OHL Weekend Notebook: Nov. 6, 2023
The past weekend featured its share of storylines with Joe Thornton’s jersey retirement in Sault Ste. Marie and Kingston Frontenacs radio voice Jim Gilchrist’s 3,000th career OHL game headlining the news cycle. Here’s a snapshot of news from across the OHL this week.
Otters turn-in perfect weekend on the road
The Erie Otters hit the road for three straight last weekend, scooping up victories in Saginaw, Flint and Sarnia to return home where they’ll prepare for four straight at Erie Insurance Arena. Chicago Blackhawks prospect Martin Misiak had a big showing in Saginaw on Thursday, recording his first career OHL hat trick against the team that selected him second overall in the 2022 CHL Import Draft. Overage forward Brett Bressette was also productive offensively over the weekend, collecting a goal and four assists in three games. Ben Gaudreau returned to Sarnia on Sunday where he made 25 saves in his 150th career contest to get the win against the Sting. Erie sits fourth in the Midwest Division with a record of 7-7-2-0, a solid turnaround after starting the season 0-4.
Welcome back, Ben Gaudreau! 👀
The long-time Sting netminder makes his much-anticipated return, wasting no time to make a big-time stop against his former team to maintain the @ErieOtters lead 📽️ pic.twitter.com/6wYjOdlw3B
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) November 5, 2023
Greyhounds rattle-off back-to-back wins on big weekend in the Soo
The Soo Greyhounds celebrated the jersey retirement of Joe Thornton on Saturday night before going out and defeating the Windsor Spitfires in back-to-back games at GFL Memorial Gardens. The Hounds continue their climb up the standings, pushing their winning streak to four games as Brenden Sirizzotti came through with the late game winner on Saturday before Marco Mignosa scored the third period difference-maker on Sunday in a 5-2 win over the Spits. The Hounds sit tied with the Kitchener Rangers for first place in the Western Conference, with each team boasting an 11-5-0-0 record.
Brenden Sirizzotti scored the winner with just seven seconds remaining as @OHLHoundPower prevailed on Joe Thornton jersey retirement night, headlining a five-game Saturday in the #OHL.
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) November 5, 2023
Lockhart’s big debut, Torrance productive in return, Toms on the mend for Generals
The Oshawa Generals and Peterborough Petes hooked up in a rare trade, one that was announced within an hour of puckdrop between the two teams on Friday in Oshawa. The Generals acquired overage veteran Connor Lockhart from the reigning champions. He didn’t play in Friday’s game, but enjoyed an impactful debut on Sunday with a goal and three assists in Oshawa’s 6-2 win over Brantford. The 20-year-old is approaching the 200-game OHL milestone, and has accumulated 165 points in his OHL career. The Generals also saw the return of hometown product Luke Torrance to the lineup as he proceeded to score three times in his first three games. Ethan Toms, who suffered a scary laceration to his face as the result of a skate in Friday’s game against Peterborough, was sent to hospital where he underwent surgery and is now back at home with family in Norwood, Ont. where he’s expected to make a full recovery.
Connor Lockhart with four points in his first game???
First star in his first game???
A @PetesOHLhockey NIGHTMARE 😈#GensNation | @OHLHockey pic.twitter.com/AEdH6EsXSH
— Oshawa Generals (@Oshawa_Generals) November 6, 2023
Rangers enjoy continued success with wins over Battalion, Knights
The Kitchener Rangers are continuing to show the OHL that they’re no slouch, leading the league with 77 goals while boasting the league’s three top scorers. The Rangers came back strong from a loss in Windsor on Thursday, defeating the North Bay Battalion 5-2 at home Friday night before a statement win in London on Sunday night, defeating the Knights 4-2. Seattle Kraken prospect Carson Rehkopf sits on top of the OHL scoring race with 30 points (17-13–30) through 16 contests. Matthew Sop trails close behind with 27 points (10-17–27) while defenceman Hunter Brzustewicz, who saw a 14-game point streak come to an end on Sunday, also has 27 points (5-22–27).
Have a night, Matthew Sop! 🤩
Two beautiful goals from the @OHLRangers OA was the difference maker as Kitchener take the two points in London 📽️ pic.twitter.com/YK4o8pPTLw
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) November 6, 2023
Frontenacs take back-to-back wins at home
One of three OHL teams to make a coaching change so far this season, the Kingston Frontenacs showed positive signs at home this past weekend, defeating the Barrie Colts and the Guelph Storm. The Fronts celebrated radio play-by-play voice Jim Gilchrist’s 3,000th career OHL contest on Friday with a 4-2 win over Barrie before besting Guelph by the same score on Saturday. Chicago Blackhawks prospect Paul Ludwinski has scored in four straight games while overage defenceman Jacob Holmes lit the lamp in his 200th career OHL contest on Saturday. Newly-installed head coach Troy Mann returned to the bench from a two-game suspension on Saturday to steer the Frontenacs to victory.
