OHL Power Rankings: Jan. 6, 2025
New year, new set of OHL Power Rankings! Circle your calendars Friday night when a 1 vs. 2 matchup takes centre stage with the London Knights playing host to the Windsor Spitfires!
Who’s up:
Kingston Frontenacs – up two spots to #7 this week
The Fronts beat the Brampton Steelheads 4-3 before finding a way to solve the Oshawa Generals on Friday, scoring six unanswered to rally from a 4-1 deficit and pick-up two points. The win came without Finns Tuomas Uronen and Emil Pieniniemi who will return home with silver medals from the 2025 World Juniors in Ottawa.
Saginaw Spirit – up one spot to #11 this week
A less than convincing past few weeks for the Saginaw Spirit turned around to some degree to begin 2025 as they scored home wins over the Ottawa 67’s and Soo Greyhounds. Andrew Oke picked-up his third career OHL regular season shutout in Saturday’s 5-0 blanking of the Greyhounds. Draft eligible forward Michael Misa sits tied with Brantford’s Nick Lardis for the OHL goal-scoring lead, having lit the lamp 32 times.
Brampton Steelheads – up one spot to #12 this week
The Trout dropped back-to-back decisions against Sudbury and Kingston before finding a way to come back and beat the Flint Firebirds in overtime on Saturday, leapfrogging the Birds on this week’s list. Recent acquisition Vilmer Alriksson tied the score before Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Finn Harding came up with the OT winner as Jack Ivankovic earned the W in his return from Canada’s National Junior Team.
Sarnia Sting – up one spot to #14 this week
The Sting buzz up the list following success against both the London Knights and Brantford Bulldogs. The Sting put a 9-3 loss to London in their rearview mirrior on New Year’s Day, defeating their green rivals to open 2025 on an overtime winner from rookie sensation Beckham Edwards. The Sting came out and beat Brantford 4-1 on Friday, with goaltender Nick Surzycia providing a second straight first star performance.
Who’s down:
Oshawa Generals – down one spot to #8 this week
The Gennies split a four-game week, defeating Owen Sound and Flint while losing to Eastern Conference foes Barrie and Kingston. Calum Ritchie made his return from World Junior duty on Sunday and provided a goal and an assist in a 7-0 win over Flint. Things are tight in the Eastern Conference, with Oshawa and Niagara trailing Barrie by one point.
Brantford Bulldogs – down one spot to #9 this week
The Bulldogs salvaged the week on Sunday, defeating the Ottawa 67’s 4-3 in overtime on a winner from defenceman Tomas Hamara. Three straight losses preceded that as Brantford fell to Erie, Kitchener and Sarnia. Captain Patrick Thomas hit the 200 career point milestone in with a goal and an assist in Sunday’s win.
Flint Firebirds – down two spots to #13 this week
The Firebirds earned their lone win in decisive fashion, defeating the Ottawa 67’s 8-1 on Friday, but aside from that there wasn’t much good to say as they dropped games against Windsor, Brampton and Oshawa. Flint was closing in on two points on Saturday afternoon in Brampton before having to settle for one as the lead slipped away and the Steelheads won 5-4 in overtime.
Ottawa 67’s – down one spot to #15 this week
The Barber Poles were on the road, managing to grab one point in Sunday’s overtime loss to Brantford. They lost both of their Michigan matchups, being outscored 13-3 in losses to Saginaw and Flint.
