OHL This Week: February 1 to 4, 2024
February’s here! The 2023-24 season takes a stride toward the Playoffs as teams will begin clinching their spots before the month is through. Here’s what’s happening as we turn the calendar into a new month.
OHL joins Grain Farmers of Ontario and Syngenta in celebrating 10 years of Talk Today this February:
The Ontario Hockey League turns the calendar over to February, signalling the beginning of Talk Today Month across the OHL. The Talk Today program is presented by Syngenta Canada and Grain Farmers of Ontario as the League’s partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association continues in its 10th season. Throughout February, the OHL’s 17 Ontario-based member teams will host mental health awareness games in collaboration with their local CMHA branch. Read more
YourTV Hockey Day in the OHL is this Sunday:
A long-standing tradition in the OHL, YourTV Hockey Day in the OHL airs this coming Sunday, February 4th with a triple-header of action across the league. Starting at 1:00pm, fans across the province can tune in and see the Peterborough Petes visit the Kingston Frontenacs before the Niagara IceDogs play host to the North Bay Battalion at 4:00pm. The Windsor Spitfires visit the Sarnia Sting to round-out the day’s telecast starting at 7:00pm. Tune in for great features and content from across the OHL’s YourTV markets on Sunday.
Spirit rise to the top spot in this week’s OHL Power Rankings:
With wins in seven straight, the Memorial Cup presented by Dow host Saginaw Spirit were back on top in the OHL Power Rankings presented by Power Staffing Solutions. Read more
Spirit, Knights, and Greyhounds included in Week 17 edition of CHL Top 10 Rankings:
The Saginaw Spirit, London Knights and Soo Greyhounds are included in the Week 17 edition of the CHL Top 10 Rankings. Read more
Spitfires’ Greentree named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week:
2024 NHL Draft-eligible forward Liam Greentree of the Windsor Spitfires is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, contributing three goals, four assists and seven points while registering a plus-6 rating in two games. Read more
Colts’ Hillebrandt named OHL Goaltender of the Week:
Sam Hillebrandt of the Barrie Colts is the OHL Goaltender of the Week for the second time this season following a pair of wins with a 2.40 goals-against average and .940 save percentage. Read more
OHL announces Top Performers of the Month for January:
The Ontario Hockey League announced top performers for the month of January including London Knights teammates Michael Simpson and Oliver Bonk, Oshawa Generals forward Calum Ritchie and Barrie Colts forward Riley Patterson. Read more
OHL announces Academic Players of the Month for January presented by Hockley Valley Resort:
The OHL rolled-out Academic Players of the Month for January including Erie’s Matthew Schaefer, Barrie’s Jaiden Newton, Brantford’s Jake O’Brien, and Flint’s Jacob Brown. Read more
Steelheads announce plans to relocate to Brampton for 2024-25 season:
The Mississauga Steelheads are excited to announce a significant development in the team’s history. After careful consideration and extensive discussions, the Steelheads are in the process of conducting the necessary due diligence to relocate the team to Brampton for the 2024/2025 Ontario Hockey League season. Read more
Spitfires’ Greentree headlines OHL Plays of the Week presented by FPS Payment:
More great plays coming your way in this week’s OHL Plays presented by FPS Payment! See fine displays from Niagara’s Ryan Roobroeck, Oshawa’s Rasmus Kumpulainen, Mississauga’s Dean Loukus, Barrie’s Roenick Jodoin, and Windsor’s Liam Greentree. Watch
Watch the finest saves across the league with Enbridge OHL Saves of the Week:
Rolling through the Enbridge OHL Saves of the Week, with stops from Peterborough’s Easton Rye, Mississauga’s Jack Ivankovic, Brantford’s David Egorov, Kitchener’s Tristan Malboeuf, Erie’s Charlie Burns, Mississauga’s Ryerson Leenders, Sault Ste. Marie’s Charlie Schenkel, Sudbury’s Jakub Vondras and Barrie’s Sam Hillebrandt. Watch
