Milestone Moments: September 21, 2018
Six players scored their first career OHL goal on a busy Friday night in the OHL. #OHLOpeningWeek took full flight as rookies enjoyed unforgettable goal-scoring experiences. Check out first goals from Quinton Byfield, Cameron Peters, Filip Reisnecker, James Hardie, Ian Derungs and Matvey Guskov.
QUINTON BYFIELD (SUDBURY WOLVES):
The first overall pick of the 2018 OHL Priority Selection, Quinton Byfield’s first career OHL marker was, as expected, a beautiful goal. With the Wolves up 3-2 late in the third period, Byfield broke in alone, fighting off a pair of Guelph defenders to tuck a backhand move past an outstretched Anthony Popovich. David Levin and Owen Robinson collected assists on Byfield’s first and the Wolves went on to win 4-2.
CAMERON PETERS (NORTH BAY BATTALION):
Cameron Peters’ first OHL game yielded his first goal. The Toronto Marlboros graduate made no mistake on a centering feed from Battalion captain Justin Brazeau 10:33 into the second period. The Troops defeated the Hamilton Bulldogs 7-5 in their home opener and Peters went on to record three shots-on-goal in the game.
FILIP REISNECKER (MISSISSAUGA STEELHEADS):
Czech rookie Filip Reisnecker crashed the net hard to score the first goal of the Mississauga Steelheads’ 2018-19 season. Not eligible for the NHL Draft until 2020, Reisnecker capitalized 13:24 into the opening frame on assists from Nicholas Canade and Michael Little. The Trout went on to drop a hard-fought road game 4-3 in overtime at the hands of the Ottawa 67’s.
JAMES HARDIE (MISSISSAUGA STEELHEADS):
It wasn’t pretty, but they all count. James Hardie earned full marks for effort on his first OHL goal as he charged in on the forecheck to catch Ottawa’s Cedrick Andree unaware, tapping a loose puck over the goal line 12:52 into the second period. Fellow rookie William Portokalis earned the lone assist on the goal Hardie won’t soon forget. The 16-year-old displayed a knack for goal-scoring with the Barrie Colts Minor Midgets last season, something the Steelheads feel will translate into Hardie’s OHL game.
IAN DERUNGS (KINGSTON FRONTENACS):
Ian Derungs’ first OHL goal came on an empty netter, but one that sealed the deal on a Kingston Frontenacs victory in their home opener Friday night. The Swiss speedster had a goal and an assist in a 5-2 win over the Oshawa Generals, tapping a puck into the empty net with 2:18 remaining in the third period. Derungs was Kingston’s first round (39th overall) pick in the 2018 CHL Import Draft.
MATVEY GUSKOV (LONDON KNIGHTS):
Coming against who many consider the top goaltender in the CHL this season, Matvey Guskov’s first OHL goal stood as the game winner on Friday. The London Knights defeated the rival Windsor Spitfires 5-2 as Guskov tipped a Matthew Timms point blast past Michael DiPietro 31 seconds into the third period. The Nizhnekamsk, Russia native had a goal, two assists and three points in his OHL debut.
