OHL Weekend Notebook: Oct. 9, 2024
Taking a look across the league following a busy weekend, ahead of three games on the Wednesday night schedule.
IceDogs only remaining undefeated team
The Niagara IceDogs are enjoying their best start on record since moving to St. Catharines in 2007. The only remaining undefeated team in the Canadian Hockey League rattled off wins against Oshawa and Brampton, handing the Steelheads their first loss of the season by a score of 7-3 on Sunday. This all comes after the IceDogs finished 20th in the Ontario Hockey League last season, returning with contributions from names like goaltender Owen Flores, forwards Kevin He, Ryan Roobroeck and newcomers Andrei Loshko, Braidy Wassilyn and Max Crete. The Dogs look to keep the wins coming on Friday at home to the Owen Sound Attack.
Up-and-coming @NHLJets prospect Kevin He tied an @OHLIceDogs single game record with six points on Sunday, helping them come away as the only remaining undefeated team in the #OHL in one of five matchups.
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) October 7, 2024
Misa enjoying historic start
2025 NHL Draft prospect Michael Misa is red hot, scoring 10 goals through his first five games of the season. He joins Alex DeBrincat of the 2015-16 Erie Otters as just the second OHL player in the past 27 years to accomplish that feat. Misa’s five goals are also the most by any CHL exceptional status player through five games of a season. Misa’s Spirit are fifth on this week’s CHL Top 10 Rankings, and come in at second on the OHL Power Rankings.
Michael Misa is just the second #OHL player in the past 27 years of league history to score 10 goals through his first five games of the season 🚨#NHLDraft | #OHLStats pic.twitter.com/8vjYdsFtmX
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) October 7, 2024
Spitfires outgun opponents 10-1 over two-win weekend
The Windsor Spitfires continued their hot start, building off a 12-2 win over Kitchener to close out September with back-to-back wins over Sault Ste. Marie and Brantford. Captain and Los Angeles Kings prospect Liam Greentree racked up five assists over the weekend while AJ Spellacy, a recent returnee from the Chicago Blackhawks, had two goals and an assist. Washington Capitals prospect Ilya Protas popped home a pair of goals in his first weekend in the league. Veteran netminder Joey Costanzo earned OHL Goaltender of the Week honours, improving to 4-0 out of the gate. Finishing outside of the playoff picture last spring, the Spits are back in a big way under new head coach Greg Walters. Windsor visits the Brampton Steelheads in a big matchup on Friday.
Joey Costanzo stopped 53 of 54 shots, backstopping @SpitsHockey to a pair of wins to be named #OHL Goaltender of the Week.
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) October 7, 2024
Firebirds take back-to-back decisions in overtime
The Flint Firebirds came up big in the clutch over the weekend, improving to 3-1 out of the gate. Edmonton Oilers prospect and captain Connor Clattenburg was the OT hero on Friday in Kitchener, slicing through the opposition to give Flint a 2-1 road win following a first star performance from goaltender Nathan Day. The Firebirds came out on top of another one-goal decision on Saturday as Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Kaden Pitre jammed in a puck from the goalmouth as the ‘Birds beat visiting Sarnia 3-2. Jimmy Lombardi and Chris Thibodeau each had a goal and an assist in Saturday’s win.
GAME OVER. FIREBIRDS WIN 🚨
Kaden Pitre calls game for the @FlintFirebirds as they get their first win on home ice this season with the overtime win!#OHL | @CHLHockey pic.twitter.com/U8JwgRw0fy
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) October 6, 2024
67’s finding their rhythm
The Ottawa 67’s put up some offence over the weekend, with dual hat-tricks powering a 6-3 win over the visiting North Bay Battalion on Friday. Cooper Foster and Luca Pinelli both banged in three goals as the Barber Poles took the play to the Troops, outshooting them 35-19. Jack Dever took over the controls on Ottawa’s offence Saturday in Kingston, recording a goal and three assists as the 67’s won 5-4. Draft eligible winger Filip Ekberg sniped home the OT winner with 16 seconds left in the extra frame as Dever chipped in with a primary assist. Jaeden Nelson improved to 2-0 on the season, making 22 saves. Ottawa hosts Brantford in a rematch of last year’s first round playoff matchup on Friday night.
The @Ottawa67sHockey had hat-tricks from both Luca Pinelli and Cooper Foster on Saturday, doubling-up North Bay in one of seven Saturday matchups across the league.
