Otters’ Cirelli named Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Anthony Cirelli of the Erie Otters is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the first week of post-season action ending March 26 recording three goals and two assists for five points in two games with a plus-minus rating of plus-2.

Cirelli’s two multi-point performances helped the top ranked Otters open the 2017 OHL Western Conference Quarter-Finals with a pair of victories over the Sarnia Sting.  In Game 1 on Thursday in Erie he scored a goal and an assist as part of a 6-3 triumph, then scored twice in Game 2 on Saturday night in Sarnia including the game-winner along with an assist receiving second star honours in the 9-3 win.  Cirelli’s efforts were part of the overall Otters high powered offense that received four or more points from five other players in the opening two games along with Alex DeBrincat, Taylor Raddysh, Warren Foegele, Kyle Maksimovich, and Dylan Strome.  The series continues with Game 3 tonight in Sarnia followed by Game 4 in Erie on Wednesday.

A 19-year-old from Woodbridge, ON, Cirelli is playing in his third OHL season and first with the Otters after being acquired from the Oshawa Generals in January.  In 25 games with Erie he scored 12 goals and 18 assists for 30 points bringing his 2016-17 totals to a career-high 25 goals and 39 assists for 64 points in 51 games.  The third round pick of the Lightning in the 2015 NHL Draft represented Canada at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship and has 26 games of previous playoff experience with the Generals that included an OHL Championship along with a 2015 Mastercard Memorial Cup title.

Watch video highlights of Cirelli and the Otters against the Sting in Game 1 and Game 2.

Also considered for the award this week was last week’s recipient Petrus Palmu of the Owen Sound Attack, along with Lightning prospect Boris Katchouk of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, and 2017 NHL Draft prospect Jack Studnicka of the Generals who each tallied two goals and two assists for four points in their opening two first round playoff games.  In goal, Dawson Carty of the Hamilton Bulldogs made 54 saves in a pair of road wins over the Kingston Frontenacs including a shutout victory with a goals-against-average of 2.00 and save percentage of .931.

2016-17 Pioneer Energy OHL Playoff Players of the Week:
Mar. 20 – Mar. 26: Anthony Cirelli (Erie Otters)

2016-17 Pioneer Energy OHL Regular Season Players of the Week:
Mar. 13 – Mar. 19: Jacob Ingham (Mississauga Steelheads)
Mar. 6 – Mar. 12: Petrus Palmu (Owen Sound Attack)
Feb. 27 – Mar. 5: Gabriel Vilardi (Windsor Spitfires)
Feb. 20 – Feb. 26: Michael McLeod (Mississauga Steelheads)
Feb. 13 – Feb. 19: Joseph Murdaca (Erie Otters)
Feb. 6 – Feb. 12: Spencer Watson (Mississauga Steelheads)
Jan. 30 – Feb. 5: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Jan. 23 – Jan. 29: Jeremy Helvig (Kingston Frontenacs)
Jan. 16 – Jan. 22: Hayden Hodgson (Saginaw Spirit)
Jan. 9 – Jan. 15: Kole Sherwood (Flint Firebirds)
Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Santino Centorame (Owen Sound Attack)
Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Michael McNiven (Owen Sound Attack)
Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Dylan Wells (Peterborough Petes)
Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)
Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Boris Katchouk (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Jeremy Bracco (Kitchener Rangers)
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Jonathan Ang (Peterborough Petes)
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Troy Timpano (Erie Otters)
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Max Jones (London Knights)
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Jeremy Bracco (Kitchener Rangers)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Logan Brown (Windsor Spitfires)
Sept. 26 – Oct. 2: Joseph Raaymakers (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 25: Matt Luff (Hamilton Bulldogs)