Following his 200th OHL game and a Kingston Frontenacs win over the Guelph Storm tonight, Jacob Holmes talks about his OHL career to date and the Fronts recent success.#BearTheK | @OHLHockey pic.twitter.com/P9VrMLqi6X
— Kingston Frontenacs (@KingstonFronts) November 5, 2023
Cowan coming through in the clutch for Knights
Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan has been involved in the game-winning goal of each of the London Knights’ past three victories. Cowan took a feed from Max McCue to score the overtime winner in London’s 3-2 victory over Ottawa on Oct. 27th. He returned the favour, finding McCue for the overtime game-winner against the Brantford Bulldogs in a 3-2 victory on Friday. Cowan picked up the primary assist on Sam O’Reilly’s deciding goal with just 18 seconds remaining on Saturday night in Owen Sound. Cowan has 18 points (7-11–18) through his first 10 games with London this season after an extended look in Toronto with the Leafs, who selected him 28th overall in the NHL Draft this past summer.
COWAN ➡️ MCCUE ➡️ OT WINNER 💔
The @MapleLeafs prospect with a saucer pass to Max McCue and the @LondonKnights steal the extra point from the Bulldogs 🎥 pic.twitter.com/XGARHrcnd6
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) November 4, 2023
Wolves win pair at home, hit the road for four straight
The Sudbury Wolves are on the rise, finding a way to beat their long-time rival the North Bay Battalion thanks to a Quentin Musty overtime winner on Wednesday. The Wolves improved to 9-5-0-0 with a 3-1 victory over visiting Niagara on Friday and set out for a weekend on the road with stops in Niagara, Erie and Brantford. St. Louis Blues prospect Dalibor Dvorsky has been a welcome addition, recording seven points (3-4–7) through his first six games with the club while Seattle Kraken draft pick David Goyette sits atop the team’s scoring leaders with 19 points (4-15–19) in 14 games.
Musty with the one-t 💥👀@Sudbury_Wolves | @SanJoseSharks pic.twitter.com/DeI1rMDrlh
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) November 4, 2023
Petes equal franchise mark with five straight road wins to begin season
The Peterborough Petes have turned heads early in the year, putting forth a capable title defence despite a number of losses to graduation. The opening month of the season has been so successful in fact, that the Petes dug into the franchise record books, with a 2-1 win in Erie on Oct. 28th marking their fifth consecutive road win to begin the season – that knots a club record set by the eventual OHL champion 1992-93 Petes. The 2023-24 Petes were denied sole possession of the record when they came up short in overtime on Friday night in Oshawa, falling 3-2 to the Generals. The 8-2-3-0 Petes have at least a point in six straight games, leading the East Division with 19 points.
An Owen Beck game-winner?
Don't mind if we do! 😍@PetesOHLhockey | @CanadiensMTL | #MilkUPxOHL | @MilkUPOntario pic.twitter.com/IdZ0sBnC0V
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) November 3, 2023
Hayes, Giroux, Kressler form productive line for Firebirds
Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Braeden Kressler is this week’s Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, but his productivity came with some help from linemates Gavin Hayes and Zacharie Giroux. Kressler put up seven points (2-5–7) in three games while Hayes extended his current point streak to 11 contests, scoring in all three games over the weekend. The Firebirds have overcome a slow start and are in the midst of a six-game point streak under recently named head coach Paul Flache. Overage captain Zacharie Giroux leads the team offensively with 18 points (8-10–18) over 15 games this season.
The OHL has named Braeden Kressler the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week!
— Flint Firebirds (@FlintFirebirds) November 6, 2023
Steelheads slowed down in Michigan
The Mississauga Steelheads entered the week on top of the OHL Power Rankings for a second-straight week, but met resistance in both the Saginaw Spirit and Flint Firebirds, dropping both contests. The Steelheads got into a back-and-forth bout with Saginaw on Friday, falling 6-5 before the Firebirds took a 5-1 decision on Saturday, marking Mississauga’s first set of consecutive losses in 2023-24. The young Steelheads sit first in the Central Division with a record of 10-5-0-0. Porter Martone, who has 12 goals through 15 games, saw a five-game goal-scoring streak come to an end on Saturday.
The Steelheads drop back to back games for the first time this season.
Read about it in the @SmartStopSS postgame recap:#SteelStrong https://t.co/rJ0BTDs6bG
— Mississauga Steelheads (@OHLSteelheads) November 5, 2023
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