OHL This Week: April 4 to 7, 2024

The first round of the 2024 OHL Playoffs continues as teams set their sights on the J. Ross Robertson Cup. Here’s what’s going on across the League.

2024 OHL Playoff Tracker:
The 2024 OHL Playoffs are officially underway. Watch every game on OHL Live, with streaming packages now on sale at ohllive.com. Here’s a look at all eight matchups. Read more

Memorial Cup host Spirit eliminate Owen Sound in four straight games:
The Saginaw Spirit are on to the second round of the OHL Playoffs, defeating the Owen Sound Attack in four games. The Spirit completed the first round sweep with a 5-1 road win on Wednesday. Read more

Greyhounds sweep Storm in first round action:
The Soo Greyhounds have advanced to the second round of the 2024 OHL Playoffs eliminating the Guelph Storm in four games. Jordan D’Intino recorded two goals and an assist in Wednesday’s 5-1 victory at the Sleeman Centre to send the Greyhounds into the next round. Read more

2024 OHL Development Combine presented by Dairy Farmers of Ontario set for this weekend:
The 2024 OHL Development Combine presented by Dairy Farmers of Ontario will be held on Saturday and Sunday at the Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa. A total of 76 players, to be announced on Friday, will participate in the annual event that gives OHL scouts and General Managers one final look at this year’s crop of prospects ahead of the OHL Priority Selection on April 12th and 13th. Saturday’s events feature on and off-ice testing before Sunday includes a tournament of hybrid 5-on-5/3-on-3 matchups throughout the day. The event is free and open to the public.

Spirit’s Beck named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week:
 Montreal Canadiens prospect Owen Beck of the Saginaw Spirit is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording a goal and five assists in a pair of playoff contests. Read more

Wolves’ Vondras named OHL Goaltender of the Week:
Carolina Hurricanes prospect Jakub Vondras of the Sudbury Wolves is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, going 2-0 with a 2.46 goals-against average, .923 save percentage and a shutout in two outings last week. Read more

Bulldogs’ Lardis signs with Blackhawks:
Brantford Bulldogs forward Nick Lardis has signed a NHL Entry-Level Contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. Lardis was selected by the club in the third round, 67th overall of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. After missing the last 31 games of the regular season due to injury, Lardis has picked right up where he left off, scoring two goals in Game 1 of the Bulldogs opening round series of the playoffs and leading the team with four points through three games at the time of his signing with Chicago. Read more

Firebirds’ Pitre signs with Ducks:
The Anaheim Ducks announced that they have signed Flint Firebirds forward Coulson Pitre to a three-year NHL entry-level contract. The contract will begin in the 2024-25 season. Pitre was selected by the Ducks in the third round (65th overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft. Originally selected in the fourth round (73rd overall) by the Windsor Spitfires in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection, Pitre has appeared in 166 games for the Firebirds over the span of three seasons. He has 75 career goals and 84 assists for 159 points, tied for the fourth-most in franchise history. Read more

Oakville Rangers blank Vaughan Kings to be crowned 2024 OHL Cup Champions:
In a Saturday matinee in front of a packed house at the Mattamy Athletic Centre, the Oakville Rangers shutout the Vaughan Kings 1-0 to capture the 2024 OHL Cup presented by FPS Payment Championship, being crowned OHL Cup champions for the second time. Read more

OHL announces 2024 U16 AAA Player of the Year Awards:
The OHL has announced the seven recipients of 2024 U16 AAA Player of the Year Awards for players representing the four Ontario Hockey Federation Member Partners including the ALLIANCE, Greater Toronto Hockey League, Northern Ontario Hockey Association, and both the Ontario Minor Hockey Association’s East and West regions, along with Hockey Eastern Ontario and Hockey Northwestern Ontario. Read more

2024 OHL Draft profile – Tyler Challenger (North York Rangers):
A responsible, two-way forward who plays the game with consistency, North York Rangers forward Tyler Challenger grew up watching the Mississauga Steelheads and is looking forward to OHL Draft day. Watch

2024 OHL Draft profile – Caleb Malhotra (Vaughan Kings):
A big, rangy centreman who plays effectively on both sides of the puck, former U14 OHL Cup champion Caleb Malhotra of the Vaughan Kings looks to add an OHL Cup championship to his list of achievements. Watch

2024 OHL Draft profile – Callum Croskery (Oakville Rangers):
A long-time fixture on the Oakville Rangers blueline, OHL Cup champion Callum Croskery is a modern day defender with elite vision. Watch

2024 OHL Draft profile – Maximus Crete (Upper Canada Cyclones):
HEO U16 AAA Player of the Year Maximus Crete of the Upper Canada Cyclones led his league in scoring with 66 points over just 29 games. Watch

2024 OHL Draft profile – Nathan Amidovski (Barrie Jr. Colts):
The son of a former OHL netminder, Barrie Jr. Colts standout Nathan Amidovski helped steer his team to an OMHA Championship this season, bringing great offensive instincts to the ice. Watch

 

ALUMNI NOTES:

