OHL This Week: Oct. 31 to Nov. 3, 2024
Welcome to November! We’ve got lots going on across the league – here’s a snapshot of what’s happening as we enter the weekend.
Inaugural Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game presented by Enbridge Gas announced:
The OHL’s top NHL Draft eligible prospects will hit the ice on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 7:00pm at the Civic Centre in Brantford as the Eastern Conference battles the Western Conference in the all-new Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game presented by Enbridge Gas. Details
OHL hires Greg Kimmerly as Director of Player Safety:
The Ontario Hockey League has a new Director of Player Safety, adding former long-time NHL referee Greg Kimmerly to the league’s Hockey Operations Department. Kimmerly skated as a referee in the OHL from 1990-93. He went on to work 1,149 NHL regular season games between 1993 and 2016. Kimmerly will oversee all OHL on-ice disciplinary and player safety matters, working alongside Vice President of Hockey Operations Barclay Branch as well as Director of Officiating Conrad Haché. Details
OHL Performers of the Month of October:
The OHL has announced its Top Performers of the Month for October, including early games played in September to kick off the 2024-25 season. Saginaw’s Michael Misa earned Player of the Month, Oshawa’s Luca Marrelli was named Defenceman of the Month, Windsor’s Joey Costanzo took Goaltender of the Month, and Windsor’s Ethan Belchetz claimed Rookie of the Month honors. Details
Academic Players of the Month of October presented by Hockley Valley Resort:
The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Kingston’s Vaccari, North Bay’s Greer, Guelph’s Sutherland and Saginaw’s Sienko have been named the OHL’s Academic Players of the Month for October, proudly presented by Hockley Valley Resort. Details
Knights’ Dickinson named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week:
San Jose Sharks prospect Sam Dickinson of the London Knights is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording seven points including two goals and five assists as the Knights strung together three straight wins. Details
Firebirds’ Day named OHL Goaltender of the Week:
Edmonton Oilers prospect Nathan Day of the Flint Firebirds is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, going 2-0-0-1 with a 0.97 goals-against average, .969 save percentage and one shutout. Details
Firebirds’ Zurawski named OHL Rookie of the Week:
Flint Firebirds forward Cole Zurawski is the OHL Rookie of the Week, recording two goals and two assists over three contests. Details
Spitfires, Knights, IceDogs and Steelheads in Week 5 edition of CHL Top 10 Rankings:
The Windsor Spitfires (2), London Knights (5), Niagara IceDogs (8) and Brampton Steelheads (10) have been named to the Week 5 edition of the CHL Top 10 Rankings. Details
OHL Power Rankings – Week 5 Edition:
Each Monday throughout the season, the OHL Power Rankings will highlight the top 16 teams as they compete for position leading into the 2025 OHL Playoffs. In the fifth rankings of the regular season, the Windsor Spitfires jump two spots to number one this week. Details
OHL Plays of the Week:
Ready to roll the top plays from the past week, with contributions from the Kingston duo of Ethan Miedema and Tyler Hopkins, Kitchener’s Adrian Misaljevic, London’s Landon Sim, Brampton’s Porter Martone and Saginaw’s Michael Misa. Watch
Enbridge OHL Saves of the Week:
Showing you the biggest saves from across the league presented by Enbridge Gas! This week’s reel features Flint’s Nathan Day, Sault Ste. Marie’s Charlie Schenkel, Niagara’s Owen Flores, Saginaw’s Kaleb Papineau and Oshawa’s Jacob Oster. Watch
OHL Milestone Moments – Oct. 31:
Welcome to the fifth edition of OHL Milestone Moments presented by Syngenta Canada and Grain Farmers of Ontario, where we revisit an explosion of 15 different first career OHL markers from the past week. Watch
Latest Moves:
Storm’s Luchanko returns from Flyers:
The Philadelphia Flyers announced Saturday that first round (13th overall) 2024 NHL Draft pick Jett Luchanko will return to the Guelph Storm for the 2024-25 season. Luchanko, 18 (8/21/06), appeared in four games for the Flyers to start the season and became the youngest player in Flyers history to make their NHL debut on Oct. 11 at Vancouver. Details
Greyhounds’ Allard signs with Utah:
The Utah Hockey Club announced Friday that it has signed Soo Greyhounds overage forward Owen Allard to a three-year entry-level NHL contract. Utah selected Allard in the fifth round (135th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-2, 200Ib. forward produced 44 points (18-26–44) over 55 regular season games last season, and also represented Canada at the 2024 World Juniors. Details
Firebirds sign free agent blueliner James Paul:
The Flint Firebirds have signed free agent defenseman James Paul to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. Paul attended Firebirds training camp as a free agent invitee in September. He is playing the 2024-25 season for the Oakville Blades of the OJHL, where he has two goals and five assists over 14 games thus far. Details
Bulldogs sign Blues first round pick Adam Jiricek:
The Brantford Bulldogs announced the re-assignment of import defenceman Adam Jiricek, selected 16th overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft to the team. Jiricek, of Plzen, Czechia, arrives in Brantford as one of the top defensive prospects in the world. Having made his professional debut for his hometown HC Plzen at just 16 years old, Jiricek brings 31 games of professional experience to the Bulldogs blueline to go along with a wealth of experience at the junior level. Details
Nathan McHattie commits to Storm:
The Guelph Storm’s 2023 tenth-round selection Nathan McHattie has signed an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the hockey club. The 2007-born left-shot blueliner has had an excellent start to the 2024-25 campaign with the GOJHL’s Ayr Centennials, recording two goals and five assists for seven points in his first 12 games. Last season, McHattie notched three goals and seven assists for 10 points in 25 games for the Peterborough Petes U18 AAA program before joining the Centennials. Details
Community Corner:
Kubota Canada and CHL recognize Community Heroes:
Kubota Canada Ltd., in partnership with the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) and its Member Leagues (Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League), has launched the 2024 Community Hero contest, encouraging Canadians across the country to nominate heroes in their communities who are making a difference in their local communities. Details
Generals to host Country Night on Friday:
The Oshawa Generals are set to host their Country themed night on Friday. Visit team website for more information.
