OHL Alumni Notebook: Mar. 15, 2021

 

The Ontario Hockey League typically runs the ‘OHL Weekend Notebook’ each Monday. With the delay to our 2020-21 season, we’ll spend time covering the League’s top alumni from across the National Hockey League with the ‘OHL Alumni Notebook.’

McDAVID FIRST TO 50 POINTS
Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid became the first NHL player to reach 50 points this season over the weekend. The former Erie Otters standout leads the NHL with 52 points (17-35–52) over 30 games and is riding a five-game point streak. Edmonton’s first overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, McDavid remains one of the most decorated OHL players of all-time, having won several major awards including the Red Tilson Trophy as the League’s most outstanding player in 2015.

The first player to reach the 50-point mark this season is none other than Connor McDavid (@cmcdavid97)! pic.twitter.com/f2yepCXP1J

— NHL (@NHL) March 13, 2021

GRUBAUER NAMED NHL’S FIRST STAR OF THE WEEK
Colorado Avalanche netminder Philipp Grubauer is the NHL’s first star of the week after going 3-1 with a 1.24 goals-against average, .932 save percentage and one shutout. The former Belleville Bulls, Windsor Spitfires and Kingston Frontenacs goaltender registered a career-high fourth shutout in a 2-0 blanking of the Los Angeles Kings on March 12th. The 29-year-old from Rosenheim, Germany is 15-7 with a 1.91 goals-against average and .923 save percentage in 22 games this season. Grubauer helped the Windsor Spitfires capture their second of back-to-back Memorial Cup titles in 2010 and has split his NHL career between Colorado and Washington.

What a star ⭐️#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/NvSEGOQz6E

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 15, 2021

CARLSON RECORDS 500TH POINT
Washington Capitals blueliner John Carlson reached the 500-point plateau over the weekend, becoming the third-fastest active NHL defenceman to accomplish the feat behind Erik Karlsson (613 GP) and Kris Letang (753 GP). Reaching 500 in his 783rd game, Carlson sits tied for third in points by NHL defensemen with 24 (6-18–24) over 27 games. The native of Natick, Mass. was originally Washington’s first round (27th overall) pick in the 2008 NHL Draft before spending the 2008-09 season with the London Knights.

The third-fastest active defenseman to reach the 500-point mark.

Congrats, Carly! ????#ALLCAPS | @LeidosInc pic.twitter.com/9VMsheZImv

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 12, 2021

MONAHAN REACHES 200 GOAL MILESTONE
Calgary Flames centreman Sean Monahan scored his 200th career goal in Saturday’s 3-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Monahan scored twice in the win, giving him seven goals, 13 assists and 20 points in 26 games this season. The Brampton, Ont. native became the first player from the 2013 NHL Draft to reach the milestone, edging out first overall pick Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche who currently sits at 197. A former Ottawa 67’s star, Monahan has racked up 431 points (201-230–431) over 567 career contests, all with Calgary.

Sean Monahan scored twice, including the game winner to register his first multi-goal outing of 2020-21 and eclipse the 200-goal mark while skating in his 567th career regular-season game (201-230—431). #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/SuPTKSmkU4

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 14, 2021

KONECNY POSTS 200TH POINT
Former first overall OHL Priority Selection choice Travis Konecny recorded his 200th career NHL point on Saturday as his Philadelphia Flyers fell 5-4 to the Washington Capitals. Konecny had an assist in the loss, giving him 15 points (7-8–15) in 19 games this season. Now in his fifth season in Philadelphia after being the club’s first round (24th overall) pick in 2015, Konecny has 90 goals and 110 assists over 318 career contests. The Clachan, Ont. native was the OHL’s Rookie of the Year in 2014. He spent four seasons between the Ottawa 67’s and Sarnia Sting.

Congrats on 2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ points, TK! #AnytimeAnywhere | @BudLight pic.twitter.com/Bwm0GPiF2z

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 14, 2021

HAMILTON STRETCHES POINT STREAK
Carolina Hurricanes defenceman Dougie Hamilton contributed to his team’s eight-game winning streak on Sunday, stretching his point streak to eight with a shorthanded goal in a 2-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. Now the longest active point streak in the NHL, Hamilton has put up a total of two goals and eight assists over the span, contributing to a season total of 21 points (3-18–21) over 27 contests. The only other defencemen in Canes/Whalers franchise history with longer point streaks are Mark Howe (11 GP, 1979-80) and Ulf Samuelsson (9 GP, in 1987-88). The 6-foot-6 Toronto, Ont. native is one goal shy of the 100-goal milestone. A former OHL Defenceman of the Year and Scholastic Player of the Year, Hamilton patrolled the blue line with the Niagara IceDogs from 2009-13.

Doogie’s shorty was ???? pic.twitter.com/1zPt1zqFK1

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) March 15, 2021

QUINN GETS FIRST IN AHL
After lighting the lamp 52 times with the Ottawa 67’s last season, Jack Quinn scored his first career American Hockey League goal as a member of the Rochester Americans last Wednesday. The 19-year-old from Cobden, Ont. has three points (1-2–3) through seven games with the Amerks this season. He was Buffalo’s first round (8th overall) pick in the NHL Draft last summer. Quinn joined Peterborough’s Nick Robertson as one of two 50+ goal scorers in the OHL last season.

ICYMI: Jack Quinn got that first professional marker last night. ????#UnitedWeROC pic.twitter.com/RaTgj5KXjY

— Rochester Americans (@AmerksHockey) March 11, 2021

DAMIANI OFF TO HOT START IN TEXAS
Kitchener Rangers graduate Riley Damiani is off to a great start in his first professional season. He joins former Rangers teammate Adam Mascherin in providing a good 1-2 offensive punch for the AHL’s Texas Stars. Damiani leads the team with 15 points (6-9–15) through 12 games and currently holds the AHL’s rookie lead. He netted his first career AHL hat trick on Saturday as the Stars dropped a 5-3 decision to the Colorado Eagles. Damiani led the Rangers in scoring last season with 78 points (28-50–78). He registered 222 points (86-136–222) over a 245-game OHL career.

Riley Damiani scored his first career hat-trick tonight but it came as the Stars were pushing back to tie the game late. #TEXvsCOL pic.twitter.com/xIb7jWYsCN

— Texas Stars (@TexasStars) March 14, 2021