OHL This Week: February 22 to 25, 2024
It’s a rare Thursday night without any games on the OHL schedule, but another weekend is heating up! Here’s what’s in store.
Registration now underway for OHL Performance Development League:
It’s February, but the launch of the fourth season of the OHL Performance Development League (PDL) in May will be here before you know it! The OHL PDL is an off-season development initiative targeted at young players incorporating Small Area 3-on-3 Games with weekly skill specific development sessions over a 10-week program. The PDL is open to players born between 2007-11 with sessions running on Sunday evenings from May 5 to July 21 in Kitchener, Oakville, Oshawa and Ottawa. Full details and registration
Spirit’s Dionicio named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week:
Anaheim Ducks prospect Rodwin Dionicio of the Saginaw Spirit is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, leading the league with nine points including three goals and six assists in three games. Read more
Bulldogs’ Drobac named OHL Goaltender of the Week:
Brantford Bulldogs netminder Matteo Drobac is the OHL Goaltender of the Week for the second time this season, going 3-0 with a 1.62 goals-against average .939 save percentage and one shutout for the East Division leaders. Read more
Greyhounds take over in this week’s OHL Power Rankings presented by Power Staffing Solutions:
The Soo Greyhounds defeated last week’s top-ranked team, and it wasn’t even close. That’s perhaps the biggest reason for their return to the #1 spot in the OHL Power Rankings presented by Power Staffing Solutions. Read more
Knights and Spirit included in Week 20 edition of CHL Top 10 Rankings:
The third-ranked London Knights and fifth-ranked Saginaw Spirit are included in the Week 20 edition of the CHL Top 10 Rankings. Read more
Spirit’s Dionicio headlines OHL Plays of the Week presented by FPS Payment:
A fleet-footed defenceman leads the charge on the latest edition of OHL Plays of the Week presented by FPS Payment, with appearances from Kingston’s Paul Ludwinski, Ottawa’s Luca Pinelli, London’s Easton Cowan, Sudbury’s Kieron Walton and Saginaw’s Rodwin Dionicio. Watch
Watch the finest saves across the league with Enbridge OHL Saves of the Week:
Rolling through the Enbridge OHL Saves of the Week, featuring appearances from Brantford’s Matteo Drobac and David Egorov, Sudbury’s Marcus Vandenberg, London’s Michael Simpson, Niagara’s Owen Flores, Erie’s Ethan Fraser, Peterborough’s Zach Bowen, Kitchener’s Jackson Parsons, and Mississauga Steelheads forward Lucas Karmiris. Watch
2024 OHL Officiating Development Combine to be held from June 6-8:
The OHL is pleased to announce that it will be hosting the 3rd Annual Officiating Prospect Development Combine (OPDC) to be held from June 6-8 at the Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre in Belleville, Ont. The OHL receives over 200 applications each year to participate in the Annual OPDC and in the past selected approximately 72 officials to participate. 38 participants from last year’s OPDC were selected to then attend an OHL Officiating Training Camp and out of those, 26 participants were given the opportunity to officiate in the OHL during the 2023-24 season. Read more
Firebirds ink Flache, McParlan to multi-year extensions:
The Flint Firebirds announced on Wednesday that Head Coach Paul Flache and General Manager Dave McParlan have each received multi-year contract extensions. Read more
Toronto Jr. Canadiens rise in Week 13 edition of OHL Cup Top 10 Rankings:
The Vaughan Kings remain in the top spot while the Toronto Jr. Canadiens acontinue to rise in the Week 13 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
Niko Krmpotic commits to Bulldogs:
