OHL Weekend Notebook: Feb. 27, 2024
The OHL Weekend Notebook recaps the weekend that was with news, information and interesting facts from both on and off the ice.
Cowan’s point streak reaches 26 games
Easton Cowan continued his point streak last week, a 26-game run that dates back to Nov. 25th. The Toronto Maple Leafs first round pick leads the OHL with 1.75 points-per-game for the Midwest Division leading London Knights, putting together the second-longest point streak in franchise history. Cowan is chasing a 33-game run put together by Dave Gilmore from London’s 1993-94 team. Cowan has scored in nine of his last 11 games, and is one goal shy of 30 on the season.
COWBOY 26-GAME POINT STREAK 🤠@MapleLeafs | #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/MUXYj6IiBC
— London Knights (@LondonKnights) February 24, 2024
Bulldogs sit atop Eastern Conference standings
The Brantford Bulldogs enter the week as the first place team in the Eastern Conference, having won six of their last seven games. The Dogs have reaped the benefits of adding 19-year-old winger Zakary Lavoie to their lineup at the trade deadline as he’s recorded 26 points (12-14–26) through 20 games in black and gold. He scored twice in Friday’s 3-2 win over the Flint Firebirds. The Bulldogs would go on to lose 5-4 to the Saginaw Spirit in overtime on Saturday. Brantford is led offensively by 2024 NHL Draft prospect Marek Vanacker who has put together a terrific sophomore season, scoring 30 times while adding 39 assists in 57 games.
VANACKER DOUBLE DIPS 🚨🚨
The #NHLDraft prospect strikes twice inside a minute and the @BulldogsOHL lead in Saginaw! pic.twitter.com/oEn5ywDmEM
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) February 25, 2024
Generals qualify for playoffs for 13th straight season
The Oshawa Generals are playoff bound, qualifying for the 13th consecutive season. The Generals defeated the Barrie Colts 5-2 on Sunday evening to secure their spot in the postseason. Stuart Rolofs returned to the 30-goal mark and Minnesota Wild prospect Rasmus Kumpulainen scored twice in the win as the Gennies currently sit one point up on fourth in the Eastern Conference in their battle for home ice advantage in the first round. Jacob Oster continues to be a workhorse in the crease, playing a league-leading 2,968 minutes while owning a record of 25-16-7-1.
The @Oshawa_Generals are a step closer to their ultimate goal 👏
See them in the #OHLPlayoffs with the #OHL Live playoff pass 🖥️📱: https://t.co/HspMoaz1kv pic.twitter.com/PON6jejWwY
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) February 26, 2024
Goyette creates five point gap atop OHL scoring race
Sudbury Wolves captain David Goyette has carved out a five point cushion for himself atop the OHL scoring race, entering this week with 94 points (35-59–94) over 56 games. The Seattle Kraken prospect is vying to become the Wolves’ first 100-point scorer since Michael Sgarbossa in 2011-12, and would be the club’s second since 1999-2000. Goyette is riding a 14-game point streak, one that has yielded 27 points (9-18–27) for the Central Division-leading Wolves.
For just the seventh time in the last three decades, the @Sudbury_Wolves have six 20-goal scorers:
David Goyette, 34
Dalibor Dvorský, 31
Quentin Musty, 28
Evan Konyen, 22
Nathan Villeneuve, 21
Kocha Delic, 20 pic.twitter.com/6Lu5FQAdsv— Mike Commito (@mikecommito) February 24, 2024
Misa sets Steelheads assists record as Trout clinch playoffs
Draft eligible forward Luke Misa etched himself in the Mississauga Steelheads record book, recording his 53rd assist on Sunday as the Trout clinched a playoff spot with a 4-3 win over the Sudbury Wolves. Misa, who was the 45th-ranked North American skater on NHL Central Scouting’s midseason rankings, surpassed the prior mark of 52 assists set by Riley Brace in 2012-13. The Oakville, Ont. native was selected by the Trout with the ninth overall pick of the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, and currently has 145 points (40-105–145) over 183 regular season games with the franchise.
