OHL This Week: November 3 to 6, 2016

The first week of November is upon as and the 2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series is just around the corner! Here’s a look at what’s happening in rinks around the league this week.

 

4 OHL PLAYERS TO REPRESENT RUSSIA IN CIBC CANADA RUSSIA SERIES:
Artur Tyanulin (Ottawa 67’s), Dmitry Sokolov (Sudbury Wolves), Nikita Korostelev (Sarnia Sting) and Mikhail Sergachev (Windsor Spitfires) will represent Russia in the upcoming CIBC Canada Russia Series set for Thursday November 10th in North Bay and Monday November 14th in Hamilton. A team of 23 Russian players including three goaltenders, eight defencemen, and 12 forwards will travel across Canada as part of the 14th annual series playing six games against CHL competition from November 7-17 in preparation for the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship hosted by Toronto and Montreal. Read more

Just one more week until the puck drops in North Bay November 10, followed by Game 4 of the series November 14 in Hamilton. Tickets

OTTERS’ TROY TIMPANO NAMED PIONEER ENERGY OHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Erie Otters goaltender Troy Timpano is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending October 30 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory with a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .962. Timpano made 51 saves in two games backstopping the Otters to a pair of victories for a share of the Midwest Division lead with 21 points (10-3-1-0) in 14 games. Read more

 

RANGERS’ ADAM MASCHERIN HEADLINES OHL PLAYS OF THE WEEK:
The sixth edition of the 2016-17 regular season OHL Plays of the Week features the Top-5 goals scored for the week ending October 30. This week’s edition includes Morgan Frost of the Soo Greyhounds with a solo effort against London, Drake Rymsha shows great patience finding Noel Hoefenmayer of the Ottawa 67’s, Ben Jones launches a stretch pass to Hayden Davis who scores a breakaway goal for the Niagara IceDogs, Owen Tippett of the Mississauga Steelheads who goes end-to-end against Oshawa, and Adam Mascherin of the Kitchener Rangers with an overtime beauty against Saginaw. Watch

Mascherin is also the OHL’s representative in #CHLShowdown featuring one great play from all three leagues giving fans the opportunity to vote for their favourite. Vote

 

ATTACK’S MICHAEL McNIVEN LEADS JANES SAVES OF THE WEEK:
The final edition of #JanesSaves for October features an abundance of trickery from OHL netminders.  The sixth installment for the 2016-17 regular season opens with Michael McNiven of the Owen Sound Attack and also features Anthony Popovich of the Guelph Storm, David Ovsjannikov of the Barrie Colts, Garrett Forrest of the Flint Firebirds, Blair Coffin of the Sarnia Sting, Zack Bowman of the Sudbury Wolves, Brendan Bonello of the Saginaw Spirit, Matthew Mancina of the Mississauga Steelheads, Dylan Wells of the Peterborough Petes, and Joseph Raaymakers of the Soo Greyhounds. Watch

 

OHL MILESTONE MOMENTS:
The sixth week of the 2016-17 Ontario Hockey League season ending October 30 featured six new players celebrating milestone moments including five first career goals and one shutout. First goals came from Grayden Gottschalk (Oshawa Generals), Cole Fraser (Peterborough Petes), Louis Latta (Sarnia Sting), Jack Hanley (Hamilton Bulldogs) and Cedric Schiemenz (Kitchener Rangers) while Chris McGonigle (Kitchener Rangers) earned his first shutout. Watch

 

SPITFIRES’ SERGACHEV RETURNS FROM MONTREAL:
The Montreal Canadiens announced Monday that they’ve returned defenceman Mikhail Sergachev to the Windsor Spitfires for the 2016-17 season. The reigning OHL Defenceman of the Year, Sergachev comes off a 57-point season (17-40–57) in 2015-16, a showing that got him drafted in the first round (9th overall) to Montreal this past summer. The 18-year-old native of Nizhnekamsk, Russia played in three games with the Canadiens this season, making his NHL debut on October 13th in a 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Read more

 

WOLVES’ CAPOBIANCO SIGNS WITH COYOTES:
The Arizona Coyotes have signed Sudbury Wolves defenceman Kyle Capobianco to a three-year, entry level NHL contract. Capobianco was Arizona’s third round (63rd overall) pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Recently named captain of the Wolves, Capobianco has four goals, seven assists and 11 points over 12 games this season. Read more

