OHL Weekend Notebook: Oct. 10, 2023
A total of 23 games were played across the League last week, with a little bonus action on Thanksgiving Monday in both North Bay and Windsor. Here’s a look at a few of the top storylines across the OHL.
Sting keep finding the scoresheet
The Sarnia Sting might be a lot younger this season, but they haven’t skipped a beat offensively. The Sting defeated the Soo Greyhounds 7-4 on Friday and beat the Windsor Spitfires on the road by a score of 6-3 on Saturday, improving to 3-2 to start the season. Marko Sikic came through with his first OHL hat trick on Friday, and Tyson Doucette continued a hot start with a goal and an assist on Saturday. Twin brothers Andrew and Jacob LeBlanc have been a great fit in Sarnia, combining for 12 points (1-11–12) in the early going. Sarnia’s 23 goals on the season are second only to the Soo Greyhounds. The Sting get Flint and London at home this coming weekend.
The twin connection 🧬
Jacob Leblanc sets up his brother Andrew for the game-winner and the @StingHockey get their first road win of the season! 🎥 pic.twitter.com/U6PBafaQmH
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) October 7, 2023
Troops beat Knights, Attack on successful weekend
The North Bay Battalion put themselves amongst the League’s top early season favourites, collecting five of a possible six points over the weekend. A 5-4 overtime loss in Windsor on Thursday was followed by a 4-1 win over the CHL’s top ranked team, the London Knights, on Friday. The Battalion closed things out with a win in their traditional Thanksgiving game on Monday, besting the Owen Sound Attack 3-1 to improve to 3-1-1-1 out of the gate this season. The Battalion saw the return of captain Liam Arnsby to the lineup, and goaltender Dom DiVincentiis continued to excel as he’s registered a 1.26 goals-against average and .955 save percentage through his first four games.
“For us, maybe our most complete 60 minutes we’ve played so far, so good things are happening” – Ryan Oulahen
📰 RECAP: https://t.co/9mtt5hQcjx pic.twitter.com/ywjLpd77Ek
— North Bay Battalion (@OHLBattalion) October 9, 2023
Bulldogs triumphant on opening night in Brantford
The Brantford Bulldogs made opening night in Brantford one to remember on Saturday, defeating the Oshawa Generals 5-2 in the first OHL game at the Civic Centre in 39 years. Stuart Rolofs got Oshawa on the board first, but Brantford took it from there, with Florian Xhekaj getting the first Bulldogs goal on home ice before Nick Lardis would later score a pair. A sold out crowd of 3,000 was on hand for the game as owner Michael Andlauer conducted the ceremonial puck-drop and spoke with play-by-play voice Reed Duthie at the intermission about Brantford’s newest team.
Florian Xhekaj makes history.@BulldogsOHL https://t.co/HJst7JqcUe pic.twitter.com/BUVqkatTXB
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) October 8, 2023
Generals skate to victory following Dave Andreychuk banner raising
Distinguished alumnus Dave Andreychuk inspired the Oshawa Generals on Friday night as they handed the Mississauga Steelheads their first loss after watching the #9 banner ascend to the heights of the Tribute Communities Centre. Andreychuk played in Oshawa from 1980-83 before embarking on a 1,639-game NHL career that included a Stanley Cup title in 2004. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017. Oshawa skated past Mississauga 4-1, with Luca D’Amato recording a goal and two assists.
A special night for a special person.
Dave Andreychuk’s #9 will live forever atop the rafters of the Tribute Communities Centre.#GensNation pic.twitter.com/dglJMiiwjT
— Oshawa Generals (@Oshawa_Generals) October 7, 2023
Another high-scoring weekend for Greyhounds
The Soo Greyhounds burnt the goal lamp out last weekend, and continued filling the net on the road over the Thanksgiving long weekend, taking home four of a possible six points. The Hounds scored four times but lost in Sarnia on Friday before following-up with a seven-goal output on Saturday in Flint, defeating the Firebirds 7-3. Sault Ste. Marie beat Windsor 5-3 on Monday afternoon, coming out of the weekend with two of the top-scoring defencemen in the league in Vegas prospect Arttu Karki (5-4–9) and Detroit pick Andrew Gibson (2-6–8). Preseason addition Jack Beck currently leads the OHL in points with 12 (3-9–12). The Hounds also defeated the London Knights at home last Wednesday, and sit atop the OHL standings with a 5-1-0-0 record to start the year.
