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.
HENRIQUE EARNS 500TH NHL POINT
Anaheim Ducks forward Adam Henrique recorded his 500th NHL point on Tuesday, registering an assist to help lead the Ducks to a 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators. The Burford, Ont. native has now registered 249 goals and 251 assists (249-251-500) over 869 regular season games spent between the Ducks and the New Jersey Devils. Playing in his 14th NHL season, Henrique was originally selected in the third round (82nd overall) by the Devils in the 2008 NHL Draft. Selected in the second round (24th overall) by the Windsor Spitfires in the 2006 OHL Priority Selection, Henrique played four seasons in the OHL from 2006-10, tallying 111 goals, 117 assists, and 228 points over 238 regular season contests. Henrique also found huge success in the playoffs, winning the OHL Championship and hoisting the Memorial Cup with the Spitfires in back-to-back seasons (2009/2010).
With an assist on the Terry goal, make that 500 NHL points for @AdamHenrique!#FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/a4JBY0mpZH
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) January 10, 2024
TKACHUK RECORDS FIRST HAT TRICK OF THE SEASON
Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk recorded his first hat trick of the season on Wednesday, registering three goals and an assist to help lead the Panthers to a 5-1 win over the St. Louis Blues. The St. Louis, MO. native has now registered 11 goals and 28 assists (11-28-39) over 40 regular season games played this season. Playing in his eighth NHL season, Tkachuk was originally selected sixth overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2016 NHL Draft. Selected in the fourth round (64th overall) by the London Knights in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection, Tkachuk played 57 games in the OHL, tallying 30 goals, 77 assists, and 107 points (30-77-107). Tkachuk was also a solid contributor for Knights in the playoffs, recording 40 points (20-20-40) in 18 games played to be crowned 2016 OHL and Memorial Cup.
Matthew Tkachuk (@TKACHUKycheese_) picks up his first hat trick of the season in the @FlaPanthers win! 😸
Hat Trick Challenge presented by @AstraZenecaUS pic.twitter.com/2A5PXJhF6x
— NHL (@NHL) January 10, 2024
SCHEIFELE REACHES 400 FRANCHISE ASSISTS MILESTONE
Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele has collected eight assists through the course of the Jets’ 12-game point streak, becoming just the second player in franchise history to register at least 400 assists with the team. Selected seventh overall by the Jets in the 2011 NHL Draft, Scheifele has registered 286 goals and 400 assists over 763 games played in Winnipeg. Saginaw’s seventh round (134th overall) pick in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection, the Kitchener, Ont. native spent three seasons in the OHL with the Barrie Colts, tallying 217 points (84-133-217) in 158 regular season games.
Mark Scheifele has collected eight assists through the course of the @NHLJets' current 12-game point streak, a stretch that now includes joining a small list in franchise history with 400 in their career.#NHLStats: https://t.co/YsFeegUBV8 pic.twitter.com/NkGOcnijmi
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 10, 2024
NHL DEBUT: GRAEME CLARKE
Ottawa 67’s graduate Graeme Clarke made the jump to the NHL on Jan. 6, skating in 9:32 of action as the New Jersey Devils lost to the Vancouver Canucks by a score of 6-4. The 22-year-old Clarke was a plus-1 in the contest, and wore #95. The right-winger entered the OHL as the sixth overall pick of the 2017 OHL Priority Selection by the 67’s. He’d amass 46 goals, 30 assists and 76 points over 134 regular season games, and helped Ottawa capture an Eastern Conference title in the 2019 OHL Playoffs, recording 14 points (7-7–14) over 18 games.
A moment to remember. pic.twitter.com/MTf486VMe6
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) January 7, 2024
NHL DEBUT: JACK THOMPSON
Former Sudbury Wolves captain and Soo Greyhounds defenceman Jack Thompson saw his first NHL action on Jan. 6 as the Tampa Bay Lightning fell to the Bruins by a score of 7-3 in Boston. The 21-year-old Thompson skated in 11:39 minutes of action, recording one shot on goal along with two hits. Thompson played three seasons in the OHL from 2018-22, entering the league as a second-round (30th overall) pick by the Wolves in 2018 to play in 180 regular season contests, recording 40 goals, 65 assists and 105 points. He finished his career in Sault Ste. Marie, with an outstanding performance in the 2022 OHL Playoffs with 14 points (6-8–14) over nine games.
Then ⏭️ Now 🥹 @jackthompson_22 pic.twitter.com/VMosB5C4ro
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) January 6, 2024
NHL DEBUT: BRENNAN OTHMANN
Former Peterborough Petes and Flint Firebirds forward Brennan Othmann suited up in his first career NHL game on the eve on his 21st birthday last Thursday night at Madison Square Garden as the New York Rangers skated to a 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. The Pickering, Ont. native skated in 12 minutes of action, registering five shots on goal. Othmann had tremendous success throughout his OHL career, hoisting the J. Ross Robertson Cup as a 2023 OHL champion with Peterborough last season. He was a franchise cornerstone in Flint, registering 50 goals and 97 points in his sophomore campaign to lead the Firebirds to the 2022 Western Conference Championship Series.
Take a lap, Otter. 👏 pic.twitter.com/sCiZB9gdGY
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 4, 2024