 

OHL PROUD TO PARTNER WITH PRIME TIME SPORTS MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE:
The OHL is proud to partner with the PrimeTime Sports Management Conference, set for November 13-15 at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel in Toronto. Hear from industry leaders including Chicago Blackhawks President & CEO John F. McDonough, Toronto FC General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko, Los Angeles Dodgers Senior Advisor Ned Colletti and many more! For more information on the PrimeTime Sports Management Conference, please visit primetimesport.ca.

 

COMMUNITY CORNER:

Greyhounds ‘leash leaves’ for Arch Hospice: The Soo Greyhounds traded in their sticks and skates for rakes on Tuesday, assisting ARCH Hopsice volunteers in beautifying the grounds for residents and visitors alike. After participating in the event last year, the Hounds made their return to make a positive impact on ARCH Hospice, a centre that provides quality, compassionate care through end-of-life to Algoma District families at no cost.

Sting Movember poster giveaway on Friday: Fans in attendance at Friday’s Sting vs. Soo Greyhounds game will receive a free 2016-17 Sting Movember poster. In conjunction with the giveaway, the full Sting team will be at Lambton Mall on Monday November 7th for an autograph session starting at 6:00pm.

Spirit salute the troops on Saturday: The Saginaw Spirit will host Military Appreciation Night on Saturday at home to the Barrie Colts. The Spirit will be decked out in military-themed jerseys to be auctioned off post-game with proceeds going to Elks Lodge 88 in Bay City. Don’t miss out on this unique specialty themed jersey night!

Generals honour Eric Lindros on Sunday: The Oshawa Generals will honour franchise great Eric Lindros prior to puck drop on Sunday night when they host the Ottawa 67’s. The Generals will recognize Lindros for his many achievements, including his recent induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Lindros will be at centre ice for the ceremonial puck drop on Sunday.

Spitfires collect for Sparky’s Toy Drive on Sunday: The Windsor Spitfires are hoping to make the holidays bright for children, collecting toys in support of the Windsor Professional Firefighters Association Local 455’s Sparky’s Toy Drive. Fans are encouraged to drop a toy off at Gate 2 as they enter the WFCU Centre. For full details, please visit spitshockey.com.

Petes host 1956 Throwback Game on Tuesday: The Peterborough Petes are turning back the clock next Tuesday when they host the Niagara IceDogs. Tuesday’s game is exactly 60 years to the day of the first ever OHA game at the Peterborough Memorial Centre and the Petes will dawn their replica 1956 Peterborough T.P.T. uniforms against the IceDogs, who will be in St. Catharines Teepees throwback jerseys. For more information on Tuesday’s celebration, visit gopetesgo.com.

 

ALUMNI NOTES:

Brock McGillis shares story of courage: Former Windsor Spitfires and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds goaltender Brock McGillis shared his story of courage with Yahoo! Sports’ Sunaya Sapurji, detailing his journey to coming out as a gay athlete. McGillis currently works as a trainer and mentor to minor hockey and junior-aged players in Sudbury, Ont. Read his story at Yahoo! Sports Canada.

Christian Dvorak scores first NHL goal: London Knights graduate Christian Dvorak scored his first NHL goal on Thursday, helping the Arizona Coyotes defeat Nashville 3-2. Dvorak scored 9:17 into the first period to put the Yotes up 1-0. He has a goal and three assists over eight games this season. The 20-year-old was Arizona’s second round (58th overall) pick in the 2014 NHL Draft. Dvorak recorded 99 goals, 145 assists and 244 points over 158 career regular season games in London from 2013-16. He added 19 goals, 29 assists and 48 points over 28 playoff contests, winning a Mastercard Memorial Cup title last spring.

Pavel Zacha scores first NHL goal: Sarnia Sting forward Pavel Zacha scored his first NHL goal on Thursday as the New Jersey Devils fell to the Florida Panthers in overtime. Zacha scored from the high slot with 3:55 left in the third to help the Devils gain a point in overtime. Zacha has a goal and three assists over nine games this season. He was the Devils’ first round (6th overall) pick in the 2015 NHL Draft. Zacha recorded 44 goals, 54 assists and 98 points over 88 games with the Sting in the past two seasons. The 19-year-old was the first overall pick of the 2014 CHL Import Draft.