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) October 6, 2024
Rangers rebound with hard fought weekend
Things weren’t looking good for the Kitchener Rangers following a 12-2 drubbing at the hands of the Windsor Spitfires on Sept. 28th, but full marks to the Blueshirts, who came back with three one-goal outcomes this past weekend. Kitchener dropped a 2-1 overtime decision against the Flint Firebirds on Friday, beat the Owen Sound Attack 3-2 on the road on a late winner from Antonino Pugliese on Saturday, and defeated the Guelph Storm 3-2 on Sunday. Recent acquisition Chris Grisolia made his Rangers debut after coming over from the Barrie Colts. The Rangers added Slovak blueliner Jakub Chromiak from the Kingston Frontenacs, rounding out their back end on Monday. The club announced Monday that overage winger Trent Swick will be making his return from the Vegas Golden Knights organization, and is expected to suit up on Wednesday when they begin a three-game West Division road trip against the Flint Firebirds.
RANGERS SCORE LATE TO WIN! 🚨
A passing error gifts @OHLRangers forward Antonino Pugliese the puck right in front of the net and he puts it home for the game winning goal!#OHL | @CHLHockey pic.twitter.com/rPd6KrJs6m
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) October 6, 2024
Knights getting back to full strength
The London Knights have had mixed results to begin their season, notably dropping each of their first two home games. Dale Hunter’s club will get a big boost this week though, with the announced return of Philadelphia Flyers prospects Oliver Bonk and Denver Barkey, along with reigning OHL Most Outstanding Player Easton Cowan from the Toronto Maple Leafs. A few players benefitted from more early-season exposure as draft eligible blueliner Henry Brzustewicz saw lots of ice, recording five assists over four contests while rookie winger Blake Arrowsmith put up three points (2-1–3) over three games. The reigning OHL champions have a good portion of their roster back from last season though they’re seeing what netminders Owen Willmore and Alexei Medvedev can provide with a workload in the opening weeks of the season.
YEEHAW 🤠🤠🤠🤠🤠@MapleLeafs | #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/gwlvjWWjwj
— London Knights (@LondonKnights) October 7, 2024
Edwards showing well for Sting
Beckham Edwards has had an immediate impact for the Sarnia Sting. The 16-year-old, who was originally bound for the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL before committing to the Sting later in the summer, was crowned OHL Rookie of the Week after scoring three goals in as many games. Edwards has made such a strong impression on Sting coaching staff that he saw ice in overtime on Saturday in Flint as the Sting fell 3-2 to the Firebirds. Selected in the third round back in April, Edwards joins Ryan Brown, James Barr, Hughston Hurt and other young talent in forming the nucleus of the Sting’s future.
Recording four points, including three goals in three outings last week, @StingHockey's Beckham Edwards is the #OHL Rookie of the Week.
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) October 7, 2024
Hounds banged up, Hilton starts strong on road trip
The Soo Greyhounds returned home from a three-game trip with stops in Windsor, Guelph and Sarnia sporting two points and a few bumps and bruises. John Dean’s club made a game of things on Sunday in Sarnia, falling 2-1, but lost starting goaltender Charlie Schenkel, blueliners Spencer Evans and Hunter Solomon as well as forward Brady Smith to injuries. Newly added 6-foot-5 forward Charlie Hilton contributed to Saturday’s 4-2 win in Guelph, tallying a pair of assists. The Greyhounds are back home for a Friday night date with the Kitchener Rangers before rounding-out Thanksgiving weekend on the road in Saginaw on Sunday. Draft eligible forward Brady Martin is the club’s early-season scoring leader with six points (2-4–6) through his first five games.
Hounds loss to Sting ‘stung’ – Oct. 6 Recap
📰https://t.co/4Mdnd0v61W
(by Peter Ruicci – Independent Media | Photo courtesy of Natalie Shaver – OHLImages) pic.twitter.com/3CLT2yy4xG— Soo Greyhounds (@OHLHoundPower) October 6, 2024
Ivankovic, Flores handed four game sentences
The Brampton Steelheads and Niagara IceDogs will be seeking solutions in the crease over the course of the next week and change. Goaltenders Jack Ivankovic of Brampton and Owen Flores of Niagara were both suspended for four games as a result of a scrap between the two on Sunday afternoon in Niagara. The melee was the second fight in the same stoppage, resulting in the longer-than-customary two-game ban for goaltenders engaged in a fight. The IceDogs will turn to Charlie Robertson in Flores’ absence. Robertson came over in a trade from the North Bay Battalion last season, and take over the crease in his 19-year-old season for the next four contests. Brampton leans on backup Jacob Gibbons who had a tough outing in Sunday’s loss to the IceDogs. The 6-foot-6 netminder looks to rebound on Friday as the Steelheads face the Windsor Spitfires, who are off to a hot start this season.
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