OHL This Week: March 31 to April 3, 2022
The 2022 OHL Cup powered by Under Armour is underway in Toronto as 20 teams chase U16 AAA supremacy. Playoff races are heating up across the League, and there’s lots to cover in the latest edition of OHL This Week.
Sting, Spitfires clash in CHL TV Game of the Week presented by Kubota:
It’s a Wednesday night freeview on CHL TV as the Sarnia Sting pay a visit to the Conference-leading Windsor Spitfires. Watch for free tonight on CHL TV! Read more
Bulldogs, Spitfires and Battalion included in Week 22 edition of Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings:
The Hamilton Bulldogs, Windsor Spitfires and North Bay Battalion are included in the Week 22 edition of the Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings. Read more
2022 OHL Cup Powered by Under Armour underway in Toronto:
The 2022 OHL Cup powered by Under Armour is in full swing in Toronto, with prospects eligible for the 2022 OHL Priority Selection putting their best foot forward in pursuit of U16 AAA supremacy. Meet the teams | ohlcup.ca
Final edition of OHL Cup Powered by Under Armour U16 AAA Top 10 Rankings:
The GTHL champion Toronto Jr. Canadiens lead the way into the annual showcase as the top-ranked team in the province. Read more
Spirit’s Dalton Duhart named OHL Player of the Week:
Saginaw Spirit forward Dalton Duhart is the OHL Player of the Week, recording six goals, four assists and 10 points in three games. Read more
IceDogs’ Joey Costanzo named OHL Goaltender of the Week:
Joey Costanzo of the Niagara IceDogs is the OHL Goaltender of the Week after going 2-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and .973 save percentage. Read more
Duhart, Smith and Costanzo included on CHL Team of the Week:
Saginaw Spirit teammates Dalton Duhart and Mitchell Smith join Niagara IceDogs netminder Joey Costanzo on the CHL Team of the Week. Read more
OHL Weekend Notebook:
The OHL Weekend Notebook recaps the weekend that was with news, information and interesting facts from both on and off the ice. Read more
Three first goals and a shutout in OHL Milestone Moments:
Check out first career goals from Mississauga’s Dylan Gordon, Saginaw’s Olivier Savard, Niagara’s Ilia Chmelevski, and a first career shutout from London’s Owen Flores. Watch
Knights duo leads OHL Plays of the Week:
This week’s OHL Plays of the Week include contributions from Kingston’s Paul Ludwinski, Saginaw’s Mitchell Smith, Windsor’s Wyatt Johnston, and London’s duo of Luke Evangelista and Antonio Stranges. Watch
Rolling back the OHL Saves of the Week:
See the best saves in the OHL this week with contributions from London’s Owen Willmore and Owen Flores, Barrie’s Mack Guzda, Sarnia’s Anson Thornton, Peterborough’s Liam Sztuska, Kitchener’s Jackson Parsons, Niagara’s Josh Rosenzweig and Joey Costanzo, Kingston’s Aidan Spooner, North Bay’s Dom DiVincentiis, and Owen Sound’s Nick Chenard. Watch
First annual OHL Officiating Prospect Development Combine to be held June 2-4
The OHL is hosting its 1st Annual Officiating Prospect Development Combine to be held from June 2-4 at the Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre in Belleville, Ont. Read more
Lots of support from fans, friends and family at Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game:
There was a lot of love for up and coming OHL talent at the 2022 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Kitchener. Watch
OHL mourns the loss of Eugene Melnyk:
The OHL is mourning the sudden loss of a former owner and prominent member of the hockey community. Eugene Melnyk was 62 years-old. Read more
Lucas Littlejohn commits to IceDogs:
The Niagara IceDogs have received a commitment from 12th round 2020 OHL Priority Selection choice Lucas Littlejohn. Read more
COMMUNITY CORNER
Hockey is For the Dogs on Friday in Kingston: The Kingston Frontenacs are raising support for the Kingston Humane Society on Friday when they play host to the Oshawa Generals. A total of 10 dogs will be at the game and available for adoption. Service dogs will also be in attendance. Get more information at kingstonfrontenacs.com
67’s prepare for April Fools Game on Friday: Expect the unexpected in Ottawa on Friday as the 67’s take on the Mississauga Steelheads in an April Fools Day tilt. The 67’s game operations staff, as always, are sure to put on a great show at the arena at TD Place.
Otters celebrate 25th anniversary, hold Kids Takeover this weekend: The Erie Otters will celebrate 25 years of history on Saturday before a Kids Takeover at Erie Insurance Arena on Sunday as the Kitchener Rangers play back-to-back games. Saturday’s matchup will include an Otters legends card set giveaway while Sunday’s Kids Takeover will see the first 500 kids in attendance take home a Timbits jersey.
Fan Appreciation Day in Niagara on Sunday: The first 500 fans into the Meridian Centre on Sunday will receive a free IceDogs swag bag. Sunday’s Fan Appreciation Game is all about the fans and it’s one you won’t want to miss.
Wolves prepare for Indigenous Night on Tuesday: The Sudbury Wolves are pleased to announce their partnership with Kina Gbezhgomi Child and Family Services to host a celebration of Indigenous Culture at the Sudbury Community Arena on Tuesday, April 5th when the Wolves host the Niagara IceDogs at 7:05pm. More information at sudburywolves.com
Spirit announce donation drive for Amazing Grace Animal Rescue: The Saginaw Spirit Charitable Foundation is proud to announce a partnership with Amazing Grace Animal Rescue with a Donation Drive beginning Thursday, March 31st through April, 30th 2022. The Amazing Grace Animal Rescue, rehabilitates and re-homes pets in need, in the Saginaw Area. Full details at saginawspirit.com
ALUMNI NOTES
Another 100-point season for McDavid: Erie Otters graduate Connor McDavid became the 19th player in NHL history to record at least five seasons with 100 points on Wednesday. He joins Sidney Crosby as the only other active player to do so. McDavid leads NHL players with 37 goals, 63 assists and 100 points in 67 games for the Edmonton Oilers this season. The former CHL Player of the Year and first overall NHL Draft pick played three seasons in Erie from 2012-15, racking up 120 points in his final season.
Kea makes NHL officiating debut: Saginaw Spirit graduate Justin Kea broke into the NHL officiating ranks on Monday in Chicago. The 28-year-old native of Woodville, Ont. worked alongside fellow referee Gord Dwyer and linesmen Jonny Murray and David Brisebois in a game between the Blackhawks and visiting Buffalo Sabres. Kea played four seasons with the Saginaw Spirit from 2010-14 before spending six seasons between the AHL and ECHL.
60 OHL grads competing in 2022 U SPORTS Men’s Hockey Championship: 60 OHL graduates are competing for the David Johnston U SPORTS Men’s Hockey University Cup in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Read more
10 OHL grads help power UNB’s fourth consecutive AUS championship: Ten OHL graduates helped the UNB REDS men’s hockey program skate to a fourth consecutive AUS championship on Friday in Fredericton. Read more
OHL grads honoured with OUA awards and all-star recognition: Several OHL graduates have been recognized as award and all-star recipients by Ontario University Athletics. Read more
KEY MATCHUPS
Windsor Spitfires at Owen Sound Attack
Saturday April 2nd – 7:30pm
Two of the hottest teams in the Western Conference meet at the Bayshore on Saturday as the first place Windsor Spitfires take their high-scoring offence on the road. The Spits have won seven straight entering Thursday’s action as star forward Wyatt Johnston leads the OHL with a total of 112 points. Windsor has found another gear of late and matches up against an Owen Sound team that has also found new life. The Attack have won five of their last six, jumping over the Guelph Storm into fifth in the Western Conference with a 31-24-4-3 record. The Bears recently secured their 11th consecutive 30+ win season, joining the London Knights as the only other OHL team to do so.
Kitchener Rangers at Erie Otters
Saturday & Sunday – 7:00pm & 2:00pm
It’s a big weekend in Erie as the Kitchener Rangers take on the Otters on back-to-back nights in a set with big playoff implications. The Rangers enter Thursday’s action holding down the Western Conference’s seventh spot by a three-point cushion. The Otters are currently three points back of eighth place Sarnia. The Otters have won two of three against Kitchener this season, including back-to-back games at The Aud in January.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Thursday March 31:
Oshawa at Hamilton – 7:00pm
Niagara at North Bay – 7:00pm
Kingston at Peterborough – 7:05pm
Sudbury at Barrie – 7:30pm
Sarnia at Windsor – 7:30pm (CHL TV Game of the Week)
Friday April 1:
Hamilton at Erie – 7:00pm
Oshawa at Kingston – 7:00pm
Mississauga at Ottawa – 7:00pm
Niagara at Sudbury – 7:05pm
Saginaw at Sault Ste. Marie – 7:07pm
Owen Sound at Guelph – 7:30pm
Windsor at Kitchener – 7:30pm
Flint at London – 7:30pm
Saturday April 2:
Kitchener at Erie – 7:00pm
Guelph at Flint – 7:00pm
Ottawa at Peterborough – 7:05pm
Sarnia at Saginaw – 7:05pm
Windsor at Owen Sound – 7:30pm
London at Barrie – 7:30pm
Sunday April 3:
Peterborough at Hamilton – 2:00pm
Sudbury at Mississauga – 2:00pm
Ottawa at Niagara – 2:00pm
Barrie at North Bay – 2:00pm
Kitchener at Erie – 2:00pm
Sarnia at Sault Ste. Marie – 2:07pm
Guelph at Saginaw – 5:30pm
Kingston at Oshawa – 6:05pm