Steelheads to host Diwali on Friday:
The Brampton Steelheads are set to host their Diwali Celebration Game on Friday night. The game aims to honour the vibrant heritage of Diwali with an evening filled with traditional music, cultural performances, and the symbolic beauty of the Festival of Lights. The Steelheads will wear a specially designed jersey and logo, created by Annie Koshy, founder and CEO of GTA South Asian Media Network. The jerseys are inspired by Diwali’s celebration of light, resilience, and community. Details
Otters to host Country Game on Saturday:
The Erie Otters are set to host their Country themed game on Saturday night where the first 1500 to enter the arena will receive a Pop-Up Cowboy Hat.
Steelheads to host Special Olympics Game on Saturday:
The Brampton Steelheads, LETR, Special Olympics Ontario and Peel Police are teaming up to raise awareness about the importance of individuals with an intellectual disability on Saturday. The awareness campaign is part of the ongoing commitment by the OHL, the Steelheads and LETR/Special Olympics Ontario to raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics Ontario. Details
Battalion to host Military Game on Sunday:
The North Bay Battalion are set to host their Military Appreciation Game on Sunday. Visit team website for more information.
Alumni News:
Toffoli leading by example on young Sharks team:
Former Ottawa 67’s standout goal-scorer Tyler Toffoli is the elder statesman on a young and rebuilding San Jose Sharks roster. NHL.com’s Tracey Myers discusses the 32-year-old’s leadership role in San Jose as the Sharks ride a current three-game winning streak after a lengthy winless drought to begin the season. Toffoli, who played in Ottawa from 2008-12, has 531 points (266-265–531) over an 824-game NHL career dating back to 2012-13 when he broke in with the Los Angeles Kings. Read more at NHL.com
NHL Debut – Ethan Cardwell:
Tuesday was a night to remember for Ethan Cardwell, who made his NHL debut with the San Jose Sharks at the age of 22. Cardwell skated 11:57 and had a plus-1 rating as the Sharks defeated the visiting Los Angeles Kings 4-2. Cardwell played four OHL seasons between the Saginaw Spirit and the Barrie Colts from 2018-23, producing 94 goals, 106 assists and 200 points over 189 regular season games. He was chosen by San Jose in the fourth-round of the 2021 NHL Draft. Details
U SPORTS Report:
Covering top stories involving OHL Alumni from across the U SPORTS men’s hockey ranks this week. Details
Upcoming Schedule:
– All games streaming on OHL Live
– Radio and TV broadcast information
Friday, November 1st
Erie at Brantford – 7:00pm
Peterborough at Kingston – 7:00pm
Guelph at Ottawa – 7:00pm
North Bay at Brampton – 7:00pm
Barrie at Niagara – 7:00pm
Windsor at Flint – 7:00pm
Sudbury at Kitchener – 7:00pm
Soo at London – 7:00pm
Sarnia at Oshawa – 7:05pm
Saturday, November 2nd
Sudbury at Brantford – 4:00pm
Guelph at Kingston – 4:00pm
Sarnia at Brampton – 4:00pm
Saginaw at Owen Sound – 4:00pm
Soo at Flint – 7:00pm
Barrie at Erie – 7:00pm
Sunday, November 3rd
Kingston at Ottawa – 2:00pm
Brampton at North Bay – 2:00pm
Sudbury at Niagara – 2:00pm
Saginaw at Kitchener – 2:00pm
London at Owen Sound – 2:00pm
Flint at Windsor – 4:05pm
Brantford at Oshawa – 6:05pm