A big Sunday win to clinch a spot in the #OHLPlayoffs! 🐟
Follow the @OHLSteelheads the rest of the way on #OHL Live 🖥️📱: https://t.co/HspMoaz1kv pic.twitter.com/o7nh6LcHH5
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) February 25, 2024
Beck hits 50 assists, Greyhounds continue winning ways
The Soo Greyhounds crept a little closer to the Saginaw Spirit over the weekend, pulling to within four points of the West Division leaders with home wins over Peterborough and Kitchener. Overage winger Jack Beck hit the 50-assist mark in Sunday’s 3-0 win over the Rangers. Beck leads the OHL with 26 assists on the power play and is 13 points shy of 200 on his OHL career with 11 games remaining in the season. The top-ranked team in the OHL Power Rankings for the second straight week, the Hounds are at home to Oshawa and Sarnia this coming weekend.
The feed 👀
The finish 🤩Rookie forward Brady Martin spins and sets up #LGRW pick Andrew Gibson for his 11th of the season!@OHLHoundPower | @DetroitRedWings pic.twitter.com/mdHZ9RZ26U
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) February 25, 2024
Roobroeck becomes top goal-scoring Niagara IceDogs rookie
The second overall pick of the 2023 OHL Priority Selection, Ryan Roobroeck has really come into his own in the second half, making some Niagra IceDogs history over the weekend. With his 22nd goal of the season on Friday, Roobroeck became the club’s top goal-scoring rookie, surpassing previous marks of 21 goals by teammate Kevin He (2022-23) and Akil Thomas (2016-17). Roobroeck now has 38 points (22-16–38) over 51 games in his first season.
RECORD = BROKEN ‼️
With his 22nd of the season Ryan Roobroeck jumps Akil Thomas and Kevin He for the franchise 16-year-old goal record!#NiagaraNow pic.twitter.com/6zh4ZL7m97
— Niagara IceDogs (@OHLIceDogs) February 24, 2024
DiVincentiis backstops Troops to pair of road wins
Reigning OHL Goaltender of the Year Dom DiVincentiis has had some ups and downs in 2023-24, but the Winnipeg Jets prospect was in true form over the weekend, steering the North Bay Battalion to wins in Saginaw and Flint as they clinched a spot in the OHL Playoffs. The 19-year-old stopped 34-of-37 in Saginaw on Friday as the Battalion defeated the West Division-leading Spirit 6-3. He got the start in Flint on Saturday, making 26 saves as the Battalion won 3-2. Saturday’s win was DiVincentiis’ 20th of the season and the 70th of his OHL career, the second-most in Battalion franchise history.
Saw some familiar faces during last weekend’s roady 🥹 pic.twitter.com/DiWckkk8x0
— North Bay Battalion (@OHLBattalion) February 27, 2024
MacKenzie returns to Ottawa crease
Collin MacKenzie made his return on Friday, stopping all 33 shots he faced as the Ottawa 67’s blanked the Oshawa Generals 5-0. The 19-year-old has battled injury throughout his time in the OHL, but when in the crease has been among the league’s best with a career record of 35-9-5-1 with a 2.52 goals-against average and .910 save percentage over 60 regular season games. MacKenzie and the 67’s currently sit one point back of fifth place Mississauga in the Eastern Conference.
"Welcome back, baby!"
67's goaltender Collin MacKenzie returned to the crease in style tonight, with a shutout, a griddy and the game belt 🫡#CapitalTerritory | @OHLHockey pic.twitter.com/kNJ7dfNSD1
— Ottawa 67’s (@Ottawa67sHockey) February 24, 2024
Weathering the Storm in Guelph
The Guelph Storm have found themselves on the wrong side of 11 of their last 12 outings, but still have decent positioning in the Western Conference standings, sitting fifth entering a new week. The Storm saw a 5-1 lead against Windsor evaporate on Friday, eventually losing 8-7 in overtime. They fell 3-2 in Erie on Saturday. Guelph prepares for a Friday night showdown with Owen Sound, trailing the Attack by one point in the Western Conference standings. Star blueliner Michael Buchinger remains sidelined, having not played since Jan. 19th.
Royal City Milestone sponsored by Knar Jewellery
On Friday February 23rd Storm defenceman Rylan Singh notched his first OHL goal against the Windsor Spitfires.#StormCity | @KnarJewellery | @OHLHockey pic.twitter.com/yIdQdVwFEY
— Guelph Storm (@Storm_City) February 25, 2024
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