OHL This Week: January 17 to 19, 2025

The Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game was a huge success! We’re back with a full weekend of OHL action, here’s a look at what’s happening across the league.

Eastern Conference wins inaugural Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game:
Porter Martone of the Brampton Steelheads scored the overtime winner as the Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference 4-3 in the inaugural Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game presented by Enbridge Gas. Details

Bulldogs, city of Brantford agree to 15-year lease agreement, transfer new ownership:
January 15th, 2025 was one of the biggest days in Bulldogs franchise history. An afternoon media conference featured a full room of attendees at the TownePlace Suites by Marriott as new owners Zach Hyman, Spencer Hyman and Stuart Hyman were introduced alongside outgoing owner and governor Michael Andlauer, OHL Commissioner Bryan Crawford and City of Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis. Additionally, the Bulldogs and Brantford agreed to a 15-year lease agreement to keep the franchise in the city. Details

67 OHL players included on NHL Central Scouting Midseason Rankings:
The Ontario Hockey League is proud to announce that 67 OHL players have been included on NHL Central Scouting’s Midseason Rankings for the 2025 NHL Draft scheduled to take place June 27-28 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California. Details

Wolves’ Delic named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week:
Sudbury Wolves overage forward Kocha Delic is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, registering five goals, three assists and eight points in three contests last week. Details

Petes’ Rye named OHL Goaltender of the Week:
Easton Rye of the Peterborough Petes is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, going 2-0-0-1 with a 2.91 goals-against average and .920 save percentage in three outings. Details

Storm’s Katzin named OHL Rookie of the Week:
Guelph Storm forward Lev Katzin is the OHL Rookie of the Week for the second time this season, recording one goal, five assists and six points over three games played. Details

OHL Plays of the Week:
Check out some outstanding offence in the latest delivery of OHL Plays of the Week, featuring Owen Sound’s Bruce McDonald, Guelph’s Jett Luchanko, the Sudbury duo of Quentin Musty and Nathan Villeneuve, the Kitchener pairing of Tanner Lam and Chris Grisolia, along with Brantford’s Nick Lardis. Watch

OHL Saves of the Week presented by Enbridge Gas:
Tracking the top OHL Saves from across the League presented by Enbridge Gas, with standout stops from Ottawa’s Jaeden Nelson, Peterborough’s Easton Rye, Brampton’s Jack Ivankovic, Owen Sound’s Carter George and Guelph’s Zach Jovanovski. Watch

OHL Friday Night Face Off – Brantford at Oshawa:
It’s always a good game when the Oshawa Generals and Brantford Bulldogs meet, hence its the choice for this week’s Friday Night Faceoff, coming to you live from the Tribute Communities Centre! The East Division opponents meet for the sixth of eight meetings this season to kick-off a Friday/Saturday home-and-home with four big points on the line. Details

OHL Milestone Moments:
Catching up on all of the latest first career goals and first shutouts from across the Ontario Hockey League from the holidays and into the new year! Watch

Gens rise in Week 16 OHL Power Rankings:
The OHL Power Rankings remain the same for the top-three teams, with the Oshawa Generals rising four spots to fourth. Details

Latest Moves:

Sting sign OJHL Rookie of the Year Matthew Manza:
The Sarnia Sting announced the signing of Matthew Manza to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. Manza, 17, spent the 2023-24 season with the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Toronto Patriots where he tallied an impressive 26 goals and 23 assists through 49 games played, earning him recognition as the OJHL’s Rookie of the Year. Details

67’s sign defenceman Ryan White:
The Ottawa 67’s have received a commitment from 2007-born defenceman Ryan White. White, 17, was selected by Ottawa in the ninth round of the 2023 OHL Priority Selection, 182nd overall. Since then, the Kanata native continued to play with the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite program the following season, before making the step to the junior ranks this year, playing with the Surrey Eagles in the BCHL. Details

Wolves sign 19-year-old forward Jack Ziliotto:
The Sudbury Wolves are pleased to announce that 19-year-old free agent forward Jack Ziliotto has committed to the club. Ziliotto is a 6-foot-2, 185 lbs, 19-year-old forward with a right shot from Waterdown, ON. Jack has spent the season with the Trail Smoke Eaters of the BCHL. Details

