2019-20 Season Summary: Oshawa Generals

Between their veteran players posting some of the league’s best performances and younger players taking big steps forward, the Oshawa Generals were equipped with a wealth of talent this season. They kicked things off with a hot 9-0-0-0 start but were caught in what would be a strong East Division between the league-leading Ottawa 67’s and high flying Peterborough Petes. Overall, the Generals emerged from the shortened campaign with a commendable 31-20-6-5 record and impressive performances all around. A definite highlight of their season came in early February when the club signed local 7-year-old Alex McKeown, who is bravely battling leukemia, to a one-day contract as a “Gen for a Day”. The forecast is bright for a Generals squad that has expressed its interest in hosting the 2021 Memorial Cup presented by Kia.

No time wasted for Tomasino
If last season was any indication, Nashville Predators first round pick Phil Tomasino was bound to have another dominant year. Having racked up 100 points as the league’s fourth highest point producer, and in exclusive company as one of only four players to hit the century mark, he certainly lived up to that expectation. Upon being traded to the Generals from the Niagara IceDogs in exchange for a whopping nine picks, Tomasino was at the forefront of January’s trade deadline buzz. He jumped into the lineup and made an immediate impact front and centre, putting forth a five-point showing (2-3—5) in his first appearance with the team, and hardly slowing down from that point on with 43 points over his 23 contests donning a Generals jersey.

A blast of offence from Tullio
A well respected prospect heading into the 2020 NHL Draft, Ty Tullio also stepped up as an integral piece of the Oshawa offence. The sophomore forward followed up on an excellent 42-point rookie output with 27 goals and 66 points, good for fourth in Oshawa scoring. Tullio’s leap has him ranked 52nd among North American prospects in NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings.

Neumann goes out with a bang
Overager Brett Neumann was undoubtedly a handy guy to have up front. With 45 markers on the season – the fourth highest among all OHL skaters – the veteran forward finished second atop the Oshawa scoring column. Having played 311 consecutive games as part of a league-high 318-game career, Neumann graduates as the league’s new iron man. His five-year OHL tenure yielded 244 points (128-116–244) between Erie, Kingston and Oshawa.

Solid rookie productions
The Generals had a good amount of help from their young squad as well. Brett Harrison, the club’s 2019 OHL Priority Selection first round pick, chipped in with an impressive 21 goals and 37 points over 58 games; the most goals scored by first-year Gens skater since John Tavares’ 45 in 2005-06. Winger Oliver Suni also put up good numbers over his first term with the team, notching 32 points over a 42-game season that had him sidelined with injury through December and January. Suni’s rookie production earned him a ranking of 53rd in NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings for North American skaters.

MacLean leaves hard-working legacy
Just like his father before him, Kyle MacLean graduates as an Oshawa General, leaving a legacy of hard work behind him. The fifth year captain wrapped up his OHL career with 46 points (13-33–46) over 51 games after having signed an AHL contract with the New York Islanders at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season. The 6-foot-1, 183Ib. winger was recognized in the OHL Coaches Poll as the Eastern Conference’s best defensive forward and top penalty killer while also finishing in two other categories including most underrated player and hardest worker. MacLean recorded 156 points (51-105–156) over 278 career games in a Generals uniform.