OHL This Week: January 18 to 21, 2024
Another week and more great OHL matchups coming your way! Here’s a look across the league.
Rangers, Spirit and Knights included in Week 15 edition of CHL Top 10 Rankings:
The Kitchener Rangers, Saginaw Spirit, and London Knights are included in the Week 15 edition of the CHL Top 10 Rankings. Read more
Knights remain atop OHL Power Rankings:
The London Knights return to the top in back-to-back weeks, leading the Week 15 edition of the OHL Power Rankings. Read more
Spirit, 67’s on NHL Network Friday night:
The Saginaw Spirit visit the Ottawa 67’s on Friday night, a game that will be aired live in the United States on NHL Network.
Knights’ Bonk named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week:
Philadelphia Flyers prospect Oliver Bonk of the London Knights is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, contributing five goals and six assists while registering a plus-6 rating in three victories. Read more
Knights Simpson named OHL Goaltender of the Week:
Michael Simpson of the London Knights is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, playing to a 2-0 record including a shutout, along with a 0.50 goals-against average and .983 save percentage. Read more
53 OHL players included on NHL Central Scouting’s Midseason Rankings:
The Ontario Hockey League is proud to announce that 53 OHL players have been included on NHL Central Scouting’s Midseason Rankings for the 2024 NHL Draft scheduled to take place June 28-29 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. Read more
Frontenacs’ Battaglia headlines OHL Plays of the Week presented by FPS Payment:
It’s another Wednesday shipment of OHL Plays of the Week presented by FPS Payment, with contributions from Ottawa’s Samuel Mayer, London’s Easton Cowan, North Bay’s Justin Ertel, Flint’s Simon Slavicek and Kingston’s Jacob Battaglia. Watch
Watch the finest saves across the league with the Enbridge OHL Saves of the Week:
There’s lots to like about the latest round of Enbridge OHL Saves of the Week, with appearances from Peterborough’s Liam Sztuska, Sarnia’s Nick Surzycia, Oshawa’s Jacob Oster, London’s Michael Simpson, Kitchener’s Tristan Malboeuf, Owen Sound’s Carter George and Sault Ste. Marie’s Charlie Schenkel. Watch
Charlie Larocque signs with Battalion:
The North Bay Battalion has signed goaltender Charlie Larocque to an education and development agreement. Larocque, a 6-foot-1, 161lb. resident of Kanata, Ont., who turns 17 on July 16, was a sixth-round pick in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection from the Carleton Place Canadians U18 program. In 17 games this season with the junior B Carleton Place Jr. Canadians of the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League, he has a won-lost-extended record of 12-4-1, a 2.21 goals-against average, a .932 save percentage and one shutout. Read more
Noah Smith commits to Colts:
The Barrie Colts are proud to announce the signing of Noah Smith to an OHL Scholarship and Education Agreement. Smith, a 6-foot-2 and 185lb. defenceman from Port Perry, Ont., was selected by the Colts in the 10th Round of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection. Smith currently plays for the Trenton Golden Hawks in the OJHL where he has registered six Points (1-5-6) in 25 games. He spent last season playing for the Ajax/Pickering Raiders U18 team compiling 21 Points in 36 contests. Read more
Colts name Beau Jelsma 25th captain in franchise history:
The Barrie Colts announced Saturday that 19-year-old centreman Beau Jelsma has been named the 25th team captain in franchise history. Jelsma, who is in his third season with the Colts, has played in 171 games for Barrie while currently leading the team in points. The 2004-born forward from Brownsville, Ont. was selected by the Colts in the third round (55th overall) in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection. Read more
Spitfires name Liam Greentree 59th captain in franchise history:
The Windsor Spitfires Hockey Club is proud to announce 2006-born forward Liam Greentree has been named the captain of the Windsor Spitfires. The 18-year-old celebrated his birthday on January 1st, he is a native of Oshawa, Ont. and was selected 34th overall in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection by the Windsor Spitfires. Since joining the Spitfires, Greentree has logged 96 career regular season matchups and an additional four playoff games since the beginning of the 2022-23 season. Read more
