Saturday Highlights: Sting enter holidays with a win
Sarnia Sting 5 vs. Flint Firebirds 2
- Zach Filak led the Sting to victory with a goal and two helpers
- Goaltender Karsen Chartier stopped 22-of-24 to earn second star honours
- Firebirds rookie Jimmy Lombardi scored his first career OHL goal
- Easton Wainwright (1-1-2) and Daylen Moses (1-1-2) each had two point nights for Sarnia
- Sarnia improves to 12-19-1-0 pulling to within four points of Flint, who falls to 13-16-2-1 after a sixth straight loss
Game Centre & Highlights | Flint Post-Game
Kitchener Rangers 4 vs. Barrie Colts 3 – OT
- Matthew Sop went end-to-end in the extra frame to score his third overtime winner of the season
- Entering the month with zero, Rangers forward Justin Bottineau scored his third goal in December
- Max Dirracolo made his OHL debut for the Rangers in his hometown; Kitchener signed him to an OHL scholarship and development agreement earlier on Saturday
- Kitchener blueliner Blair Scott saw time on forward, scoring his first career OHL goal
- Goaltender Jackson Parsons had his shutout bid spoiled early in the third period by Tai York
- York scored two goals for the Colts, while Carter Lowe added another in Barrie’s third period comeback
- Kitchener sits atop the league standings going into the December break with a record of 24-8-2-0, while Barrie sits at 12-16-1-0
Game Centre & Highlights | Kitchener Post-Game
Guelph Storm 3 vs. Soo Greyhounds 2 – SO
- Wil McFadden showed off his quick hands, burying the shootout winner in the third round for the Storm
- Washington Capitals prospect Jake Karabela and St. Louis Blues prospect Michael Buchinger each had two point games with a goal and a helper
- Buchinger got the teddy bears flying midway through the second period
- Ryan McGuire (14-for-20) and Jett Luchanko (14-for-23) were both strong in the faceoff circle for Guelph
- Bryden Gillespie made 26 saves in the win opposite Soo rookie Landon Miller, who stopped 19
- Guelph wins their third straight game to improve to 19-12-1-1, while the Greyhounds six game win streak is snapped and they sit at 22-8-2-1
Game Centre & Highlights | Soo Post-Game
Windsor Spitfires 4 vs. Owen Sound Attack 3 – SO
- Valentin Zhugin scored in round four of the shootout to give Windsor the edge over the Attack
- Ryan Abraham scored the tying goal with 5:17 remaining in the third period
- Carter George earned first star honours, stopping 46-of-49 shots, while Joey Costanzo stopped 32-of-35 to earn the win
- Rookie Harry Nansi had two helpers in the Attack effort
- Oliver Peer scores his 19th goal of the season; he has scored four goals in his last three games
- Windsor improves to 10-20-1-0, while Owen Sound drops their third straight and sits at 15-13-2-1
Game Centre & Highlights | Windsor Post-Game | Owen Sound Post-Game
Ottawa 67’s 4 vs. Erie Otters 2
- A goal and an assist from Edmonton Oilers prospect Brady Stonehouse and Dallas Stars prospect Brad Gardiner helped lead the 67’s to victory stateside
- Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Cooper Foster would also chip in with two helpers
- Brett Bressette and Sam Alfano picked up goals for the Otters
- Ottawa went 1-for-4 on the power play, and did not take any penalties in the win
- Max Donoso made 23 saves for the win
- Ottawa improves to an East Division-leading 18-10-2-0, while Erie has their four game win streak snapped and sits at 14-12-4-0
Game Centre & Highlights | Ottawa Post-Game | Erie Post-Game
North Bay Battalion 3 vs. Niagara IceDogs 2
- A three point night from Justin Ertel (2-1-3) is all the Battalion needed to give them the edge over the IceDogs
- Anthony Romani added two helpers to extend his point streak to nine straight games; he has a club-leading 51 points (24-27–51)
- Kevin He and Ryan Roobroeck added goals for Niagara
- Mike McIvor stopped 32-of-34 to earn the win, while Niagara counterpart Owen Flores stopped 34-of-37
- North Bay improves to 15-12-4-1, while Niagara sits at 8-19-4-1
Game Centre & Highlights | North Bay Post-Game | Niagara Post-Game
Saginaw Spirit 4 vs. Sudbury Wolves 3
- Joey Willis had a helper on three of the four Spirit goals to lift them over the Wolves
- 2024 NHL Draft prospect Zayne Parekh’s goal got the teddy bears to the ice at the Dow
- Spirit captain Braden Haché scored his sixth goal of the season, matching his career total from the past three full seasons
- Nick DeAngelis picked up an assist on David Goyette’s second period goal to extend his point streak to 13 straight games; Saginaw’s Calem Mangone also picked up an assist to extend his streak to nine games with a point
- San Jose Sharks prospect Quentin Musty and teammate Landon McCallum had their respective point streaks snapped at seven games
- Saginaw wins their fourth straight game to improve to 20-9-0-1
- Chris Lazary becomes the winningest head coach in Saginaw Spirit history with his 155th win, passing Todd Watson