Friday Highlights: Debuts and firsts light up opening night
Saginaw Spirit vs. Soo Greyhounds
Final: 5 (SOO) – 4 (SAG) – OT
Unforgettable Soo Greyhounds debut for Trevor Daley Jr. accompanies Laus hat trick
- Trevor Daley Jr. scored his first career OHL goal 1:18 into overtime for the winner
- Noah Laus recorded his first career hat trick within the opening 8:21 and added an assist for a four-point night
- Saginaw linemates Dima Zhilkin and Braidy Wassilyn combined for three goals and an assist
- Gordei Khotkov scored his first OHL goal as the Spirit earned a point in the overtime loss
Erie Otters vs. Guelph Storm
Final: 5 (ER) – 1 (GUE)
Otters send opening night message to Memorial Cup hosts
- Rookie forward Colin Kennedy scored twice in his OHL debut
- Jake Murray recorded two primary assists, while Kayden Edwards, Evan Headrick and Ulysses Lombardi added Erie goals
- David Egorov stopped 29 of 30 shots to win his Otters debut
- Finley Butler’s first OHL goal was the lone Guelph marker as the Storm went 0-for-5 on the power play
Peterborough Petes vs. Sudbury Wolves
Final: 2 (SBY) – 1 (PBO)
Sudbury got the deciding goal shorthanded to edge Peterborough in a tight, low-scoring affair.
- Rowan Henderson scored the deciding goal shorthanded for the Wolves
- New addition Tanner Adams scored in his OHL debut
- Paolo Frasca turned aside 25 of 26 shots and earned first star honours
- James McMurray’s first OHL goal was the lone Petes tally, while Owen Nelson stopped 29 of 31 in his OHL debut as Peterborough fell to 0-2
Windsor Spitfires vs. London Knights
Final: 3 (LDN) – 2 (WSR) – OT
Windsor forced overtime with 14 seconds left in regulation before London won it in the extra period.
- Bogdan Yakushevsky scored his first OHL goal with 14 seconds remaining to force overtime
- Cooper McAslan scored the overtime winner on a setup from Kane Barch
- Jonathan Kapageridis recorded a goal and an assist in his Knights debut, while Cohen Bidgood also scored and Evan Van Gorp picked up two assists
- Rookie Charlie Weiss made 20 saves to win his OHL debut
Game Centre | Highlights
Owen Sound Attack vs. Kitchener Rangers
Final: 1 (OS) – 0 (KIT)
Owen Sound spoiled opening night in Kitchener with a late goal and a shutout in front of 7,338 at The Aud.
- Ryerson Leenders turned in a 29-save shutout for the Attack
- Pierce Mbuyi scored the game’s lone goal with 2:54 remaining, with assists from John Banks and Cole Zurawski
- Jason Schaubel stopped 25 of 26 shots for Kitchener
Niagara IceDogs vs. Brantford Bulldogs
Final: 3 (BFD) – 1 (NIAG)
Brantford added late insurance to put away Niagara on opening night at the Madhouse.
- Xavier Lieb scored twice in his OHL debut, while Jason Musa added late insurance
- George Komadoski recorded two assists in his Bulldogs debut
- Vilmer Salen Forsberg stopped 27 of 28 shots for his first OHL win
- Noah Read scored Niagara’s lone goal, while Vladislav Yermolenko stopped 28 of 31
Barrie Colts vs. North Bay Battalion
Final: 2 (NB) – 1 (BAR)
North Bay outshot Barrie 42-35 and got a standout debut in goal to take a one-goal decision.
- Rookie Owen Loftus stopped 34 of 35 shots to win his OHL debut
- Nolan Laird and Parker Vaughan scored for the Battalion, while Max Crete picked up an assist in his Battalion debut
- Hagan Bach stopped 40 of 42 in the Barrie crease
- William Schneid scored the Colts’ lone goal
Oshawa Generals vs. Brampton Steelheads
Final: 3 (OSH) – 2 (BRAM)
Oshawa broke a tie late in the third period to edge Brampton by a goal.
- First overall draft pick Kane Cloutier scored his first career OHL goal with 2:56 remaining
- Onni Kalto and Brady Blaseg added Oshawa goals, while Jaden Cholette stopped 28 of 30 for the win
- Keaton Ardagh and Lucas DeMiglio scored for Brampton
- Oskari Ahmajarvi made 27 saves in his first OHL action
Game Centre | Highlights