Cameron Butler makes NHL debut:
Former Oshawa Generals, Niagara IceDogs and Peterborough Petes forward Cameron Butler had a night to remember on Saturday in Columbus, making his NHL debut in a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 6-foot-4, 210Ib. never drafted to the NHL, Butler signed a three-year entry-level NHL contract with Columbus following his overage season in the OHL. This season, the 21-year-old from Ottawa, Ont. has appeared in 46 games with the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters, recording two goals, six assists and eight points. Butler played four seasons in the OHL, originally being selected by the Peterborough Petes in the second round of the 2018 OHL Priority Selection. He’d go on to spend time in Niagara, serving as captain of the IceDogs, before rounding-out his OHL career in Oshawa. He collected 154 points (74-80–154) over 257 career regular season games. Read more

Akil Thomas makes NHL debut:
Former Peterborough Petes and Niagara IceDogs forward Akil Thomas realized a lifelong dream Monday night as he made his NHL debut with the Los Angeles Kings in a 4-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. In what is now his fourth season playing with the AHL’s Ontario Reign, the 24-year-old Toronto, Ont. native has registered 22 goals and 21 assists in 61 games played this season. Selected in the second round, 51st overall by the Kings in the 2018 NHL Draft, Thomas signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with the club on July 8, 2023. Thomas played four seasons in the OHL, originally being selected by the Niagara IceDogs in the first round (12th overall) of the 2016 OHL Priority Selection from the Toronto Marlboros U16 program. Splitting his final season in Peterborough, Thomas collected 315 points (105-210–315) over 241 career regular season games. Read more

Kraken recall Shane Wright:
The Seattle Kraken recalled forward Shane Wright from the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds on Sunday, as the 20-year-old Burlington, Ont. native netted a goal in a 4-2 win over the San Jose Sharks on Monday. Appearing in five games with the Kraken this season, the former fourth overall pick from the 2022 NHL Draft has two points in 11 career games in the NHL. Wright has impressed in Coachella this season, registering 20 goals and 43 assists (20-43-63) in 56 games. Originally selected by the Kingston Frontenacs with the first overall pick in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, Wright is one of six underaged players to ever be granted exceptional status into the Ontario Hockey League. Tallying 197 points (86-111-197) through 141 games spent between the Frontenacs and Windsor Spitfires, Wright was awarded OHL and CHL Rookie of the Year honours in 2019-20, along with the CHL Top Draft Prospect Award in 2021-22. Wright has also had success on the international stage, bringing home a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2021 World Junior Championship. Prior to his time in the OHL, Wright won GTHL Player of the Year, OHL Cup MVP and an OHL Cup championship with the Don Mills Flyers U16 AAA program.

John Carlson scores in 1,000th NHL contest:
Former London Knights blueliner John Carlson skated in his 1,000th NHL contest on Saturday night, registering a goal in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Boston Bruins. Recording 149 goals and 519 assists over 1,000 games played, the 34-year-old Colonia, NJ. native has played 15 seasons in the NHL with the Washington Capitals after being selected in the first round (27th overall) of the 2008 NHL Draft. A former second round (33rd overall) pick of the London Knights in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection, Carlson spent one season in the OHL, tallying 76 points (16-60-76) over 59 regular season games, along with 22 (7-15-22) points in seven playoff contests.

Jeff Skinner skates in 1,000th NHL game:
Former Kitchener Rangers forward Jeff Skinner skated in his 1,000th NHL contest on Tuesday as the Buffalo Sabres defeated the Washington Capitals 6-2. Skinner became the 11th-youngest player in NHL history to reach the 1,000-game milestone. Registering 357 goals and 312 assists over 1,000 games played, the 31-year-old from Markham, Ont. has spent 14 seasons in the NHL spent between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Sabres after being selected in the first round (seventh overall) by the Hurricanes in the 2010 NHL Draft. A former first round (20th overall) pick of the Kitchener Rangers in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection from the Toronto Nationals U16 AAA program, Skinner spent two seasons with the Rangers, tallying 141 points (77-64-141) over 127 regular season games, along with 33 (20-13-33) points in 20 playoff contests to lead the Rangers to the 2010 Western Conference Finals.

 

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

– All games streaming on OHL Live
– Radio and TV broadcast information

Thursday, April 4th
Oshawa at Barrie – 7:00pm (Game 4)
Brantford at Ottawa – 7:00pm (Game 4)
London at Flint – 7:00pm (Game 4)
Kitchener at Erie – 7:00pm (Game 4)

Friday, April 5th
Kingston at North Bay – 7:00pm (Game 5)
Sudbury at Mississauga – 7:00pm (Game 5)
Flint at London – 7:00pm (Game 5)*
Erie at Kitchener – 7:00pm (Game 5)
Barrie at Oshawa – 7:35pm (Game 5)

Saturday, April 6th
Ottawa at Brantford – 4:00pm (Game 5)

Sunday, April 7th
North Bay at Kingston – 2:00pm (Game 6)*
London at Flint – 4:00pm (Game 6)*
Oshawa at Barrie – 6:00pm (Game 6)*
Brantford at Ottawa – 7:00pm (Game 6)*

*- if necessary