Wolves add Flames prospect Mews at deadline:
The Sudbury Wolves had a strong first half and decided to add on deadline week, standing out as the league’s most active team ahead of Friday’s deadline. Wolves vice preseident and general manager Rob Papineau made the day’s biggest move with the addition of Calgary Flames prospect Henry Mews from the Ottawa 67’s, acquiring him for 17-year-old defenceman Nolan Jackson, five draft picks and three additional conditional selections. Details

Frontenacs sign free agent Landon Wright:
The Kingston Frontenacs Hockey Club is pleased to announce the signing of forward Landon Wright to an OHL Scholarship and Development agreement. Committed to the University of Maine, the 5’11”, 181 lbs. right winger from Brockville, ON has spent the 2024-25 season with the Penticton Vees of the BCHL. Details

Generals sign Flyers prospect Powell:
The Oshawa Generals have signed 19-year-old free agent forward Noah Powell to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. Powell, from Northbrook, Illinois, was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the fifth round of the 2024 NHL Draft. He is joining the Generals from the Ohio State Buckeyes men’s hockey program where he collected five points (2-3–5) in 17 games this season. Details

Spitfires add Kennedy to blueline:
The Windsor Spitfires got bigger on the back end Thursday afternoon, acquiring 6-foot-5 blueliner Wyatt Kennedy from the North Bay Battalion. The Troops received 17-year-old rearguard Adrian Manzo, three draft picks and a conditional choice in exchange. Details

Other News:

2025 OHL Draft Prospect Profile – Kane Barch:
A gritty winger with the Huron-Perth Lakers, Kane Barch looks to follow in the footsteps of father Krys, who played for the London Knights before playing parts of eight seasons in the NHL. Watch

67’s’ Gerrior commits to University of Maine:
Ottawa 67’s overage winger Will Gerrior will suit up for the University of Maine Black Bears men’s hockey program in 2025-26. The Ottawa native is in his fourth season with the Barber Poles, and has lit the lamp 21 times in 35 games. Details

Thomas becomes Bulldogs’ career assists leader:
Patrick Thomas made Brantford Bulldogs history on Saturday night in Peterborough and was the story of the game in a first star performance. Thomas chipped in with a primary assist on Thomas Budnick’s first goal as a Bulldog just 19 seconds into action, recording his 144th career helper, the most by any player to wear the Bulldogs uniform. The prior mark had been held by Logan Morrison, who racked up 143 assists between 2018-23. Details

Sean Reid works record-setting 1,109th OHL regular season contest:
The Ontario Hockey League is pleased to congratulate long-time referee Sean Reid on making OHL history Friday night in Ottawa, skating in his 1,109th career regular season game – a new league record. Details

Hookey named Attack captain:
The Owen Sound Attack have named overage forward Landen Hookey the 28th captain in franchise history. Hookey, from Sarnia Ontario, has played in 134 games for the Attack since coming to the team from the Soo Greyhounds in a trade midway through the 2022-23 season. Details

Procyszyn named Battalion captain:
Ducks prospect Ethan Procyszyn has been appointed captain of the North Bay Battalion, the Ontario Hockey League club announced Thursday. Centre Procyszyn succeeds Owen Van Steensel, who was traded to the Barrie Colts on Sunday. Details

Storm name Luchanko 33rd captain in franchise history:
The Guelph Storm announced Jett Luchanko has been named Captain of the club for the remainder of the 2024-2025 season, making him the 33rd Captain in franchise history. Jett will be joined by Assistant Captains Jake Karabela and Charlie Paquette. Details

Community Corner:

Generals to host Retro Night on Friday:
The Oshawa Generals are set to host their Retro themed game on Friday night! Visit team website for more information.

Spirit to host Kids Takeover on Saturday:
The Saginaw Spirit are hosting the second Kids Takeover presented by Covenant Kids on Saturday where six lucky kids will get to join the Spirit Staff on a game day, learning the ins and outs of all things Spirit hockey.

