 20 points (8-12–20) over 11 games. Pridham recorded at least one point in 10 of his 11 January outings, highlighted by six multi-point performances as the Rangers surged to the top of the Western Conference standings.

Pridham’s most notable effort came on Jan. 15th when he recorded a hat trick and an assist in a Rangers victory over the Saginaw Spirit. He now leads Kitchener in scoring this season with 62 points over 46 games.

A 20-year-old overage forward from Stouffville, ON, Pridham was selected in the third round of the 2024 NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. He is in his fourth OHL season and has played a key role in Kitchener finishing January as the number one seed in the Western Conference.

2025-26 OHL Performers of the Month:

Player of the Month:
January – Jack Pridham (Kitchener Rangers)
December – Riley Patterson (Niagara IceDogs)
November – Nathan Aspinall (Flint Firebirds)
October – Jake O’Brien (Brantford Bulldogs)

Defenceman of the Month:
January – Aitcheson (Barrie Colts)
December – Anthony Cristoforo (Windsor Spitfires)
November – Adam Jiricek (Brantford Bulldogs)
October – Carson Woodall (Windsor Spitfires)

Goaltender of the Month:
January – George (Soo Greyhounds)
December – Ben Hrebik (Barrie Colts)
November – Ben Hrebik (Barrie Colts)
October – Joey Costanzo (Windsor Spitfires)

Rookie of the Month:
January – Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit)
December – Caleb Malhotra (Brantford Bulldogs)
November – Ryder Fetterolf (Ottawa 67’s)
October – Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit)