OHL This Week: March 14 to 17, 2024

We’re inside the final two weeks of the regular season and teams gear up for the playoffs! Here’s a look at what’s going on across the OHL.

Round-robin single-game tickets now available for 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Dow:
The Canadian Hockey League today announced that single-game tickets for all round-robin games of the 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Dow are now available for purchase online. Single-game tickets range from $50-60 USD and are available now by clicking here. Fans that wish to purchase tickets for the semi-final and final can do so through a full tournament package that start at $385 USD plus applicable fees or through a two-game pack that start at $129 USD plus applicable fees. They are available by clicking here.

2024 OHL Playoff Tracker:
The OHL playoff tracker provides an up-to-date look at the road to the 2024 postseason. Read more

Generals’ Roobroeck named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week:
New York Rangers prospect Dylan Roobroeck of the Oshawa Generals is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording three goals, four assists, and seven points over three contests to help the Generals earn six points last week. Read more

Steelheads’ Ivankovic named OHL Goaltender of the Week:
First-year netminder Jack Ivankovic of the Mississauga Steelheads is the OHL Goaltender of the Week for the second time this season, playing to a 2-0 record along with a 1.50 goals-against average and .953 save percentage. Read more

Saginaw remains on top, Rangers drop in this week’s OHL Power Rankings presented by Power Staffing Solutions:
We enter the final two weeks of the regular season with the Memorial Cup host Saginaw Spirit leading the way on the OHL Power Rankings presented by Power Staffing Solutions! Read more

Battalion’s Ertel signs with Stars:
The Dallas Stars have announced that the club has signed forward Justin Ertel to a three-year entry-level contract. The contract will begin in the 2024-25 season. Ertel was selected by Dallas in the third round (79th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft. Read more

Rangers’ Brzustewicz signs with Flames:
The Calgary Flames have signed recently-acquired Kitchener Rangers defenceman Hunter Brzustewicz to an entry-level contract. Brzustewicz was acquired by the Flames on Jan. 31 in a trade with Vancouver.The 19-year-old has 12 goals and 73 assists for 85 points, tied for ninth overall amongst all OHL skaters while his 73 assists leads the League. Brzustewicz was a third-round (75th overall) draft pick by the Canucks in 2023. Read more

Spirit and Knights included in Week 23 edition of CHL Top 10 Rankings:
The second-ranked Saginaw Spirit and third-ranked London Knights are included in the Week 23 edition of the CHL Top 10 Rankings. Read more

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

2024 OHL Draft Advanced Scouting – Nikolas Rossetto:
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite forward Nikolas Rossetto is featured in the 10th edition of OHL Advanced Scouting for the 2024 OHL Priority Selection. Watch

2024 OHL Draft Advanced Scouting – Jet Kwajah:
Toronto Jr. Canadiens defenceman Jet Kwajah is featured in the 11th edition of OHL Advanced Scouting for the 2024 OHL Priority Selection. Watch

Knights claim fifth straight Midwest Division title:
The London Knights are Midwest Division champions for the fifth consecutive season, cementing themselves atop the standings with a 4-1 win over the Kitchener Rangers on Saturday. Since joining the Midwest Division at the start of the 2002-03 season, the Knights have earned the Holody Trophy a total of 13 times. The Knights become just the third team in league history to win five consecutive division titles, joining the 1995-2000 Ottawa 67’s (East Division) and the 1998-2003 Plymouth Whalers (West Division). Read more

Rangers announce multi-year contract extension for Assistant GM Michael Zsolt:
The Kitchener Rangers are pleased to announce the signing of Michael Zsolt to a multi-year contract extension, continuing his role as Assistant General Manager for the organization. Zsolt joined the Rangers in 2017 as the team’s Director of Analytics and soon after took on the responsibility of Director of Hockey Operations. In 2021 Zsolt was promoted to Assistant General Manager, and in this capacity, he has been a pivotal figure in driving the club’s hockey operations forward. Read more

OHL Prospect Pipeline:
The latest edition of OHL Prospect Pipeline takes a look at high achievers across the province previously drafted by OHL clubs. Several prospects were named to GOJHL All-Star and All-Rookie Teams this past week, in addition to Ottawa 67’s goaltending prospect Jaeden Nelson being named the CCHL’s Rookie of the Year. Read more

Outstanding displays of offence in the latest OHL Plays of the Week presented by FPS Payment:
See outstanding offence in the latest delivery of OHL Plays of the Week presented by FPS Payment, with appearances from Mississauga’s Marc Boudreau, Sudbury’s Dalibor Dvorak, Sault Ste. Marie’s Gavin Hayes, North Bay’s Tnias Mathurin and Oshawa’s Calum Ritchie. 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 Barrie’s Sam Hillebrandt and Ben West, Sarnia’s Nick Surzycia, Kingston’s Mason Vaccari, Flint’s Nathan Day and Matthew Jenken, Niagara’s Charlie Robertson, and Mississauga’s Jack Ivankovic. Watch

OHL Milestone Moments:
Take in the latest OHL milestones presented by Syngenta Canada and Grain Farmers of Ontario with first goals from Brantford’s Joshua Avery and Niagara’s Artem Frolov. Watch

Halton Hurricanes rise in Week 16 edition of OHL Cup Top 10 Rankings:
The Vaughan Kings remain on top while the Halton Hurricanes jump to eighth in the Week 16 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

 

COMMUNITY CORNER:

Knights Alumni Foundation presents London Children’s Museum with $25,000 donation:
The London Knights Alumni Foundation presented the London Children’s Museum with a cheque for $25,000 this week, supporting the museum’s location to a bigger home in the city.

