OHL Weekend Notebook: Oct. 3, 2023
OHL Opening Week is in the books, and we saw some great crowds in buildings across the League! Here’s a 10-point synopsis of the week that was as we break the ice on the 2023-24 season.
Defending champions show well during opening week
The Peterborough Petes have a lot of new faces in their lineup, but the results were the same during opening week as they defeated the Kingston Frontenacs and Ottawa 67’s on back-to-back nights. The Petes raised their OHL championship banner at the PMC on Thursday before besting Kingston 5-4. Newly-acquired netminder Zach Bowen made 26 saves in his Petes debut a night later in Ottawa as the Petes took a 5-2 victory. Jax Dubois leads the OHL after one week, earning Cogeco Player of the Week honours with seven points (2-5–7) in the two outings.
A memorable night, thank you fans ❤️ pic.twitter.com/nuJdPo9WB1
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) September 29, 2023
Greyhounds get early returns from Beck on high-scoring weekend
Jack Beck’s presence was immediately felt in Sault Ste. Marie as the new addition led the Hounds with six points (2-4–6) in his first weekend with the team. The former Calgary Flames draft pick had a goal and an assist in an 11-goal outburst against Flint on Friday before picking up a goal and three helpers in a 7-5 win over Brantford on Saturday. While the Hounds are getting good news from their overagers, young players are also making an impact as second-round 2023 OHL Priority Selection choice Travis Hayes started his OHL career with five points (3-2–5) in two games.
An interesting @OHLHoundPower home opener fact courtesy our friends at @OHL_History. #OHLStats pic.twitter.com/iXLLvznB8W
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) September 30, 2023
Steelheads off to first 2-0 start since 2014
The Mississauga Steelheads started their season about as well as a team could hope for, shutting down the Erie Otters by a score of 5-0 on opening night at home before defeating Erie 5-3 on the road Saturday night. Ryerson Leenders got the call in both games, posting his first career OHL shutout on Friday before further securing OHL Goaltender of the Week honours with 32 saves on Saturday. The Trout had strong offensive showings from Luke Misa (2-3–5), Dallas Stars draftee Angus MacDonell (2-3–5) and Porter Martone (2-1–3).
What a start for Ryerson Leenders! 👏
Winning his first two starts of the season with 66 saves, a .956 save percentage and his first OHL career shutout, Ryerson Leenders earns OHL goaltender of the week! 🙌#SteelStrong pic.twitter.com/6w6dmBDW1D
— Mississauga Steelheads (@OHLSteelheads) October 2, 2023
Rangers off and running with wins over Saginaw, Flint
A young Kitchener Rangers squad came out and rebounded from a slow start in their home opener against Saginaw, rebounding from back-to-back goals by Michael Misa to eventually defeat the Spirit 4-3. Antonino Pugliese, who missed the second half of last season to injury, as the hero of the home opener, scoring the game-winner with less than three minutes to go. The Blueshirts proceeded to score at will in Flint on Saturday as Michigander Hunter Brzustewicz collected four assists in an 8-0 win. Jackson Parsons was in the crease for his first career OHL shutout as the young Rangers, who weren’t included in the preseason edition of OHL Power Rankings, jumped two spots into #15 entering Week 2.
ANTONINO PUGLIESE CALLS GAME 🚨
Returning from a season-ending injury, the @OHLRangers forward nets the winner in his first game back! 🎥 pic.twitter.com/kDs78mfW3O
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) September 30, 2023
Storm pass first test with wins over Owen Sound, Windsor
The Guelph Storm remain without their first line centre, but had success to start the season with wins over both Owen Sound and Windsor. Matthew Poitras is putting on a strong showing with the Boston Bruins while his teammates are off to a 2-0 start, defeating the Owen Sound Attack 4-2 in their home opener on Friday. The Storm rolled down the 401 to Windsor on Saturday, hushing the WFCU Centre in a 4-2 victory over the Spitfires. Rookie forward Leo Serlin scored twice in as many games while the goaltending was strong courtesy Brayden Gillespie, who turned aside 61 shots. The Storm are at home to Erie on Friday before making a trip to London on Saturday.
