OHL Weekend Notebook: Dec. 20, 2023
The OHL Weekend Notebook recaps the weekend that was with news, information and interesting facts from both on and off the ice.
Generals extend winning streak to five
The Oshawa Generals have begun to show what they’re capable of. The Gennies, who are sending a CHL-leading three players to the 2024 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game next month in Moncton, defeated Mississauga on two straight occasions before besting the rival Peterborough Petes by a score of 5-1 on Sunday night. Overage forwards Stuart Rolofs (3-3–6) and Connor Lockhart (6-0–6) both finished with six points last week while big forward Dylan Roobroeck ecliped the 100 career point mark, scoring his eighth goal of the season on Sunday. Jacob Oster was named OHL Goaltender of the Week as Oshawa finished the first half positively, sitting sixth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 14-12-3-1.
Another game, another hat-trick for Connor Lockhart! 🎩🎩🎩
The @Oshawa_Generals OA scores his second hat-trick in three games, leading the Generals to a 6-2 victory against the Steelheads 📽️ pic.twitter.com/CRNYTinf7K
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) December 14, 2023
Lazary makes Spirit history to close-out first half
Chris Lazary became the winningest coach in Saginaw Spirit history on Saturday, earning career win #155 in a 4-3 victory over the Sudbury Wolves. The Spirit have now won 16 of their last 18 contests and continue to show that they’ll be a more than capable host for the 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Dow. The Spirit won all three games in a three-in-three last week, also defeating Flint and Sarnia, with Alex Christopoulos coming through with the last second OT winner against the Sting on Friday night. The Spirit presently have veterans Matyas Sapovaliv (Czechia) and Rodwin Dionicio (Switzerland) competing at the World Juniors.
📸📸📸 pic.twitter.com/iSfjoH7sv0
— Saginaw Spirit (@SpiritHockey) December 18, 2023
Knights succeed without Bonk, Cowan and Halttunen
The London Knights turned in a perfect 3-0 showing last week, defeating Windsor, Owen Sound and Sudbury, all without the services of World Junior attendees Oliver Bonk, Easton Cowan and Kasper Halttunen. Overage forward Max McCue has caught fire, scoring in seven consecutive games while Ruslan Gazizov earned Cogeco OHL Player of the Week recognition, capping an 11-point week with the overtime winner in Sunday’s 4-3 triumph over Sudbury. London closes out the first half on a positive note, heading into the break with a record of 20-11-0-1 through 32 games.
No doubt about it.@OHLHockey | #Knights pic.twitter.com/neEYcShQ14
— London Knights (@LondonKnights) December 18, 2023
Storm rattle-off three straight wins
After losing four in a row, the Guelph Storm, as good teams do, bounced back this past week with three straight in the win column. Braeden Bowman scored the late third period game winner on Wednesday night in Owen Sound for a 3-2 outcome, the Storm outgunned the Peterborough Petes 7-5 at home on Friday and proceeded to cool-off the red hot Soo Greyhounds 3-2 in a shootout on Saturday, with rookie Wil McFadden scoring a highlight reel shootout marker. The Storm surrendered just 94 goals in the first half, the fewest by any team in the OHL, with goaltenders Brayden Gillespie and Damian Slavik deserving a lot of credit for that. It will be interesting to see which direction Guelph goes with star centreman Matthew Poitras competing for Canada’s National Junior Team following a great start to the season with the Boston Bruins. Poitras’ ultimate destination remains up in the air as the annual tournament gets underway.
LOOK AT THE HANDS ON WIL MCFADDEN. WOW 🤯
The rookie wins it for the @Storm_City in the shootout! 🎥 pic.twitter.com/bPGOtGsHmM
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) December 16, 2023
Hounds rise to the occasion against Rangers
In a game in which both sides were missing some of their big guns, the Soo Greyhounds prevailed in one of the most highly-anticipated matchups of the season to this point, defeating the Kitchener Rangers 6-3 at the Aud on Friday. The Hounds would come up short in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Guelph Storm on Saturday, but managed to hold on to top spot in the OHL Power Rankings ahead of the Christmas break. Up next, a showdown with the Saginaw Spirit out of the break as the two West Division heavyweights face each other on Dec. 28th and Dec. 31st.