Five goals and nine points in just six games for Arttu Karki! 🚨@GoldenKnights prospect potted a pair in Monday's Thanksgiving @OHLHoundPower road win over Windsor 🎥 pic.twitter.com/O7vwha3YIU
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) October 10, 2023
Haight pots first OHL hat trick
Hunter Haight netted his first OHL hat trick on Saturday night against Kitchener as the Spirit rolled to an 8-2 win. The Minnesota Wild prospect is off to a great start with six points (4-2–6) in his first three games. The Memorial Cup hosts rebounded against the Rangers, who they lost to on opening night in Kitchener back on Sept. 29th.
Rolling back the tape on a Hunter Haight Saturday night hat trick! 🎩🎩🎩@SpiritHockey | @mnwild pic.twitter.com/6oHbLpJCRf
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) October 8, 2023
Barlow productive in return to Attack lineup
Colby Barlow is back scoring in Owen Sound. The Winnipeg Jets prospect returned from NHL training camp and promptly scored three goals in his first three games back with the Bears. Barlow and his signature one-timer made an appearance on Friday night in Kitchener has he tickled the twine twice before adding a third goal in Saturday’s home win over the Erie Otters. The Orillia, Ont. native scored 46 times last season, being named both OHL and CHL Scholastic Player of the Year.
Barz is BACK 💣 @AttackOHL @NHLJets first-round pick Colby Barlow with a blast to open his account for the season 🚨 pic.twitter.com/5Sky9Hn0e0
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) October 6, 2023
Wolves take two-of-three on road trip
The Sudbury Wolves hit the road for an eastern trip, returning from Peterborough, Kingston and Ottawa with four of a possible six points. The Wolves defeated the Petes on Thursday, spoiling Owen Beck’s return to the lineup as Jakub Vondras logged his first career OHL shutout with a 33-save display. David Goyette was the star of the show on Friday in Kingston, recording two goals and an assist as the Wolves beat the Frontenacs 5-2. The third game of a three-in-three saw Sudbury come up short in Ottawa as the 67’s took Saturday’s contest by a score of 5-2. Sophomore forward Kieron Walton has shown offensive promise with five points (2-3–5) in as many games. Veteran winger Evan Konyen joins Goyette in also producing at a point-per-game clip to start the year.
Take a bow, Jakub Vondras 👏@Canes prospect comes up with Saturday's #SaveoftheNight for the @Sudbury_Wolves 🎥 pic.twitter.com/qjN7mkwC5V
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) October 8, 2023
Ludwinski returns to Frontenacs
Chicago Blackhawks prospect Paul Ludwinski made his return to the Kingston Frontenacs ahead of the weekend, helping the Fronts split decisions against Sudbury and Ottawa. Kingston’s captain, Ludwinski was a second-round pick by Chicago in 2022. He put up a pair of assists in his first two games back in black and gold, skating on a line alongside Chris Thibodeau and Tyler Savard.
El Capitán Returns!#BearTheK | @OHLHockey | @NHLBlackhawks
📸 @Hailey_DeMille pic.twitter.com/QmxyfRShFu
— Kingston Frontenacs (@KingstonFronts) October 6, 2023
Firebirds off to a slow start
The Flint Firebirds are 0-3 to start the season, and made the league’s first coaching change ahead of the long weekend. OHL alumnus Paul Flache has taken over for Ted Dent behind the bench after Flint was outscored 19-3 in a pair of losses to start the season. The Firebirds fell 7-3 to the Soo Greyhounds on Saturday, marking Flache’s first game as the club’s head coach. Rookie forward Jeremy Martin, Flint’s first round pick last spring, has been an early positive for Flint, scoring his first two career goals on breakaways. Chicago Blackhawks prospect Gavin Hayes returned to the Firebirds for Saturday’s game. They’ll set out in search of their first victory on Wednesday night in Saginaw. You can watch the game for free on CHL TV.
Following an 0-2 start to the season, the @FlintFirebirds named #OHLAlumni Paul Flache as their new Head Coach on Friday.
DETAILS 📰: https://t.co/6SMIYbEpbo pic.twitter.com/NHUdbuikwO
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) October 7, 2023
Loading ...