OHL This Week: April 18 to 21, 2024
Three different teams have a trip to the Conference Finals in reach entering Thursday night’s OHL playoff action. Here’s what’s happening across the League.
2024 OHL Playoff Tracker:
The second round of the 2024 OHL Playoffs continues tonight. Watch every game on OHL Live, with streaming packages now on sale at ohllive.com. Follow along with all four series matchups. Read more
2014 U14 OHL Cup presented by Dairy Farmers of Ontario gets underway in Kingston on Friday:
A total of 16 different U14 AAA teams from across the province hit the ice in Kingston this weekend for the 3rd annual U14 OHL Cup presented by Dairy Farmers of Ontario. Read more at omha.net
Generals’ Roobroeck named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week:
New York Rangers prospect Dylan Roobroeck of the Oshawa Generals is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week for the second time this season, recording two goals and four assists in a pair of playoff contests. Read more
Battalion’s McIvor named OHL Goaltender of the Week:
Rookie netminder Mike McIvor of the North Bay Battalion is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, playing to a 2-0 record along with a 1.50 goals-against average, and .954 save percentage. Read more
OHL completes 2024 Priority Selection Selection presented by Real Canadian Superstore:
The Ontario Hockey League today concluded the 2024 OHL Priority Selection presented by Real Canadian Superstore for North American players born predominantly in 2008. A total of 302 players were selected in the 15-round process from 78 different programs. The selected players included 170 forwards, 102 defencemen, and 30 goaltenders. A total of 298 of the players chosen were 2008-born athletes while two were born in 2007 and two were born in 2006. Read more
OHL conducts 2024 Under-18 Priority Selection:
A total of 55 players were chosen by OHL clubs in the 2024 Under-18 Priority Selection held Wednesday, April 17th. The Windsor Spitfires used the first overall selection to take 6-foot-1 Halton Hurricanes goaltender Michael Newlove. He becomes the first goaltender to be chosen with the first overall pick since the Kingston Frontenacs selected Aidan Spooner in 2019. Read more
57 OHL players included on NHL Central Scouting’s Final 2024 Draft Rankings:
The Ontario Hockey League is proud to announce that it joins the Western Hockey League in leading the way with 57 players included on NHL Central Scouting’s Final Draft Rankings for the 2024 NHL Draft scheduled to take place June 28-29 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. The list, which includes a total of 149 CHL players, features eight OHL skaters included in the top-32 North American prospects, indicating a potential first round selection. The list includes 33 OHL forwards, 17 defencemen and seven goaltenders. Read more
10 OHL players to represent Canada at IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship:
Hockey Canada has announced the 19 players selected to wear the Maple Leaf with Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team for the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship, April 25-May 5, in Espoo and Vantaa, Finland. The Canadian roster includes a total of 10 Ontario Hockey League players. Read more
Generals’ Laxdal awarded Matt Leyden Trophy as OHL Coach of the Year:
Derek Laxdal of the Oshawa Generals is the recipient of the Matt Leyden Trophy awarded annually to the OHL’s Coach of the Year. Completing his second season as Head Coach in Oshawa, Laxdal guided the Generals to an exciting finish to the regular season as they rode a 12-game winning streak to the top of the Eastern Conference standings, securing the first seed on the final weekend of the schedule. The Generals played to an Eastern Conference-leading 25-6-4-1 record following the turn of the calendar on January 1st, finishing the 68-game campaign with an overall record of 40-19-7-2. Read more
Steelheads’ Chas Sharpe signs with Toronto Marlies:
The Toronto Marlies have signed Mississauga Steelheads overage defenceman Chas Sharpe to a two-year AHL contract beginning in the 2024-25 season. He will be on a professional tryout with the Marlies for the remainder of this season. Sharpe, 20, recorded 53 points (19-34-53) in 67 games with the Steelheads this season while serving as captain. Read more
First round pick Dimian Zhilkin signs with Spirit:
The Saginaw Spirit are pleased to announce the signing of first round 2024 OHL Priority Selection pick Dimian Zhilkin to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. Zhilkin, a right-shot winger from the Toronto Jr. Canadiens of the GTHL, was selected 19th overall in Friday’s draft. In 60 games with the Jr. Canadiens, Zhilkin notched 73 points (26G, 47A) from the right wing. The Oakville, Ontario native stands 5’9” and weighs in at 150lbs. Read more
OHL mourns the loss of former Mississauga Steelheads defenceman Craig Spence:
The Ontario Hockey League is mourning the loss of former Mississauga Steelheads 2018 seventh round draft pick and Blenheim Blades captain Craig Spence following a fatal crash on Tuesday. He was 22-years-old. The entire OHL community would like to extend our deepest condolences to Craig’s loved ones, and all those affected by the tragedy. Read more
ALUMNI NOTES:
Jeff Carter scores in final NHL game:
Jeff Carter scored in his 1,321st and final NHL contest on Wednesday as the Pittsburgh Penguins fell 5-4 to the New York Islanders. The 39-year-old from London, Ont. is hanging up the skates following a highly successful 19-year NHL career. Carter, who starred for the Soo Greyhounds from 2001-05, was the 11th overall pick by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2003 NHL Draft. Carter won Stanley Cup titles with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014, and also won World Junior gold and silver while representing Canada. His decorated career also includes a Calder Cup title along with a 2014 Olympic gold medal with Canada. Over his 1,321 regular season games, Carter recorded 442 goals, 409 assists and 851 points.
