OHL Weekend Notebook: Oct. 1, 2024
We’re back! Happy October OHL fans! Here’s a look at a few lead stories from across the league during a busy opening week of action.
Big names make their return
A number of high profile OHL names have been returned by NHL clubs in recent days including a few players who had an impact on opening week such as Nick Lardis (Brantford/Chicago) and Carson Rehkopf (Brampton/Seattle) while others such as Colby Barlow (Owen Sound/Winnipeg), Sam Dickinson (London/San Jose) and Quentin Musty (Sudbury/San Jose) were reassigned early this week. A number of others remain with NHL clubs as the 2024-25 regular season approaches, and you can learn more about them here.
Nick Lardis puts us up 2-1 on the 5-on-3!🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/YlZmv1b0bC
— Brantford Bulldogs (@BulldogsOHL) September 29, 2024
Misa comes out firing
Michael Misa was the seventh-ranked skater on TSN’s preseason list for the 2025 NHL Draft, and apparently he took exception to that. The former OHL Rookie of the Year came out hot for the Saginaw Spirit, scoring seven times in three games to earn Cogeco OHL Player of the Week recognition as Saginaw claimed five of a possible six points on opening week. Misa potted a natural hat-trick in the first period of Saturday’s 6-4 road win over the Soo Greyhounds, setting the stage for what could be an explosive season for the Oakville native offensively. He’s the first player in Saginaw Spirit history to score seven goals over his first three games of a season. We’ll see what the NHL’s preliminary rankings bear out later this month.
Belchetz bursts onto the scene
Ethan Belchetz wasted no time making himself known. The 6-foot-5, 230Ib. 16-year-old Windsor Spitfires winger put up two assists in his debut and brought down the house at the WFCU Centre on Saturday, racking up six points (4-2–6) in a 12-2 win over the Kitchener Rangers. Belchetz wasn’t scoring garbage goals either, he’s already demonstrated that he can get around the ice and make plays, both things you’d expect from a first overall draft pick. Windsor entered the season 16th on the OHL Power Rankings and they’ve already climbed up to 13th. Could Belchetz’s earlier than anticipated impact propel the Spits to bigger things than people expected in 2024-25?
Steelheads off to a winning start in Brampton
The Brampton Steelheads ushered in a new era of OHL hockey in Brampton on Friday, soundly defeating the Brantford Bulldogs 7-0. A pair of top 2025 NHL Draft prospects in Porter Martone and Jack Ivankovic played star roles for the Trout, who went on to defeat the Erie Otters 5-2 on Saturday behind 33 saves from Ivankovic. Martone scored the first goal in the Brampton era of Steelheads history, finishing the weekend with a club-leading six points (1-5–6). Newly added scorer Carson Rehkopf found the back of the net in both victories as Brampton’s 2-0 start has them atop the Week 1 edition of the OHL Power Rankings.
IceDogs hit the ground running
The Niagara IceDogs made their mark on the road to start the season, defeating the Ottawa 67’s 3-2 on Friday before besting the Kingston Frontenacs 5-2 on Sunday afternoon. Overage netminder Owen Flores was excellent in both games, stopping 83 of 87 shots over two outings. A quick pair of third period goals from Kevin He helped the Dogs turn the tide against the Frontenacs, securing their first 2-0 start since 2022. Keep an eye out for Seattle Kraken prospect Andrei Loshko who came over on waivers from the QMJHL’s Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. The overage forward put up five points (2-3–5) over his first two games. The Dogs try and build off their early success in Oshawa on Friday night.
HE IS HIM! 🫡
This jaw-dropping game-winning snipe by @NHLJets prospect Kevin He earns him the #BestofOHL clip for Sunday!#OHLxMilkUP | @MilkUPOntario | @OHLIceDogs pic.twitter.com/lirL15GFpf
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) September 30, 2024
New guys click in Flint
Flint Firebirds fans got an early taste of success, with new additions Evan Konyen, Nolan Collins and Chris Thibodeau all turning in multi-point nights in Friday’s 7-4 road win over the London Knights. The Firebirds made a lot of moves over the summer to try and establish themselves as a competitive force in the Western Conference. London struck back on Saturday in Flint, skating to a 5-2 win, but there’s reason for optimism in Flint, with a solid group of veterans forming the team’s core along with Edmonton Oilers prospect Nathan Day in the pipes. Collins (2-3–5) and Thibodeau (0-5–5) led Flint’s offence on opening week.
The @FlintFirebirds start HOT against the defending champs! 🔥
Evan Konyen scores twice in the opening period as Flint holds a two goal lead over the Knights!#OHLOpeningWeek pic.twitter.com/2jVMge5lwu
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) September 28, 2024
Gillespie great as Storm start with pair of wins
The Guelph Storm defeated the Owen Sound Attack in back-to-back outings, getting strong goaltending from Brayden Gillespie. The 19-year-old made 30 saves in Saturday’s 2-1 road win over the Attack. The Storm saw some firsts as well, with rookies Alex McLean and Daniil Skvortsov both scoring milestone markers on Friday at home. It was a good start for Cam Allen, who missed a good portion of 2023-24 to injury. The Washington Capitals prospect paced the Storm with four points (1-3–4) over the two wins.
Brayden Gillespie has your Assured Collision Impact Play of the Game! #StormCity | @AssuredAuto pic.twitter.com/AHnqWLpWdf
— Guelph Storm (@Storm_City) September 29, 2024
Young goaltenders make early impression
A trio of 2007-born netminders earned their first wins in the OHL over the weekend including London’s Alexei Medvedev, who made 33 saves in a 5-2 win over the Flint Firebirds on Saturday, North Bay’s Charlie Larocque, who stopped 23 to defeat the Barrie Colts on Saturday and Ottawa’s Jaeden Nelson, who turned aside 30 in a 4-3 overtime win over the Oshawa Generals on Sunday. Other first year goaltenders in Sudbury’s Finn Marshall and Erie’s Noah Erliden also picked up their first victories.
33/35 saves in his debut 🤩 pic.twitter.com/Xe8Oe5vL0Z
— London Knights (@LondonKnights) September 29, 2024
Johnston fitting in well with Sting
Kaeden Johnston took a short trip down the 402 and has settled in nicely with the Sarnia Sting. The former London Knights forward scored twice and recorded an assist in his Sting debut – a 5-4 overtime victory over the Windsor Spitfires. He was back on the scoresheet on Saturday, scoring in a 6-1 loss to the Saginaw Spirit. The 19-year-old Johnston will have a bigger opportunity in Sarnia, looking at top-six minutes on a Sting club that could use his offensive contributions.
New addition Kaeden Johnston with a big debut for victorious @StingHockey, finishing with 2G, 1A. pic.twitter.com/CVZGJRLvPp
— Josh Sweetland (@joshsweetland) September 28, 2024
Draft prospect Aitcheson scores in each of first two games
Barrie Colts blueliner Kashawn Aitcheson has gotten himself noticed, and continued to build his NHL Draft stock on opening week, scoring in back-to-back games to open the season. The physical blueliner will play big minutes in Barrie for a Colts team looking to make a push in the Eastern Conference. He scored Barrie’s first goal of the season for a second straight year.
Kashawn Aitcheson goes back-to-back years with the opening goal!#GiddyUp | #NHLDraft | @Kash_Aitcheson pic.twitter.com/tGrqMr8vqN
— Barrie Colts (@OHLBarrieColts) September 28, 2024
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