O to Pro: OHL Alumni Spotlight presented by Carlsberg
Brought to you by Carlsberg Canada, the OHL Alumni Spotlight brings you up to speed on accomplishments by graduates in the pro ranks from the past week’s action.
EIGHT OHL GRADS REPRESENTING CANADA AT IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP:
A total of eight OHL graduates are representing Canada at the 2024 IIHF World Hockey Championship underway in Czechia. John Tavares (Toronto/London, Oshawa) captains the Canadian squad and is joined up front by Andrew Mangiapane (Calgary/Barrie), Nick Paul (Tampa Bay/North Bay), Jared McCann (Seattle/Soo) and Michael Bunting (Carolina/Soo). Jamie Oleksiak (Seattle/Saginaw, Niagara) patrols the blueline while Nico Daws (New Jersey/Guelph) and Jordan Binnington (St. Louis/Owen Sound) are in the crease. Canada is coached by Andre Tourigny (Utah/Ottawa).
🗣️ "To have that honour, to be the captain and be the leader, is something really special."
Hear from Captain Canada, John Tavares, on what it means to wear the 'C' at #MensWorlds.@OHFHockey | @MapleLeafs pic.twitter.com/jiWiXtn0VH
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) May 11, 2024
MCDAVID A CATALYST IN OILERS POST-SEASON SUCCESS
Connor McDavid remains the NHL’s top point-producer in the post-season, registering two goals, 15 assists and 17 points in eight games played. Helping the Edmonton Oilers skate past the Los Angeles Kings (4-1) in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Oilers currently trail the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 in their second round series. The only player in Oilers history with as long of a post-season opening assist streak (6 games) is Mark Messier (7 GP in 1989). Now in his ninth season with Edmonton, the former Erie Otters star and OHL Most Outstanding Player has amassed 982 points (335-647-982) over 645 career games.
Connor McDavid extended his postseason-opening assist streak to six games. The only player in @EdmontonOilers history with as long of a run is Mark Messier (7 GP in 1989).
Tune in for the third period on @espn, @Sportsnet and @TVASports. #NHLStats: https://t.co/RKN11nrFon pic.twitter.com/VEvV14jNL7
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 9, 2024
JOHNSTON LEADS STARS TO SECOND ROUND
Wyatt Johnston continues to be a top playmaker for the Dallas Stars, among the leaders on his team in post-season action with eight points (5-3-8) in 10 games played. Helping the Stars earn a hard-fought first round victory over the reigning NHL champion Vegas Golden Knights (4-3), Johnston looks to build off of his impressive regular season where he accumulated 65 points (32-33-65) in 82 games played. A former first round (23rd overall) pick by the Stars in the 2021 NHL Draft, Johnston has put up 106 points (56-50-106) in 164 regular season games played over two seasons. Selected sixth overall by the Spitfires in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, Johnston spent two seasons in Windsor, registering 58 goals, 96 assists, and 154 over 121 regular season contests. Helping lead the Spitfires to the OHL Championship Series in 2022, the hometown product tallied 41 points (14-27-41) over 25 playoff contests to earn the OHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player Award, the OHL’s Most Points Award, the prestigious Red Tilson Trophy as the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player, and the CHL’s Top Scorer Award that season.
Wyatt Johnston (3-5—8 in 8 GP) has found the score sheet in six of eight games this postseason and leads the @DallasStars in goals and points. #StanleyCup
Catch him in action at 9:30 p.m. ET on @ESPN, @Sportsnet and @TVASports. #NHLStats: https://t.co/5TWR4QYK2c pic.twitter.com/8u4imQLkWy
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 9, 2024
VERHAEGHE FUELLING PANTHERS PLAYOFFS RUN
Florida Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe is fueling the Panthers Stanley Cup Playoffs success, ranking third in team points after a 4-1 first round series win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Now leading 3-1 in their second round series against the Boston Bruins, Verhaeghe has registered six goals, four assists and 10 points in nine games played. The Waterdown, Ont. native had a standout regular season, tallying 72 points (34-38-72) in 76 regular season games. Playing in his fifth NHL season, Verhaeghe was originally selected in the third round (82nd overall) by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 NHL Draft. The Niagara IceDogs’ second round (38th overall) pick in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection, Verhaeghe played four seasons in the OHL, tallying 83 goals, 141 assists, and 224 points over 262 regular season contests.
Matthew Tkachuk (3-6—9 in 5 GP) and Carter Verhaeghe (5-4—9 in 5
GP) will look to continue their point production in the Second Round – Game 1 drops tonight. #StanleyCup📺 : 8 p.m. on @espn, @Sportsnet, @TVASports, CBC#NHLStats: https://t.co/inXtlHLWjt pic.twitter.com/y1vRk7G2hi
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 6, 2024
SILOVS STEPPING UP FOR CANUCKS
Stepping up as the Vancouver Canucks starting goalie due to team injuries, rookie netminder Arturs Silovs has proven himself worthy of the top spot. Playing to a 4-1 record including a shutout, Silovs holds a 2.65 goals-against average and .908 save percentage. Backstopping the Canucks to a 4-1 first round series win over the Nashville Predators, the Canucks currently lead their second round series 2-1 over the Edmonton Oilers. Selected in the sixth round (156th overall) by Vancouver in the 2019 NHL Draft, the Riga, Latvia native has appeared in nine NHL games over two seasons. A former 11th overall pick by Barrie in the 2019 CHL Import Draft, Silovs played to a 16-13-2-2 record along with a 3.87 goals-against average and .891 save percentage in season with the Colts. The first rookie goaltender in Canucks history to earn three post-season wins, Silovs led Team Latvia to its first ever medal at the IIHF World Championship last year.
The net is Arturs Silovs’ until further notice. 😤 #StanleyCup
📺: @EdmontonOilers vs. @Canucks Game 1 TONIGHT at 10p ET on @espn, @Sportsnet, and @TVASports pic.twitter.com/ue1vnDqVeI
— NHL (@NHL) May 8, 2024
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