OHL Milestone Moments features four entries:
See first career OHL goals from Barrie’s Jaiden Newton and Ottawa’s Bradley Horner while goaltenders Owen Willmore of the London Knights and Kyle Downey of the Kingston Frontenacs lock-down first career shutouts. Watch
Generals sign forward Harrison Franssen:
The Oshawa Generals are excited to announce that 2022 9th-round selection, Harrison Franssen, has signed an OHL scholarship and development agreement. The London, Ont., native spent his 2021-22 season with the London Junior Knights organization, where he represented as Captain for the AAA team. Following his next two seasons, Franssen played for the St. Thomas Stars in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL), appearing in 83 games and racking up a total of 60 points. In those two seasons, the 6-foot-3 forward collected 26 goals and 34 assists. Read more
OHL Prospect Pipeline:
In a new series for this season, the OHL will take a look at prospects around the province that have signed an OHL scholarship and development agreement, and are currently excelling with their respective Tier II junior programs. Read more
Vaughan Kings remain on top in Week 10 edition of OHL Cup Top 10 Rankings:
The Vaughan Kings remain in the top spot while the Toronto Jr. Canadiens are on the rise in the Week 10 edition of the U16 AAA rankings for the 2024 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament presented by FPS Payment and hosted by the Greater Toronto Hockey League. Read more
2024 OHL Draft Advanced Scouting – Ryan Yurkiw:
Detroit Little Caesars defenceman Ryan Yurkiw is featured in the eighth edition of OHL Advanced Scouting for the 2024 OHL Priority Selection. Watch
Bloom thrilled to be back in Saginaw for historic season:
Josh Bloom is back in Saginaw and he couldn’t be happier, and while a lot has changed during his 15-month absence, the transition back into a Spirit uniform was seamless. Read more
Rangers’ Brzustewicz dealt to Flames:
Kitchener Rangers defenceman Hunter Brzustewicz is joining the Calgary Flames. The league’s top-scoring defenceman was traded by the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday as part of a package that saw prominent forward Elias Lindholm go to Vancouver. See full details on the trade at tsn.ca.
OHL official Kirsten Welsh receives NHL All-Star Weekend invite:
OHL linesperson Kirsten Welsh became the first woman to serve as an on-ice official in the OHL in November 2021. This week, she’ll be working as a linesperson for the PWHL 3-on-3 Showcase during NHL All-Star festivities in Toronto on Thursday. The PWHL 3-on-3 Showcase will see 24 players from all six Professional Women’s Hockey League squads compete in a 20-minute game. Welsh is currently in her third OHL season.
Watch free OHL action with the Real Canadian Superstore Design-A-Jersey Contest:
A total of 12 OHL contests can be seen for free on CHL TV throughout the remainder of the season. OHL clubs will wear specially designed jerseys made by a creative fan whose design was selected as the winner in their respective market. The Real Canadian Superstore Design-A-Jersey games can be seen for free on OHL Live on CHL TV. Schedule
COMMUNITY CORNER:
Firebirds to host Girls and Women in Sports Night on Friday:
The Flint Firebirds are set to host their Girls and Women in Sports Night on Friday. There will be a pregame speaking panel from 5:30-6:15pm featuring Amanda Cain (Team Photographer for the Detroit Pistons), Lacey Senuk (OHL Referee and IIHF Referee for 10+ years), Kara Hillstead (20+ years of working in sports marketing, game operations, & community relations), and Abigail Niehaus (Membership Services Account Executive for the Detroit Red Wings).
Frontenacs host Women in Sports Night on Friday:
The Kingston Frontenacs will also host Women in Sports Night this coming Friday when they play host to the Oshawa Generals. Head to the Leon’s Centre and celebrate the tremendous achievements being made by women across the sporting landscape.