The Brantford Bulldogs announced the signing of defenseman Niko Krmpotic to an OHL Scholarship & Development Agreement. Krmpotic, from Georgetown, ON, comes to the Bulldogs from his hometown Georgetown Raiders of the OJHL. Having skated in 49 games in his first year of junior eligibility the 6’1”, 185lbs left shot defenceman has posted a pair of goals & 9 assists for 11 points. A ninth round selection, 169th overall, in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection Draft, Krmpotic continues a very valuable pipeline to the Halton Hills Hurricanes U16AAA program, where the Bulldogs drafted captain Lawson Sherk and goaltender Matteo Drobac from. Read more
Sting sign Matthew Andersen:
The Sarnia Sting has signed left-shot defenceman Matthew Andersen to an Ontario Hockey League Scholarship and Development Agreement. Andersen was drafted by the Sting in the ninth round, 177th pick in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection. The 5’11”, 165-pound Newmarket, ON native has spent the 2022-2023 season with the Sarnia Legionnaires of the GOJHL. Anderson has 5 goals and 15 assists in 35 games this season. Read more
Spirit’s Parekh sets new benchmark for blueliners:
Saginaw Spirit defenceman Zayne Parekh continues to re-write the record book in his sophomore OHL season. The NHL Draft eligible from Nobleton, Ont. made more Spirit history on Sunday, contributing a goal in a 5-3 road win over the North Bay Battalion to become the new single-season points leader by a blueliner in Spirit history. Parekh’s record-setting point was his 27th goal of the season. He’d tack on an assist before all was said and done, finishing the afternoon with 79 points (27-52–79) over 52 games to lead all OHL defencemen. Read more
Jake O’Brien sets Bulldogs rookie points mark:
A pair of quick first period goals in Niagara on Sunday saw Jake O’Brien make Brantford Bulldogs history. The 16-year-old scored his 10th and 11th goals of the season in the 5-1 win to give him 50 points, two more than Arthur Kaliyev‘s previously held 2017-18 record of 48 by a Bulldogs rookie. The eighth overall pick of the 2023 OHL Priority Selection, O’Brien, who was also last year’s OHL Cup MVP for the champion Toronto Jr. Canadiens, is the OHL’s lone rookie with more than a point-per-game in 2023-24. Read more
COMMUNITY CORNER:
Spirit to retire Brandon Saad’s #22 on Friday:
The Saginaw Spirit will honour a franchise great on Friday, raising Brandon Saad’s #22 to the heights of the Dow Event Center prior to their matchup against the North Bay Battalion. A 31-year-old rom Pittsburgh, PA, Saginaw selected Saad with the 10th overall pick of the 2008 OHL Priority Selection as he’d go on to record 131 points (61-70–131) over 103 regular season games before making the jump to the NHL as a 19-year-old in 2012. Saad has won a pair of Stanley Cups over the course of his 836-game NHL career. The St. Louis Blues forward has amassed 242 goals, 238 assists and 480 points between Chicago, Columbus, Colorado and St. Louis.
Storm to host Anishnabeg Outreach Hand Up For Healing Game:
The Guelph Storm are set to host their Anishnabeg Outreach Hand Up For Healing Game on Friday. The Guelph Storm and Neighbourhood Group of Companies continue to be great supporters and partners of Anishnabeg Outreach’s work in moving the needle on reconciliation within the Kitchener-Waterloo community and beyond. The game will feature a ceremonial puck drop with Stephen Jackson, CEO Anishnabeg Outreach, Court D, President of Neighbourhood Group of Companies, and Storm defender and proud member of the Ojibwe (Ojibwa, Ojibway, and Chippewa) and Wikwemikoong community Michael Buchinger. A donation and education table will be at the top of section 116 in the Community Corner. The Storm will take the ice on commemorative jerseys which will be auctioned off, with the funds supporting Anishnabeg Outreach. Read more
Steelheads to host Hockey Gives Blood game:
The Mississauga Steelheads are set to host their Hockey Gives Blood game on Friday. Canadian Blood Services will be set up in the concourse to help you join the Mississauga Steelheads’ Hockey Gives Blood team of donors and book your appointment to donate blood or plasma. They’ll have prizes and information on how you could win a signed Mississauga Steelheads jersey!
Otters to host Hockey Fights Cancer game:
The Erie Otters are set to host their Hockey Fights Cancer game on Saturday.