Another Week
Another Climb
NUMBER 3⃣ IN ALL OF CANADAFull List 👉 https://t.co/vOLPjld01r@CHLHockey | @OHLHockey pic.twitter.com/OnNgrSC5Pa
— Soo Greyhounds (@OHLHoundPower) December 19, 2023
IceDogs continue improved play into holiday break
After defeating the Kitchener Rangers to begin the month of December, the Niagara IceDogs continued to play some inspired hockey, skating to wins over both East Division-leading Ottawa as well as the Kingston Frontenacs this past weekend. They made it close against the North Bay Battalion on Saturday, falling 3-2 on home ice. Captain Zakary Lavoie and 2024 NHL Draft prospect Kevin He have been relied upon offensively while Owen Flores was busy in the crease over the weekend, stopping 91 shots while registering a .910 save percentage in three outings. Rookie forward Ethan Czata scored his first career OHL goal in Thursday’s win over Ottawa.
An unforgettable first #OHL goal from Ethan Czata! 🔥
The fifth overall pick from the 2023 Priority Selection scores a beautiful goal in tight, slipping it five-hole to secure Thursday's #BestOfOHL honours 📽️@OHLIceDogs | #MilkUPxOHL | @MilkUPOntario pic.twitter.com/9kIgfrQcMH
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) December 15, 2023
Donovan sets new Bulldogs franchise mark for goals by a defenceman
Jorian Donovan entered the Brantford Bulldogs franchise record book on Friday, scoring his 23rd career goal, the most by a defender in Bulldogs history. Donovan surpassed the prior mark held by Ben Gleason as Brantford defeated the Barrie Colts 5-2 at the Civic Centre. The former sixth overall pick of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection attended Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp in Oakville last week. The Ottawa Senators prospect has 26 points (8-18–26) over 31 games this season, giving him 93 points (23-70–93) over 150 regular season games in black and yellow.
Jorian Donovan etched his name into the @BulldogsOHL franchise record book on Friday, becoming the club’s new all-time leader in goals by a defenceman. #GoSensGo
READ 🗞️: https://t.co/poDEiGEyLA pic.twitter.com/1AGu45Ak7p
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) December 16, 2023
Brzustewicz tied for OHL scoring lead at the half
Kitchener Rangers defenceman Hunter Brzustewicz enters the holiday break tied for the OHL scoring lead, something a blueliner hasn’t done in the past 25 years of league history. The 19-year-old Vancouver Canucks prospect has 55 points (7-48–55), tied for the most in the league with Rangers teammate Carson Rehkopf. Brzustewicz’s 48 assists are the most in the league by a considerable margin, 16 of which have come on Kitchener’s fourth-ranked power play. The Washington, Mich. native was disappointingly left of the U.S. National Junior Team preliminary roster, but continues to do big things in his second season in the OHL.
Come for the Luke Ellinas dish, stay for the Hunter Brzustewicz dab!
The @OHLRangers open the scoring at The Aud 🚨#Canucks | #RTown | @Canucks pic.twitter.com/PHxcZWGlxE
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) December 9, 2023
Spitfires show positive signs after disappointing start
The Windsor Spitfires hit the holiday break with wins in six of their last 10 since Casey Torres was appointed interim coach, a stark improvement over the way their season started. The Spits lost 6-2 at home to London on Thursday but came back strong in Owen Sound on Saturday, defeating the Attack 4-3 in a shootout. Oliver Peer continues to produce, piling up 10 points (6-4–10) in six December contests while recent addition Valentin Zhugin has been going at a point-per-game clip in recent weeks. Windsor will begin the second half eight points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference.
The @SpitsHockey take it in the shootout!
Goals from Liam Greentree and Valentin Zhugin secure the win for Windsor at the Bayshore 🎦 pic.twitter.com/O1jSYjdNq4
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) December 17, 2023
Shorthanded Steelheads see mixed results
The Mississauga Steelheads have run into some recent injury problems with the loss of both Lucas Karmiris and Jakub Fibigr. They scuffled to consecutive losses against the Oshawa Generals last week before rallying to beat the Ottawa 67’s 3-1 on Sunday, setting-up a tie for first place in the Eastern Conference between the Trout and the Barber Poles with identical 18-11-2-0 records. The Steelheads will be without overage veteran Marc Boudreau due to suspension for three more games on the other side of the break. Forward Adam Zidlicky is also looking to secure a spot on Czechia’s National Junior Team at the 2024 World Juniors. Mississauga acquired 17-year-old defender Reed Gee from the Flint Firebirds late last week as he’ll jump right in on the other side of the break.
Porter Martone is HIM 🔥
The @OHLSteelheads star roofs one for his third point of the night! pic.twitter.com/53TQYCfe0Q
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) December 16, 2023
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