Ethan Del Mastro makes NHL debut:
Former Sarnia Sting and Mississauga Steelheads defenceman Ethan Del Mastro made his NHL debut with the Chicago Blackhawks in a 5-1 loss to the Nashville Predators on Friday, April 12. In his first season playing with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs, Del Mastro has registered seven goals, 30 assists and 37 points in 66 regular season contests. He was named an AHL All-Star as a rookie earlier this year. Selected in the fourth round, 105th overall by the Blackhawks in the 2021 NHL Draft, Del Mastro signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the club on April 22, 2022. Del Mastro played three seasons in the OHL, originally being selected by the Mississauga Steelheads in the first round (12th overall) of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection. Read more
Logan Mailloux makes NHL debut:
Former London Knights defenceman Logan Mailloux made his NHL debut with the Montreal Canadiens in their final game of the season, defeating the Detroit Red Wings in a 5-4 shootout win on Tuesday, April 16. Mailloux saw the ice for 21 minutes and 14 seconds, contributing an assist to the victory. The 21-year-old Belle River, Ont. native spent this season with the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League, tallying 47 points (14-33-47) in 70 games and earning a spot in the AHL All-Star Game. Selected in the first round (31st overall) by the Canadiens in the 2021 NHL Draft, Mailloux signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the club on October 55, 2022. Mailloux played three seasons in the OHL, originally being selected by the Knights in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection. Read more
Luca Del Bel Belluz scores in NHL debut:
Former Mississauga Steelheads and Sarnia Sting forward Luca Del Bel Belluz made his NHL debut with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, April 16, scoring on his first shot in a 6-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Del Bel Belluz saw the ice for nine minutes and 35 seconds, registering two shots on goal along with a +1 rating. Recalled to the Blue Jackets on an emergency basis, the 20-year-old Woodbridge, Ont. native has recorded nine goals, 21 assists, and 30 points in 55 games with the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters so far this season. Selected in the second round, 44th overall by Columbus in the 2022 NHL Draft, Del Bel Belluz signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the club on December 1, 2022. Del Bel Belluz played three seasons in the OHL, originally being selected by the Mississauga Steelheads in the third round (51st overall) of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection. Read more
UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
– All games streaming on OHL Live
– Radio and TV broadcast information
Thursday, April 18th
Oshawa at Ottawa – 7:00pm (Game 4)
London at Kitchener – 7:00pm (Game 4)
North Bay at Sudbury – 7:05pm (Game 4)
Friday, April 19th
Kitchener at London – 7:00pm (Game 5)*
Sault Ste. Marie at Saginaw – 7:00pm (Game 5)
Ottawa at Oshawa – 7:00pm (Game 5)*
Saturday, April 20th
Sudbury at North Bay – 7:00pm (Game 5)*
Sunday, April 21st
Oshawa at Ottawa – 2:00pm (Game 6)*
London at Kitchener – 2:00pm (Game 6)*
Saginaw at Sault Ste. Marie – 7:07pm (Game 6)*
*- if necessary