Steelheads to host Pucks N Paws game:
The Mississauga Steelheads are set to host their Pucks N Paws game on Sunday. Fans are encouraged to bring their four-legged friends to the game on Sunday! A variety of vendors including giveaways, rescues, humane societies, grooming and more will be available at the game. Also joining the Steelheads for the Ceremonial Puck Drop will be Steelheads alumnus and 2023 Stanley Cup Champion Nic Hague! Read more
Generals to host Pride Night:
The Oshawa Generals are set to host their annual Pride Night on Sunday. For the second season, the team will wear specially designed Pride jerseys, designed by LGBTQ+ artist Alexandria Cotterill, for the entirety of the game. Game-worn jerseys will be auctioned off in the coming days, in support of PFlag Durham Region. The game will feature surprise guests both on the videoboard and in person, centred around the celebration of equity and inclusion within sports. Invited guests will represent the intersections that already exist between the LGBTQ+ community and the world of sports and hockey.
ALUMNI NOTES:
Battalion graduate Justin Brazeau makes NHL debut:
Justin Brazeau burst onto the NHL scene on Monday, scoring in his debut with the Boston Bruins as they defeated the Dallas Stars by a score of 4-3. The 6-foot-5, 220Ib. winger from New Liskeard, Ont. made his NHL debut at the age of 26, having produced 37 points (18-19–37) over 49 games with the AHL’s Providence Bruins so far this season. Brazeau is currently in the midst of his fifth pro season following four years in North Bay from 2015-19 that saw him emerge as a Battalion fan favourite. Brazeau entered the OHL as a 13th round pick by the Battalion in 2014, eventually becoming a 61-goal scorer in his final season as he won the OHL’s Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy as Overage Player of the Year. Read more
Former Greyhounds goaltender Matthew Villalta makes NHL debut:
Former Soo Greyhounds netminder Matthew Villalta broke into the NHL with the Arizona Coyotes on Friday night, making his debut at 24 years of age. Originally a third round pick by the LA Kings in the 2017 NHL Draft, Villalta joined the Coyotes this past offseason after four seasons in the Kings organization. He got the call-up to Arizona earlier on Friday before making his NHL debut in relief of starter Karel Vejmelka in the third period of a 5-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Villalta stopped all four shots he faced in just over 13 minutes of play. The Godfrey, Ont. product took a unique development path into the OHL, going undrafted before being signed as a free agent by the Greyhounds out of training camp in the fall of 2016. Read more
Knights honour Don Brankley Hall of Fame class of 2024:
The London Knights welcomed the three newest members of the Don Brankley London Knights Hall of Fame to Budweiser Gardens on Friday. The Knights welcomed back former forward Billy Carroll (1976-79) who went on to play with the NHL’s New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers and Detroit Red Wings as well as long-time former NHL blueliner and past Memorial Cup champion Marc Methot (2002-05). Former Assistant General Manager-turned Chicago Blackhawks Amateur Scout Jim McKellar (2000-11) was also included in the 2024 induction class. Watch
Clarke’s first NHL goal comes in overtime:
Brandt Clarke enjoyed a moment to remember on Saturday, emerging from the penalty box in overtime to score his first career NHL goal for the Los Angeles Kings in a 5-4 win. The 21-year-old from Nepean, Ont. has five points (1-4–5) through 10 games with Los Angeles this season after having appeared in nine games with LA during the 2022-23 campaign. Clarke put in a highly productive half-season in Barrie last year, racking up 61 points (23-38–61) in just 31 games before adding an additional 23 (7-16–23) in 12 playoff contests. He was originally Los Angeles’ first round (8th overall) pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.
Kane records 800th NHL assist:
Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane recorded his 800th NHL assist on Sunday, becoming only the third U.S.-born player in NHL history to reach the mark. A former first overall pick by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2007 NHL Draft, the Buffalo, NY. native is currently playing in his 17th NHL season, registering 1260 points (460-800-1260) over 1204 games played between Chicago, the New York Rangers, and Detroit. A three-time Stanley Cup Champion with the Blackhawks (2010/13/15), Kane has had a decorated NHL career, earning Rookie of the Year (2008), Stanley Cup MVP (2013), and NHL Most Valuable Player (2016). Selected in the fifth round (88th overall) by the London Knights in the 2004 OHL Priority Selection, Kane remains an all-time standout for the franchise, registering 145 points (62-83-145) over 58 regular season contests to earn OHL and CHL Rookie of the Year honours.