Lawson Crouse scores first NHL goal: Kingston Frontenacs winger Lawson Crouse scored his first NHL goal on Tuesday, helping the Arizona Coyotes defeat the San Jose Sharks 3-2. Crouse tipped home a Kevin Connauton point shot 4:50 into the second period, tying the score before Ottawa 67’s graduate Jamie McGinn scored the game winner seven minutes later. Crouse’s first goal comes in his sixth game of the season, a game in which he saw 13:07 of icetime. A 19-year-old native of Mt. Brydges, Ont., Crouse has played in 168 career regular season with the Frontenacs, recording 67 goals, 73 assists and 140 points. He was Florida’s first round (11th overall) pick in 2015 before being dealt to Arizona this past summer. Crouse has represented Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships in each of the past two years.

Joseph Cramarossa scores first NHL goal: OHL graduate Joseph Cramarossa scored his first NHL goal on Tuesday, helping the Anaheim Ducks blank the Los Angeles Kings 4-0. Cramarossa’s goal came on a wrap-around 10:46 into the second period to make the score 4-0. A 24-year-old native of Markham, Ont., Cramarossa graduated from the Belleville Bulls in 2013 after a 235-game, 138 point (51-87–138) OHL career spent between Belleville and Mississauga. He was Anaheim’s third round (65th overall) pick in 2011. Cramarossa recorded 17 points (11-6–17) over 61 games with the AHL’s San Diego Gulls last season.

Brad Richardson plays 600th NHL game: Owen Sound Attack graduate Brad Richardson played in his 600th career NHL game on Tuesday as the Arizona Coyotes defeated San Jose 3-2. Richardson had a goal in the victory and is off to a tremendous start this season, recording four goals, four assists and eight points over his first nine games. The Belleville, Ont. native began his NHL career with the Colorado Avalanche in 2005 after being the club’s fifth round (163rd overall) pick in 2003. In his 600 contests, Richardson has collected 77 goals, 111 assists and 188 points, winning a Stanley Cup title with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012. Richardson played in Owen Sound from 2001-05, recording 87 goals, 126 assists and 213 points over 208 career regular season OHL contests.

Kyle Wood named AHL Rookie of the Month: North Bay Battalion graduate Kyle Wood of the Tucson Roadrunners has been named the AHL Rookie of the Month for October. Wood found the scoresheet in all five games for Tucson in October, totaling two goals and six assists for eight points while helping the Roadrunners to first place in the Pacific Division. The 20-year-old native of Waterloo, Ont. is in his first pro season after four seasons with the Battalion where he recorded 27 goals, 66 assists and 93 points over 165 career regular season contests. He was Colorado’s third round (84th overall) pick in 2014 before being dealt to Arizona in February 2016.

 

SCHEDULE: 

Thursday November 3:
Hamilton at Niagara – 7:00pm
London at North Bay – 7:00pm
Kingston at Peterborough – 7:05pm
Saginaw at Windsor – 7:05pm

Friday November 4:
Ottawa at Kingston – 7:00pm
Erie at Mississauga – 7:00pm
North Bay at Niagara – 7:00pm
London at Sudbury – 7:00pm
Sault Ste. Marie at Sarnia – 7:05pm
Peterborough at Hamilton – 7:30pm
Flint at Kitchener – 7:30pm
Owen Sound at Oshawa – 7:35pm

Saturday November 5:
Guelph at Ottawa – 2:00pm
Kitchener at Erie – 7:00pm
Sault Ste. Marie at Flint – 7:00pm
Mississauga at Sudbury – 7:00pm
Barrie at Saginaw – 7:05pm
Sarnia at Owen Sound – 7:30pm

Sunday November 6:
Guelph at Kingston – 2:00pm
Hamilton at London – 2:00pm
Mississauga at North Bay – 2:00pm
Barrie at Windsor – 2:05pm
Ottawa at Oshawa – 6:05pm

 

Be sure to catch all of this weekend’s action at ohllive.com!