Royal City Milestone sponsored by Knar Jewellery
On Friday night Storm forward Leo Serlin notched his first OHL goal against the Owen Sound Attack. #StormCity | @KnarJewellery pic.twitter.com/Y3jfaW4Dvn
— Guelph Storm (@Storm_City) October 1, 2023
Halttunen starts strong in London
The London Knights may have the league’s newest big shooter in their ranks as Finnish winger Kasper Halttunen lit the lamp three times in his first two games. A second-round pick by the San Jose Sharks this past summer, Halttunen converted on three of his first four shots in the league, netting all three goals on the power play. The Knights doubled-up on the Niagara IceDogs to begin their season 2-0, and enter week two on top of the OHL Power Rankings once again.
that's three goals in two OHL games for Halttunen if you're keeping count#SJSharks pic.twitter.com/FkyP7gBI3U
— London Knights (@LondonKnights) October 1, 2023
Sting come out shooting in home opener
The Sarnia Sting put up eight goals on Friday night, giving the home fans plenty to cheer about in their home opener. Sandis Vilmanis collected three primary assists and Tyson Doucette scored twice and added a helper as Sarnia soundly defeated Windsor 8-2. The Sting hung in there against Saginaw on Saturday night, falling 2-1 in the Spirit’s home opener, but it was an all-around positive showing from a young Sting group to begin 2023-24.
Sandis Vilmanis was dishing the puck around for @StingHockey on Friday as the @FlaPanthers prospect gathered three primary assists in the win 🎥 pic.twitter.com/GSsI6W1LLr
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) September 30, 2023
Colts defeat Troops in back-to-back games
The Barrie Colts fell to the North Bay Battalion in seven games in the second round of last year’s playoffs. The two teams squared off in back-to-back encounters to begin the season, with the Colts coming out on top this time around. Seattle Kraken prospect Eduard Sale introduced himself to the Barrie fans on Thursday, recording two assists before netting the shootout winner in a 4-3 victory. Riley Patterson’s first career OHL goal on Saturday was the game-winner as the Colts defeated the Battalion 3-1 in North Bay, getting 29 saves from goaltender Sam Hillebrandt. The Colts dropped a 4-2 decision in Owen Sound on Saturday, but climb three spots in the OHL Power Rankings, starting the week as the OHL’s sixth-ranked squad.
SMOOTH LIKE BUTTER 😮💨@SeattleKraken prospect Eduard Sale buries the shootout winner in his @OHLBarrieColts debut 🎥 pic.twitter.com/iomzWqo3PL
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) September 29, 2023
Lardis scores first Brantford Bulldogs goal
Nick Lardis will be the answer to a good trivia question someday, scoring the first goal in the Brantford chapter of Bulldogs history. The weekend was otherwise forgettable for the Dogs up north as they lost to both Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie. Brantford got off to a hot start in the Soo before seeing a 4-1 lead evaporate. Rookie forward Jake O’Brien scored his first OHL goal while blueliner Daniel Chen picked-up his first two assists in the loss. The Bulldogs make their return to Brantford on Saturday for their home opener against the Oshawa Generals at the Civic Centre.
Grab that puck, Jake O'Brien 👏
The @BulldogsOHL eighth-overall pick with a sweet move for his first #OHL goal! pic.twitter.com/GWFttqmQs6
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) October 1, 2023
Frontenacs looking ahead to reinforcements
The Kingston Frontenacs played to a 1-2 mark last week, scoring their first win of the season over the Oshawa Generals in their home opener on Friday. Buffalo Sabres prospect Ethan Miedema was Kingston’s standout to start the season, recording six points (3-3–6) in his first three games. The Fronts are hopeful to have captain Paul Ludwinski back in the lineup on Friday when they play host to the Sudbury Wolves as he’s on his way back from Chicago Blackhawks training camp. Kingston has yet to get blueliner Quinton Burns into the lineup after he suffered an injury at St. Louis Blues training camp.
Ethan Miedema has claimed the title of our Performer of the Week, showcasing an impressive performance with a remarkable achievement of 3 goals and 3 assists across three games, accumulating a total of 6 points.
📰 https://t.co/DzJEjO3JQp#BearTheK | @OHLHockey | @ethanmiedema_ pic.twitter.com/8ygHXyqFk4
— Kingston Frontenacs (@KingstonFronts) October 2, 2023