IceDogs name Gavin Bryant captain:
The Niagara IceDogs have announced that Gavin Bryant has been named the 17th captain in club history. The 2004-born forward from Ingersoll, Ont. has played 133 career OHL games across the regular season and playoffs, while recording a total 91 points. In 32 games this season, Bryant has nine goals and 16 assists for 25 points. Read more
Vaughan Kings reign supreme in Week 8 edition of OHL Cup Top 10 Rankings:
The Vaughan Kings remain in the top spot for the seventh straight week, headlining the Week 8 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
Otters’ Edwards proving hard work and determination really do pay-off:
Dylan Edwards’ season has been one of twists and turns, but the 18-year-old forward has persevered, heating up for the Erie Otters in the month of January. Read more
Attack look to overcome recent struggles on important road trip:
Coming off disappointment last week, the Owen Sound embark on an Eastern road trip this weekend looking to overcome their recent struggles. Read more
IceDogs’ Levin to represent Israel at U20 World Championship:
Niagara IceDogs forward Mike Levin will represent Israel at the upcoming U20 World Championship Division III, Group A in Sofia, Bulgaria from January 22-28. Levin, a 2005 born forward who hails from Tel Aviv, Israel has enjoyed some success in his first full OHL season. In 39 games, Levin has recorded 15 goals and 12 assists for 27 points. Levin has recorded 11 points in his last 10 games. Read more
OHL Draft prospects shine in 2024 GTHL Top Prospects Game:
The top 2024 OHL Priority Selection prospects from across the Greater Toronto Hockey League competed in the GTHL Top Prospects Game on Wednesday at the Herbert H. Carnegie Centennial Centre. Watch
COMMUNITY CORNER:
Frontenacs to host Indigenous Community night on Friday:
The Kingston Frontenacs are set to host their Indigenous Community night on Friday. Sideshow, the Frontenacs’ PA Announcer, has recently collaborated with Brianna Berry from Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest to familiarize himself with our players’ numbers in Kanyen’kéha, also recognized as the Mohawk language. Sideshow will be presenting the numbers of the players in the starting lineup in Kanyen’kéha during the event. Watch
Wolves announce Undie Sunday in partnership with Sudbury Outreach Support:
The Sudbury Wolves have partnered with Sudbury Outreach Support to collect new undergarment donations to help those in need. Fans are encouraged to bring new and packaged undergarment donations to toss on the ice supporting SOS initiatives. Wolves will also be selling ‘undies’ during the game for fans to toss during an intermission. For more information, visit sudburywolves.com
Experience the 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Dow as a volunteer:
Winning the bid to host the Memorial Cup is one thing, putting it on his another. Organizers have hit the ground running, however, launching a massive effort to acquire the estimated 500 volunteers needed to help pull off the 11-day event, set to be held in Saginaw May 23-June 2. There are no set hour requirements and organizers say they’ll even try to schedule you in an area with friends and family, if that’s your desire. Volunteers – ages 16 or older – are needed for everything from transportation to security, event support to hospitality. Join us
CHL partners with The Carnegie Initiative to promote diversity and inclusion in hockey:
The CHL, alongside the WHL, OHL and QMJHL, is proud to announce a new partnership with The Carnegie Initiative as part of its efforts to promote diversity and inclusion among its fans, clubs and the hockey community at large. This collaboration will see the CHL hold public screenings of the award-winning documentary “Beyond Their Years: The Incredible Legacies of Herb Carnegie and Buck O’Neil” at its two marquee events — the 2024 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game and the 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Dow. Read more
ALUMNI NOTES:
OHL mourns the loss of Art Rutland:
The Ontario Hockey League is mourning the loss of former Soo Greyhounds forward Arthur “Art” Rutland, a prolific scorer with the club in the late 1970’s who passed away on January 10th at the age of 63. From Wawa, Ont., Rutland remains the fifth-highest point producer in Greyhounds history, amassing 312 points (129-183–312) over 208 regular season games between 1976 and 1980 prior to closing out his major junior career with the Brantford Alexanders. He was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the fourth round (68th overall) of the 1979 NHL Draft. Read more