Hayton skates in 200th NHL contest:
Arizona Coyotes forward Barrett Hayton skated in his 200th NHL contest on Wednesday, recording a goal in a 6-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. A former first round (fifth overall) pick by the Coyotes in the 2018 NHL Draft, the Peterborough, Ont. native has registered 35 goals, 45 assists, and 80 points over five seasons and 200 games played. Selected ninth overall by Sault Ste. Marie in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection, Hayton played three seasons with the Greyhounds, tallying 153 points (56-97-153) over 165 regular season contests. Crowned Western Conference Champions in 2018, Hayton recorded 21 points (8-13-21) over 24 playoff contests that season.
Prosvetov named AHL Player of the Week:
Colorado Eagles goaltender Ivan Prosvetov has been selected as the AHL Player of the Week. Prosvetov won all three of his starts last week, turning aside 93 of 98 shots for a 1.67 goals-against average and a .949 save percentage. Acquired by the Colorado Avalanche from Arizona on Oct. 9, 2023, Prosvetov joined the Eagles on Feb. 4 and has gone 5-0-0 in his five AHL starts in 2023-24, allowing eight goals on 165 shots for a 1.60 GAA and a .952 save percentage. In 11 appearances for the Avalanche this season, he is 4-3-1 with a 3.16 GAA and an .895 save percentage. The 24-year-old was a fourth-round pick by Arizona in the 2018 NHL Draft and spent his first four pro seasons between the Coyotes and the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners. Selected 13th overall by the Saginaw Spirit in the 2018 CHL Import Draft, Prosvetov appeared in 53 OHL contests, playing to a 36-11-2-1 record along with a 2.94 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage.
Weeks named ECHL Goaltender of the Week:
Sudbury Wolves graduate Mitchell Weeks of the Indy Fuel is the ECHL Goaltender of the Week. The 22-year-old from Barrie, Ont. won a pair of games while registering a 1.01 goals-against average and .968 save percentage, contributing to an overall line of 8-5-4 with a 2.87 goals-against average and .900 save percentage over 18 games with Indy this season. A former first overall pick of the Sudbury Wolves in the 2018 OHL Under-18 Priority Selection, Weeks played 95 regular season games with Sudbury from 2018-22, going 36-44-3-5 with a 3.97 goals-against average and .894 save percentage. Weeks appeared in 12 games with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs last season, and has suited up in five more during the 2023-24 season.
OHL Alumni headline AUS men’s hockey annual awards:
Ottawa 67’s alumnus Austen Keating, Kingston Frontenacs graduate Alec Bélanger and Saginaw Spirit alum Brady Gilmour all received year-end awards in Atlantic University Sport’s men’s hockey ranks while several other OHL grads were named to All-Star and All-Rookie teams. Read more
U SPORTS Report:
Josh Nelson was a triple-OT hero for StFX while while Reid Valade scored an overtime winner of his own for Saint Mary’s to help their teams advance to the second round of the AUS playoffs. Read more
UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
– All games streaming on OHL Live
– Radio and TV broadcast information
Friday, February 23rd
Oshawa at Ottawa – 7:00pm
London at Kingston – 7:00pm
Niagara at Mississauga – 7:00pm
Brantford at Flint – 7:00pm
Sarnia at Kitchener – 7:00pm
Peterborough at Sudbury – 7:05pm
North Bay at Saginaw – 7:05pm
Windsor at Guelph – 7:30pm
Saturday, February 24th
London at Ottawa – 3:00pm
Kingston at Niagara – 7:00pm
North Bay at Flint – 7:00pm
Guelph at Erie – 7:00pm
Windsor at Owen Sound – 7:00pm
Brantford at Saginaw – 7:05pm
Peterborough at Sault Ste. Marie – 7:07pm
Mississauga at Barrie – 7:30pm
Sunday, February 25th
North Bay at Sarnia – 2:05pm
Kitchener at Sault Ste. Marie – 2:07pm
Sudbury at Mississauga – 4:00pm
Kingston at Erie – 4:00pm
Barrie at Oshawa – 6:05pm