Attack to host Black History Month Charity Game on Saturday:
The Owen Sound Attack are set to host their Black History Month Charity Game on Saturday. The Attack will be running a live auction from January 29 to February 4 as fans have the opportunity to win one of a kind jerseys designed by Attack defender Taos Jordan. All proceeds from the auction will support Owen Sound Emancipation Festival and Team Jamaica. Details
Everything you need to know for the 15th Annual Petes Pink in the Rink Campaign:
The Peterborough Petes 15th annual Pink in the Rink game is set for Saturday, Feb. 4. This year, the team will be wearing special theme jerseys designed by Kyle McDonald of Pioneer Inc. The jerseys highlight the names of nearly 200 people who have battled cancer. The jerseys will also feature a special Canadian Cancer Society shoulder crest. The official game jerseys will be available for purchase at the Pink in the Rink live post-game auction. This season, funds from the Pink in the Rink campaign will support the Wheels of Hope transportation program provided by the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS). Details
Storm to host Talk Today game on Sunday:
For the 10th season, the Guelph Storm are partnering with Canadian Mental Health Association, Waterloo-Wellington for a mental health awareness game on Sunday. Originally launched by CMHA Ontario in partnership with the Ontario Hockey League during the 2014-15 season, Talk Today provides an important opportunity to address the mental health needs of athletes across Canada. Through this program, over 1,850 OHL players and over 575 coaches, billets, and staff have received mental health and suicide prevention training across the league. Read more
ALUMNI NOTES:
10 OHL grads participating in NHL All-Star Weekend:
A total of 10 OHL graduates are participating in the NHL All-Star Weekend being held in Toronto starting Thursday. Boone Jenner (Columbus/Oshawa), Alex DeBrincat (Detroit/Erie), Nick Suzuki (Montreal/Guelph, Owen Sound), Vincent Trocheck (NY Rangers/Plymouth, Saginaw), Travis Konecny (Philadelphia/Sarnia, Ottawa), Mitch Marner (Toronto/London), Tom Wilson (Washington/Plymouth), Connor McDavid (Edmonton/Erie), Robert Thomas (St. Louis/Hamilton, London) and J.T. Miller (Vancouver/Plymouth) are all participating in this year’s event. The All-Star Draft gets underway on Thursday at 6:00pm ET before the All-Star Skills Competition takes place on Friday, February 2nd at 7:00pm. The All-Star Game is slated for Saturday, February 3rd at 3:00pm ET. For more information visit nhl.com.
10 OHL grads named to AHL All-Star rosters:
Ten OHL graduates will participate in the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic on February 4-5 being held in San Jose, California. Participating alumni include Mac Hollowell (Hartford/Sault Ste. Marie), Brennan Othmann (Hartford/Peterborough/Flint), Graeme Clarke (Utica/Ottawa), Jet Greaves (Cleveland/Barrie), Logan Mailloux (Laval/London), Jack Thompson (Syracuse/Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury), Ethan Del Mastro (Rockford/Sarnia, Mississauga), Brandt Clarke (Ontario/Barrie), Danil Gushchin (San Jose/Niagara), and Matthew Villalta (Tucson/Sault Ste. Marie). Sunday features the All-Star Skills Competition before Monday’s All-Star Game gets underway at 9:00pm ET. For more information visit theahl.com.
Foudy leads Admirals to 11th straight win:
Nashville Predators prospect Liam Foudy helped the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals earn their 11th straight victory on Tuesday, scoring a hat trick, including the game-winner in a 4-3 overtime win over the San Diego Gulls. Registering 10 points (6-4-10) in 13 games played with the Admirals, the former 18th overall pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2918 NHL Draft has appeared in an additional 13 games with the Predators this season, tallying three assists. Selected in first round (18th overall) by the London Knights in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection, Foudy recorded 191 points (97-94-191) over 230 regular season contests.
U SPORTS Report:
Zack Trott and the StFX X-Men joined Jake Durham and the Windsor Lancers in stringing together successful outings this past week. Read more
UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
– All games streaming on OHL Live
– Radio and TV broadcast information
Thursday, February 1st
Guelph 0 at Erie 3
Mississauga at North Bay – 7:00pm
Sudbury at Niagara – 7:00pm
Oshawa at Peterborough – 7:05pm
Sarnia at Windsor – 7:05pm
Friday, February 2nd
Sudbury at Brantford – 7:00pm
Oshawa at Kingston – 7:00pm
Barrie at Flint – 7:00pm
Guelph at Kitchener – 7:00pm (RCSS Jersey Contest Freeview on CHL TV)
Erie at London – 7:00pm
Ottawa at Sarnia – 7:05pm
Mississauga at Sault Ste. Marie – 7:07pm
Saturday, February 3rd
North Bay at Brantford – 4:00pm
Ottawa at Flint – 7:00pm
Kitchener at Erie – 7:00pm
London at Owen Sound – 7:00pm
Niagara at Peterborough – 7:05pm
Barrie at Saginaw – 7:05pm
Sunday, February 4th
Peterborough at Kingston – 1:00pm (YourTV Hockey Day in the OHL)
Mississauga at Sudbury – 2:05pm
North Bay at Niagara – 4:00pm (YourTV Hockey Day in the OHL)
London at Guelph – 4:00pm
Ottawa at Saginaw – 5:30pm
Brantford at Oshawa – 6:05pm (RCSS Jersey Contest Freeview on CHL TV)
Windsor at Sarnia – 7:00pm (YourTV Hockey Day in the OHL)