Former Battalion star, OHL Most Outstanding Player Cody Hodgson on comeback trail:
The OHL’s Most Outstanding Player in 2009, Cody Hodgson is making a comeback. A 33-year-old from Markham, Ont., Hodgson last played professionally in 2016 before being diagnosed with malignant hyperthermia, a muscle condition most commonly due to a mutation of the RYR-1 gene. The veteran of 328 NHL regular season games signed a PTO with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals, top affiliate of the Nashville Predators on Wednesday, a step toward returning to game action for the veteran of 328 career NHL contests. Read more
Spirit to retire Brandon Saad’s #22:
The Saginaw Spirit hockey club is pleased to announce the jersey retirement ceremony of a franchise icon in Brandon Saad. His #22 will be raised to the rafters at the Dow Event Center on February 23. The two-time Stanley Cup Champion was originally drafted 10th overall by the Spirit in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection. From 2010-2012, he skated in 103 games in Saginaw and totaled 131 points during the regular season. During his second season, Saad was named the 12th captain in team history. His play that year (34-42-76) earned him a spot on the OHL’s First All-Star Team along with the William Hanley Trophy as the league’s Most Sportsmanlike Player. Read more
Canes induct Justin Williams into Hall of Fame:
The Carolina Hurricanes honored retired forward Justin Williams on Jan. 15, with a pregame induction into the team’s Hall of Fame. Williams won a Stanley Cup with the Canes in 2006 and twice took the Cup with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014. Williams recorded 320 goals, 477 assists, and 797 points over 1,264 regular season games throughout his 21-season tenure. Selected in the sixth round (125th overall) by the Plymouth Whalers in the 1998 OHL Priority Selection, the Cobourg, Ont. native spent two seasons in the OHL, registering 95 points (41-54-95) in 115 regular season contests.
Mitch Marner records 600th NHL point:
Reaching 600 points in 548 games played, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner became the fastest player in franchise history to reach the milestone on Sunday after registering a goal in the Leafs’ 4-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Selected fourth overall by Toronto in the 2015 NHL Draft, Marner is currently playing in his eighth NHL season registering 186 goals and 414 assists. The London Knights’ first round (19th overall) pick in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection, Marner spent three seasons in London, recording 301 points (96-205-301) over 184 regular season contests. Crowned OHL and Memorial Cup champion in 2016, Marner earned Memorial Cup MVP, Memorial Cup Most Points Award, CHL Player of the Year, OHL Most Outstanding Player, and OHL Playoffs MVP during his final junior hockey season.
OHL Alumni Spotlight Presented by Carlsberg – Dalton Duhart:
Four-year OHL graduate Dalton Duhart who now plays U SPORTS men’s hockey at Queen’s University is featured in this week’s Carlsberg Alumni Spotlight. Watch
U SPORTS Report:
Holden Wale and the Windsor Lancers joined Patrick Brown and the Laurier Golden Hawks in having successful showings last week. Read more
UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
– All games streaming on OHL Live
– Radio and TV broadcast information
Thursday, January 18th
Sudbury at Barrie – 7:00pm
Erie at North Bay – 7:00pm
Mississauga at Niagara – 7:00pm
Owen Sound at Peterborough – 7:05pm
Sault Ste. Marie at Windsor – 7:05pm
Friday, January 19th
Saginaw at Ottawa – 7:00pm (on NHL Network)
Owen Sound at Kingston – 7:00pm
North Bay at Mississauga – 7:00pm
London at Kitchener – 7:00pm
Erie at Sudbury – 7:05pm
Sault Ste. Marie at Sarnia – 7:05pm
Flint at Guelph – 7:30pm
Peterborough at Oshawa – 7:35pm
Saturday, January 20th
Windsor at Brantford – 4:00pm
Kitchener at London – 4:00pm
Sarnia at Flint – 7:00pm
Saginaw at Peterborough – 7:05pm
Niagara at Barrie – 7:30pm
Sunday, January 21st
Saginaw at Kingston – 2:00pm
Owen Sound at Ottawa – 2:00pm
Brantford at Mississauga – 2:00pm
Niagara at North Bay – 2:00pm
Windsor at Oshawa – 2:05pm
Barrie at Sudbury – 2:05pm
Erie at Sault Ste. Marie – 2:07pm