St. Patrick’s Day across the League:
The OHL is celebrating St Patrick’s Day this weekend as Kitchener, Sudbury, Erie, Barrie, Peterborough, Oshawa, Windsor and Brantford host green themed games filled with luck and fun! Visit team websites for more information.

Storm to host Shutout Hunger Night on Friday:
The Guelph Storm are set to host their third annual Shutout Hunger for Chalmers game on Friday. In Guelph and across Ontario people struggle to make ends meet, often having to choose between the most basic needs. When fans enter the rink, volunteers will be on hand in the Community Corner at the top of section 116 to collect much-needed non-perishable food items supporting the Chalmers. Fans will receive a puck for every item donated to participate in the second intermission Chuck-a-Puck. Read more

 

ALUMNI NOTES:

Robertson records 300th NHL point:
Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson recorded his 300th NHL point on Tuesday, tallying a goal and an assist in a 4-3 loss to the Florida Panthers. A former second round (39th overall) pick of the Stars in the 2017 NHL Draft, the Arcadia, CA. native has registered 127 goals, 174 assists, and 301 points over five seasons. Selected in the fourth round (62nd overall) by the Kingston Frontenacs in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection, Robertson played four seasons in the OHL with the Frontenacs and Niagara IceDogs recording 317 points (149-168-317) over 252 regular season contests.

Zacha named NHL’s second star of the week:
Sarnia Sting graduate Pavel Zacha of the Boston Bruins is the NHL’s second star of the week, producing seven points (5-2–7) over four games. The 26-year-old from Brno, Czechia has 44 points (17-27–44) over 63 games with the Bruins this season. Zacha has played over 500 career NHL contests since being taken by the New Jersey Devils with the sixth overall pick of the 2015 NHL Draft. He played two seasons in Sarnia from 2014-16, recording 44 goals, 54 assists and 98 points over 88 regular season games.

47 OHL graduates competing in 2024 U SPORTS National Championship:
A total of 182 CHL graduates, 47 of whom played in the Ontario Hockey League, are competing in this year’s U SPORTS University Cup National Championship being held at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto. The single elimination eight-team tournament got underway on Thursday afternoon. Read more

OHL Alumni Spotlight presented by Carlsberg – Kai Edmonds:
Mississauga Steelheads graduate Kai Edmonds is preparing to represent the Toronto Metropolitan University Bold men’s hockey program at the U SPORTS National Championship in Toronto this week. He’s the centre of the league’s latest Carlsberg Alumni Spotlight. Watch

OHL graduates recognized with 2023-24 U SPORTS year-end awards:
Several OHL graduates were recognized with year-end awards at the U SPORTS Awards Ceremony held in Toronto on Wednesday. Players were recognized ahead of the U SPORTS men’s hockey national championships taking place at Toronto Metropolitan University. Former Saginaw Spirit forward Brady Gilmour took home Most Sportsmanlike Player honours while five others were named U SPORTS All-Canadians following impressive seasons on the ice. Read more

“Footsteps” details journey of Elijah Roberts:
Former Kitchener Rangers and Niagara IceDogs defenceman Elijah Roberts is at the centre of a 5-minute feature detailing his journey as a young father and Black player in the hockey world. Roberts, who plays U SPORTS men’s hockey for the TMU Bold, is the father of a one-year old daughter and has kept busy balancing parenting with hockey and his studies. Roberts played in the OHL from 2015-20 and you can learn more about his story here.

 

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

– All games streaming on OHL Live
– Radio and TV broadcast information

Thursday, March 14th
Ottawa at Barrie – 7:00pm
Brantford at North Bay – 7:00pm
Erie at Niagara – 7:00pm
Guelph at Windsor – 7:05pm

Friday, March 15th
Peterborough at Kingston – 7:00pm
Niagara at Mississauga – 7:00pm
Owen Sound at Kitchener – 7:00pm
Sault Ste. Marie at London – 7:00pm
Oshawa at Sudbury – 7:05pm
Flint at Sarnia – 7:05pm
Saginaw at Guelph – 7:30pm

Saturday, March 16th
Ottawa at Brantford – 4:00pm
Windsor at Flint – 7:00pm
Saginaw at Erie – 7:00pm
Sault Ste. Marie at Owen Sound – 7:00pm
North Bay at Peterborough – 7:05pm
Sudbury at Barrie – 7:30pm

Sunday, March 17th
Mississauga at Brantford – 2:00pm
North Bay at Kingston – 2:00pm
Barrie at Niagara – 2:00pm
Kitchener at Guelph – 2:00pm
Sudbury at Owen Sound – 2:00pm
London at Windsor – 4:05pm
Sarnia at Oshawa – 6:05pm