Alumni Notes:

Otters raise Connor McDavid’s #97:
The Erie Otters celebrated a franchise great on Friday, raising Connor McDavid’s #97 banner to the rafters at Erie Insurance Arena prior to puckdrop. Watch

NHL Debut – Donovan Sebrango:
Donovan Sebrango‘s NHL dream came true on Thursday night, and he got to do it in his hometown with his hometown NHL team. The 23-year-old Ottawa product suited up for the Senators in their 1-0 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals at the Canadian Tire Centre, seeing 11:38 on the ice. The 6-foot-2, 221Ib. Kitchener Rangers graduate is in his fifth pro season after patrolling the blueline with the Blueshirts from 2018-20. Details

NHL Debut – Rory Kerins:
Rory Kerins picked up a pair of assists in his NHL debut on Monday, suiting up for the Calgary Flames in a 5-2 road win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Kerins played three seasons for the Soo Greyhounds from 2018-22, graduating with 118 points (43-75–118) over 67 games in his final season. The Flames took Kerins, who was a fourth round pick by the Hounds in 2018, in the sixth round of the 2020 NHL Draft. Details

Hurricanes retire Petes alumnus Staal’s #12:
Eric Staal became the fourth player to have his number retired by the Carolina Hurricanes when his No. 12 was raised at the Lenovo Center before their game against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday. Before his NHL career, Staal was selected in the first round, 13th overall, by the Peterborough Petes in the 2000 OHL Priority Selection from the Thunder Bay Kings AAA program. Details

Sting announce honorary Hall of Fame class of 2025:
The Sarnia Sting is proud to continue the annual tradition of adding to the Sarnia Sting Hall of Fame Honoured Membership with the election of three individuals to the class of 2025. This year’s inductees will be recognized alongside their families during an on-ice ceremony on Saturday, February 1st where Dr. John Vargo, Patrick DesRochers and Jeff Heerema will be honoured. Details

Colts to honour Kyle Clifford with jersey retirement:
The Barrie Colts are proud to announce that on February 27th that they will honour Kyle Clifford with a #13 jersey retirement. Clifford, who spent three seasons with the Colts from 2007-2010, appeared in 184 games. In his professional career, he would go on to play in 753 NHL games (660 LA Kings, 41 Toronto Maple Leafs, 52 St. Louis Blues). In his second season with the Kings, he captured hockey’s greatest trophy, the Stanley Cup. Two seasons later, Clifford would capture his second Stanley Cup with the LA Kings, playing in 24 playoff games while adding seven points. Details

Marner becomes fastest Leafs skater to 700 points:
Toronto Maple Leafs right winger Mitch Marner made history on Thursday night as he became the fastest player in franchise history to record 700 career points, tallying two assists in the matchup to reach 701 points in his 622nd NHL career game in Toronto. The former fourth overall pick is leading the Maple Leafs in points this season with 14 goals and 48 assists over 46 games as his 62 points is tied for fourth in the NHL. Now in his ninth season with the Maple Leafs, the fourth overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft has scored 208 goals and 493 assists in 622 regular season games. Selected by the London Knights in the first round of the 2013 OHL Draft, the former Red Tilson Trophy winner spent three seasons in London, tallying 301 points in 184 regular season contests. Additionally, Marner registered 69 points 34 post-season contests, being crowned an OHL and Memorial Cup champion in 2016.

McDavid climbs to second on Oilers all-time point list:
A two-goal, three-point performance from Connor McDavid Wednesday night against the Minnesota Wild propelled the former first overall pick of the 2015 NHL Draft to second all-time in scoring in the Edmonton Oilers’ record books. McDavid’s night saw him score his 1,042nd, 1,043rd, and 1,044th points to pass Jari Kurri, who scored 1,043 points during his 754 games with the Oilers. The only one standing in his way of taking hold of first is Wayne Gretzky. The fourth OHL player to ever be granted exceptional status in the League, McDavid spent three seasons in Erie after being selected first overall by the Otters in 2012, recording 285 points in 166 regular season contests. During his OHL career, McDavid was awarded the Red Tilson Trophy, Wayne Gretzky 99 Award, and CHL Player of the Year awards. He is a four-time NHL First Team All-Star, a five-time recipient of the Art Ross Trophy, a four-time winner of the Ted Lindsay Award, a three-time recipient of the Hart Memorial Trophy.