Saturday Highlights: Belchetz takes centre stage as Spits unload in home opener
Windsor Spitfires 12 vs. Kitchener Rangers 2
- First overall OHL Draft pick Ethan Belchetz scored his first career OHL goal and didn’t stop there. He led the way in this blowout win with four goals and six points
- Belchetz’ six points are the most by an OHL rookie since Matt Puempel of Peterborough, who had six on Mar. 13, 2010 vs. Oshawa
- Belchetz is the first Spitfires 16-year-old rookie to score four goals in a game since Taylor Hall on Mar. 6, 2008
- In addition to Belchetz, rookies Ethan Garden and Jean-Christoph Lemieux also marked their first career OHL goals
- Owen Outwater picked up the first two goals of his 2024-25 campaign as he looks to have a bounce back year for the Spitfires
- Joey Costanzo stopped 34 of 36 shots to help his team to victory
- The 12 goals are Windsor’s most in a game since November 23, 2008
- Kitchener loses a game by 10 goals for the first time since November 26, 2000
Game Centre | Windsor Post-Game | Kitchener Post-Game
Brantford Bulldogs 6 vs. Oshawa Generals 2
- Matthew Buckley opened the scoring for the Gens but the Bulldogs responded with four goals of their own to go up 4-1 by the end of the second period
- Nick Lardis and Jake O’Brien each scored twice for Brantford while Patrick Thomas finished with a goal and four assists
- Oshawa’s Luca Marrelli scored, marking the 100th point of his OHL career
- Brantford responded with two more goals of their own to win 6-2
- Oshawa ran into penalty trouble racking up nine trips to the box in total over the game
Game Centre | Oshawa Post-Game
Brampton Steelheads 5 vs. Erie Otters 2
- Brampton goalie Jack Ivankovic continued the momentum coming off of a shutout in his last start, making 33 saves in the win
- The Steelheads established themselves early with goals from MacGregor Richmond and Seattle Kraken prospect Carson Rehkopf
- Erie responded with goals from Sam Alfano and Malcolm Spence to tie the game in the third period
- Brampton quickly added two more goals and an empty-netter to secure the victory, with Lucas Karmiris scoring the difference-maker
Game Centre | Brampton Post-Game | Erie Post-Game
London Knights 5 vs. Flint Firebirds 2
- The game started with Flint taking an early lead through a powerplay goal from Connor Clattenburg, who deflected a shot from Nolan Collins. London quickly responded with Blake Arrowsmith’s first career OHL goal just 77 seconds later, making it 1-1 by the end of the first period
- In the second period, Rene Van Bommel scored his first career OHL goal to give London a 2-1 lead, followed shortly by Alec Leonard’s one-timer that extended the lead to 3-1
- Evan Van Gorp sealed the game with an empty-netter, bringing Flint’s record to 1-1-0-0 for the season, while London improved to 1-1-0-0, avenging their previous 7-4 loss to Flint
- Knights netminder Alexei Medvedev made 33 saves for the win in his first career OHL start
Game Centre | London Post-Game | Flint Post-Game
Guelph Storm 2 vs. Owen Sound Attack 1
- The Guelph Storm defeated Owen Sound 2-1 in a tightly contested match, with Guelph improving to 2-0
- Guelph goalie Brayden Gillespie played a key role in the win making 30 saves on 31 shots
- The game-winning goal for the Storm came in the back half of the second period as Ryan McGuire fired one past LA Kings prospect Carter George
Game Centre | Guelph Post-Game | Owen Sound Post-Game
Saginaw Spirit 6 vs. Sarnia Sting 1
- 2025 NHL Draft prospect Michael Misa scored two goals to bring his season total to seven in just three games
- Sarnia opened the scoring with Kaeden Johnston’s goal, assisted by Zach Filak, giving them a brief 1-0 lead
- That goal was all the offence the Sting could muster through the game as Saginaw proceeded to score six unanswered goals
- Andrew Oke stopped 24 of 25 shots in the victory
Game Centre | Saginaw Post-Game
Sudbury Wolves 6 vs. Soo Greyhounds 3
- Sudbury defenceman Nick DeAngelis led the way with two goals and an assist, helping his team to a 6-3 victory
- Sudbury’s powerplay went 3-for-7 in the victory
- Justin Cloutier opened the scoring for the Greyhounds and eventually tied the game up at two apiece, but the Greyhounds couldn’t keep pace with their canine counterparts
- Wolves forward Blake Clayton scored an empty-netter to mark his first career OHL goal
- Winnipeg Jets prospect Kieron Walton had a goal and two helpers
- Finn Marshall made 21 saves to earn his first career OHL win
- Wolves head coach Scott Barney registered the first coaching win of his OHL career
North Bay Battalion 4 vs. Barrie Colts 1
- Goaltenders Charlie Larcoque (North Bay) and Sam Hillebrandt (Barrie) were duelling for the majority of this game with only one goal being scored through the first two periods
- Ethan Procyszyn and Lirim Amidovski scored on Hillebrandt, with Romani and Amidovski each adding empty netters to secure a 4-1 victory
- Defenceman Kashawn Aitcheson scored the lone goal for the Colts in the loss
- Larocque made 23 saves for his first career OHL win
