OHL This Week: June 21, 2018

 

It’s a busy week in the Ontario Hockey League as the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas is upon us. Here’s a look at what’s happening.

OHL TALENT READY FOR 2018 NHL DRAFT:

The stage is set for Ontario Hockey League stars to make the next step towards their National Hockey League dreams at the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas. Since 1969, a total of 2,319 OHL players have been selected in the NHL Draft representing close to 21% of all players chosen by clubs and a figure higher than any other league solidifying the OHL as the number one supplier of NHL talent. Read more

OHL FAN GUIDE TO THE 2018 NHL DRAFT:

A breakdown of all 20 OHL clubs featuring draft history, milestone years, top picks, and players to watch from NHL Central Scouting’s final draft rankings. Read more

SVECHNIKOV AND BOUCHARD READY FOR NHL DRAFT DREAM:

24 hours before the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft, top OHL prospects Andrei Svechnikov and Evan Bouchard met with media in Dallas. Read more

OHL PROSPECT CLASS STOCKED WITH SKILL AND SMARTS:

The Ontario Hockey League has plenty to be proud of entering weekend festivities in Dallas with 11 players ranked inside the top 31 on NHL Central Scouting’s Final North American Draft List. Perhaps more impressive are the numerous high academic achievers hoping to hear their names called in the Lone Star State, a testament to the league’s emphasis on striving for success both on and off the ice. Read more

OHL’s FIRST ROUND HISTORY IMPRESSIVE AT NHL DRAFT:

The Ontario Hockey League is the number one supplier of talent to the National Hockey League with 2,319 players selected in the NHL Draft from 1969 through 2017 representing close to 21% of all players. Since 1975, a total of 315 OHL players have been selected in the first round of the NHL Draft representing approximately 29% of all players and includes 16 first overall picks. Read more

DRAFT OF THE DECADE: OHL PRODUCED TOP FOUR PICKS IN 2018:

Steven Stamkos, Drew Doughty, Zach Bogosian and Alex Pietrangelo were chosen with the top four picks of the 2008 NHL Draft, marking one of the OHL’s most successful in recent memory. Read more

2018 NHL DRAFT PROFILE – BARRETT HAYTON:

Barrett Hayton scored 21 goals and 60 points for the OHL finalist Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Hayton excelled in his sophomore season, being named the OHL’s Scholastic Player of the Year before adding 21 points (8-13–21) in 24 playoff games. He is the ninth-ranked North American skater on NHL Central Scouting’s Final Draft Rankings. Watch

2018 NHL DRAFT PROFILE – SERRON NOEL:

Serron Noel jumped from eight goals in his rookie season to 28 this past year, more than doubling his point totals along the way. The 6-foot-5, 211Ib. winger from Ottawa, Ont. The son of former CFL running back Dean Noel cites Los Angeles Kings forward Jeff Carter as his favourite NHL player. Watch

2018 NHL DRAFT PROFILE – RASMUS SANDIN:

Rasmus Sandin joined the Greyhounds in late October and made an immediate impact. The defenceman scored 12 goals and 45 points in 51 games to lead all OHL rookie blueliners. Watch

2018 NHL DRAFT PROFILE – AKIL THOMAS:

Akil Thomas showed off his play making ability this season by more than doubling his assist totals. He scored 22 goals and 81 points in 68 games. The son of a long-time pro, Thomas finished fifth in OHL assists in his sophomore season and is the 15th ranked player on NHL Central Scouting’s North American Final Draft list. Watch

2018 NHL DRAFT PROFILE – RYAN McLEOD:

Ryan McLeod scored more goals (26) and points (70) this year for the Mississauga Steelheads than in his previous two seasons combined.  He is the younger brother of 2016 New Jersey Devils first round pick Michael McLeod, and is ranked 16th by NHL Central Scouting. Watch

2018 NHL DRAFT PROFILE – LIAM FOUDY:

Liam Foudy of the London Knights scored 33 of his career high 40 points from January 4th on making the 19th ranked skater one of the most improved players in the second half of the season. Watch

PAST OHL STARS HALL, McDAVID SHINE AT 2018 NHL AWARDS:

Among the OHL’s all-time greats, two-time Mastercard Memorial Cup champion Taylor Hall (Windsor Spitfires) of the New Jersey Devils and 2015 CHL Player of the Year Connor McDavid (Erie Otters) of the Edmonton Oilers were front and centre at the annual NHL Awards ceremony in Las Vegas on Wednesday. Read more

SEVEN OHL PLAYERS NAMED TO INITIAL U.S. ROSTER FOR WORLD JUNIOR SUMMER SHOWCASE:

Seven OHL players including Kyle Keyser (Oshawa Generals), Joey Keane (Barrie Colts), Alec Regula (London Knights), Sasha Chmelevski (Ottawa 67’s), Cole Coskey (Saginaw Spirit), Ivan Lodnia (Erie Otters) and Jason Robertson (Kingston Frontenacs) have been named to the initial U.S. roster for this summer’s World Junior Summer Showcase. The event will be held July 28 to August 4 in Kamloops, BC. Read more

LOGAN MORRISON COMMITS TO BULLDOGS:

The Hamilton Bulldogs have received a commitment from 2018 first round (18th overall) selection Logan Morrison. The 5-foot-9, 144Ib. right-handed shooting centre put up 86 points (38-48–86) in 36 games this past season, helping Guelph capture OMHA Silver. He added six points (4-2–6) in four games for his club at the 2018 OHL Cup. Read more

DONOVAN SEBRANGO COMMITS TO RANGERS:

The Kitchener Rangers have received a commitment from 2018 second round pick Donovan Sebrango. Prior to being selected by the Rangers in this year’s draft, the 6-foot, 168lb rearguard was a member of CIH Academy, skating in 30 regular season games registering five goals and 25 points before adding three goals and five points in six playoff games. He also played four games with the CCHL’s Ottawa Jr. Senators. Read more

JONAH DE SIMONE COMMITS TO ICEDOGS:

The Niagara IceDogs have received a commitment from 2018 fourth round pick Jonah De Simone. The 5-foot-10 winger was a dynamic force in Minor Midget as he helped lead the offense for the Mississauga Reps of the GTHL. De Simone brought a consistent offensive presence to the lineup, finishing the season with 11 goals and 26 points in just 33 games. A quick winger with a very strong release, De Simone was an offensive threat each time he touched the ice this season. Read more

PETES NAME BOB GAINEY AS SENIOR ADVISOR TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

The Peterborough Petes Board of Directors named alumnus and Hall of Famer Bob Gainey as a Senior Advisor ahead of the 2018-19 season. The Peterborough native will be available to provide guidance and expertise directly to the Board of Directors on matters relating to both hockey and business operations. Having served as player, coach, general manager, and president at the NHL level for nearly 40 years, Gainey will provide unparalleled experience to his hometown team. Read more

STORM NAME RYAN DANIELS GOALTENDING COACH, FINALIZE COACHING STAFF:

The Guelph Storm has named OHL graduate Ryan Daniels as the club’s Goaltending Coach for the 2018-19 season. Daniels served in a similar role with the Mississauga Steelheads for the past three seasons. The Pickering, Ont. native played 166 games across five OHL seasons with the Saginaw Spirit and the Peterborough Petes.  He was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, and followed up his OHL career with a four-year stint as a student athlete at Wilfrid Laurier University. The Storm also confirmed that assistant coaches Jake Grimes and Luca Caputi will return to the bench for the 2018-19 season.
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